While there’s something incredibly romantic about waking up to a full garden of greenery and blooms every day, the reality is that the upkeep of a garden overflowing with life and vibrancy is often too much for most people. Gardening is more of an art and labor of love than something to dip in and out of over time. And those neatly clipped borders and that lush greenery in the garden of your dreams aren’t always as appealing in the cold light of day, and chances are you’ll end up with overgrown shrubs and half-dead rose bushes within weeks.
And if you’re not one of those rare green-fingered prodigies who find joy in the constant pruning and edging, then opting for a more low-maintenance garden might be up your path. Low maintenance leads to less effort and more calm and serenity. It doesn’t have to be boring; far from it, it just needs to be easy to keep on top of.
Let’s look at how you can create your own low-maintenance garden.
Plant Smarter, Not Harder
The first rule of low-maintenance gardening is to ensure you don’t give yourself more work than you can cope with. And this does not necessarily mean no plants, it means being creative with what you choose so you’re not constantly pruning or replaining. You want to opt for hardy plants like lavender, hostas, or ornamental grasses. These look great, but don’t come with the upkeep other varieties do. Evergreen shrubs are also another winner for low-maintenance gardens, as they will stay green all year round and only need the occasional bit of tlc.
Rethink The Lawn
Lawns look amazing when they’re cared for and mown correctly. But keeping a lawn lush and green can be a full-time job in itself. From mowing to feeding to seeding and patching up bald spots, it can feel never-ending.
If the aim is to reduce your gardening load, then it might be time to rethink the lawn. You can remove it entirely and pave over the space, or place artificial turf down. Or you can reduce the size to make it more manageable.
Andi, if you can’t bear to part with your lawn, choose a hardwearing material that can tolerate a bit of neglect. Shift your mindset from perfection to good enough and embrace the shabby, slightly overgrown look; it’s amazing for the environment, not just you.
Choose Hardworking Tools
What we’re aiming for here is to find tools that do the hard work for you. The right tools can make a world of difference when it comes to how easy it is to keep on top of gardening tasks.
You don’t need a shed full of fancy tech or equipment, but you do need to make some clever choices to reduce your workload.
Take clearing leaves, for example, raking up fallen leaves can be a thankless task that is ongoing. But purchasing a leaf blower can make the job so much easier and faster. A robotic lawnmower can take over mowing for you, so you still get to keep your lawn without the regular mowing; perfect for larger gardens. Another handy tool to have is long-handled pruners. They can help you tackle shrubs without crouching, and self-watering planters mean you never forget to water your plants or lose hours making sure everything is hydrated.
Containers and Raised Beds
It’s the perfect compromise between having a garden full of plants you can’t keep up with and not having any at all. And let’s be honest: as good as borders look, weeds can run riot in them and be the bane of your life.
But with containers and raised planters, you automatically make life easier. You control the soil and the environment, meaning there are fewer unwanted guests than there would be on the ground. Plus, they make your garden look organized and intentional too because you meant to put them there and make a feature of them. And let’s not skip over how perfect they are for people with mobility issues who struggle with bending or being on the ground.
Rethink Design
Sometimes a low-maintenance garden isn’t about removing or taking away from the space. But how you organise everything in it. It’s about creating a space that is restful and a place you can relax and enjoy.
So, instead of framing every available space with plants, opt for a few well-placed trees or shrubs to give shape and shade. Use patios and pathways to create a natural flow around the garden without it needing constant attention.
You also use lighting to make a difference in your outdoor space. Solar lights tucked away along a path or on a fence can be impactful, or string lights across a pergola can add an extra design element. You can add a bench, hammock, or dining arrangement to the garden, and suddenly it’s come to life in a way you can enjoy but don’t need to spend too much time maintaining.
Embrace Imperfection
Finally, it’s not always about how you organize your garden that makes it low maintenance; it’s your mindset. As touched upon in the lawn section, if you embrace imperfection, you can relieve yourself of the constraints of needing to have a perfect outdoor space, and this will automatically reduce your workload.
It’s not about creating a showroom polished to perfection to impress others; it’s about creating a space that works for you and brings you joy. A few rogue leaves on the lawn isn’t always the end of the world, nor is a slightly overgrown lawn or wildflowers poking through to attract local wildlife. And sometimes there’s more perfection in those parts you let grow naturally than in the constant pursuit of perfection.
When it comes to creating a low-maintenance garden, it’s a combination of how you look at and treat your space and your creativity. From using planters and containers for your plants over flower beds to using lighting as a design feature and investing in the right tools, it’s easy enough to create a lovely, welcoming garden that doesn’t require you to be a full-time gardener.