If you are in the process of giving your garden an overhaul or are considering doing so soon but are not sure where to begin, we’ve got a few ideas for you that should give you some inspiration.
Maintaining a garden can be time-consuming so, if you lead a busy life, easy-to-maintain alternatives are a great option. Not only can you achieve beautiful results, but you won’t have to spend your free time keeping it that way.
Here are 5 ways to create a fabulous low-maintenance garden.
Artificial Lawn
If you already have a lawn, you will know how much time it takes to keep it looking healthy and well managed. Without lots of care and attention and regular seeding and feeding, it can become dry and, in some cases, die off – leaving you with an unsightly mess to contend with.
An artificial lawn will solve all of those issues and look amazing for years to come. So, if you are after something that looks good but requires pretty much no maintenance, this could be the answer. It comes in many different pile lengths to suit a range of budgets, so regardless of how much you have to spend, you should be able to find something that looks the part and is affordable.
Choosing the right plants
Tending to a garden can be very time-consuming so if you aren’t a keen gardener or struggle for time, opt for low-maintenance plants. If you are not green-fingered and don’t know what type of planting would suit your garden best, visit your local garden center and ask for advice. They should be able to give you pointers on the best varieties of plants and flowers to purchase based on the size of your garden as well as the way it faces.
If you live in a dry climate, you may need to spend a decent amount of your free time watering your plants to ensure they have enough soil. One fabulous way around this is to use drip irrigation. An irrigation pipe is laid, which directly soaks the soil and gives your plants the water they need whenever they need it. As well as saving time, it helps conserve water too, and so is also beneficial for the environment.
Choice of decking
If you are thinking about having a decked area fitted in your garden, you need to consider the long-term maintenance before taking the plunge. Although wood is cheaper and very popular, composite decking has many benefits. It is more costly than wood and may require specialist fitting, but it’s pretty much maintenance-free. Once it’s fitted, you shouldn’t have to do anything else, so if treating or painting your wooden deck once a year doesn’t appeal, composite alternatives could be the way to go.
Think carefully before painting your fence
Bright and colorful gardens are all the rage these days, and one great way to add even more color is to paint your boundary fence. From greys to greens, there are loads of shades to choose from that will help to bring any garden to life. The downside, however, is the annual maintenance that is likely to be needed.
Over time, paint gets dry and can start to crack, which leads to additional coats being necessary, which can take up a big chunk of your time. Staining your wood is a far less time-consuming option, far easier to apply, and is far more forgiving when it comes to aesthetics.
Ditch the grass
If an artificial lawn is out of your price range or your preference is not to have any grass at all, paving or garden pebbles are worth considering. If paving stones sound ideal, but your garden isn’t flat, groundworks will be necessary, but once the slabs are in place, they will be there for decades to come. Apart from a power wash once or twice a year, you shouldn’t need to do anything else in terms of ongoing maintenance.
If you are working to a limited budget and don’t use your garden often, why not consider having pebbles laid instead? They are cheap to buy, easy to lay, and require no maintenance. You will need to fit a membrane underneath to stop any weeds from growing through, but that shouldn’t take any time at all.
A low-maintenance garden gives you the chance to spend time in a welcoming and relaxing space without the hassle factor, so it is no wonder it’s becoming so popular.