Improper pruning kills greenery more often than pests do, so it would be against your best interests to have your renters handle it themselves. For strong, healthy greenery and a strong, healthy investment in Searcy real estate, it’s vital that you understand proper pruning techniques. Get a good landscape company that knows how to do this and can complete this important maintenance task for you.
What is pruning and why is it important?
Pruning simply means trimming back overgrowth that can damage a plant or weaken its structure. Cutting away the dead or diseased limbs will lengthen the life of the plant and help prevent infestations of pests on your property. Both will maintain your property value, if not add to it. There are other benefits you can get from pruning. One such benefit is the removal of overhanging branches from the sidewalk or driveway, as this makes sure your Searcy rental property’s roof or windows, or surrounding power lines are clear from any branches that may ruin them.
If you don’t stay proactive about pruning, dead limbs can simply crack off on their own, which might damage someone’s property, or worse, injure someone. If you have bushes and trees that were not properly pruned, they could cause small nuisances like cuts from thorns to major hazards such as obstructing views of traffic. Additionally, in many areas, you are legally required to maintain the landscape in such a way as to not create a nuisance, block line of vision, or to encroach on property lines or air space.
To avoid lawsuits, perform regular trimming of trees and shrubberies every spring. Making cuts in cold weather can damage the plant. You can train a plant’s branches simply by making slightly angular cuts that will shape its growth in the most attractive or functional direction. Cut above growth buds to preserve flowers.
Why should the resident avoid pruning?
You can give the tasks of mowing and water to the tenants. However, the actual tree trimming and general pruning are best left to the experts. This would spare you from the liability involved with ladders and the potential landscape damage and tenant injury. Make it a point to communicate this in the lease so the tenant does not topple off a ladder or mishandle power tools as he tries to fulfill a vague “landscaping” clause. If you forget to do this, the potential lawsuits will far outweigh an annual vendor fee.
A different concern would be that not all tenants would have a natural green thumb. The probability is high that they may weaken, warp, or kill greenery that previously boosted your property value. This can wreck your curb appeal and be a crippling gaffe if you have to replant every single thing.
Should you outsource pruning?
The key component of being the proud possessor of a rental property is all about protecting your investment, which indicates conducting regular maintenance, inside and out. For safety and insurance reasons, and to ensure a job is done perfectly, it’s right to relinquish the landscaping maintenance to professionals. If a tree branch is under 10 cm thick, you could have a shot at it yourself. If the branch is too thick, get on the phone to a skilled maintenance crew for the swiftest, most harmless way to the most exquisite end product.
Real Property Management Delta has a network of licensed, insured maintenance staff to perform regular, proactive pruning for your single-family residence in Searcy. We can also conduct the entire leasing process, confirming that all landscaping responsibilities are noted down and communicated to your tenants. Contact us or call 501-404-0674 for more information today.
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