collaborative post | Spending time in the garden is intrinsically rewarding. You might be welcoming friends over for a summer barbeque, or lounging on the lawn in the company of a good book. Whatever use you’re getting from your garden, it’s clear that having one is worthwhile.
But having a garden, often, means committing countless hours each year to its maintenance. If you don’t have the time to spare – or you’d prefer to spend it on other priorities, then you might look at some of the ways you might make your garden low-maintenance. Let’s consider a few of the more effective ones.
Choose Low-Maintenance Plants
Certain plants require less care than others. To minimise maintenance, you’ll want to look for hardier varieties. For example, evergreen shrubs like the ‘Francis Mason’ will provide impressive floral displays, even if they’re kept in a sheltered position and pruned infrequently. You might also look for ornamental grass, like stipa tenuissima, which can create visual interest without demanding much of your time.
Implement Ground Cover to Suppress Weeds
Weeds are a constant problem for many gardeners. They’re a problem that’s best addressed proactively: it’s better to prevent a weed from growing in the first place than it is to try to uproot it after it’s done so.
Look for plants that form dense canopies, preventing sunlight from reaching the earth. Glandora prostrata and Bergenia purpurascens work in heavier soil. You might also consider ground cover and mulching, which will not only cover up weeds, but also reduce evaporation.
In new-build homes, the garden is often completely untouched, meaning that you can establish exactly the plants you need right from the very start of your gardening career, and prevent those weeds from gaining a foothold in the first place.
Design with Raised Beds for Easy Access
If you’re having to kneel down to tend to your flowerbeds, then you’ll often have to spend more time dealing with them. Low-maintenance fruits, vegetables and flowers can be planted in raised beds, ideally at waist height, so that you can deal with them without having to get on your knees. This is not just a convenience – it can also save your health in the long run.
Incorporate Hard Landscaping Features
Hard landscaping features, by definition, require minimal maintenance. There’s no organics matter to break down over time, after all. If the decorative elements in your garden come from stone tiles, decking, and gravel, then you’ll have to spend minimal time maintaining them. Just make sure that you do the groundwork such that weeds cannot penetrate the surface from beneath. Permeable paving can make your space more sustainable at the same time.
Opt for a Tapestry Lawn Instead of Traditional Grass
A ‘tapestry’ lawn is made from a combination of perennial plants. They’re different from the monoculture that is a traditional lawn, and very different from artificial alternatives. You won’t need to mow a tapestry lawn as often, but in terms of eco-friendliness, they’re a clear winner.
