Seasonal Landscaping Ideas To Help Protect Asphalt
When most property owners think about asphalt maintenance, landscaping isn't usually the first thing that comes to mind.
The truth is that the plants, trees, and design choices surrounding your parking lot, roadway, or paved paths can significantly impact the life of your asphalt.
Proper landscaping can help prevent cracks, drainage problems, and heat damage, while the wrong choices can lead to costly repairs.
If you want to keep your pavement looking great and performing well for years to come, consider how seasonal landscaping can protect it.
Why Landscaping and Asphalt Are Connected
Landscaping does more than make your property look inviting. The layout and types of plants you choose can directly affect your asphalt in several ways.
- Roots can push up from beneath, cracking and lifting asphalt.
- Water flow from rain or melting snow can erode the base if not directed away properly.
- Shade from trees can reduce surface heat and slow oxidation damage.
- Soil stability around asphalt edges can prevent crumbling and deterioration.
You can improve curb appeal and pavement longevity by designing your landscaping with asphalt.
Spring: Preparing for Growth Season
Spring is the perfect time to prepare your landscaping for success and asphalt protection.
- Choose the right plants. Opt for trees and shrubs with non-invasive roots, like crabapple or ornamental pear. Avoid aggressive species like silver maple, poplar, and willow near pavement.
- Mulch along edges. A layer of mulch keeps soil in place, controls weeds, and helps prevent erosion along asphalt borders.
- Regrade soil if needed. After winter, check that the soil around your asphalt slopes away to keep water from pooling on or under the pavement.
Summer: Heat & Sun Protection
Summer's heat and sunlight can accelerate asphalt damage. Thoughtful landscaping can keep surfaces cooler and reduce UV exposure.
- Strategic tree placement. Deciduous trees on the south and west sides of your lot can provide shade during the hottest part of the day, lowering surface temperatures.
- Ground covers and turf. Grass, clover, or low-growing ground covers around pavement edges reduce heat reflection and protect asphalt from drying out.
- Irrigation planning: Adjust sprinklers so they don't overspray onto the asphalt. Frequent moisture can seep into cracks and weaken the base layer.
Fall: Prepping for Harsh Weather
Fall is the time to prepare your property for winter's challenges and to give your asphalt an extra layer of protection.
- Clear leaves and debris. Organic matter traps moisture, which can seep into cracks and speed deterioration.
- Plant for drainage control. Shrubs and rain gardens can help redirect runoff and reduce water pooling near pavement.
- Choose frost-resistant plants. Hardy plants with strong root systems help stabilize soil and reduce shifting during freeze-thaw cycles.
Winter: Damage Prevention Through Landscape Planning
Landscaping can also help your property weather winter's snow, ice, and freeze-thaw cycles.
- Designate snow management zones. When plowed snow is piled directly on asphalt, the melting runoff often carries salt, which can cause surface damage. Plan snow dump areas away from your pavement.
- Install evergreen barriers. Rows of evergreen shrubs or trees can block wind and reduce drifting snow across drive lanes and lots.
- Protect edges with rock or gravel beds. These areas can absorb snowplow impact and prevent chipping at asphalt edges.
A Checklist of Do's & Don'ts for Asphalt Owners
Do:
- Maintain a regular trimming schedule to keep roots from spreading under pavement.
- Leave a buffer zone between plant beds and asphalt edges.
- Inspect irrigation systems to ensure there are no leaks near pavement.
Don't:
- Plant large trees too close to parking lots or roads.
- Do not let mulch, soil, or vegetation grow directly over the pavement's edge, as this can trap moisture and speed up breakdown.
Work With Leritz Busy Bee Paving
Your asphalt is one of the most important investments on your property.
While sealcoating, crack filling, and routine maintenance are critical, landscaping is an often-overlooked tool that can help extend pavement life. With wise, season-specific choices, you can protect your asphalt, enhance curb appeal, and reduce long-term repair costs.
Our Leritz Busy Bee Paving team is here to help with your commercial, municipal, and community asphalt needs (please note that we do not do residential driveways).
When you trust Leritz Busy Bee Paving with your commercial asphalt projects, you can trust that you will get the best materials and service.
Schedule a consultation with our team of pavement experts today to get started.
