As the autumn leaves begin to fall and summer flowers fade, it is important to clear them out of your rental property’s garden and yard while the cold days of winter have still yet to arrive. Although it may be tempting to leave the leaves on the ground, there are some good reasons why this is a bad idea. To keep the health of your rental’s lawn and garden and to encourage strong roots to grow to help them withstand winter temperatures, don’t forget to remove old growth and fallen leaves each fall.
Clearing dead leaves, flowers, and old-growth from your Mt Vernon rental property’s yard is not only done for the sake of appearances. Cleaning and maintaining a home’s exterior is for more than just its appearance. Some property owners are under the impression that since fallen leaves and old-growth are natural, that it’s okay to imitate nature and let them stay on lawns and in gardens to decompose over the winter. They would be mistaken. The trouble with this approach is that layers of dead leaves and other debris can smother lawns and other plants, preventing air, light, and essential nutrients from penetrating the ground below. Healthy landscape plants and grass rely on a healthy root system, which in turn relies on abundant access to water, air, and light.
Having a healthy garden or yard is already a very compelling reason to clear your rental property’s fallen leaves and dead garden plants, but there are still additional reasons to do so. As a case in point, uncleared leaves and dead flowers can result in common plant diseases that can ruin an otherwise healthy yard. As the debris piles up, it creates a cover that traps moisture underneath. This can result in damaging mold growths and other issues that will eventually damage or kill existing plants. Another danger that comes with uncleared dead leaves is an increase in insects and other pests. Many kinds of roaches, spiders, and small mammals flourish in layers of rotting foliage. As the number of these pests explode outdoors, the area they’re infesting would grow larger, reaching the rental home itself, and eventually making its way inside. There is a lot on the line. This is why you should remove dead flowers, plants, and fallen leaves from a rental home’s yard before winter arrives.
Some property owners think that it’s a good idea to rely on their tenants to do the autumn landscaping clean-up. This is a risky thing to do. Tenants may not fully comprehend how important it is to remove dead leaves and flowers. It’s also possible that they just don’t know how to do it properly. There’s also the danger they’re exposed to. If your property has tall trees that shed leaves onto the roof or other elevated surfaces, it would be a really bad idea to ask your tenant to get on a ladder to trim tree branches or clear the fallen leaves away.
Not every leaf that falls has to be cleaned up and removed right away. That wouldn’t make much sense. But if you have large leaf falls, that’s a different story. Those should be addressed in a timely manner to prevent damage to your rental property’s landscaping, foundation, and even the roof and gutters. There are many ways to do this job efficiently. For example, some property owners rake fallen leaves onto the lawn and then use a mulching mower to shred them into fine particles, which will sift down into the soil and fertilize the grass. Others may opt to have a professional company do the annual clean-up. They would hire a company with a track-record to make sure they do it right. This may be more efficient and cost-effective than doing it yourself.
Whichever way you think is best would be fine. The priority here is to make sure you are caring for your rental property’s yard without putting your tenant at risk. If you’re not too busy and have the time, you can be the one to do the job. But, for real estate investors, time is valuable. That is why Real Property Management Results takes care of important seasonal maintenance tasks for property owners who are engaged with more important things. Our top-notch property management services will make sure that your Mt Vernon rental property is cared for properly and will be ready for whatever the winter season brings. Contact us online or call at 812-461-1676 to get started.
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