Commercial landscaping
Apartments, HOAs & Rental Property
Curb appeal that helps units lease and residents stay: entrances, common areas and frontage for apartments, HOAs and rentals.
Why it pays
Curb appeal is the first showing.
People decide how they feel about a place before they reach the door. Studies of rentals and homes found that trees and good landscaping go with higher rents and higher perceived value, and Realtors say curb appeal matters to almost every buyer. For a property manager, planting is one of the most visible improvements per dollar.
The research
What the studies found
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$21
more a month in rent for a single-family rental with a street tree in front; $5.62 more for a tree on the lot.
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5–11%
higher perceived home value for a well-landscaped house than the same house with no landscape.
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104%
of the cost of a landscape maintenance refresh that Realtors estimate is recovered at sale.
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97%
of Realtors say curb appeal is important in attracting a buyer.
Where the value comes from
How better planting pays back
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01
Faster leasing
A well-kept entrance and frontage make listings and tours look better, so units fill faster.
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02
Residents who stay
Common areas people enjoy, from a courtyard bed to a pollinator garden, give residents a reason to renew.
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03
Predictable care costs
Low-care, plant-forward design and a set care schedule keep grounds looking good without surprises.
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04
HOA entrances that set the tone
A neighborhood's entrance sign and common beds shape how every home in it is seen.
ROI calculator
What could planting return for you?
Put in your own figures. The estimate uses conservative ranges drawn from the research above, and grows as the plantings fill in.
Estimated net return after 20 years
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- Return on investment
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- Pays for itself
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- Total invested
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Net value, mid estimate Low to high
What this assumes
Uplift of 0.25% to 1% of annual rent. Donovan & Butry (2011) found a tree on the lot adds about $5.62 a month to rent, roughly 0.3–0.5% of a typical rent, and Behe (2005) found 5–11% higher perceived value. Perceived value runs ahead of real prices, so we treat plantings mainly as helping units lease faster and residents renew. For an HOA, use your homes' combined value.
Plantings take time to fill in, so the benefit grows: 35% in year 1, 70% in year 2, and 100% in year 3+.
Lawn turned to planting saves $0.03–$0.1 a square foot each year in mowing, watering and fertilizer, once the planting has settled in: 25% in year 1, 50% in year 2, and 100% in year 3+.
An estimate, not a promise. The ranges come from published research on trees, landscaping and green space, scaled down for one property's plantings; your results depend on your site, your customers and how the planting is cared for. Every study is linked on this page.
What we'd plant
Ideas for apartments, hoas & rental property
- Entrance and sign plantings
- Seasonal containers at leasing offices and clubhouses
- Low-care foundation plantings along buildings
- Pollinator and native beds in common areas
- A care schedule so grounds look the same in August as in May
Sarah and her team have helped us both with a landscape design and installation project at a commercial rental property and with residential projects at our house. They are great with response times, organization and they just love all things plants. Really rewarding to work with.
Questions
Common questions from apartments, hoas & rental property
Can you work with our existing landscape contractor?
Yes. We can design and plant, then hand over a care plan, or take on the planting care ourselves while your contractor keeps mowing.
Do you work with HOA boards?
Yes. We can walk the entrances and common areas with the board, then present a plan and a phased budget that fits your reserve schedule.
Do you build patios, walls or walkways?
No. Everything we do is plants: design, soil, planting, mulch and care. If your project needs hardscape, we can plan the planting around it and work alongside your contractor.
Other industries
Planting that pays, wherever you do business
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Retail & Restaurants
Plantings that make people slow down, come in and come back: entrances, patios and storefront containers for shops, cafés and restaurants.
See the numbers -
Offices & Corporate Campuses
Grounds that help you lease space, welcome clients and give staff somewhere better to look, at lower upkeep than lawn.
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Hotels, Inns & Event Venues
Grounds guests remember and photograph: entrances, patios, lakeside planters and gardens for hotels, inns, B&Bs and venues.
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Healthcare, Senior Living & Wellness
Calm, green places for patients, residents, families and staff: views, courtyards and healing gardens for clinics, senior living and wellness practices.
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Schools, Churches & Nonprofits
Gardens that serve a mission: outdoor classrooms, pollinator plantings, welcoming entrances and lower grounds costs for schools, churches and nonprofits.
See the numbers -
Municipal & Public Spaces
Downtown planters, park beds, medians and rain gardens for townships, villages, downtown authorities and parks.
See the numbers
Plan your project
Tell me about your property
A few quick questions, and I'll come back within 1–2 business days with ideas, next steps and a rough budget.