If you’re like many rental property owners in Wake Forest, you aim to make your rental more eco-friendly. Creating a pollinator-friendly yard is a small yet significant action you can take. Effective rental property landscaping should create beautiful, low-maintenance gardens. A pollinator-friendly yard not only benefits the environment but can also increase your property’s value. A yard that supports pollinators can be appealing to tenants who seek eco-friendly living spaces.
You don’t need to be a gardening enthusiast to make a meaningful impact. It’s likely you’ve learned that pollinators, including butterflies and bees, are facing rapid declines. Pollinators play a crucial role in our ecosystem, helping produce the fruits, nuts, and seeds we love. However, a few adjustments to your rental’s landscaping can help boost local pollinator populations.
Plant With Variety
To encourage pollinators, use a range of plants in your yard’s landscaping. Ideally, opt for plants that bloom throughout the year, from early spring to late fall. You can often find native plants such as lavender, coneflowers, and bee balm that are easy to care for and attract pollinators.
Add a Feeder
To attract hummingbirds and butterflies, try hanging a nectar feeder in your rental’s yard. These pollinators are enjoyable to watch and will benefit your landscaping plants. To draw additional pollinators, consider placing a dish of ripe fruit or water with sea salt in your yard. Butterflies are particularly drawn to these offerings.
Rethink the Lawn
For many rental homes, a vibrant green lawn is essential to the landscaping. Your lawn can also support pollinators with a few easy adjustments. Growing the grass a bit taller, around 3 inches, and allowing seed heads to form helps retain moisture and attract pollinators. Another option is to mix low-growing plants like white clover or violets with your grass. These non-invasive plants will increase local pollinators without compromising your lawn’s health.
Use Alternatives to Pesticides
Numerous property owners use pesticides on their lawns or plants, but this can also harm beneficial pollinators. If spraying for harmful insects is necessary, opt for environmentally friendly methods. Specific oils and soaps can keep pests away without killing pollinators. Cornmeal can eliminate ant colonies, and garlic, pepper, and beer can keep some biting insects away.
Consider allowing your tenant to add pollinator-friendly features to the yard if they wish to. Naturally, you’ll need to agree with your tenant on the changes, the person responsible for the work, and the costs involved.
Even if your tenant requests cost-sharing for plants or elements, it may be a good investment if it adds value or attracts future tenants. Initial expenses for a pollinator-friendly yard might be high, but the long-term benefits could surpass them.
Think about developing a pollinator-friendly yard to enhance your rental property’s value. For advice, contact Real Property Management Raleigh. We’d be delighted to explain how our property management services can support your investments in Wake Forest and nearby. Contact us online or call 919-481-0008 today!
Originally Published on July 16, 2021
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