5 Valuable Landscaping Hacks For Your Rental Property

As a property manager, your time is valuable. You have a lot of things to worry about from drawing in new high-quality tenants to keeping your current tenants happy. One of the most powerful ways you can do both of these things at the same time is to take good care of your property's landscaping. Quality landscaping makes your rental property a nicer place to live. Best of all, good landscaping is a great way to boost curb appeal and that's a win-win for everyone.

But landscaping is a full-time job. Fortunately, there are many landscaping ideas for rental properties that will help you to beautify the exterior of your apartment or condominium complex in a way that is sustainable, lasting, and easy.

5 Landscaping Hacks For Rental Properties 

1. Outsource Wisely

If you haven't got a good landscaping team on the payroll already, that's an oversight you need to remedy sooner than later. Too many property managers attempt to do the landscaping on their own. Inevitably, this leads to sub-professional-quality work and takes away from other important property management tasks that require your full attention.

Start calling local landscapers. Check their references and reviews, and make sure they have all the requisite licenses and insurance. A good quality landscaper will keep your outdoor spaces looking great all year long. What's more, the best landscaping outfits out there will take the job to the next level, (with your permission), taking the initiative to implement valuable outdoor landscaping installations that will strategically boost the value of your property.

2. Low Maintenance Plants & Gravel

Grass can get out of control quickly. Fortunately, there are low-maintenance grass types that will cut back on mess and require minimal care. These include “no-mow” seed mixes, “low-water” mixes, and single varietal seeds. The benefits of the first two are obvious. They are easier to care for and cost less to maintain. The single varietal seeds are a great choice for creating lawns that have a consistent look and that respond well to sculpting.

Remember that gravel is a good alternative to biological ground cover. It is inexpensive to buy and free to own. The one drawback is it can be mistreated by children. For this reason, it's best to use it sparingly and strategically in open areas where mischief is easy to spot. Overusing gravel can look shabby, so stick to using it in strips. And be sure to pay attention to the color of gravel you use to ensure it suits the complex.

3. Perennial Plants & Flowers

When it comes to setting up a sustainable garden area that's easy to care for, not all plants are created equal. Fortunately, you can find perennial forms of just about any kind of plant, bush, tree, or flower. That's right, there really are perennial flowers! These include Butterfly Bush, Clematis, Echinacea, Phlox, Achillea, and many more. Naturally, some of these do have a more robust and less delicate appearance to them. But some of them look as delicate and lovely as any flower you could ask for, and keep in mind there are also drought-resistant perennials that can help reduce your overall watering bill.

You might think using a weed liner would be an easy hack. We recommend you reconsider. Instead of a weed liner, consider mulch, pea gravel, rocks, and rubber mulch. Plastic weed liners are notoriously difficult to install and when they break down, they make a real mess.

4. Research Space & Illusion

A high-quality landscaper with plenty of training and experience can give you an education on space and illusion. But for a quick illustration consider this: Imagine a narrow walkway. You are standing at the street end. This slender space can be fully populated with flora without filling it with flora by arranging your plantings so that it appears to be filled with green from the street. With bushes trimmed to suit the entry point, a few pieces of ground cover along the edges of the walkway, and tall trees in the distant background, you can create a feeling of lushness without paying for it!

It may take an expert hand to pull the effect off successfully in every space. But that's another reason why it's best to work with a quality landscaper. And, as we mentioned before, the best low-maintenance shrubs for the front of a house are usually perennials.

If you liked our ideas and are interested in learning more about how property management overall can take a huge load off your plate when it comes to rental properties please reach out. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all the expertise and years of experience we offer you as a property owner. To learn more, get in touch with the property management pros at Powell Property Management. Our team will be glad to answer any and all of your questions.

5. Hardscaping for the Rental Maintenance Win

Finally, there's nothing tenants love more than a fully outfitted grilling area with a swimming pool, sports court, and recreational picnic awnings and benches. Stone, concrete, and paver pathways are wonderful ways to decorate an outdoor space. Better still, if constructed properly, these assets will be virtually maintenance-free for years.

 Finally, it's important to be familiar with your local ordinances. As you know, regulatory compliance is key to success in the rental property business. Be sure to obtain a copy of your local green space rules. It will contain a list of grasses and plants that are prohibited in your area. There are good ecological reasons for these prohibitions. Some species of flora are incompatible with others in a given climate and could act as an invasive species. Chances are, your local seed retailer will be savvy to these issues, but you should obtain and review your area's green space rules anyway.

If you liked our ideas and are interested in learning more about how property management overall can take a huge load off your plate when it comes to rental properties please reach out. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all the expertise and years of experience we offer you as a property owner. To learn more, get in touch with the property management pros at Powell Property Management. Our team will be glad to answer any and all of your questions.