Author: Jill Odam of NALP on The Edge
As more clients are discovering the value of biophilia, more are requesting interior plantscaping services as well. While your landscape company is capable of taking on all things exterior, the nature of interior plantscaping is a world unto itself.
The Nuances of Interior Plantscaping
If you don’t have a dedicated interior plant care team on staff, there are a lot of aspects that can be overlooked when trying to take on interior plantscaping yourself.
“Interior landscaping is not just getting water bucket and splashing water,” Raimondi says. “Skilled, trained and certified interior horticulturists are needed to perform various tasks on a regular basis. Lack of doing so will result in poor plant performance.”
Raimondi notes that most interior plants are warrantied as long as the service agreement is in place, so replacement plant costs can spiral out of control with poor service techniques.
“Often, we see that two different skill sets are required,” says Eric Graff, regional director for Ambius, a nationwide company headquartered in Reading, Pennsylvania. “Maintaining plants indoors requires a level of delicacy, cleanliness, and professionalism while working in and around our client’s employees and customers. Interior companies are often able to provide a meticulous, hand-manicured solution catered to each individual plant.”
Graff adds that experienced interior plantscapers will know which plant species will perform the best as well as proper plant placement to ensure they receive enough airflow and natural light within the building.
“Working around and with existing architecture often involves outdated HVAC units, poor lighting, and other factors that can negatively impact indoor plant health,” Graff says.
Other nuances of interior plantscaping include being aware of loading dock rules and regulations, cafeteria hours, executive area time restrictions, off-hours maintenance activities, and your employees possibly needing ID or entry badges.
“When you work inside a commercial office building, for example, you must complete your work quietly, efficiently, and cleanly to not disrupt the people around you,” Graff says. “Interior companies generally know the ‘unwritten rules’ of corporate professionalism and how to follow them.”
Additionally, different insurance coverage may come into effect, and pesticide regulations may vary depending on your state.
“Employees will be in and around sensitive information and next to desk areas containing personal belongings of the client’s employees,” Raimondi says. “Security is much tighter indoors. Having a good working relationship with an interior plantscaper is essential, as these obstacles are daily tasks for an interior landscape contractor.”
Benefits of Partnering with Interior Plantscapers
Choosing to partner with an interior landscape contractor allows you to create a cohesive design for your clients as they move in from the outside to the inside.
“Any customer-facing business can benefit from a combined landscape and interior plantscaping approach,” Graff says. “However, businesses looking to enhance foot traffic and attract new/returning customers should consider this combined exterior and interior design approach as a way to make a positive first impression.”
Graff notes that more clients are seeking out one vendor who can provide multiple services.
“The capability to bid on both the exterior and interior landscaping project could be a key differentiating factor that helps you participate in and ultimately win more bids,” Graff says. “Why stop there? The right strategic partnership could open the door to seasonal holiday decorations, ambient scenting and more!”
Raimondi agrees that beyond the competitive advantage it offers for winning more bids, these partnerships can also provide your clients with bundled savings.
“They can streamline payments by one vendor, have one voice to connect with and have better accountability,” Raimondi says. “The contractor can sharpen their costs, and possibly include more sites to manage.”
Raimondi says that when they explain this opportunity to clients, he almost never has any pushback and larger clients can save more due to economies of scale.
“The synergies of working with another contractor that you can trust with a good agreement that outlines the scope is invaluable,” Raimondi says.
Crafting a Successful Partnership
When seeking out an interior landscape contractor, Graff advises reviewing one another’s work to make sure you are comfortable with the quality and professionalism they demonstrate.
Successfully partnering with an interior plantscaping company comes down to clearly defining roles and responsibilities and having strong communication skills.
Raimondi encourages thinking through and discussing who will be doing what. For instance, does a green roof fall under the responsibility of the exterior landscaper or the interior planscapers? Similarly, if you do holiday lighting, will you handle all the décor or will the interior company install holiday decorations inside?
Graff adds that being the middleman in communication with your clients can delay problems to solutions, so you should communicate early and often.
“It is important to communicate regularly with your subcontractors and to set clear expectations and guidelines for them to follow from the beginning,” Graff says. “Building a trusting relationship is key to regular direct interaction with clients to ensure needs are met, and problems are solved quickly.”
