A low-maintenance garden does not have to be boring, colourless or dull. With a little consideration, some garden chores can easily be reduced, or even eliminated altogether.
Whether you want to reduce garden maintenance due to disability, old age or because you own a rental property or holiday home, there are various ways to approach this. A great starting point is to consider how much time you can spare.
Growing your own
If you love to grow your own fruit or vegetables, for instance, then prioritise this by perhaps paving over other areas. Think about how to reduce effort, such as by installing automatic watering systems or placing an outdoor tap in a prime spot.
A lifestyle garden
If outdoor living rather than growing fresh produce is key, then a great way to make part of the garden low-maintenance is to add a comfortable seating area. Premium brands such as
Lifestyle garden furniture make sumptuously cosy outdoor dining and sofa sets, complete with plump, durable cushions. Garden furniture like this means you can enjoy your outdoor space to the max while cutting down on maintenance at the same time.
Rethink the lawn
Another way to reduce garden maintenance is to reconsider the lawn, which doesn’t have to mean replacing it with patio. You could let the grass grow long, either all or in part, or consider converting it to a wildflower patch that will attract bees and butterflies. A viable alternative to patio now exists in the form of artificial turf, which has come a long way in recent times and now looks far more realistic.
Patio maintenance
Where you do have paving, larger patio slabs will make for less weed growth. Many gardeners find that adding kiln sand between any gaps helps to curb weeds, thus reducing the time spent pulling out or spraying those unwanted plants that can pop up.
A focal point
Water features or even ponds may sound fussy, but a stylish and simple water feature may actually require little to no maintenance, and will ensure your garden has a stunning focal point. Ponds can even be created within small containers, and if the right plants and water system are added you may even be able to keep fish without having to do any work beyond the initial installation.
Plant management
Borders are a key feature of many gardens but can create a lot of work, with the need to maintain herbaceous perennials and keep weeds under control. Replacing some or all of your border plants with shrubs can reduce your workload, especially if they are planted through some sort of weed-suppressing material. This can then be covered with gravel or bark if you like, creating a double barrier against weed invasion. Shrub borders will generally also require less watering.
Avoid high-maintenance plants
For a low-maintenance garden, consider the above while cutting down on labour intensive features such as large numbers of pots. Avoid tender or bedding plants that require constant attention, or those that need regular pruning, such as wisteria, fast-growing hedging or young fruit trees.
