It is a practice that can cause "Harm to the public".Reasons are that prospective tenants may believe there are more properties than there really are, or prices are different than they actually are.

Because the trees won't die as a result - they'll just look like crap for years to come - I imagine I cannot financially penalize them for the 'aesthetic' harm to my trees.How should I address this in future leases? 

The landlord must show the harm that the security deposit was used to make whole.

Sarah,It is good you are trying to learn, no harm in that.  

This is how many unlicensed brokers work and it not only is dishonest but can financially harm the seller.

I've done well enough over the last 25 years with putting my emphasis on cash flow (I wanted the income more than appreciation) and minimizing leverage ( bumps in income/corrections along the way have not harmed me with loss of properties or standard of living).4.

I don't see any harm in that for the job market other than we really should be taking a very close look at how we educate people for the future.  

So, if your credit is not so good, starting over in a business entity gives you a "clean slate" so you build the entity's credit and not further harm your own.

If they are in trouble and need to sell fast, and you mislead them, could that really HARM them?

When tenants cross the line and use the M word or any other hazardous term, you notify them effective immediately that they move out to protect themselves and their family no harm no foul.