When you’re out shopping, grabbing food, or running errands, you probably visit commercial areas filled with stores, restaurants, and parking lots. What many people don’t realize is that these areas are carefully designed by developers and landscape architects. They plan for trees, shrubs, and plants to grow in and enhance the space—not just for looks, but also for shade, privacy, and safety.
A well-shaded parking lot, for example, can last much longer than one exposed to direct sunlight all day. Property owners invest a lot of money in landscaping: planting trees, laying turf, and hiring contractors to keep it looking good. But after a few years, that fresh, green landscape often starts to look worn out. Why? One of the biggest reasons is poor maintenance.
In places with harsh winters and hot summers, plants face tough conditions. Snow removal crews push snow into trees and shrubs, pile on salt to prevent slips, and break branches or bark with plows. In summer, sprinklers get broken by foot traffic, and cars damage trees. Commercial landscapes, especially the trees, take a beating all year round.
Trees can either be a valuable asset or a serious hazard. A properly maintained tree offers shade, beauty, and even increases property value. But if trees are neglected, they can grow wild, drop branches, scratch cars, or even fall during storms. Common mistakes like over-pruning, poor watering, or using hedge trimmers (never trim a tree like a bush!) cause lasting damage.
Many commercial property owners hire large landscaping companies to handle everything from mowing to snow removal. These crews often focus on speed—”mow, blow, and go”—trying to finish as many properties as possible in a day. While that may help the bottom line, it often leads to trees being ignored or poorly cared for.
Property owners might spend thousands installing young trees, only to forget about them. Without proper pruning and care, these trees grow awkwardly—branches reach out too low, scratch cars, or block visibility. Instead of calling a trained Arborist, someone just hacks them back, making rough cuts that damage the tree long-term. In winter, salty snow builds up around already weakened trees, hurting the soil and root systems. Many trees eventually die from this cycle of neglect.
Take a walk through any big-box store parking lot or shopping plaza and look around. You’ll likely see dead or struggling trees with thick, tangled centers, yellow leaves, and broken limbs. Poor pruning, salt damage, dry soil, and lack of nutrients all play a part. This is what happens when no Arborist is ever brought in to help.
Trees are often planted in small islands in the middle of big parking lots. These spots get trampled, the grass dies, and soon it’s just dirt. Then it rains, turns to mud, and customers track it into the store. To fix that, they replace the grass with mulch or rocks—again, ignoring the tree in the center. That tree ends up stuck in a “heat island,” surrounded by hot pavement with barely any soil, water, or nutrients. Its roots can’t grow, so the tree stays small, weak, and unhealthy.
If an Arborist was involved from the start—or brought in at least once a year—many of these problems could be prevented. With the right care, those trees could grow large and healthy, giving shade, beauty, and even improving air quality. Instead of being an eyesore or a danger, they could be one of the best parts of the property.
So next time you’re out, take a look at the trees around commercial properties. Notice which ones are thriving and which are barely holding on. If you own or manage a property, take a good look at your trees. You paid a lot to have them installed—don’t let that investment go to waste.
Landscapers are not Arborists. They each have their role, but caring for trees takes special knowledge and training. If you manage multiple properties, it’s a smart move to hire a professional Arborist to oversee your trees. A well-shaded, healthy landscape lasts longer, looks better, draws more customers, and increases property value.
Having your trees inspected and maintained at least once a year is a wise decision.
And calling me to do it? That’s just smart business.