Commercial landscaping
Schools, Churches & Nonprofits
Gardens that serve a mission: outdoor classrooms, pollinator plantings, welcoming entrances and lower grounds costs for schools, churches and nonprofits.
Why it pays
Green grounds are a place to learn, gather and save money.
Schools with more green cover scored better in math, and classes held outdoors came back to the classroom more focused. For a church or nonprofit, the grounds are how the neighborhood first meets you. And for any organization with a tight budget, swapping lawn for native planting cuts mowing costs year after year.
The research
What the studies found
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318
Chicago public schools studied: more tree cover predicted better math test scores, after controlling for disadvantage.
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Almost half
fewer times a teacher had to redirect students after a lesson held outdoors in nature.
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$3,950–$4,683
saved per acre each year, on average over ten years, by native plantings over mown turf.
Where the value comes from
How better planting pays back
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01
Outdoor classrooms
Pollinator and vegetable gardens students can plant, watch and study through the school year.
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02
A welcoming front door
Entrances and signs planted to say "you're welcome here" to visitors and neighbors.
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03
Lower grounds costs
Natives in place of mown lawn save on mowing and upkeep, money better spent on your mission.
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04
Volunteer planting days
We can plan a planting day your members, families or students can take part in.
ROI calculator
What could planting return for you?
Put in your own figures. The estimate uses conservative ranges drawn from the research above, and grows as the plantings fill in.
Estimated net return after 20 years
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- Return on investment
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- Pays for itself
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- Total invested
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Net value, mid estimate Low to high
What this assumes
A one-time gain of 0.25% to 1% of property value, well below the 5–11% perceived-value result for homes (Behe, 2005), since no study measures it for schools or churches. For these grounds the hard savings usually come from lawn turned to planting, so enter the square feet.
Plantings take time to fill in, so the benefit grows: 35% in year 1, 70% in year 2, and 100% in year 3+.
Lawn turned to planting saves $0.03–$0.1 a square foot each year in mowing, watering and fertilizer, once the planting has settled in: 25% in year 1, 50% in year 2, and 100% in year 3+.
An estimate, not a promise. The ranges come from published research on trees, landscaping and green space, scaled down for one property's plantings; your results depend on your site, your customers and how the planting is cared for. Every study is linked on this page.
What we'd plant
Ideas for schools, churches & nonprofits
- Pollinator gardens and outdoor classrooms
- Entrance and sign plantings
- Native plantings in place of little-used lawn
- Memorial and prayer gardens
- Community and vegetable gardens
- Volunteer planting days
Sarah and her team have helped us both with a landscape design and installation project at a commercial rental property and with residential projects at our house. They are great with response times, organization and they just love all things plants. Really rewarding to work with.
Questions
Common questions from schools, churches & nonprofits
Can students or volunteers help plant?
Yes. We plan the work so a group can plant with us safely, and we show everyone how to care for it afterward.
We have a small budget. Where should we start?
Usually with the entrance and one garden people will use, planned so it can grow in phases as funds allow.
Do you build patios, walls or walkways?
No. Everything we do is plants: design, soil, planting, mulch and care. If your project needs hardscape, we can plan the planting around it and work alongside your contractor.
Other industries
Planting that pays, wherever you do business
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Retail & Restaurants
Plantings that make people slow down, come in and come back: entrances, patios and storefront containers for shops, cafés and restaurants.
See the numbers -
Offices & Corporate Campuses
Grounds that help you lease space, welcome clients and give staff somewhere better to look, at lower upkeep than lawn.
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Apartments, HOAs & Rental Property
Curb appeal that helps units lease and residents stay: entrances, common areas and frontage for apartments, HOAs and rentals.
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Hotels, Inns & Event Venues
Grounds guests remember and photograph: entrances, patios, lakeside planters and gardens for hotels, inns, B&Bs and venues.
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Healthcare, Senior Living & Wellness
Calm, green places for patients, residents, families and staff: views, courtyards and healing gardens for clinics, senior living and wellness practices.
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Municipal & Public Spaces
Downtown planters, park beds, medians and rain gardens for townships, villages, downtown authorities and parks.
See the numbers
Plan your project
Tell me about your property
A few quick questions, and I'll come back within 1–2 business days with ideas, next steps and a rough budget.