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 before the warmer days leave and winter begins 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. So that your rental’s lawn and garden continue to stay healthy and also to encourage strong roots so that your plants can withstanding winter temperatures, your best course of action is to remove old growth and fallen leaves each fall.
Clearing dead leaves, flowers, and old-growth from your La Plata rental property’s yard isn’t just about keeping the appearance of cleanliness. The benefits of taking care of a home’s exterior includes things that aren’t cosmetic. There are property owners that think it’s a good idea to imitate nature by leaving fallen leaves and old-growth on lawns and in gardens to decompose over the winter. They wrongly assume that because it’s natural, therefore it’s good. The danger of taking this approach is that the 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.
While having healthy plants in your garden is already a very good reason to clear your rental property’s fallen leaves and dead garden plants, there are still additional reasons besides that. 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 covers everything else. This may trap moisture underneath and can result in damaging mold growths and other issues that will 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 so much at stake. This is why dead flowers, plants, and fallen leaves have to be removed from a rental home’s yard before winter arrives.
Some property owners feel that this responsibility falls on the tenant but that may not be a good idea. Owners should not rely on their tenants for autumn landscaping clean-up. Tenants may not know the extent of how removing dead leaves and flowers can affect the home; they may also not know how to remove them properly. Tenants may also be putting themselves at risk and that’s not good for the property owner as well. If your property has tall trees that shed leaves onto the roof or other elevated surfaces, you wouldn’t want your tenant to get on a ladder to trim tree branches or clear the fallen leaves away. It would be a bad idea to ask your tenant to do that.
Not every leaf that falls has to be removed immediately. That wouldn’t be practical. But large leaf falls, however, must be addressed in a timely manner. You have to deal with them to prevent damage to your rental property’s landscaping, foundation, and even the roof and gutters. There are different ways to efficiently do the job. 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 want to do it would most likely be fine. What’s important is that you take care of 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, as a real estate investor, your time is precious. That is why Real Property Management Gold takes care of important seasonal maintenance tasks for property owners that value their time. Our first-rate property management services will properly care for your La Plata rental property and get it ready for whatever winter brings. Contact us online or call at 301-392-2172 to get started.
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