Design a Green Parking Lot

Your “Parking Lot” can become a “Welcoming Garden” which promotes a very positive image. Parking Lot gardens can serve as places for employees to relax and take a break. Green areas surrounding businesses give passers by instant cheer and good feelings. “Wow! How pretty! I’d like to do business with them!” or “Must be a great place to work!”

Here are some ideas on how to change your “Parking Lot” into a “Welcoming Garden”

Use a Framework of Canopy Trees

Trees will provide shade, food and shelter for wildlife and screen views. Tree recommendations include Guayacan, Guamuchil, Wild Olive, Anacua, Colima, Cedar Elm, Sugar Hackberry, Palo Verde, Huisache, Texas Persimmon (Chapote), Texas Sabal and Texas Ebony.

Plant Flower Beds

Plants provide seasonal color, food for wildlife and garden beauty. Plant recommendations include Cenizo, Lantana, Skeleton-leaf Daisy, Native Verbena, Mexican Honeysuckle, Salvia, Turk’s Cap and Mexican Poinciana.

Go Native

Native plants require less water and maintenance and provide food and shelter for our local birds and other animals. Go Native!

Reduce Paved Surface

A goal would be to reduce areas incapable of being penetrated by water, meaning reduce impervious parking lots. Less paving means reducing the need for storm water runoff management. You can turn an island of asphalt into a green island with grass pavers, gravel, pervious concrete and other options.

Use Alternatives for Overflow Parking

Overflow parking areas can be even more “green.” At Quinta Mazatlan the overflow area is called “Emerald Parking” as it is all green grass.