Where gardens are concerned, there always seems to be a necessity for perfection! Most people want a garden that looks good but is relatively low maintenance because either their life is just too busy to spend more time tending their garden or it just doesn’t interest them and they would far rather be sitting in it with a glass of wine and some friends!
The big fact is that all gardens take maintenance, but there are definitely some good ways to reduce the amount of effort needed and for the amount of effort that is used, for a great deal is achieved! An important consideration is that gardens can look really attractive, even if their lawns and flowerbeds are a little unkempt.
Plan first
Garden planners suggest that it is best to decide what aspect of the garden is important to you because this can be the focus of your efforts. If for example, you really enjoy growing your own vegetables, you may well decide that you are happy to put in the effort to maintain your veggie patch as you find it therapeutic, plus you have the bonus of freshly grown produce to enjoy.
Reduce the size of your lawn.
Although lawns look nice, many are actually far larger than they need to be and grass cutting takes longer than it should do. Is it worth digging some flower beds on each side that can be filled with easy-care shrubs and bushes that really need very little doing to them? If you choose the plants carefully so there is a variety of colors, textures, and leaf shapes, this will create interest. To add some color to the flowerbeds simply plant some annuals in between. Of course, if you want to reduce the work even further, you can plant some ground covering plants such as ivy, to keep the weeds at bay.
Have easy to maintain flowerbeds.
If you want a flower bed but don’t want to spend ages weeding regularly, a raised bed can work really well. These are usually made from wood in a square or rectangular shape and are filled with top quality soil and compost. They are ideal for growing vegetables or herbs. Visit Bitponics for a beginner’s guide to vegetable gardening.
Choose plants carefully!
When you are shopping for plants, take time to read the information leaflets! Easy-care plants are those that are ideally suited to your area and the type of soil in your garden. Many shrubs and bushes are very easy to care like hydrangea (all they need is quick deadheading in the autumn!) and they fill space and add color. Roses always look gorgeous but will need deadheading and a really good prune in the autumn.
Keep weeds at bay.
The ultimate way to stop weeds spreading is to use a weed barrier cover across the flowerbed. The cover covers all the soil and you cut holes in it for your different plants. It takes a while to install but your life will be weed-free after that!
Make watering easy.
If you do have plants that need regular watering, it might be worth considering the installation of a simple irrigation system. Alternatively, a water sprinkler placed in the center of your garden can work well. Watering is most effective during the evening when the sun is not so hot. If you just have a few plants that need watering, it is well worth considering investing in some self-watering containers.
Add some mulch to save lots of effort.
Mulch is good for the soil as it definitely improves its quality. Mulch is also good because it helps to stop weeds and helps keep moisture in the soil.
Get the family involved!
If you are enjoying time outside, you might well get some enthusiastic help to tackle a few gardening jobs
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