As fall arrives in the Northeast, commercial property managers must be proactive to protect their landscapes and ensure customer safety before winter sets in. Our region’s cold winters bring snow, ice, and freezing temperatures, damaging landscaping, creating hazards for visitors, and leading to costly repairs. Focusing on a few critical fall tasks allows you to keep your property safe, functional, and visually appealing through the colder months. Here are the five most important things commercial property managers should do in the fall.
Prepare for Snow and Ice Management
Rockland NY snow and ice management
Snow and ice management is one of the most critical tasks for commercial properties. Unmanaged snow and ice can create significant safety hazards, leading to slip-and-fall accidents and making areas difficult to access. Planning ahead ensures your property is ready for winter.
- Secure a Snow Removal Contract: Don’t wait for the first snowfall to start thinking about snow removal. Secure a reliable contractor early to ensure your property is cleared promptly. An experienced snow removal service will keep parking lots, walkways, and driveways clear, minimizing accident risks.
- Install Snow Markers: Snow stakes along walkways, parking lots, and curbs help guide snowplows and prevent damage to landscaping hidden beneath the snow. These markers ensure trees, shrubs, and hardscapes aren’t accidentally damaged during plowing.
- Stock Up on De-Icing Materials: Be proactive by stocking up on effective and eco-friendly de-icing products. Keeping entrances and walkways clear of ice helps reduce the risk of slip-and-fall accidents, ensuring customer and employee safety.
Freezing overnight is coming soon. Snow fall will not be far behind it. Be sure you’re ready before any sort of inclement weather arrives. As a commercial property manager, business tenants pay a lease to keep their doors open during all seasons, including a snow storm. So be prepared for our winters, as if last year is a marker for this year, we’ll have a few strong snow falls.
Inspect and Maintain Hardscape Elements
The freeze-thaw cycle of winter can damage hardscape elements such as walkways, patios, and parking lots. Cracked surfaces and uneven pavements aren’t just unsightly—they can also create safety hazards during the colder months.
- Repair Cracks and Uneven Surfaces: Inspect walkways and parking areas for cracks, potholes, or uneven surfaces. These problems can worsen as freezing and thawing occurs, leading to bigger issues in the spring. Fall is the best time to address these concerns to keep your property safe.
- Ensure Proper Drainage: Good drainage is essential for preventing ice buildup. Check for areas where water tends to pool and install or upgrade drainage systems, like French drains, to keep water from freezing in high-traffic zones.
How do retaining walls sit? Is there any noticeable damage to installations like a pergola house or walkway? Inspect the property in all of its aspects and bring in professional assistance if the property is too large.
Prune Trees and Shrubs to Prevent Damage
Trees and shrubs can be valuable assets to your property, but they also pose risks if not properly maintained. Heavy snow and ice can cause branches to break, which could damage nearby structures or create safety hazards for pedestrians.
- Prune Dead or Weak Branches: Remove any dead or weak branches before winter to prevent them from breaking under the weight of snow or ice. This reduces the risk of property damage and injury.
- Trim Trees Near Walkways and Buildings: Prune branches near high-traffic areas or buildings to keep them from falling onto walkways or vehicles. This simple step protects both your property and your visitors.
- Mulch Around Trees and Shrubs: Mulching around trees and shrubs helps insulate roots from freezing temperatures and retains soil moisture, which is important during the dry winter months.
You do not want the risk of falling limbs or branches, whether it’s in the parking lot or on a walkway to the business’s front door. Ice build-up can be extremely heavy and break off tree limbs, causing a danger to customers.
Winterize Irrigation Systems
Irrigation systems are particularly vulnerable to winter damage if not properly prepared. Frozen water left in irrigation lines can cause pipes to crack or burst, leading to costly repairs in the spring.
- Drain and Blow Out Irrigation Lines: Ensure all water is drained from the system, and use compressed air to blow out any remaining water. This prevents freezing and damage to pipes.
- Shut Off and Insulate Exposed Components: Turn off the water supply to your irrigation system, and insulate any exposed pipes or valves to protect them from freezing during winter.
This is critical if you want your sprinkler system to work come next spring. Failure to do this will lead to bursting pipes and sprinkler heads which will be quite costly to replace.
Enhance Outdoor Lighting for Safety
As the days grow shorter, outdoor lighting becomes even more critical for commercial properties. Well-lit areas enhance safety for pedestrians and improve the appearance of your property during the long winter nights.
- Inspect and Upgrade Lighting: Check all outdoor lighting fixtures and replace any burnt-out bulbs. Upgrading to energy-efficient LED lights can improve visibility and reduce maintenance costs during winter.
- Add Lighting to High-Traffic Areas: Ensure parking lots, walkways, and entrances are well-lit to reduce the risk of accidents caused by icy or snowy conditions. Good lighting also adds a sense of security and makes your property more inviting to visitors.
When to Start and Who to Hire
Preparing your commercial property for winter is crucial for protecting your landscaping and ensuring customer and employee safety. By focusing on these five essential tasks—Rockland NY snow and ice management, hardscape maintenance, tree and shrub pruning, irrigation system winterization, and enhanced outdoor lighting—you can prevent costly damage, minimize safety risks, and maintain the appearance and functionality of your property through the colder months. Proactive fall maintenance will set your commercial space up for a smooth and successful winter season, ready to emerge in great shape come spring.
Hire a professional! This is essential for keeping a larger commercial property safe in all seasons.