When Lessen took over facilities management for a large national retail bank, the mulch program carried over from the previous provider left 330 properties outside the program entirely, and many landscape beds had gone four or more seasons without fresh mulch. Lessen led a one-time, $935K restoration that was completed within eight weeks, then moved the full portfolio to a lighter annual refresh. The go-forward mulch program now runs at approximately $450K a year, more than 50% below the restoration investment, while holding every branch to the same property standard.
Background and pain points
Landscaping is one of the most visible operating expenses in a branch network, and banking locations typically require more extensive landscaping programs than other property types, driven by larger landscaped areas and stricter appearance standards. When coverage is inconsistent, the portfolio no longer presents to a single standard.
The mulch program carried over from the bank's previous facilities provider covered only part of the portfolio. Hundreds of locations had never been budgeted or maintained for mulch, and a portfolio review identified 330 properties that sat outside the program entirely. At many of those sites, beds had gone four or more seasons without fresh mulch.
The impact went beyond appearance. Organic mulch breaks down over time and must be replenished, and beds that went years without it were left bare. That left irrigation lines exposed to sunlight and easier to damage during routine maintenance, and created potential trip hazards on site. Re-establishing coverage required a full layer of approximately 3 inches, in line with the 2 to 3 inch depth university extension services recommend, before a lighter maintenance refresh could be effective.
Creating new efficiencies
Lessen split the work into two phases: restore the beds that had fallen behind, then maintain the entire portfolio at a lower annual cost.
Portfolio-wide program review
Lessen reviewed the inherited program location by location, identified the 330 properties not included in mulch service and brought them into the program, so every branch is now held to the same landscape standard.
A dedicated restoration budget
The bank earmarked $935K in its 2026 budget for restoration, funding the catch-up work as a defined, one-time project.
Full-depth restoration in eight weeks
Beds that had gone without mulch for four or more seasons received approximately 3 inches of mulch to re-establish proper coverage. All restoration work was completed within eight weeks.
Fewer hazards and fewer repairs
Restoration corrected bare landscape beds, covered exposed irrigation lines and addressed potential trip hazards, reducing the conditions that drive future irrigation repair needs. Consistent mulch coverage also reduces soil moisture loss, which supports lower water demand across restored beds.
A lighter annual maintenance refresh
With the beds restored, the program shifted to an annual refresh of 1.5 to 2 inches of mulch, enough to maintain coverage without repeating the cost of a full rebuild.
From catch-up spending to a predictable annual program
The restoration closed a multi-season gap in eight weeks and reset the baseline for the entire portfolio. Because restored beds now start from proper coverage, the annual refresh uses roughly half the depth of the restoration layer (1.5 to 2 inches versus approximately 3).
The go-forward annualized mulch spend is approximately $450K, more than 50% lower than the one-time restoration investment, while maintaining consistent property standards across the branch network. The bank now runs one mulch program across its full portfolio, with a known annual cost in place of uneven coverage and deferred work building up location by location.
Key takeaways
- 330 properties that sat outside the inherited mulch program were identified and brought into a single, portfolio-wide standard.
- A $935K restoration, funded in the 2026 budget, re-established approximately 3 inches of coverage on beds that had gone four or more seasons without mulch, with all work completed within eight weeks.
- Restoration corrected bare beds, exposed irrigation lines and potential trip hazards, reducing future irrigation repair needs.
- The program now runs on an annual 1.5 to 2 inch refresh at approximately $450K per year, more than 50% below the one-time restoration investment.
Results reflect this client's specificprogram and are not presented as a vertical-wide benchmark.
