How Do Property Managers With Multiple Properties Care for So Many Lawns?

Maintaining a single lawn is already so much work. If you’re a new property manager managing multiple properties and wondering how to keep so many lawns in pristine condition, this article is for you. It will cover your options in lawn care, important lawn care tasks, and some tips for keeping lawns lush and healthy.

Who Is Responsible for Lawn Maintenance in a Rental Property?

Before discussing how to manage multiple lawns, let’s shed light on who is responsible for keeping the yard under control. Is it the property owner/manager or the tenant?

Property owners are typically responsible for complex maintenance projects on their property, like pest control and lawn care. However, that’s not always the case. Depending on the location and lease agreement, the tenant with exclusive use of the yard may be responsible for some outdoor maintenance, like cutting grass.

To clarify and avoid conflict, it’s best to specify lawn maintenance responsibilities in the lease. Property owners may choose to provide comprehensive lawn care services for the property or leave the task to the tenants. But with the latter option, there’s no assurance that the tenant will do their best to care for the lawn. There’s also an a la carte option, wherein the property owner and tenant share lawn maintenance responsibilities.

Managing Multiple Lawns

Let’s now discuss how to keep multiple lawns in tip-top shape:

1. Utilize a lawn care service that offers comprehensive packages and discounts for multiple properties.

Hiring a professional lawn care company to handle all your lawn care needs is probably the best option for everyone. Property owners can roll the cost of professional lawn maintenance into a monthly rental amount or pay for it out of their pocket. If you’re shouldering lawn care expenses, you can use it to attract a larger pool of good tenants.

But professional lawn care isn’t cheap, especially when you need multiple lawns maintained. If you’re wondering how profitable a lawn care business is, it actually won’t be if you don’t manage the business properly. Despite that, some companies offer discounts on property management lawn care and comprehensive packages. Like when hiring other home services, research your options and get multiple quotes to find the best deal.

2. Prioritize mowing, trimming, pruning, and weed control to maintain neatness and curb appeal.

Your property’s curb appeal is vital, as it is the first thing buyers or renters typically notice when they visit your property. Outdoor maintenance is one of the key aspects of enhancing a property’s aesthetic value.

Regular mowing is one of the ways to maintain your property’s curb appeal. Depending on the type, grass can grow up to 24 inches tall. Overgrown lawns aren’t just unappealing — they also become more susceptible to weeds, pest invasions, and diseases. So, make sure to mow the lawn even if the task is tedious and time-consuming. Also, remove weeds because they can be an eyesore and house multiple pests.

In addition, trim the trees and shrubs. Regular pruning helps maintain the shape and overall appearance of plants on your property. Pruning also helps control the size of shrubs and trees so they don’t get too near your property and cause damage.

3. Create a schedule for fertilizing and watering lawns to ensure optimal grass health.

Grasses need enough nutrients and water to grow healthy and stay lush, so watering and fertilizing are crucial. You don’t need to carry out these tasks as frequently as mowing. You only have to fertilize lawns at least twice a year. On the other hand, watering frequency will depend on various factors, including the soil type, grass type, and weather conditions.

Timing matters in terms of lawn watering and fertilizing. Getting the timing right allows the grass to take in as many nutrients as possible, reducing waste while ensuring optimal grass growth and health. The best time is dependent on growing conditions and your location. Consult an expert in lawn care near you to find out when to feed the lawn.

4. Install drip irrigation systems to save on water consumption while keeping the plants hydrated.

Watering lawns manually takes a lot of time, effort, and money. A 12×12 grass patch can consume the amount of water needed to fill a small inflatable pool. If you have 500 square feet of lawn, you may spend over 60,000 gallons of water yearly.

Manual watering can waste so much water. Even if you use a sprinkler system, you’ll still waste water through mist, overspray, and evaporation. A drip irrigation system can be the solution to water waste when tending to lawns.

Drip irrigations are 90% efficient. Tubes with emitters are installed on the ground alongside the grass. These emitters will slowly drip water into the plant’s root zone automatically or manually. It also offers many other benefits, like reduced leaching and decreased labor. Since this tool releases only a small amount of water, it is designed to run daily except during rainy days.

5. Protect lawns from pest infestations through regular monitoring, treatments, and preventive measures

Ants, white grubs, chinch bugs, and other pests (including rodents) can ruin the beauty and wreak havoc on the health of lawns. They feed on grass blades or roots, causing the plant to wither and die. That’s why it’s crucial to have lawn pest control in place. Lawn care companies typically include it in lawn care.

Most estates rely on pesticides to control the population of pests and prevent infestation. However, improper use of these synthetic products can damage the environment and even harm people and animals. Reduce or eliminate reliance on pesticides by using Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

IPM involves regular monitoring, identifying the problem, and assessing the issue to determine the right solution. Instead of relying on a single product to get rid of unwanted insects or animals in lawns, IPM uses a variety of tactics. Prevention is also a part of IPM. Some common practices for preventing pest infestation include planting the right type of grass and improving soil quality.

6. Avoid chemical-based weed killers. Opt for natural solutions like vinegar or boiling water.

Weeds are another enemy of lawns. If you fail to control these unwanted plants from growing in your yard, they will stick out like a sore thumb and possibly take over your grass over time. They will compete with grass for essential nutrients and ruin your neat, uniform-looking lawn.

To control weeds, consider natural solutions like vinegar and boiling water instead of synthetic weed killers. Organic solutions get rid of unwanted plants without damaging the environment and putting people and pets in danger. It may seem like a challenging option if you have multiple massive lawns to maintain, but you can count on lawn care experts specializing in organic lawn care.

Manage Multiple Lawns Effortlessly

Let LawnMart experts take away the troubles of managing multiple lawns. No matter the size and condition of your lawn, we can help. We will implement a proven six-step lawn care process to keep your grass well-nourished and hydrated, pest- and weed-free, and strong enough to withstand harsh conditions.

We use only natural products, so you can guarantee your property’s lawn is safe for your clients and their pets. Our team values your safety while offering quality lawn care services. And in every call you make, we’ll ensure you’ll receive consistent and reliable service.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us today to find out how we can help transform your lawn. We offer a free quote as well.