Expenses over $2,500

I had some landscaping done.  Trees trimmed, bushes removed, gravel put in on a side yard and drip put in a small area.  It cost just over $2,500.  To me it seems like it is an expense and not a capital improvement.  Is there a way to expense something over $2,500?

 

Also on another note I painted inside and out to get the house ready for rental.  I read that painting is a repair and therefore an expense.  Is that true even though the total cost was over 10k?