Presenting Your Property in Summer: Landlords' Guide to Attracting Tenants

Thu, 13 July 2023 | Property maintenance

As the summer season arrives, landlords have a unique opportunity to showcase their properties in a way that appeals to potential tenants. One crucial aspect of presenting a property during this time is to pay attention to the outdoor spaces, particularly the garden. A well-maintained and vibrant garden can significantly enhance the overall appeal of a rental property.

In this article, we will explore some valuable summer gardening tips that landlords can implement to attract tenants and create a welcoming environment.

Cutting Your Lawn in Summer

Maintaining an attractive lawn is essential during the summer months. To ensure a healthy and green lawn, consider raising the height of the lawnmower blade. For cool-season grass, aim for a height of 3 to 3.5 inches, while tall fescue and perennial ryegrass can be cut up to 4 inches. Longer grass retains more humidity, which is crucial in hot and dry weather. Schedule lawn mowing in the evening when the grass is dry, as mowing wet grass can lead to clumping. Trimming the edges can also instantly improve the appearance of a tired-looking lawn.

Flower Beds

Enhance the aesthetic appeal of your property by tending to flower beds. Apply mulch to deter weed growth, cultivate the soil after rainfall when it's moist, and keep the soil covered to prevent erosion and water loss. Mulching offers various benefits, including improving soil quality, retaining moisture, and reducing the need for watering and weeding. Different materials, such as fallen leaves, comfrey, straw, wood chips, or stones, can be used for mulching.

Supporting Plants

Certain plants require staking and support to maintain their upright growth. Identify plants that need support and provide them with stakes early in the season to prevent damage later on. Taller plants situated towards the middle or back of a border particularly benefit from early support. By taking care of the necessary support early, you can maintain a neat and visually appealing garden.

Gardening during Cooler Hours

Summer heat can be challenging for both plants and gardeners. To ensure the well-being of your plants, schedule gardening activities during the early morning hours when the heat is less intense. Additionally, water your plants more frequently, especially potted ones, approximately every other day. Consider planting heat-tolerant varieties like hibiscus and Mandevilla, known for their ability to produce beautiful flowers throughout the summer.

Pruning Shrubs

Early summer is an ideal time to prune spring-flowering shrubs such as Philadelphus and Weigela. Remove any damaged or crossing branches within the shrub, pruning them back to an outward-facing bud. This process helps maintain the shrubs' shape and encourages healthy growth for the upcoming season.

Deadheading Summer Flowering Plants

Deadheading is a simple yet effective technique to promote continuous blooming throughout the summer. By removing dead, drooping, or seed-forming flowers, you prevent the plant from setting seed, redirecting its energy into producing more flowers. When deadheading, make sure to snip or pinch the flower off below the base rather than just pulling off the petals, as this ensures the plant doesn't retain any seed-forming parts.

Keep the patio clean

If your property has a patio or decked area, it's crucial to keep it clean and inviting. Regularly sweep and hose down the patio to remove dust, dirt, and plant debris that can accumulate over time. Consider using a pressure washer for a thorough cleaning if available. Additionally, pay attention to the garden furniture and give it a quick once-over to maintain its appearance.

Welcome Guests

Creating a welcoming environment for both tenants and wildlife is an excellent way to enhance the overall appeal of your property. Make your garden bird-friendly by providing bird feeders and watering holes. Incorporate bright, nectar-rich plants to attract birds and create a lively atmosphere. Not only will this add life and charm to your garden, but it will also help keep insects at bay, contributing to a more enjoyable outdoor experience for tenants.

The law of attraction

Presenting your rental property during the summer months requires careful attention to the garden and outdoor spaces. By implementing these summer gardening tips, landlords can significantly enhance the attractiveness of their properties and better attract tenants. Maintaining a well-manicured lawn, tending to flower beds, supporting plants, gardening during cooler hours, pruning shrubs, deadheading summer flowers, keeping the patio clean, and creating a welcoming environment will ensure that your property stands out and appeals to potential tenants.

By showcasing a beautiful and well-maintained garden, landlords can create a positive first impression and increase the desirability of their rental properties.

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