Landscaping for Safety

Pathway by WordRidden via flickr.com Creative Commons License

An article in Total Landscape Care turned our attention to the topic of landscape maintenance for safety.  Considering the safety of visitors, as well as workers, should be a priority for building managers and project heads.

Lighting
Lighting should be an important consideration for any landscape design. Particularly for those who enjoy entertaining into the evening hours, footpaths at entryways and main pathways should be well-lighted and free of obstacles. In areas with less traffic, consider motion-activated lights. These devices not only provide illumination for family members and guests, they’re also a burglary deterrent. Landscaping itself tends to discourage thieves, since a well-maintained lawn suggests the home’s occupants are attentive to what happens on the property.

Level surfaces
Paved walkways and other hardscapes on a property should be constructed with safety in mind. Materials should be textured to reduce the risk of slipping. Also, materials that easily crack, such as concrete, can result in uneven areas that can cause tripping. Avoid the use of materials better suited for indoor spaces, such as ceramic tile, and use real stone, pavers or decking instead.

Read the entire article on TotalLandscapeCare.com.