- Introduction to low maintenance garden
- 1. Plan Ahead
- 2. Choose low maintenance garden plants
- 3. Use Mulch – low maintenance garden secret weapon
- 4. Automate Watering
- 5. Minimise Weeding
- 6. Group Plants by Watering Needs
- 7. Use Containers
- 8. No-Dig Gardening – low maintenance garden game changer!
- 9. Be realistic – low maintenance gardening does not mean no maintenance garden!
- 10. Schedule regular, short gardening sessions
- Conclusion to quick tips for a low maintenance garden
Introduction to low maintenance garden
Gardening is quite frankly amazing, but then I am bias! It is one of the most relaxing and rewarding hobbies, but for those with busy schedules, it can be daunting to keep your garden thriving. Fortunately, I am here to help! Because, with a bit of planning and some smart choices, you can create a beautiful, low maintenance garden that fits into your hectic lifestyle.
Whether you are completely new to gardening or have been doing it for a while, here are some tips to help you get get the most out of your garden with minimal effort.
1. Plan Ahead
Before you start buying plants or landscaping, take some time to think about what you want in your garden. Moreover, think about what you want to achieve and how much time you can realistically dedicate to it. For the ultimate guide to designing your own garden, CLICK HERE. But for quick reference, consider the following:
- More hard landscaping means less garden upkeep (other than the occasional sweeping)
- Design your garden for easy access so then it is less onerous to maintain
- Choose sympathetic planting because this will mean minimal care. Also, make sure plants are suited to your garden’s climate and soil; more on this later.
2. Choose low maintenance garden plants
Planting is the key to any ‘bootfiul’ green space, therefore selecting the right plants is the secret to creating a low maintenance garden. Look for varieties that are drought-tolerant, so they won’t die easily if you forget to water them. Plants that are disease-resistant will just happily grow away with no bother. And of course plants that require little pruning/maintenance. FYI, nearly every plant requires a small amount of maintenance. But if you follow these tips, and ensure you use perennials that will come back year after year, you will have an amazing garden with minimal effort. So, without futher ado, here are some excellent options:
Daylilies (Hemerocallis)
Description: these flowers are lovely and whilst each bloom only lasts one day, they produce lots of them. Also, they are edible! Bonus.
Growing Conditions: They thrive in full sun to partial shade and can tolerate drought and poor soil conditions.
Maintenance: They require occasional division every few years to prevent overcrowding.
Hostas (Hosta spp.)
Description: I bloody love these plants! No only do they have lush foliage, they come in various shades of green, blue, and variegated patterns.
Growing Conditions: Prefer partial to full shade and moist, well-drained soil.
Maintenance: Low; they require regular watering and occasional division. But make sure you give them a bit of protect from slugs and snails. READ HERE to find out how.
Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta)
Description: great for cut flowers as well as having striking colours in the garden, which will bring a smile to your face.
Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil.
Maintenance: Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming.
Coneflowers (Echinacea)
Description: used for herbal treatments and look beautiful in the garden.
Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.
Maintenance: They are drought-tolerant and require little care once established. Easy to grow from seed.
Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
Description: Russian sage has silvery foliage and tall, spiky lavender-blue flowers, perfect for the back of the border and stunning when grown in 3’s or 5’s.
Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil.
Maintenance: Prune nice and low in early spring to promote new growth.
Sedum (Sedum spp.)
Description: Sedums, or stonecrops, are succulents with fleshy leaves and clusters of star-shaped flowers
Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil.
Maintenance: They are extremely drought-tolerant and require little water. Just divide them to make more plants when they grow too big.
Peonies (Paeonia)
Description: one of my absolute favourites!! Peonies are known for their large, fragrant blooms in a variety of colors. Amazing in the garden and in vases!
Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade and rich, well-drained soil. Make sure you plant the roots so the top of the plant is proud of the soil.
Maintenance: they require minimal care once established but you will absolutely need support for their heavy blooms. I use metal plant supports or bamboo canes.
Catmint (Nepeta)
Description: Catmint has aromatic, gray-green foliage and spikes of blue or lavender flowers. Pair these with lavender, under plant with roses and you will have a lovely display.
Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil.
Maintenance: Nepeta is drought-tolerant and requires little care once established. Again just prune after flowering. Easy to propagate.
Lavender (Lavandula) – my favourite low maintenance garden plant
Description: Lavender has so many uses, food, in drinks, for its smell. This is a must have plant and it looks fabulous darling!
Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained, sandy soil.
Maintenance: Prune after flowering, as if you were giving it a really good hair cut. As low as you can go, whilst ensuring there are still green leaves on the stems you leave. Easy to propagate.
Salvia (Salvia spp.)
Description: Salvias, or sages, have fragrant foliage and spikes of tubular flowers in various colors and even the leaves smell lovely. Black current sage is MUST!
Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil.
Maintenance: Drought-tolerant and require minimal care, just remember to prune after flowering. Easy to propagate.
3. Use Mulch – low maintenance garden secret weapon
Mulching is a secret weapon for the busy gardener. Moreover, It is one of the best ways to have a low maintenance garden, as a thick layer of mulch helps retain soil moisture, suppresses weeds, and improves soil health. Organic mulches like wood chips, straw, or compost are particularly beneficial and relatively cheap. My go-to’s are bark chippings and a product called Strulch.
4. Automate Watering
If you can, set up an automatic watering system because this will save time and ensure your plants get consistent moisture. Furthermore, this will create a nearly no maintenance, let alone a low maintenance garden! Drip irrigation systems and soaker hoses are efficient options that deliver water directly to the roots, reducing waste and keeping foliage dry are particular efficient, especially when coupled with saved rain water.
5. Minimise Weeding
Weeding can be one of the most time-consuming garden chores therefore low maintenance gardening definitely needs minimal weeding! Whatever you do, you won’t eradicate weeds in their entirety. Conversely, seeking is oddly relaxing! But, if you don’t have much time, consider the following strategies to keep them down.
- Mulch: see above.
- Ground Covers: Planting low-growing ground covers like creeping thyme or ajuga can crowd out weeds. And they smell and look good! Bonus.
- Landscape Fabric: Use landscape fabric under mulch to create a barrier against weeds.
- Find someone to weed for you! 😆
6. Group Plants by Watering Needs
Consider what plants you put together and ensure they have similar watering needs as this will benefit both the plant by having the conditions they like, and you because you won’t have to think about lots of different care protocols. E.g. Mediterranean herbs like poor soil and dry conditions. Hostas and ferns like moisture. This makes it easier to water efficiently and ensures that all plants receive the right amount of moisture.
7. Use Containers
Container gardening is one of the best options for busy people. Containers require less weeding and can be moved as needed if you get bored with your design or need to move to a different area for the plants health e.g. more sunlight or to protect against pests. You can get self-watering containers to further reduce maintenance.
8. No-Dig Gardening – low maintenance garden game changer!
This works trust me! Because no-dig gardening involves layering organic materials on top of the soil instead of digging it all up, this method reduces soil disturbance, helps retain moisture, and promotes healthy soil structure. As a result you have a time-saving, back-saving and eco-friendly way to garden. CLICK HERE to find out more.
9. Be realistic – low maintenance gardening does not mean no maintenance garden!
Accept that some plants may not thrive and that occasional weeds are inevitable. This happens in any garden and to the most experienced gardeners. Just enjoy your garden and the process of caring for it when you can.
10. Schedule regular, short gardening sessions
Instead of dedicating large chunks of time to gardening, break tasks into smaller, manageable sessions. Although I warn you, the more you get into it, the more you will want to do! Just 15-30 minutes a few times a week can keep your garden looking great without becoming a chore.
Conclusion to quick tips for a low maintenance garden
By doing even a few of these things, you can create a beautiful, low-maintenance garden that fits into your busy lifestyle. Though I warn you, the more gardening you do, the more gardening you will want to do!!
By doing a little a bit of planning and making some informed smart choices, you’ll be able to enjoy the benefits of gardening without it becoming a burden. Happy gardening!
JT x
