You may wonder if including some trees in your St. Mary’s County rental property’s landscaping can help boost your rental rate. And there is, indeed, some good evidence to support that claim. But what you don’t often hear is that the type of tree you plant also influences your cash flows. Not all trees are appropriate for a rental situation.
The big question, though, is whether or not planting fruit trees on a rental property is a good idea. While there are no hard and fast rules about which type of tree is best, it is essential to consider all aspects of fruit trees before you finalize your decision, especially since different trees grow better in different climates.
The Best Trees for Rental Properties
A profitable rental property has excellent curb appeal. And having one or more shady trees in the yard adds to that curb appeal. A simple criteria for the ideal trees for a rental property would be those that grow well in your climate, are visually appealing and shady, but are also easy to maintain. If that criterion seems daunting, you don’t need to worry. Trees that fit the bill in many parts of the country include evergreen arborvitae, spruce, flowering dogwoods, and maple trees. Oak and desert willow are also great to plant in rental properties. These kinds of trees grow well, offer good shade after a short period, and don’t need a lot of pruning from year to year.
The Skinny on Fruit Trees
Your St. Mary’s County property manager might think a fruit tree would be a good feature in your rental house—some renters also like that you can grow and eat fruit straight from the yard. But unless your tenant has experience caring for and maintaining fruit trees and has the time to do the job properly, fruit trees can become a burden. For many renters, the required work that comes with having fruit trees is enough reason for them not to apply for a rental with one.
Please note that fruit trees are not recommended for rental properties due to their high maintenance requirements. Planting and maintaining fruit trees can be time-consuming and costly and may not be practical for rental properties. Fruit trees can take years to mature and produce fruit, and they require regular trimming and pest control measures to ensure a good harvest. Additionally, fruit trees may attract pests and rodents, which can be a nuisance for tenants. Therefore, it is best to avoid planting fruit trees on rental properties and opt for low-maintenance trees.
Fruit Trees in the Lease Documents
If you are willing to take on the responsibility of having fruit trees on your rental property, you need to be very clear in your lease about your tenant’s obligations where those trees are concerned. It is not enough to assign landscaping maintenance to your tenants; they may need to realize that this includes regular pruning and clean-up after fruit trees, which is a lot of extra work. So, if you intend to avoid taking care of the trees yourself, lay it out in your lease documents that the tenants need to care for the trees or hire a professional to do it for them.
At Real Property Management Gold, we work with rental property owners like you to help create beautiful, low-maintenance landscaping your tenants won’t mind keeping up. Contact us today to learn more.
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