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Breathe cleaner air with indoor plants
Let’s explore how you can breathe cleaner air with indoor plants. You’re sitting in the office, sipping a cup of coffee, and notice that you’re feeling a bit off. A bit sluggish. In fact, you’ve been feeling this way for a while. But why? You get enough sleep, go to the gym and take your vitamins – especially the most important one, Vitamin C (for Caffeine!). So why are you feeling run down? There are many possible reasons, but one of the more likely is little known and quite surprising – indoor air pollution! So now you’re wondering how to fix this problem. Can something be done to counteract indoor air pollution? The answer is yes. And the solution, simple and beautiful. It’s indoor plants. Feeling Under The Weather? It’s been proven that indoor air quality is generally much poorer than that of the outdoors. Not only are VOCs generally more concentrated indoors, but CO2 levels are much higher, especially when there are many people inhabiting a space. Now add poor building ventilation, and you’ve really got a problem! Some people report that they experience headaches, nausea and fatigue indoors – a condition that has come to be known as “Sick Building Syndrome”. It’s important for companies to keep this in mind, as productivity and employee health go hand in hand. Bring The Outdoors Inside So you’re experiencing symptoms of “Sick Building Syndrome”, but what can you do about it? You don’t need to change your workplace. And you certainly don’t need to spend all of your time outside! All you need to do is add a decent amount of indoor plants to your space. The more the better. Here’s why: Indoor plants improve wellbeing Certain types of indoor plants have been proven to reduce levels of CO2 and increase
Large-scale indigenous landscaping
We deliver large-scale landscaping services from planning and installation to sign-off and ongoing maintenance.
Protect your business with a proper security plan
Keep your business safe with an up-to-date security plan, improved cybersecurity and physical security.
Hardscaping – The shortcut to breathtaking and low-maintenance premises
Now that winter is upon us, it’s time to get the property ready for visitors. This is unofficially the season for premises improvement. Hardscaping is one of our favourite topics to discuss – partly because it’s interesting, but mostly because we’re REALLY good at it. The truth about hardscaping Why hardscaping? Well, we’re old hands in this business and we’ve seen something as simple as a pathway transform a property into a design that looks deliberate and eye-catching. And, there are so many reasons to love hardscaping; namely, it’s a lazy person’s perfect go-to for pristine premises with little to no maintenance. Yup, that’s right. Most hardscaped garden features just exist, beautifully, without weeding, pest control, watering, or rigorous cleaning. These hardscaped features are our favourite – they’re super aesthetic in the garden and contribute to improved property value. Decking for multi-level hardscaping Decking is commonly made from wood, and yes, we hear you, this can be challenging to maintain. That said, if your deck is undercover and your wood is sealed and treated properly, it won’t need much attention, apart from perhaps an annual sanding and reseal. Sound like a mission? Try an alternative instead… Composite is made from a mixture of recycled wood and plastic, so you’re reusing and recycling. Composite is commonly used in public areas, like beaches and at nature reserves, it’s super resilient and virtually maintenance-free. Patios for a seamless flow from indoors to outside One thing to love about hardscaping in the form of a patio is the variety of choices you have available. Stone, brick, tiles, outdoor carpeting, artificial turf, or even rubber all make great patio surfaces. Choosing the right surface ties into the look you’re going for – smooth and polished or rustic and earthy? Maybe homely or super chic? Patios
Indoor plants: 3 Subtle ways to drastically improve your productivity
As the younger generation moves into entrepreneurial positions, the working environment is changing. The previously drab, air-conditioned offices with small grey cubicles are replaced with open and collaborative work environments, bright colours, comfortable break rooms – and every corner has a trendy indoor plant. Every office can benefit from more indoor plants, not just the trendsetters. The idea behind the indoor plant trend Turns out, there’s more to this than following a trend. Bringing plants into your decor has a powerful impact on everyone; your office-based teams, your clients, and your business as a whole. Here are the fast facts: 1. Indoor plants cause stress levels to plummet Thanks to our prehistoric ancestors, the colour green, alongside leafiness, makes us feel safe. It’s built into our DNA. Bringing real plants into our functional spaces helps to activate this ancient mechanism that soothes us. It’s not a conscious thing – if you were to put words to how it feels – it’s like walking into a room and instantly feeling comfortable there. The benefits business owners can enjoy? Calm and de-stressed people that are more productive. How to do it? Acquire a good combination of hanging and potted plants. Go for a variety of plants so that you have different shades of green. 2. Indoor plants help people to breathe easy Confined spaces, like offices, often result in stagnant air building up. So, you share a lot of carbon dioxide with coworkers – sounds a little unpleasant, doesn’t it? If you need the office windows closed for the sake of the air-conditioning, even more so. Plants are game-changers here. They convert carbon dioxide into breathable air, which naturally improves everyone’s health. We also know how important oxygen is for optimal brain function. There are interesting studies on the plant varieties that
Benefits of Commercial Landscaping
