Even if you’re not exactly an avid gardener, you may have heard that pollinators like butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and other flying insects are rapidly declining. These pollinators are a crucial part of our ecosystem. Without them, we would not have various fruits, nuts, and seeds that most of us eat and enjoy. But with just small changes to your rental’s landscaping, you can definitely influence the pollinator populations in your land.
Plant With Variety
Having a wide variety of plants in your landscaping is one of the first things you can do to encourage pollinators to visit your rental yard. You should pick plants that will bloom from early spring to late fall at separate times. In a lot of areas, you should be able to find native plant varieties that are both easy to manage and fast to attract pollinators.
Add a Feeder
Hanging a nectar feeder is another easy approach to attract hummingbirds and butterflies to your rental yard. Aside from providing many benefits to your landscaping plants, a lot of people also enjoy looking at these pollinators’ feed. To get even more pollinators to your yard, you could also place a dish of ripe fruit or water mixed with sea salt. Butterflies are particularly attracted to these items.
Rethink the Lawn
For many rental homes, a healthy green lawn is a major part of the landscaping. By making some simple changes, you can also support pollinators with your lawn. To state an example, allowing the grass to grow a bit taller (about 3 inches) and develop seed heads will not only retain moisture in the soil but also entice pollinators to your yard. You could also consider combining some low-growing plants with your grass, such as white clover or violets. These non-invasive plants will increase local pollinator populations without causing harm to the health of your lawn.
Use Alternatives to Pesticides
Spraying the lawn or other plants with pesticides is a usual practice for a lot of property owners. Regardless of what kind of insect you intend to kill, you could also be eliminating beneficial pollinators. If you must use a spray to control harmful insects or other issues, consider choosing the more environmentally friendly ones. A couple of oils and soaps can fend off pests without killing off pollinators. Cornmeal will sometimes ward off troublesome ant colonies, while garlic, pepper, and even beer can keep certain biting insects at bay.
If your tenant wants to add pollinator-friendly components to your rental home’s yard, you might consider allowing them to do it. Of course, you and your tenant should be aware of what updates will be made, who will do the work, and who will pay for the improvements. In the event that your tenant wants you to cover the expenses of the plants and other elements, it still may be a good investment and worth saying yes to since it could add value to your property or make it extra attractive to future tenants.
Designing a pollinator-friendly yard for your rental that will also boost your property values is certainly achievable. But it may be a challenge to know what exact updates will add to your property’s appeal. You may want to think of turning to expert Dr. Phillips property managers for answers and advice about this and any other queries you may have about managing your property. To find out about all of the great services that Real Property Management South Orlando has to offer – including landscaping advice – contact us online today!