Landscaping Around Signage: 9 Things You Should Consider

Your signage – it's like a handshake. Think about it: it’s the very first impression people get of your property. That means whether you’re an HOA welcoming new homeowners, a condo association setting the tone, or a commercial property making sure clients don’t miss your turn, signage says an awful lot before anyone even sets foot on your property.

With that in mind, think hard – what is your signage saying about you? 

Here’s the thing you need to know. Signage doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It lives in your landscape. And the way you design that landscape around your signage can make or break your curb appeal. 

Too much overgrowth? Your sign disappears. Wrong plant choices? Your message gets muddled. Poor planning? You’re stuck with costly fixes down the road.

At Landcrafters, we know how to strike the perfect balance between eye-catching landscaping and crystal-clear signage. So let’s dig in (that pun is definitely intended) to the 9 things you should consider when landscaping around signage.

Our Top Nine Signage Considerations: What You Should Know Before You Landscape Around Your Signage

Think About Visibility From All Angles (& Distances)

The age-old question resurfaces: What good is a sign if no one can see it? No, it's not quite a "if a tree falls in the forest and no one's around to hear it, does it make a sound?" question, but it's still an important one. 

When designing landscaping around signage, you need to account for lots of different visibility considerations, for example:

• Driver visibility: Can cars approaching at speed read it in time?
• Pedestrian angles: Does it look good from a sidewalk stroll?
• Community entrances: Can visitors see it both day and night?

Overgrown shrubs or poorly placed palms can block key sightlines. At Landcrafters, we recommend keeping a “visibility bubble” around signs, framing them with landscaping that guides the eye in, rather than distracts from the main message.

Pick Complementing Plants, Not Competing Plants

Your sign is the star of the show. And it deserves to be! That's why your plants should be thought of (and treated as) the supporting cast. You want varieties that enhance and elevate your sign, not overshadow or distract from it. Think about plants like: 

• Low-growing groundcovers like Asiatic jasmine or mondo grass.
• Seasonal color pops with annuals and perennials that won’t block text.
• Textural accents like ornamental grasses that sway without overwhelming.

Our advice? Skip tall, fast-growing shrubs that will need constant trimming and maintenance. The goal is for your landscaping to play a background role while elevating your signage so it shines.

Always Plan for Seasonal Showstoppers

Here in the Tampa Bay area, we’re spoiled with year-round greenery – but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t plan for seasonal flair. Set up a system to rotate in flowers that bring bursts of color during high-traffic seasons (like winter visitors or spring leasing spikes).

By scheduling seasonal installs, you keep signage areas looking fresh without surprise overgrowth. It’s the landscaping equivalent of a wardrobe refresh; your signage stays stylish all year long.

Match the Landscaping to Your Branding

Your signage probably has carefully chosen fonts, colors, and logos. Why not echo those choices in the landscape? Just like you have a whole mood board for your branding elements to ensure your brand feels a certain way, you can create a complementary selection of plants and landscaping elements that support the same. 

For example, a coastal condo might use breezy palms and sea grasses, whereas a luxury HOA might prefer formal hedges and elegant flowering shrubs. Maybe a modern office complex could lean into clean lines with symmetrical plantings.

Landscaping should extend your brand story, making signage feel intentional and aligned with your overall aesthetic.

Opt for Low-Maintenance (Because Nobody Wants a Weekly Headache)

Your signage is a long-term investment; you don’t want maintenance woes eating away at its impact. Choosing low-maintenance, climate-friendly plants is key – especially if you don't plan to have a maintenance team tackling your landscape and pruning your trees every week or month. 

In Tampa Bay and Sarasota, that means drought-tolerant options that thrive in sandy soils and withstand summer storms. 

Think native species, hardy ornamentals, and perennials that don’t need constant babysitting. Less trimming = less chance of snipping your way into blocked or damaged signage.

Don’t Drown the Sign – Plan Your Irrigation Well 

Improper commercial irrigation around signage can spell disaster – rusted posts, warped wood, and faded paint from overspray. That’s why irrigation design should go hand-in-hand with landscape planning.
We always position sprinklers to water plants efficiently without soaking the signage. Drip irrigation, for example, can keep roots happy without turning your monument sign into a mildew magnet.

Light It Up for Nighttime Visibility

Another age-old question for you: What’s the point of beautiful signage if it disappears after sunset? Integrating lighting into your landscape design ensures your sign works overtime, day and night.

Think about adding small elements to light up your sign, like: 

• Uplighting to create drama and highlight textures.
• Pathway lights for safety and ambiance.
• LED spotlights for energy efficiency and long-term savings

When it comes to lighting, we think it should be subtle but effective, making your signage the beacon it’s meant to be.

Focus on Staying Compliant with ADA & Local Ordinances

It’s not just about looks, it’s about legality, too! HOAs, condo boards, and commercial managers need to ensure signage visibility complies with your ADA guidelines, local ordinances, or sustainability principles. 

The last thing you want is for your sign to look stunning but fail compliance inspections. A professional landscape partner makes sure beauty and regulations go hand-in-hand.

Protect Your Investment From Overgrowth & Roots

Signs are permanent fixtures, but plants are living, growing, and (sometimes) unruly. What a balance, right? Without proper planning, roots can crack foundations, branches can scrape surfaces, and vines can swallow text.

Strategic plant placement keeps aggressive growers at bay. Our crews know how to select varieties that won’t overstep their bounds, while still delivering curb appeal that frames your signage beautifully.

Signage Landscaping is Serious Business – But It Should Also Be Beautiful

At Landcrafters, we’ve helped countless Tampa and Sarasota clients enhance their signage with thoughtful landscaping. From grand HOA entrance monuments framed by seasonal color beds, to sleek corporate signage accented with low-profile greenery, the results speak for themselves.

Well-designed signage landscapes don’t just look good, they guide visitors, reinforce your brand, and keep your property polished year-round.

Landscaping around signage isn’t just about planting pretty flowers. It’s about visibility, brand impact, compliance, and long-term protection. When done right, your signage landscaping acts as a “welcome mat” to your entire property. When done wrong? It’s a missed opportunity, and sometimes an expensive mistake.
That’s where we step in. With decades of experience creating standout commercial landscapes in the Tampa Bay area, we know how to design around signage so it’s seen, protected, and celebrated.

Ready to Enhance Your Signs With Landscaping?

Don’t let your signage get lost in the weeds – literally. Partner with Landcrafters for signage landscape design that balances beauty, visibility, and durability.

We specialize in commercial landscape services in Tampa Bay and Sarasota, helping HOAs, condo associations, and property managers elevate their properties with worry-free execution and curb appeal that lasts.

Contact us today and let’s make sure your signage says exactly what it should – loud and clear.