When it comes to rental properties, curb appeal is the first chance to make a great impression on future tenants. A fresh, colorful, and well-maintained exterior makes a unit instantly more desirable. Therefore, as Spring unfolds before us, it is the perfect time to evaluate your property’s landscaping. So, join us as we reveal our Spring rental landscaping tips, along with a few things to avoid when planning your curb appeal below.
Easy Rental Landscaping Tips to Get Ready for Spring and Summer
The goal of landscaping at a rental property is to provide maximum impact for minimal effort and modest cost. Additionally, it is best to choose appealing options that are low maintenance for both landlords and tenants. Check out our list of the most maintenance-friendly rental landscaping tips below.
- Add Some Freestanding Planters
- Build Up Barriers with Hardscaping
- Cut Down on Weeds with Cloth Flowerbed Barriers
- Polish Things Off with Some Inorganic Mulch
Add Some Freestanding Planters
Freestanding planters full of beautiful flowers create a colorful and welcoming entryway for any rental property. For the most impact, select bright spring annuals that are well-suited to your location’s climate. Also, if you own a multifamily property, adding planters outside of the main entrance appeals to both tenants and visitors.
Build Up Barriers with Hardscaping
Stone pavers and brick accents are an attractive way to spruce up flowerbeds or frame a sidewalk. This adds curb appeal while simultaneously cutting down grass surface area, creating less maintenance. Additionally, if space allows, using hardscaping materials to create an inviting patio for outdoor entertaining is a great way to add value to a rental property.
Cut Down on Weeds with Cloth Flowerbed Barriers
Weeds are inevitable, and landlords cannot always rely on tenants to pull weeds when needed. Thankfully, there are inexpensive products on the market to help keep those weeds at bay. So, as one of our top rental landscaping tips, consider adding a plastic or cloth flowerbed barrier. Keep in mind, plastic barriers will last longer and are therefore lower maintenance. On the other hand, cloth barriers are biodegradable, and landlords may need to replace them every 1 to 3 years.
Mulch serves many purposes for low maintenance rental landscaping. For example, mulch helps to control soil erosion, deter weeds, and retain moisture. That said, organic mulch absorbs moisture which could evaporate and never make it to the plants below. Besides, mulch may attract burrowing pests and termites. So, consider an environmentally friendly option such as inorganic or rubber mulch. Inorganic materials hold up well year after year and allow more water to reach the plant.
Rental Landscaping Tips for Choosing Low Maintenance Plants
Whether handling the outdoor maintenance yourself, hiring a vendor, or relying on tenants, low maintenance plantings are the key to success. So, to ensure you achieve the best result, check out these rental landscaping tips for choosing plants and flowers below.
- Stick to Native Plants – Whenever possible, using native plants as part of a landscaping scheme ensures they can thrive in the local climate. Moreover, thriving in the local environment means the plants are naturally low maintenance and hardy, which cuts down on death and replacement.
- Consider Ornamental Grasses – Ornamental grasses offer a low maintenance accent with dramatic impact. Grasses add visual interest and texture to any landscape plan. However, to keep them looking their best, prune grasses at least once per year.
- Get the Most for Your Budget with Perennials – With proper care, perennials come back strong year after year. Thus, saving time, money, and upkeep while providing great curb appeal.
- Add Ornamental and Evergreen Trees – For year-round privacy, shade, or foliage, evergreen trees are a landlord’s best option. Consider an ornamental cypress, blue weeping spruce, or arborvitae. These options are easy to maintain and great choices for a rental property.
- Mix in Colorful Dwarf Shrubs – Small shrubs liven up your flowerbed with texture, variety, height, and in some cases, added color. That said, dwarf shrubs require minimal pruning, making them a great choice for rentals. Check out varieties of smokebush, Virginia sweetspire, or Japanese spirea.
Things to Avoid When Landscaping a Rental Property
When working on a rental property landscaping plan, there are many things landlords must consider. In addition to our rental landscaping tips above, there are a few things to avoid. Follow along with us below to find out more.
- HOA Restrictions – Keep in mind that changing the home’s exterior appearance may be subject to HOA guidelines or local ordinance restrictions. So, if making any major changes, especially to hardscaping or fences, check with applicable local authorities.
- Do Not Over Personalize – Exaggerated personal style, lawn ornaments, or furniture sends the wrong message to prospective tenants. Therefore, stick to a more neutral atmosphere with low maintenance native plants where tenants can add their own personal touches.
- Over Development – Remember that too much pavement or patio area can lead to runoff problems and actually be a turnoff for some renters. Instead, keep a balanced mix of open lawn, patio space, and manicured flower and shrubbery beds.
The Stress-Free Way to Handle Rental Landscaping Needs
Whether you need to organize a third-party landscaping vendor or create a lease addendum to ensure the tenants keep up with proper outdoor maintenance, Bay Property Management Group can help. Our team of professional property managers assists in handling every aspect of the rental business process for our clients. So, if you are looking for peace of mind and freedom from the day-to-day tasks bogging you down as a landlord, contact us today!