Laying out decorative rocks in your rental property is a great way to create a low-maintenance and attractive yard or landscape design. However, knowing which kinds of decorative rocks you can use and how much you can spend on adding them into your yard can be challenging.
Firstly, there are many different types of rocks to pick from and not all of them may be right for your rental property. As professional landscapers will tell you, decorative rocks offer practical, beautiful and durable options for yards. According to this Phoenix property management company, there are many kinds of decorative rocks and they all vary in terms of colors, sizes, and textures.
From gravel to large boulders, each kind of rock offers an advantage to all property owners trying to upgrade their landscape design.
Pea Gravel
One particularly popular option is pea gravel, which is named so because of the pea-sized pebbles they are composed of. Pea gravel is an inexpensive option and looks very attractive in walkways, pathways, and other heavy traffic areas of your property.
Small river rocks are another great option for pathways since they comprise tiny rounded pebbles that typically range somewhere between ⅜ inches to 5 inches in diameter. These rocks are a popular choice around edgings and trees.
Lava Rock or Marble Chips
If you’re looking for a much bolder look, we’d recommend that you look into lava rock or marble chips. Marble chips are light-colored and small rocks that can produce a classic and clean look around a driveway, porch, or across foundations.
On the other hand, lava rocks are porous and rough and often come in shades of black and red. You will also come across white lava rock, which does offer beautiful contrasts but is not a good option for larger areas.
The only downside to lava rocks is that they tend to have sharp edges, which might cause injuries or abrasions if anyone were to fall over them.
Benefits
When decorative rocks are used in lawns, around trees, or in contrast with other landscaping features, they offer some great benefits that may go way beyond curb appeal. For instance, once these rocks have been installed, they will require very minimal maintenance to stay tidy.
These rocks are a lot more durable than other options and when they are used in pathways or other such areas, they can easily stand firm against years of use. Unlike mulch, these rocks wouldn’t attract insects such as spiders or insects and wouldn’t decompose.
Costs
When you’re picking the perfect decorative rock for your rental property, it is crucial that you strongly consider some practical aspects such as the tenants' needs and the overall cost of installation. Expensive rocks may seem beautiful and might work as a great way to increase rental rates, but they are more likely to be underappreciated by tenants.
Most tenants cannot tell the difference between expensive and inexpensive decorative rocks and, therefore, the latter should be the ideal way to go. Again, picking the perfect decorative rocks can be a tough choice, but with all of these considerations in mind, you are bound to make an informed decision.
Final Thoughts
These simple solutions can increase the likeability of your property and start reeling in quality applicants in no time. If you’re planning on redecorating or redesigning your rental property, you can always delegate these tasks to your property manager or hire the right professionals for the task at hand.
If you haven’t hired a property manager already, click here to learn more about our services and how an experienced property manager can share some of your burdens.