If you are looking for a way to make your garden beautiful without spending too much time on it, then this article is for you.
There are many low maintenance options that will make your garden look great while still fitting into your busy schedule.
From plants and flowers, to water features, we have 15 awesome ideas for making the most of your garden without it being a second job. Most of these tricks will work even if your garden is fairly small.
1.Have plants which don’t mind being neglected
The best plants for homes with limited gardening time are those that do not require too much care and upkeep.
The trick is to grow plants that can take it easy during the winter without being brought inside or overwintered in a greenhouse, like cannas and eucomis which require lifting up from their pots as well as protecting them throughout the season.
Roses also should be avoided if you have little garden space because they need frequent deadheading otherwise they won’t maintain an attractive appearance over time.
2.Water features
There are many ways to enjoy the sound of water with fewer maintenance issues if you’re looking for something more low-key.
A fountain is usually smaller and a bit less obtrusive, which makes it easier on your home as well as wildlife that might be attracted by the area.
Fountains can also eliminate algae at times because they move so quickly through their pipes, and falling leaves won’t pose much of an issue since fountains have multiple sides from where they can be easily reached during cleaning time!
If you’re interested in attracting animal life such as birds or other small animals near this part of your property without inviting potential predators like cats into play too often, then a lower maintenance fixture would probably work out best anyway – especially
3.Reduce the lawn size
Low maintenance gardens are about less rather than no work.
A good place to start is by reducing the size of your lawn and rethinking how you use it.
Consider a non-traditional garden design or simply reduce the size of your current one, add more perennials to fill empty spaces, increase water efficiency with native plants that need little watering or care or even go for a gravel area!
4.Add mulch or gravel to beds
Weeding beds can become a tiresome chore during the gardening season. Even worse, weeds can grow and spread quickly and ruin your entire garden! You don’t need to avoid weeding beds though; there are ways to make it easier on yourself with mulch or gravel.
Mulching is a great way of reducing weed growth in gardens because they prevent sunlight from reaching the plants . Mulch can be made from many different materials like bark chips, shredded wood, or even cardboard.
Gravel is another great solution for weed prevention and its beneficial because you don’t need to worry about weeds coming back since the gravel will never decompose. It does take a lot of work in order to prepare your beds with these surfaces though and they are not a guarantee against future weeds.
This is one of many DIY projects which can enhance your garden for a fraction of the cost of a professional solution.
5.Gravel areas instead of grass
With a huge variety of gravels available , you can create a low maintenance garden design that best matches your personality.
The various stones, sands and pebbles available will all have different qualities and textures which sets them apart from others on the market.
Gravel is also more environmentally-friendly as it doesn’t require any watering or fertilising to grow steadily. The only care it needs will be some occasional weed treatment and raking.
We can’t call it no maintenance but it will certainly save time compared to turf.
6.Green walls
If you are like me and want to keep the garden looking green and full of life then you will love the idea of a green wall. Green walls are great for adding colour and create an attractive backdrop to your patio or garden area.
Green walls are available in artificial materials which look extremely realistic. There is a growing number of varieties available so you can create something truly stunning without much effort.
7.Artificial grass
If you want to add a pop of green colour, but don’t have much time for garden maintenance then artificial grass is the perfect solution.
Artificial grass has come a long way since the faded old lawns of the 1980’s and now looks very realistic.
Artificial grass is a great way to update your garden, without spending any time on it whatsoever!
Artificial grass can be installed in just one day so you can focus all your time elsewhere.
If you have dogs or children who like playing outside then artificial lawns are a great idea because they don’t create mud or mess which needs cleaning up!
Artificial grass is perhaps the greatest time saver of all the suggestions here!
8.Compartmentalise the garden
We want low maintenance but we don’t necessarily want to live a a garden devoid of any natural life…
A smart way to have both a wild and natural without the hassle is to compartmentalise the garden.
Using fences or hedges to divide the garden into sections for different kinds of plants is a great way to have everything you want in your space.
If one section suffers from pests, then these will not be able to spread over and cause problems with other parts of the garden which are healthy!
A compartmentalised garden also creates an opportunity to have different themes, styles and uses .
For example, one section can be for herbs and another for vegetables.
9.Go minimal
With a minimalist tone, the landscaping will be both low-maintenance and chic! Opting for less doesn’t have to mean sacrificing style as an understated design aesthetic can give your home garden that whole new level of elegance.
After all, clean white walls with simple shingle and some seating are just what you need when it comes to lower maintenance gardens.
10. Wall off a wild area
If you want a wild garden but don’t have room for one, just create an area within your surroundings and start planting! Let the flowers grow wherever they see fit.
Fences are optional; if it’s in a place where people can come to visit, then all of that time spent on weeding will be worth it-just make sure not to step outside of any designated boundaries or else nature might take over completely!
11.Get a fancy shed
A low-maintenance garden needs to be a tidy one. One of the most important aspects is investing in a pretty little potting or tool shed, so you’ll always have your wellies and lawnmower handy when needed but not cluttering up any part of the house!
Alternatively if space isn’t an issue then why not get yourself some extra storage with a beautiful garden room?
A place set apart for relaxation after all that hard work outside as well as having lots more living area inside – without it feeling like there’s too much clutter.
12. Have less plants
Choosing a low maintenance garden can be as easy as limiting the number of plants you have. Try to keep it between 5 and 10 varieties, like swathes of sedums or bamboo lines.
This will make caring for your garden much easier because there won’t be any surprises in terms of care requirements-you’ll know everything about each plant!
You’ll also find it very easy to weed out weeds since they’re all grouped together by type; so maintain them quickly before their seedlings grow too large
13. Slow your grass growth with plant growth regulators
Plant growth regulators can help slow the rate of your lawn’s grass. They are available at any hardware store and come in many forms, including mefluidide, chlorflurenol and maleic hydrazide.
Be thorough when applying for best results; if you miss a spot on your turf it won’t receive that dosage and will grow faster than the rest
Never use PGRs before windy days as exposure is inevitable after spraying; likewise keep children away from this treated area immediately following application so their skin doesn’t absorb these chemicals either.
14. Hard surfaces
Hard landscaping needs way less maintenance than plants, lawns and everything else which would fall into the categoeyu for soft landscapoing.
Create a stylish elevated composite decking area or a durable, modern porcelain patio to put your furniture on. These surfaces need next to no maintenance and look fantastic all year round!
15. Get the right tools
If we are talking about reducing the amount of time in you spend in the garden then getting the right tool can actually be one of the most effective things you can do
Tired of sweeping up leaves? Get a garden vacuum
Tired of raking the gravel? Get a power broom
Cutting the lawn becoming a chore? How about some robotic help with that
Weeds got you down? Get a sprayer and some powerful selective weed killer
Bending down taking its toll on you? Get a staff with changeable heads on it so you can do it all stood up
To conclude, We hope you have found this useful and found some ideas to take the strain out of your garden. If you enjoyed this article, please have a look around our website for more helpful information!
