Pollinator Garden Question

[Brook Boatman]

Hello Everyone!

As I grow my business I want to offer rentals that give back to the environment.  I plan to install metal roofs, energy efficient appliances, plant small pollinator gardens, and eventually install solar panels (when solar energy becomes more affordable and if my market will allow higher rent for a lower electric bill).

My question is if pollinator gardens could be a liability as they attract bees and other stinging insects.  I plan to put these gardens as far from the house as possible near the property line, and would choose other landscaping options near entrances.  Lets say a tenant gets stung by a bee while maintaining the garden, could I be held liable?  Could I avoid this by stating that tenants are responsible for the lawn but I will maintain the garden? Could a line be added in the lease to say the landlord is not responsible for any injuries incurred while maintaining the lawn and garden?

Thank you for your input!

Brook

[Colleen F.]

I don't know where you plan to have rentals but I would not worry about liability for what kind of plant you use in your garden.  Plant things where they make sense and are easy to maintain. Tenants are gardeners or they are not. Most are not.  

Planting native plants that are easy to maintain is your best option,  if they attract bees and bees live in your area, that's life.  I tell my tenants I can't control what the wildlife do in the great outdoors, after all that is their home.   

You might consider if you make this an issue, the tenants will make it an issue. I have also added tenant responsibility for pest control to cover things like Hornet nests, or ticks to handle differences in expectations about pests. That puts it on them if they want a more bug free sterile environment.