While beautiful, immaculate gardens are understandably highly coveted in the world of gardening, sometimes, spending endless hours creating a pristine garden just isn’t practical. Whether you are tight for gardening time or struggle with the physical aspect of gardening, high maintenance outdoor spaces just aren’t practical for everyone.
So, with that in mind, here are some top tips and ideas to help you create and manage a low maintenance garden – without compromising on the quality and aesthetics of your garden.
Design
Immaculate landscaping and intricate flowerbeds might look good, but the reality is that they will require a lot of dedication and commitment to maintain. Unless you have the time available to focus on gardening on a grand scale, it’s probably best to scale down your ideas and, instead, create a simple yet high-impact garden environment.
If you are thinking about undergoing a garden redesign, it’s recommended to plan out your initial ideas, along with rough costings, to ensure that you can stay on budget while incorporating everything you want into your overall garden design.
Lawn
How many hours have you spent mowing your lawn, only for it to need mowing again just a few days later! Similarly, brown, patchy, muddy or waterlogged lawns can detract from the overall aesthetic of your garden and depending on your garden’s soil type and quality of the turf, the reality is that sometimes, lawns just aren’t worth the hassle.
In this scenario, you could consider investing in decking or a patio to negate the need for a lawn, or if you would still prefer a greener garden, why not try an artificial lawn instead? The synthetic grasses of today have come a long way from their beginnings, resulting in highly realistic, cost-effective artificial grass that is perfect for a lush, low maintenance garden lawn.
Plants
Plants, flowers and shrubs can bring plenty of color and vibrancy to a garden, but if you are aiming for a low maintenance outdoor space, it’s important to pick your plants with care. Some plants are easy-going and will require very little to no maintenance, whereas others need a lot of attention in order to look their best.
As a general rule, evergreen shrubbery is a safe bet because many varieties will be happiest when left to flourish on their own. If you want a splash of color without taking too much time out, you could consider adding a few flower pots or planters to create focal points in your garden – a few containers will be much easier to maintain than a garden full of flowerbeds. Fill them with your choice of bright blooms and give your outdoor space an instant refresh!
Decoration
Whether it’s a bench, garden gnome, or space for your summer BBQ, it isn’t just the natural side of things that help a garden make a statement. Whether you choose something practical like seating or a more decorative addition, you can rest assure that whatever you choose will help your garden look its best, without causing you undue stress.
However, when choosing ornamental or decorative features, it’s important to carefully consider a number of factors before making an addition to your garden. Make sure that anything you add complements the existing design scheme of your garden, is suitable for an all-weather outdoor lifestyle and doesn’t require too much maintenance, like painting or varnishing, for example.
Your garden should be a relaxing place where you can escape the hustle and bustle of daily life for a while. No matter the size or design of your garden, remember that sometimes, less is more and there’s absolutely no reason why your low maintenance garden can’t still wow everyone lucky enough to see it!
