How to make a garden "tenant friendly"

Gardens are a great feature to add to a property and can take a property from “house” to “home”. Not only does it give your investment curb appeal and create a sense of belonging in the backyard or courtyard, but it can be another feature that attracts prospective tenants. While an aesthetically pleasing garden can attract quality tenants, you need to make sure the garden is easy to maintain. Ideally, green spaces and gardens at your investment property should be pleasant on the eye, easy to maintain and cost-effective. In this article, we outline some tips to ensure your garden is tenant friendly.

Keep the garden low maintenance

Tenants are more likely to look after a garden if it’s easy to manage. This means you should go for low-maintenance plants that thrive in the climate where your property is located. And if you haven't yet planted a garden at your property, or you're making some updates, be mindful of areas where plants and trees generally don't grow very well.

Pick hardy plants

Tough plants are perfect for a tenant-friendly garden. These may include lilly pilly trees, magnolias, willow myrtle, bottle brush and star jasmine. If you're unsure which, hardy plants would be best for your location and garden orientation, speak to someone at your local nursery who can help point you in the right direction.

Create an edge to garden beds

Trimming the edges of the grass can be a tough task if you're not handy with a whipper snipper. You can remove the need to trim grass edges by lining garden beds with bricks, pavers or PVC edging material. Something that looks neat and is easy to keep clean and clear is a great option.

Prevent weeds with mulch

Weeds grow easily when there's space to fill. Prevent weeds from growing by adding a layer of mulch around your garden beds and large pots. This solution is cost-effective and makes your gardens look tidy and presentable. You could schedule regular mulching with other maintenance tasks around your property to keep the gardens looking tidy and fresh.

Be mindful of water

Choosing plants that don't require much water is also a good option, especially in drought-prone areas. Again, talk to your local nursery and share details about your property's soil type and location to make sure your garden isn't just tenant friendly but water-wise too.

Providing a garden in your rental property is a great way to improve the appeal of your property. If you're planning some updates to your gardens or are thinking of adding one at your property, follow the tips above to make sure your garden is easy to keep green and tidy all year round.