As a business owner, you know the importance of presenting a professional image, and for that you will need commercial landscaping. That image extends beyond your dress and businesslike manner – it also includes your office premises. Often companies invest in their interiors but forget the face of their headquarters, the exterior. What makes commercial landscaping the best choice for your business? We’ve outlined the benefits below: Here are 4 Benefits of Commercial Landscaping Make a good first impression Make first impressions count. What you might not realise, is that the outward appearance of your office influences your potential client’s opinion. It’s the first thing your customers lay eyes on, before meeting you and your team. That’s why commercial landscaping is vital for any business. A neat, well-maintained exterior goes a long way to inspire confidence in your company’s ability. But there’s more to it than having a clean, modern-looking building. If the area is devoid of greenery and texture it becomes cold and harsh. A beautiful garden or balance of stylish hardscaping and bushy shrubs will instantly uplift your property and create an inviting aura. Increase safety Commercial landscaping serves a dual purpose. Not only does it enhance the look and feel of your business, but it also makes the space safer for employees and visitors. Implementing level, unobstructed pathways and strategic lighting makes your premises easier to navigate, minimising the possibility of falls and injuries. A clearly outlined walkway also helps guide visitors within the space, drawing attention to the entrance and key areas of your office. A professional service, such as FSG Landscaping, will design and maintain your grounds, ensuring maximum safety and value of your property. Enhance your work environment A beautifully designed space doesn’t only promote your professionalism but fosters your employees’ commitment as well.
Landscaping project: 155 West Street, Sandton
We love nothing better than sinking our teeth into a new landscaping project, especially one in Sandton’s bustling commercial district. During our recent installation, we had the pleasure of collaborating with landscaping architect Karen, from Ochre. Our client, Redefine, required the service at their renovated office building, 155 West Street, Sandton. The building is a careful blend of form and function, with serene pause areas balancing the corporate atmosphere. We worked in two areas, the ground floor and an outdoor space on the building’s fourth floor. With the project done and dusted, it’s safe to say we delivered, and then some. Discover how the installation went below: It’s all about the curb appeal Working on-site with contractors, WBHO, we had great fun bringing Karen’s design to life. The first part of this landscaping project focused on the ground floor. We began by clearing the site of old vegetation, including felling and sprucing up the existing trees. Once the new bed areas were ready, we imported topsoil and compost in preparation for planting. A beautiful selection of plants and trees followed, all placed as per the landscape architect’s cohesive design, as well as an automated irrigation system. The surrounding greenery gives the whole building an air of invitation, softening the strong, modern lines. We also installed Slimline paving from Bosun, neatening the exterior walkways. To finish off, we unified the outdoor and indoor space by installing a lovely selection of plants inside the Atrium. The view from the top The second part of our installation was a top floor pause area. An outdoor section on the fourth floor, the space had to live up to the impressive views of the surrounding city. The finished product is a quiet seating area where one can take a moment to breathe, reflect and
Reasons to outsource contract cleaning services
Looking for reasons to outsource contract cleaning services? Commercial and industrial cleaning services requires a specialist approach. FSG offers contracted cleaning services to help businesses in any industry achieve compliance. The services we offer include:
Rooftop landscaping: Maximise use of space
Rooftop landscaping holds many benefits, especially to companies like this one. Apartments on William provides safe and comfortable accommodation to youngsters from out of town, enrolled to study at tertiary institutions in Pretoria. The student life in this city is a constant hustle and bustle – as young people discover their feet in the world, whilst earning a tertiary education. Safety has become a major concern, with many parents living in other locations, trusting that their children are staying in a safe environment that’s conducive to both studying – and a little student life fun. Rentals 4 Students addresses every aspect of student accommodation. Not only is it delightfully upmarket, but it’s also close to all the major bus routes and basic amenities, being in the lovely suburb, Brooklyn. It’s a new facility, so it is still in the process of accepting new applicants. We have been involved in its establishment for the past year, ensuring their landscaping is tip top! The benefits of rooftop landscaping Being for young people, the accommodation has to cater to their social requirements. This means maximum use of space, with outdoor facilities for relaxing and entertaining. An apartment building is potentially a challenge in this regard, as there is no garden, as such. We made use of the only outdoor space available to us – the rooftop, by installing superlative rooftop landscaping. Braai facilities, colourful pots, artificial turf and the elevated views of the surrounding town make it spacious and comfortable. Naturally, getting the materials for the installation of the rooftop landscaping, when the job is this large, can be a challenge. We had to utilise tower cranes to hoist the materials up. Igneous concrete products (custom made pots) were hoisted up – as you can see they’re large! They’re also special because they’re