More often than not, when we chat with clients with rental properties we hear a common question, “What’s an easy landscaping choice for a rental?”.
Rental property gardens need to be low maintenance, while still looking attractive to potential tenants (us Kiwi’s love the quarter acre dream!).
By making smart choices right from the beginning on garden layout, plantings, and surface choices, you can achieve a low maintenance solution which still looks attractive, adds value to your property and appeals to tenants. The best landscaping choices for rental properties are always going to be those cut down on your garden maintenance time in-between tenants, and make it easy for up-keep along the way.
More often than not, when we chat with clients with rental properties we hear a common question, “What’s an easy landscaping choice for a rental?”.
Rental property gardens need to be low maintenance, while still looking attractive to potential tenants (us Kiwi’s love the quarter acre dream!).
By making smart choices right from the beginning on garden layout, plantings, and surface choices, you can achieve a low maintenance solution which still looks attractive, adds value to your property and appeals to tenants. The best landscaping choices for rental properties are always going to be those cut down on your garden maintenance time in-between tenants, and make it easy for up-keep along the way.
Size Matters
Opt for large garden beds rather than small ones. A densely planted garden bed filled with a tightly knit matrix of plants requires little grooming and pruning to control its size. Know how large each plant is going to grow so you can space the plants accordingly.
Ground covers
Don't forget to plant ground cover plants - they create a carpet on the earth, which makes it more difficult for weeds to take hold. NZ native varieties can be a good choice, as they often naturally suit Auckland weather conditions.
Consider lawn alternatives
Keep lawn areas to a minimum and make sure they have distinct borders or edging for easy mowing and trimming. Install deep gravel paths instead of grassy walkways and think about increasing deck or patio sizes.
Planting
Select plants for their drought-tolerance, suitability for soil type and hardiness. It’s a great idea to employ the services of a garden designer at this stage who can suggest a portfolio of hardy, low maintenance plants that will thrive in an Auckland climate and look good.
Hedging maintenance
Make sure that if you are planting hedging plants, you know how tall they can grow. Nothing can be more expensive or high maintenance than keeping hedges in check, and tenants won’t necessarily know how to keep them trimmed properly. The easiest solution is to buy the correct hedges in the first-place, to save long-term hassle.
Mulch, mulch, mulch!
Mulch is hands down the best way to improve your soil: it keeps soil nutrients from being washed away in the rain, and even adds nutrients slowly if you use an organic material. Perhaps its biggest benefit for rental properties though is the ability to keep weeds at bay! Mulch can also reduce watering needs in the hotter months by keeping moisture in the ground longer.
Following these easy landscaping ideas will save you time and money on the upkeep of your Auckland rental property – they cost little to implement, and by making smart decisions with your garden design you’ll be sure to cut back on maintenance in the long-run.
