Improper pruning kills greenery more often than pests do, so it would not be advisable to have your renters handle it themselves. For strong, healthy greenery and a strong, healthy investment in Plano real estate, you should understand the proper pruning techniques. Find a landscape company that has a good grasp of this, has the skill and experience, and is willing to handle this crucial part of maintenance 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. Pruning also has other advantages such as the removal of overhanging branches from the sidewalk or driveway. This additional advantage is very useful as it prevents the branches from reaching your Plano rental property’s roof or windows, or surrounding power lines.
If you aren’t proactive about pruning, dead limbs can simply crack off on their own, which might lead to someone getting injured or damage their property– like a vehicle. Bushes and trees that didn’t go through being properly pruned can be the cause of minor nuisances such as 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 mowing and water to the tenants. However, actual tree trimming and general pruning are best done by professionals. There is just too much liability involved with ladders or risk of landscape damage and tenant injury. Make sure to communicate this in the lease so the tenant won’t topple off a ladder or mishandle power tools while attempting to fulfill a vague “landscaping” clause. If you neglect to add this in, the potential lawsuits will far outweigh an annual vendor fee.
Another thing you need to consider is that not every tenant has 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 primary concern of maintaining a rental property is all about protecting your investment, which entails conducting regular maintenance, inside and out. For safety and insurance reasons, and to make certain that a job is done flawlessly, the appropriate thing to do is to hand over the landscaping maintenance to professionals. If a tree branch is under 10 cm thick, you’d be able to manage it yourself. If it is bigger than 10 cm, consider calling a skilled maintenance crew for the fastest, most reliable way to the most elegant results.
Real Property Management Focus has a network of licensed, insured maintenance staff to perform regular, proactive pruning for your single-family residence in Plano. We can also oversee the entire leasing process, making certain that all landscaping responsibilities are appropriately written down and relayed to your tenants. Contact us or call 469-820-0088 for more information today.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
