Ensuring your Inland Empire Multifamily Landscaping is Both an Oasis for Residents and Manageable for You

Sometimes I get what feels like an unquenchable thirst for outdoor adventure and I long to be out hitting the trails. The sheer quantity of hiking options and variety of terrain are two of the many reasons I love living in SoCal. In fact, just the other day I was lucky enough to see some incredible views of the Valley from the top of the San Bernardino Mountains. Unfortunately, the views weren’t as good from my car window as I was making my way to the base of the mountains. As I made my way through the sprawling suburbs, one dried up front garden followed another. The curb appeal seemed almost non-existent, and even the apartment blocks where owners had clearly spent time and money hiring a professional landscaper had gardens looking worse for wear.

Giving residents a private oasis via landscaping is a fantastic way to boost your multifamily’s curb appeal, and to attract and retain tenants. But if it starts looking shabby because it has been poorly designed or because it’s too much to manage—especially in the California drought—it can become a serious problem for the owner and an unpleasant experience for guests.

However, with a little planning and effort, you can develop an aesthetically pleasing landscaping plan that both residents and passersby will admire. Here are some top tricks for designing a beautiful—yet manageable—garden oasis for you and your residents.

Plan for Now and the Future

If you’re starting landscaping from scratch, then planning is a crucial first step that can help to avoid a lot of headaches in the future. It can also give you the opportunity to collaborate with your current tenants, ask them for ideas and input, and work together from the outset to create an area they will love.

Of course, an expert landscaper will be able to offer you the necessary guidance, but it’s still important to be aware of some of the basics:

Don’t plant young trees near to buildings or paths. Otherwise, after several years, you’re going to have to start cutting away branches if they’re growing into buildings or removing entire trees if roots start to damage roads and pavements. Instead, plant mature trees that will also look good immediately and be less susceptible to growth issues.
The same principles apply to flower beds. Resist the temptation to back the flower bed from one end to the other, and instead give space for new plants to blossom. Ensuring plants aren’t competing for space and nutrients will go a long way towards creating a beautiful flower bed in the future.
Always take into account the eventual upkeep. A few small fruit trees may seem like a good idea, but unless you are prepared to deal with the annual harvest, save yourself the trouble.
Do your research. If you are a pet-friendly complex, lining your complex with oleander may not be the best idea; ivies can look beautiful but can harm infrastructure; and some types of trees and foliage shed more than others and can cause a host of allergy symptoms in addition to the mess. Anticipating issues now will save you time and effort in the future.

These are only a few of the basics to consider when planning. It’s also very important to keep in mind that landscaping isn’t just about the plants, it’s about how you care for them and the methods you use to do so, most specifically when it comes to watering.

Drought-Proof Your Landscape

Water is perhaps the biggest maintenance issue with landscaped gardens, especially in California. We’re now entering our sixth year of drought and while we’re not in a state of emergency, conserving water is still as important as ever. The solution? Drought-proof most, if not all, of your landscape. The easiest way to do this is by replacing all of your irrigation-dependent turf with a synthetic substitute.

You may have an immediate knee-jerk reaction to this—surely fake grass won’t look as good as the real thing! But let me ask you a question: Does your grass really look green and healthy at the moment? In our current drought climate, it’s almost impossible for a lawn to look as picturesque as you might like. Synthetic grass can look as good—if not better—as the real thing, and it’s guaranteed to look lush all year round. That’s not to mention the savings you’ll make on your water bills.

But don’t forget other vegetation. There’s a great variety of different drought-tolerant plants that are native to the SoCal area that you can use. The following are just a selection of beautiful choices that can add color and variety to your oasis:

Silver bush lupine
Topanga monkey flower
Christmas berry
Wishbone bush
Wallace’s pitcher plant
Fuchsia-flowering gooseberry
Blue-eyed grass
California Fuschia

When people say “drought-proof,” it can be easy to hear “desert,” but that is certainly not the case with the myriad options that are out there. You can achieve a lush aesthetic and still use minimal water resources with a bit of careful thought.

Smart Irrigation

That’s not to say your entire garden needs to be drought-proof. A small patch of grass or selection of flowers that require a tad more care can work wonders, especially if properly irrigated and maintained. A smart sprinkler or similar irrigation system can use data from the ground and your locale to determine if and when plants need water. The benefit of this system to multifamily owners is two-fold. Firstly, by saving water, you can cut the cost of your monthly bill, as well as remaining an environmentally-responsible owner. Secondly, by creating an entirely automatic irrigation system, individually watering plants becomes one less job that you or your groundsmen have to worry about. What’s more, you’d also be able to get a rebate on the cost of the system from the state government.

Think Hardscape, as Well as Softscape

When most people think about landscaping, they only consider trees, flowers, and grass. But what about hardscape features such as the following?

Boulders
Volcanic rock
Stones
Gravel
Patio
Water features (that recycle water efficiently)

Not only do these features complement the rugged, yet stunning, natural beauty of the Inland Empire area, but they are also virtually maintenance-free. They’ll never need pruning or watering and can help to add variety to your oasis.

Consider a Dog Park

On top of landscape garden elements, you should also consider adding a dog park. Not only are they low maintenance, but they also provide an additional amenity for guests and help to ensure that other landscape areas remain free of any mess caused by our furry friends. Using an artificial turf surface can further reduce maintenance for your ground staff and help to neutralize unwanted smells that may break the oasis allusion the rest of your landscaping efforts have worked so hard to build.

More than Just a Mirage

At REIG we know just how much value the perfect landscape renovation can add to your property and the lives of your tenants. We work tirelessly to ensure projects are completed on time and tenant disturbance is as minimal as possible. Give us a call to get your landscaping project started today.