We all love the idea If having a garden, but often the hard work associated with maintaining it is underestimated.
Wouldn’t it be great if you could have a fantastic outside space to enjoy on nice days, but without the hassle? There are a few things you can do to drastically reduce the amount of gardening, without compromising on design quality, and without spending a fortune at the garden centre.
Don’t Neglect the Grass
Many homeowners think that one sure fire way of reducing the need for maintenance in the garden is doing away with grass completely. This is true, but it can also make your garden a less pleasant place to spend time in, and isn’t child friendly.
Either reduce the area of grass by introducing other surfaces such as wood or patio, or consider replacing grass with
one of the very good artificial alternatives on the market.
Once laid, an artificial lawn will look green throughout the year and won’t require mowing. Artificial grass is available in a range of densities to suit any garden or home for low maintenance outside areas.
You can even lay it in properties which you would never normally see grass areas in at all, such as flat and apartments or basement properties.
Spreading Plants
One of the garden tasks which is least pleasant is weeding, so look for plants which spread horizontally along the ground to provide cover as this will keep the amount of weeds down and reduce your gardening time. Heathers, ivy and hostas are good choices for this, but ask for advice in your local garden centre as some plants may be more appropriate for your local climate conditions.
Hedges
Hedges can quickly grow way out of control and require trimming and cutting every week or more often during the growing season. We all know that leylandii plants are the worst for growing quickly, so avoid these at all cost. If you are planting new hedges to divide up your garden or provide a border between your garden and next door look for slower growing materials such as yew or holly. They look just as good, but will require a lot less maintenance.
Membranes and Bark
Weed-free membranes can be laid under most garden surfaces such as bark, pebbles or gravel, and these stop weeds coming through in between your plants. Membranes can be bought in any large garden centre or DIY store and are sold in rolls. They are flexible and will allow water to drain through and into the earth, but won’t allow the weeds to grow up and through them. Cut holes in the membrane to fit neatly around your existing plants, then use bark, pebbles or anything else to cover the membrane. More attractive than bare soil, and far easier to maintain.
Grow Wild
Perhaps the ultimate in low maintenance gardening is leaving a section of the garden to grow wild, requiring no maintenance at all. Wildflower seeds are widely available and varieties can be planted to attract butterflies or bees. Just section off part of the gardens with bricks, sleepers, or whatever materials you have at home, and leave the garden to its own devices. The bees, butterflies and local wildlife will thank you for it too.
