A healthy, green lawn can definitely improve a Rockport rental property’s curb appeal. But for single-family rental property owners, traditional lawn maintenance can often be a problem. Most tenants cannot be relied on to maintain the lawn to the standard that you like. Many tenants do not have any knowledge of lawn maintenance or may not want to put in the time and effort required.
You can always do it yourself or hire professional landscapers, but both options will cost you both time and money. If you want to stop struggling with lawn maintenance but still keep a green yard, it may be time to consider planting clover. Let us look at the advantages planting clover offers single-family rental property owners.
Pros & Cons to Growing Clover
Unlike most lawn grasses, clover has many benefits that can help boost your rental’s landscaping and appearance. Clovers also fix atmospheric nitrogen which all plants need to grow, Aside from making your lawn a vivid green, planting clovers also encourages the healthy growth of nearby plants.
With regular watering, clover usually stays greener longer than other grasses since they are drought-resistant. You could also notice that you will be spraying for bugs less frequently and have fewer weeds on the lawn. This is thanks to clover’s natural weed and pest deterrent properties. Finally, clover is very low maintenance. You won’t have to do much mowing since it only grows to a few inches in height.
Together with these benefits are a few disadvantages as well. Clover is more prone to trampling than most grasses and can stain clothing. This is something you should consider for yards that get a lot of use. Clover also doesn’t do very well in very dry climates, like those found in desert regions as they prefer soil that is kept somewhat moist. If you do choose to use clover, your best pick would be one that is native to your area.
How to Plant
Clover is easy to plant and grow in many parts of the country. You can add clover to an existing grass lawn by raking the top layer of soil and then seeding right over the lawn. As the clover grows alongside the grass, it also enriches the soil and makes the grass healthier. Alternatively, if you want to use clover as a groundcover all by itself, you will need to start with damp, cultivated soil.
Similar to what you would do for a lawn or wildflower garden, prepare the ground and then sow the clover seeds. Since clover grows quickly, you will soon enjoy your rich, green carpet of low-maintenance beauty.
Clover Types
Before planting clover in your rental property’s yard, it is best to pick the variety that best fits your soil and climate. Growing to a height of about 4 – 6 inches with pretty white flowers from time to time, the Dutch white clover is the most common clover used in lawns. Popular because it is drought resistant, this variety does not grow very tall, although the flowers can bother some people and must be mowed every few weeks.
A variety that’s even easier to maintain is the micro-clover. Micro-clovers are smaller than other clovers, with leaves half the size. It rarely blooms and, with occasional mowing, doesn’t grow above 4 inches high. Despite being around for at least a decade, micro-clovers are just recently gaining popularity because they are low maintenance.
A micro-clover lawn only needs to be mowed once a month or so, compared to weekly with most grasses. If anyone wants less lawn maintenance while still improving a rental’s exterior appearance, this is a good option.
Would you like more ideas on how to reduce the maintenance of your rental property while maximizing curb appeal? Contact the local Rockport property management experts at 361-885-0500.
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