As more and more shoppers hit the couch, not the road, to shop, retailers have to be more dazzling than ever.

Why should shoppers put on real pants and venture out to your store?

Landscaping can help. The right landscape enhancements make your retail site more beautiful, welcoming and comfortable.Tanger Outlets Entrance

More shoppable.

"With shopping centers, landscaping is not the first thing you think of, but it is the first thing you see," says Brad Sarno, operations manager at Level Green Landscape. "It can set your mood and affect your feelings when you visit.”

Sarno shares some shopping center landscape enhancements sure to lure shoppers away from their laptops and to your store.

Out With The Old


The landscaping that was installed decades ago to beautify your landscape can now actually detract from it, Sarno says.

“The street trees and parking lot trees that were put in have now gotten so big they can obstruct the view of the shopping center from the road,” he says. “People might not even realize you’re there.

“A lot of the trees that were used in parking lots years ago max out at the same height as the signage on stores,” he says.

Bradford pear and honey locust were widely used years ago. Now they're in the way. And it turns out they don't even do well in the heat of parking lot asphalt.

Sarno knows how to fix that.

“Those big trees can be limbed up so you can view the stores,” he says. “Or we can replace them with lower plants. A low hedge row doesn't obscure the view, but still captures some of the noise and some of the CO2 from cars.”


Create Pleasant Screening


If you have a restaurant on site with an outdoor eating area, make the most of it, Sarno says.

“Natural screening softens the look so you don't feel like you're eating on a sidewalk,” he says. “Create an outdoor room.”

shopping center landscaping enhancements

Big, artistic planters with intriguing plants, softly bubbling fountains and appealing, professional lighting add to the mood.


Landscape With Intention


At a retail site with large, sweeping views, you landscape differently than you do in a backyard garden, Sarno says.

Impact matters.

"You want large numbers of the same plant," he says. "You don't want it to feel like there's one of these and three of those, like a hodgepodge."


Pretend You're A Park


You want customers to linger, relax and stay a while. The longer they spend, the more they'll, well, spend. And that’s the ultimate goal for any shopping mall landscaping ideas.

Sarno tells about a recent project that transformed a barren area of grass into an inviting oasis.

“Before, there was nothing there except grass,” he says. “We put in a patio, benches, seating. Now, you see people get coffee or milkshakes and spend time there.”

shopping mall landscaping ideas

When people are comfortable, they linger. Don’t forget families with kids. Consider a playscape or a splash pool. When the kids want to stay, mom and dad hang around, too.

How about a few tables with umbrellas surrounded by potted plants? Offer an inviting place to plop down those shopping bags and rest in the shade.  


Bring In The Tropical


Large containers of exotic plants do wonders for a retail space, lending a vacation feel, even if you're just shopping for new dish towels.

"We bring in palms, tropical plants, variegated ginger,” Sarno says. “It gives it a different feel and look for the summer.”


Seasonal Splash


Everybody loves to celebrate the change of seasons with fresh holiday and seasonal decor — and they expect you to do that, too.

It's one of the easiest ways to keep your retail space looking vibrant, current and welcoming.

“Right now you'll see a rotation of chrysanthemums, hay bales, and corn stalks for fall,” Sarno says. “Then, we bring in pansies, viola, cabbages and ornamental kale that will last through the winter.”


Tips For Trees


Remember those overgrown trees we mentioned earlier that grew so big they blocked the view of your stores and signage?

Replace them with smarter, skinnier options.

“Use trees that have a thinner profile and a column shape,” Sarno says. “They won't outgrow that area and don't have huge heads to obstruct signage.”

Some choices he likes:  Armstrong maple, Bowhall maple, ginkgo.

“They all have thin profiles,” he says.


Update Boring Plants


Shoppers want visual interest to capture their attention. Otherwise, they might as well stay home.

Landscaping at retail center

“Encourage a host of native plants and pollinator plants that are more suited for the environment,” Sarno says. “Trust the professionals for the best plant selection.”


Don't Get Stuck In A Rut


“Landscape architecture and design evolves,” Sarno says. “We learn as we go what’s successful and what’s not successful.

“There are a lot of newer plants that require less maintenance,” he says. “Builders used to use big yews and junipers that needed constant shearing. We don't like to bring in those big gas shears all the time. We would rather selectively hand prune, and let things grow to the right size all by themselves.”


Bring In The Shoppers With Level Green


At Level Green Landscaping, we know lots of shopping center landscaping enhancements

to entice more shoppers to your retail property. We’d love to tell you more.

If you’re not already a Level Green Landscaping client, we’d love to add you to our growing list of happy customers. Our focus is on commercial properties like offices, mixed-use sites, HOAs, municipalities and institutions in Maryland, Washington DC and parts of Virginia.

Contact us at 202-544-0968. You can also request a free consultation online to meet with us one-on-one.

We’d love to hear from you.

Request a Consultation