4 Essential Landscape Budget Items

If you are a Property Manager, you are likely knee-deep in budget season

Remember that landscaping can increase the value of a house from 5% to 12.7%.  On a $400,000 home 5.5% is $22,000; 12.7% adds $50,800.*  Conversely, a degraded or disorganized collection of plants detracts from a home or commercial building’s value.  Bob Vila says that the biggest mistake homeowners make is a lack of a coherent plan. Similar for commercial properties and residential communities.

With the long term in mind, make sure you have these 4 categories covered in your landscape budget for 2017.

Landscape management:

• Allow for materials cost increases for items such plants, including annual color; mulch.
• Mulch replenishment is important. It has a neat appearance and helps soil hold water.
• Annual color replacement
• Allowance for IPM (Integrated Pest Management) treatments

Irrigation upgrades and repairs**

• An irrigation system installed more than ten years ago may be wasting water and costing you money. Ensuring efficiency may mean replacing and repairing.
• Smart (or weather based) irrigation controllers can also save up to 30% off your water bill.
• Converting from spray to drip is something to consider for your budget.
• State of the art precision spray nozzles can improve spray irrigation efficiency and save water too.

Large Tree Care

• Routine pruning and fertilization are important for the health of your trees – an important part of your asset. Older trees may need more maintenance.  With proper care your trees will last many years.
• A tree care plan will alleviate the stress of emergency tree work needs.

Landscape Improvements**

• Turf care includes aeration and soil building or possibly overseeding.
• Because of California’s ongoing drought and San Francisco Bay Area restrictions, you may consider converting turf to drought tolerant plants.
• Consider converting annual color to more permanent perennial plant material.
• The useful lifespan for large shrubs or small trees is approximately 7 to 10 years. When plants are past their useful lifespan they should be replaced with new plant material.

* Source: Hortculturalist Alex Niemiera of Virginia Tech researched the impact of landscaping on the value of a home. 

**Note: Depending on your location there could still be rebates available from your water district.