Garden maintenance services are essential for your gîte and its holiday rental income growth.
However, a finely manicured minimalist lawn upon which your gîte may sit poised in readiness for this summer season’s marketing photos may come at a price if poorly managed. Minimal garden design and conservative soft landscaping does not necessarily equate to low cost maintenance care-free gardening. Indeed, the ‘Less is More’ approach in spacious garden design requires specialised care.
The easiest way to provide that special care is to invest in regular garden management services to ensure the maintenance of your garden design throughout the year, even out of season. January and February may portray garden dormancy, but these winter months are important if your garden is to flourish in quality condition for your guests from early to late high season.
With the security of this summer’s holiday rental income firmly in mind, our winter garden maintenance and management task lists may assist:
Soil preparation
January and February are the months to prepare the garden’s soil for the year ahead. If the ground is unfrozen, then fertilize the soil throughout. Organic fertilizer is environmentally best and economically cost-effective. If you have been diligently training last year’s guests to fill the garden’s compost bin, it should now be well rotted and ready to mulch into the soil. If your garden design has been minimalised to design out a compost bin, then purchase a bag of good quality horse manure. The latter will, of course, reduce your annual gîte yield, therefore, financially plan ahead in purchasing a compost bin with the aim to compost-train your forthcoming guests.
Grass
The ‘Grass it all!’ for low maintenance is the inadvertent ‘More for Less’ garden design. High on active input management, high on increased cost and effective on lowering annual yield.
Grass requires specialised care. From weeding, aerating and conditioning to frequent watering and mowing from spring to late high season, the garden lawn is labour-intensive and cost-ineffective. Winter guidance for lawns? Try not to walk on the lawn if the grass is frozen. Damaged grass will increase cost.
Natural Garden Planting Design will feature on our next post.