“Putting the right plant in the right location is a vital component in achieving a client’s resource conservation goals.” —Sharon Marchetti
Consider the landscape problems four-time Best Green Business winner Marizco Landscape Management (MLM) solves for commercial real estate sites and multi-resident housing complexes all over Marin, Sonoma and Napa counties.
First, there’s water use. Thirsty plants and turf send water bills sky-high. So do faulty or antiquated water systems, which can be both wasteful and dangerous; excessive watering can cause sidewalks to crumble, posing a threat to unsuspecting pedestrians and requiring costly repairs.
Next, there are costs associated with chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Certain landscapes require more food and attract more pests—again, think lawns with their hunger for nitrogen and roses with their pesky aphids. But chemical fertilizers and pesticides are expensive, and many studies show a link between their use and a decline in beneficial insects, water quality and human health. Reducing the use of the chemicals not only helps the bottom line, it also lets owners meet the needs of businesses and individuals who want a less toxic community in which to live and work.
Finally, there’s the problem of polluting equipment and outdated maintenance practices. Think of the noise and air pollution from gas-powered mowers and blowers. Or consider the time, money and nutrients wasted when leaf matter is stripped from planter boxes and walkways, and then hauled away to be dumped. Choosing plants simply because they’re fast-growing, cheap or low-maintenance can backfire if the end result is a landscape that’s unattractive or overgrown within a year.
MLM takes a thorough and professional approach to address these problems. A project manager sits down with clients to understand objectives, timeline and budget. Then MLM identifies underlying problems and presents solutions—showing how replacing sprinklers with a drip irrigation system and turf with native plants, for example, will dramatically reduce water costs and pesticide use while creating a vibrant habitat for people and wildlife.
“Putting the right plant in the right location is a vital component in achieving a client’s resource conservation goals,” says Sharon Marchetti, sales and marketing manager at MLM. “We’re forthright when we recognize plant material is in a location where it won’t perform as desired, or when it’s going to cost the client money and cause complications over time and yield very little value.”
Other strategies, both at the client site and on the 15-acre MLM corporate campus, also promote sustainability. MLM uses special equipment to mulch plant matter back into flower beds and turf to reduce water use and put nutrients back into the soil without chemical fertilizers. All of its mowers and small power equipment, as well as several vehicles in its fleet, are low-emission. It incorporates integrated pest management techniques and has earned numerous licenses and certifications for holistic and water-efficient landscape management. It also provides appropriate equipment to ensure the safety of its crews when chemicals are applied. And the company not only recycles, it also purchases recycled consumer products for its office.
“Pierre Marizco, our founder, was inspired by the knowledge that he could reduce the carbon footprint and also improve the safety of our crews by reducing unnecessary chemical exposures through a sustainable landscape management approach,” says Marchetti.
MLM’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and savings has led to powerful results for clients. At Pt. Tiburon Bayside Homeowners Association in Marin County, MLM has, in four years, converted the 7.5-acre commercial site from conventional landscaping methods to sustainable using Bay Friendly principles, earning recognition from the Marin Municipal Water District. At the Airport Business Center, MLM replaced turf at primary entry points with colorful, drought-tolerant native plants, generating compliments and a 62 percent reduction in water use—a whopping 12 percent more than required by state and local mandates.
Marizco helped a senior community reduce waste and create a relaxing environment by converting to an efficient water system and replacing two acres of lawn with flowering bulbs and shrubs. Net gain: a 77 percent reduction in annual water use, a 33 percent reduction in maintenance costs, a significant reduction in pesticide use and the elimination of gas-powered equipment.
Says Sharon, “Residents tell us that, instead of being disturbed by sounds of noisy mowers, they now hear birds chirping and bees buzzing.”
