Not a fan of gardening? Creating a beautiful, easy-to-care-for garden does not have to be complicated. Here are a few tips to get you on the path to an easy, low-maintenance outdoor space:
- Get the Right Plants:
- Some plants are easier to maintain than others. Do you want to skip the inconvenience of planting new seedlings every season? Opt for perennials as the base for your garden. These plants die to the ground at the end of every season and regrow from the same roots. Some live for 3-4 years while others, like peonies, can last a lifetime. Not only are perennials dependable and easy to manage, they offer a variety of colours and textures.
- Save yourself trouble and get plants that are deemed hardy and can be left outdoors year round. You will save yourself the time it takes to wrap them or move them when the cold weather comes.
- If you are considering hedges, opt for yew or holly which tend to grow slower. The slower the hedges grow, the less often you will have to trim them.
- Create a Low-Maintenance Lawn: Lawns are often the largest component of any garden/backyard – they also need the most routine care. Here are a few ways to make lawn-care easier:
- Consider letting grass grow long. Certain high-use areas can be mown regularly while the rest is left to grow wild.
- Do not collect clippings: This saves you time and your lawn will require less feeding as the fallen grass contains nutrients. You may want to consider a ‘mulching’ mower which is designed to chop clippings before returning them to the ground.
- Get the right type of turf: Look for seed or turf that is described as amenity, multi-purpose, hard wearing, or simply low-maintenance. The more durable the lawn, the less work it will require.
- To save water and maintenance time, use gravel and other options to replace some turf space.
- Avoid Creating Extra Work for Yourself:
- Position features that take more maintenance closer to your home or shed so you do not waste time and effort walking and carrying items up and down the garden.
- Install gravel paths instead of grassy walkways. Gravel paths allow water to drain freely and do not require the maintenance that grassy walkways demand.
- Surround trees with plants instead of lawn. Use woodland plants that can stand the company of tree roots.
- The less containers you have, the better. Small containers tend to dry out quickly and the more of them you have, the more work you will have planting, repotting, feeding, watering and handling. Use larger planters to minimize this workload.
- Opt for big beds rather than small ones. An overflowing bed requires little grooming and pruning to control its size.
One of the best things you can do for your garden is to make good dirt. Instead of feeding plants, feed your soil. Use compost to increase biotic life and make nutrients more directly available to your plants.
The options for any garden are endless. With a little research and creativity, you can create a low-maintenance space that works for you. Are you looking to put your house on the market and need some landscaping/gardening advice? E-mail me at mail@ellidavis.com or call me at 416-960-9995, and I am happy to help.
