Maintaining commercial landscape plant health is beneficial not just to the appearance of your property, but also to your budget, peace of mind, and the experience of your tenants, residents, and visitors.

While your lawn, flower beds, and seasonal installations all play an important role in the comprehensive big picture of your commercial property, your trees and shrubs are the consistent backdrop. They set the tone, year after year.

If you notice that something is amiss or are worried that your trees and shrubs might be deteriorating, it’s important to promptly pinpoint the problem and address it before it worsens. The following guide to shrub decline signs and tree stress symptoms will help you identify areas of concern quickly and get them the help they need.

What's Inside This Commercial Landscaping Guide

• The Common Symptoms of Shrub Stress and Signs of Tree Decline
• Commercial Tree Care and Shrub Maintenance: The Challenges Property Managers Face
• Plant Health FAQs for Property Managers
• Commercial Tree Care in Chicagoland

Commercial Landscape Plant Health: Signs of Trouble Property Managers Need to Know

Life as a property manager can be rewarding, but it is not without its challenges. If you notice that something about your landscaping seems strange, your mind can spiral in a multitude of directions.

Is this normal, or is the plant unhealthy? What could be causing this tree’s decline? Do I need to hire a professional? How will this affect our landscaping budget?

All of these questions (and more) can occur in a moment, leaving you feeling overwhelmed and uncertain. Thankfully, you do not have to face them alone. With the right guidance, you can learn to recognize the signs of tree stress and shrub health concerns, act with confidence, and ensure that the problem does not escalate.

The Common Symptoms of Shrub Stress and Signs of Tree Decline

Noticing the signals that a tree is unhealthy or that a shrub is experiencing issues is essential to getting your plants the professional help they need to bounce back and thrive. While there is a myriad of signs that could indicate plant health problems, some are more common than others.

As a property manager, you don’t need to be an expert in plant health, but you should be prepared to recognize the most common indicators that something is amiss in your landscape.

Your Commercial Property Doesn’t Look Good

Oftentimes, the eye test is all that’s needed to realize something is wrong. Even if you are working with a commercial landscaping company, a property that does not live up to your standards for appearance and curb appeal is a property that warrants a thorough evaluation.

Some of the telltale signs of poor commercial landscape plant health include dead branches, thinning canopies, out-of-season discolored leaves, noticeably declining shrubs, and visible damage to plants in an otherwise well-maintained landscape.

Your Residents and Tenants Complain

Listening to feedback from your residents, tenants, employees, clients, and visitors is key to running a successful commercial venture of any kind. When it comes to your commercial landscape plant health, complaints about unsightly trees or dying shrubs should be taken seriously.

Most residents and tenants will only complain when they consistently notice an issue and observe it worsening. They will also speak up if there is a perceived safety risk associated with the problem. Tree and shrub health often fit into both categories, making symptoms easy to notice, especially to those who encounter them day after day.

Plant Loss is a Recurring Theme

While the occasional need to replace shrubs or trees is not outside the norm, a pattern of losing plants is a telltale sign of poor health. Unhealthy trees and shrubs should rarely reach a state that requires aggressive intervention or replacement, so if either is a recurring theme, something is systematically wrong.

Plant loss is more than an unsightly inconvenience. Many commercial property managers operate within a defined budget, making each plant–especially trees and shrubs that should thrive for years–an investment. Every time you have to replace one, your budget is noticeably impacted.

Your Budget Keeps Taking Hits

There are more consequences to unhealthy tree signs and shrub decline signs than substandard curb appeal and some understandable frustration. The repeated need to invest in expensive commercial tree care, or worse, pay to replace dead plants, can quickly become a legitimate financial burden.

Specialized landscaping services can be expensive, especially when they are required with short notice. Replacing plants can be even more costly. By the time you purchase the plant, have it delivered and professionally installed, invest time and resources into it, and nurture it to a place of health, longevity, and visual appeal, you will be facing a significant budgetary setback.

Commercial Tree Care and Shrub Maintenance: The Challenges Property Managers Face

Learning to recognize the most common signs of plant health decline is a great way to prevent more severe issues from developing. However, identifying areas of concern is not the only challenge property managers face when it comes to landscaping.

Uncertainty Around Plant Health Problems

You are a property manager, not a landscaping expert. While you can become more adept at recognizing when something is wrong with your shrubs and trees, it is not your responsibility to pinpoint exactly what the issue is.

If you face uncertainty around commercial landscape plant health problems, don’t be dismayed; work with a local expert who can help guide you through the process of evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment.

Identifying Landscaping Problems Too Late

Accompanying the uncertainty you might feel regarding unhealthy tree signs and shrub disease signs is a reluctance to take action. What if your observation is normal? What if the plant is totally fine?

Unfortunately, any delay in getting your plants the help they need can worsen problems and lead to more costly solutions. It is far better to contact a landscaping professional who can identify issues early and develop a plan to correct them than to second-guess yourself and end up with a more significant blow to your budget.

Reactive Rather Than Proactive Care

When tree and shrub health is in decline, there is oftentimes an underlying theme of reactive care. This means that problems are addressed after they appear, trapping you in a persistent game of chasing new problems and never getting ahead.

Proactive care is the far superior alternative. With this approach, trees and shrubs are regularly evaluated, and areas of concern are addressed before they can worsen. This creates a more stable landscape where problems are typically minor, budget surprises are rare, and your trees and shrubs thrive without major intervention.

Treatment vs. Replacement for Unhealthy Plants

Property managers juggle many responsibilities, so it is not unusual for the replacement of unhealthy plants to appear to be the easiest, most efficient solution. However, not every tree or shrub in decline requires replacement, and jumping to this extreme can be surprisingly inconvenient and expensive.

Before you opt for a new plant–which will require installation, establishment, and significant investment–have the existing plant evaluated and diagnosed. It’s entirely possible that it could return to full strength with the right treatment, some pruning, and a professional touch.

Plant Health FAQs for Property Managers

What are the most common signs of unhealthy plants?

As a commercial property manager, the warning signs you should look for when it comes to plant health are: deteriorating curb appeal, frequent complaints from residents, and landscape-related budget setbacks.

How do I maintain a healthy commercial landscape?

The best way to maintain a healthy commercial landscape is to work with a reputable local professional who regularly evaluates your plants and provides proactive care rather than reactive treatment.

When should I replace an unhealthy tree or shrub?

It can be tempting to replace troublesome trees and shrubs, but it is best to get a professional opinion first. Allow a landscaping expert to evaluate, diagnose, and treat your plant. If they determine that the effort and expense to restore it are too involved, take their advice and replace it.

Commercial Tree Care in Chicagoland

Working with a local landscaping professional in the Chicagoland area sets your property up for success. Not only do they have the experience and expertise to identify potential problems before they develop, but they also provide proactive care and maintenance to limit issues in the first place.

At Alan Horticulture, we have been crafting healthy, functional, good-looking commercial landscapes since 1978. From diagnosing tree stress symptoms to maintaining a flawless lawn, our services range from essentials to highly specialized.

Whether your commercial property is struggling or you simply want a reliable landscaping partner in Chicagoland, feel free to contact us and schedule a consultation. We’d love to help your landscape thrive!