As an investor, one of your priorities should be ensuring your South End rental properties have pleasant yet low-maintenance landscaping. Xeriscaping is an approach that is becoming a popular choice around the country. Xeriscaping has its origins in desert areas. Despite this, it is quickly becoming the landscaping method of choice for rental property owners in many places. This can be attributed to the benefits xeriscaping gives to both owners and tenants. Choosing to xeriscape a yard is an individual choice. To make that choice easier, you must first know how you can benefit from xeriscaping.
Learning what xeriscaping is and is not will help you figure out if it is the right option for your properties. There are some common misperceptions about xeriscaping. Property owners sometimes think that a xeriscaped yard is one that has no grass or trees. This could not be further from the truth! Xeriscaping is a style of landscaping that allows you to use smaller amounts of water more efficiently. This includes reducing, but not eliminating, lawns or flower beds, planting hardy, drought-resistant trees and shrubs, and adding decorative rocks or other “hardscaping” elements.
This landscaping approach comes with a lot of benefits. Planting trees and shrubs that need less water also mean lower utility costs. Most xeriscaping includes the use of a drip system to deliver water directly to plants, avoiding waste. Xeriscaping is also good for preventing soil erosion. In wet conditions, decorative rock can help stabilize saturated soils, control drainage, and keep running water away from your property’s foundation. In dry climates, decorative rock is used to prevent wind erosion and to cover unsightly bare patches or in shady parts of the yard.
Decorative rock comes in a wide range of colors and sizes, making it easy for you to add elements to your landscaping. There are also ways to achieve a xeriscaped yard for far less money than usual especially if you can find and use low-cost or even free materials. Consider the eye-catching appeal of a path made from river rock or pebbles curving across the yard. Landscaping with rocks gives investors the advantage of having beautiful landscaping year-round.
Another important benefit of xeriscaping is that it is very low-maintenance. Having smaller lawn areas means less mowing and trimming while still keeping the yard looking nice. Hardy trees and plants are usually slower growing, therefore less trimming will be required. Your tenants may be encouraged to stay longer in your rental home if you have a low-maintenance yard. Your water bill will be much lower, and your property will stay attractive from season to season.
Need more guidance on landscaping? Has maintenance become overwhelming? Real Property Management Commonwealth has a full staff of South End property managers ready to take over for you. For more information, contact us online or call us at 617-299-2342.
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