If you hit all the targets, then not only is your property going to look great (and in turn attract higher rents), but you will most likely attract the right kind of tenant - one who will look after and hopefully improve the garden.
There are few tenants who will actually look after the garden as well as an owner occupier, so you need to take into consideration what a garden would look like if it was maintained to about 75%.
Your property doesn't have to look like a parking lot however, to make it low maintenance. If you have a simple plan in place, you can indeed provide an attractive and low maintenance property.
1 - Simple is Best.
By using only select plants (maybe 5-6 varieties). It will help to reduce costs and maintenance requirements.
2 - Location
Select plants that are suitable for the location. Plants that do well in Darwin, will not do as well in Hobart, so consider that when you are purchasing plants.
3 - Slow Growing Evergreens
A garden full of brown, is not nearly as attractive as greenery. Try to avoid deciduous plants, because no one likes sweeping leaves no matter how lovely it looks - bougainvillea anyone?!
4 - Atischoo!!
Allergies and hay fever are a common problems. To keep tenants in your property for longer, getting rid of any common allergenic plants is a smart move.
5 - Small Lawns
The smaller the lawn, the more likely the tenant will mow it. Including a patio or BBQ area means that the tenant has less to mow and you have another feature to your property. Consider providing a lawn mower or a weed eater which will encourage your tenants to look after it.
6 - Weed Mats and Mulching
By reducing the need for water and mulching, you will increase the chances of plant survival.
7 - Consider including a Veggie Garden
In this age we are learning more and more about the value of growing our own fruits and vegetables, and more and more tenants are looking to do this. It is not difficult for a tenant to cultivate a 'portable' garden (plastic containers which can be transported from location to location), but adding a small veggie garden would make your place stand out.
By including just one raised garden bed - (an additional way to minimise lawn to mow) you might attract the quality tenant. If you go a step further and have the garden already planted with seedling and seeds, doesn't that say a lot about you?
The worst that can happen with a single raised bed, is that the tenant will let it go to seed and be full of weeds. If it's just one raised bed, then it won't take too much effort to get it back into shape for the next tenant.
So what plants have you included in your low maintenance garden? Do you think a good garden helps attract good tenants and top rent?
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