Many prominent area landscape management companies are merely operating units of larger regional or national contracting firms. Although large firms offer what appears to be the most cost effective solution, by placing as many bodies on the job as possible, it may end up costing the community in both qualities of service and hard dollars. The type of labor used by these operators is primarily minimum wage and often lacks the training, expertise, and motivation to deliver quality service on an ongoing basis. Large-scale operations also lack quality management oversight and service delivery processes that ensure your HOA community proactive landscape management. Financially, these large providers may appear to offer the most cost effective maintenance contract, but they make up the difference over time by invoicing for costs incurred in irrigation, plant replacements, and unexpected maintenance issues. All costs then are passed along to your HOA.

Do the owners or executive team members of your landscape maintenance firm ever visit or walk your property? By partnering with a local firm, your community benefits from the involvement of ownership, management and field employees on every level. If the owner is in close contact with your community, you can rest assured that not only will oversight be at a maximum, but that maintaining a high quality of service will be the top priority.

The right landscape maintenance firm can identify potential issues before they become problematic cost drivers for the community, and then implement solutions in a timely manner. Areas such as irrigation management, erosion, and fire prevention are just a few of the ways that trained field personnel can help your community protect and preserve your grounds from costly physical and financial damage. For instance, proper irrigation management minimizes water usage, avoids slope erosion and maximizes plant life while reducing plant replacement. How well does your current firm understand your HOA property?

Remember that vital first impression. Your community should stand out and not look like every other community in the county. Does your maintenance firm use generic plant material over and over again for each of its clients, or does it tailor your landscaping to match the aesthetics of each community? Look for a firm with a strong design and construction background, one trained to use unique foliage that enhances a property through the use of color, drought tolerant plants, and hybrids.

Don’t assume anything. Ask exactly what services will be included in a landscape maintenance firm’s HOA contract bid. The best firms demonstrate a commitment to providing the most comprehensive service to your community by offering all-inclusive contract bids that cover irrigation and trees as a part of the general maintenance contract.

Desert landscapes can reduce your water bill by designing your landscape so that plants with similar water needs are grouped together. They can also choose low-maintenance desert plants that don’t require frequent watering. Incorporating a slope into the landscape can help as well, as it causes the water to pool near the plants that need it most.

Commercial property owners who volunteer to replace grass with more desert-friendly landscapes can receive a “Water Smart Landscape” rebate from the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA). SNWA pays $1.50 per square foot of refurbished lawn space (up to 5,000 square feet per property, per year). For converted spaces exceeding 5,000 feet, SNWA will provide a rebate of $1 per square foot after the first 5,000 feet.

While planting desert plants and cacti can help beautify your landscape in Las Vegas, it can also help to secure the soil. This way, the dirt stays on the ground and not in the air.