If you’re lucky enough to have a garden, you may see it as just a place to set up your washing line and store your rubbish bins, but it’s so much more than that.
Your outdoor space isn’t just for getting some exercise and fresh air – your rental agreement may require you to maintain it. In fact, confusion over who is responsible for garden maintenance is a common headache for landlords and tenants alike.
Who is Responsible for Garden Maintenance?
Clarifying who is responsible for garden maintenance at the beginning of a tenancy reduces the chances of a dispute down the line.
Nevertheless, most landlords expect tenants to keep the garden litter-free and tidy. Unless stated in the rental agreement, tenants are expected to weed and mow the lawn.
So, is it worth investing in gardening equipment, or should you pay someone to do it for you?
Maintaining the Garden Yourself vs. Hiring a Professional
You’ll need some equipment if you have a small garden and plan to maintain it yourself.
Invest in a pair of shears to trim overhanging branches and overgrown shrubs, get a strimmer to keep the edges of the lawn neat and tidy, and buy or hire a lawnmower to cut the grass. When it comes to edging, petrol strimmers are bestfor cutting small or hard-to-reach patches of grass and weeds.
If you don’t want to purchase gardening equipment or don’t have the time or energy to maintain your garden, consider hiring a gardening service to come in once a week to do all your garden maintenance for you.
Aside from keeping your deposit and your landlord happy, having a well-maintained garden has many other benefits.
The Benefits of a Well-Maintained Garden
Keeping a well-maintained garden doesn’t just provide you with a nice place to hang out with family and friends; it also benefits your local ecosystem. And, if you take the DIY route, it can be therapeutic and good for your physical and mental health.
It’s Good for Your Mental Health
During the pandemic, mental health awareness skyrocketed as many people suffered from the psychological effects of isolation and rolling lockdowns.
Studies have shown that maintaining your own garden positively affects mental health. Spending time outside is an excellent way to reconnect with nature, relieve stress, and perform self-reflection. Taking pride in your outdoor living space also boosts self-esteem.
You’ll Get Some Exercise
Digging, mowing, trimming, and weeding burn as many calories as a cardio workout – and all that cardio strengthens your heart.
The physical labor of working in a garden out in the fresh air is an excellent way to strengthen your muscles, increase your flexibility, and build your stamina.
Help the Environment
Maintaining your garden isn’t just good for you; it’s good for the environment too. As the natural wildlife in the U.K. dwindles due to habitat loss, keeping a garden provides a safe haven for these insects and critters.
Many pollinator populations are also dwindling. Keeping a tidy pollinator garden will support bees, moths, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.
