Just the process of imagining the perfect garden for your home can be a tranquil experience. All that greenery, the pathways, perhaps even a deck that looks so inviting and so relaxing. Your own sanctuary.
But once you snap out of it, you quickly realize that such a garden must require hours of maintenance, and work in order to be this beautiful; just like a room becomes a wreck after the kids play in it for a few hours, even though you had it sparkling clean and tidy just before that.
What if it wasn’t so? What if you could have that perfect garden, but the maintenance level on it was very low?
Well, if that is something that sparked your curiosity, then read on and we’ll go through just that – tips and tricks on how YOU can have that low-maintenance garden, as well.
When you think of mulch, you probably imagine it’s only used for decorating the garden beds, and that’s about it. Well, there’s actually much more to mulch than meets the eye.
According to a U.S. Green Building Council report, green building is expected to account for approximately 280 billion (USD) in new construction by the year 2030. This information suggests that demand for green buildings is on the rise.
If you want a healthy, low-maintenance garden (and let’s be realistic – who doesn’t?), mulch (yes, mulch) can make your life a whole lot easier.
One of its main benefits is that it helps the soil retain moisture, so you won’t need to water the plants as often. It’s also a natural barrier against weeds because it blocks the sunlight, which prevents the weeds from growing and it saves you from spending time pulling them out.
If you go the organic route (e.g., wood chips or leaves), over time, mulch will break down and add nutrients to the soil to improve its health. It’s also amazing for keeping the soil temperature stable.
Plus, it’s easily accessible; just google “mulch for sale near me”, and a ton of nearby options should pop up.
Of course, mulch isn’t all you need for a low-maintenance garden. It’s an excellent punctuation mark of a kind, but including more than that would be necessary.
Read on, and you’ll find three of the best pieces of advice that there are (currently out there).
This is one of the most basic solutions to a problem of this kind – reducing the workload. Due to the local climatic conditions, they require less water and care for them to thrive.
They also demand less fertilizer and pesticide since they are already adapted to the environment. And there are native plants that are as beautiful and feature-rich as the exotic ones.
Drip irrigation is a highly water-efficient system that supplies water to the base of the plants, thereby reducing the water wasted through evaporation. This system ensures that the right amount of water is supplied to the plants, hence saving water and avoiding the problem of over watering.
What’s more, a wide range of these systems can be included. All you have to do is to program them (set them up), and walk away; let them do their thing.
Perennials are plants that come back every year, so they are perfect for people who do not want a lot of care. Once judiciously secured, they incur less attention than annuals, as there is no need to replant every season.
Ground covers are also beneficial in that they protect the soil from erosion, suppress weeds, and minimize the need for irrigation.
A low-maintenance/high-end garden almost sounds like an oxymoron, but it’s real, and it’s accessible. It’s all about smart design choices.
It can be done with just a little planning and some smart modern technology.
Divide your garden into zones to make it more functional and easier to manage. You can create different areas for relaxing, entertaining, or planting, each with its own purpose.
For example, make a seating area that’s surrounded by low-maintenance plants, and create a deck or patio in the entertaining area.
Gravel paths, patios, or benches reduce the amount of work you need to do to keep everything tidy.
Hardscaping, like stone pathways, patios, or walls, is a great way to make your garden look more beautiful and cut down on maintenance.
Stone, concrete, and gravel last a long time and you don’t really need to pay them too much attention.
Unlike traditional flower beds, you need to weed and water, areas that are hardscaped stay neat and polished with hardly any care.
Using technology may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about your garden, but it will make maintenance much easier.
Smart irrigation systems automatically water your plants, so you don’t need to. They adjust based on weather and plant needs, which makes your garden stay healthy with far less effort.
According to an EPA report, if all U.S. homes had water-efficient fixtures installed, the whole country would save more than 3 trillion gallons of water each year (this colossal number is approximately the annual water consumption of a country like Switzerland multiplied by 2).
Automated lighting makes your garden even more stunning at night and highlights pathways and seated areas without needing to be manually controlled.
Solar-powered lights are an eco-friendly option and they don’t need any electricity or upkeep.
Solar panels are able to (typically) convert approximately 15-20% of sunlight into electricity (data gathered from the U.S. Department of Energy).
You can even use robotic lawnmowers to keep your lawn looking perfect without lifting a finger.
A common misconception regarding a low maintenance garden is assuming that it can be simply abandoned to take care of itself. It contains the term ‘maintenance’ with the prefix ‘low’, which signifies that SOME tending is required. It just doesn’t require the amount of work dedicated to it as in the case of a normal (regular) garden.
The central aim of establishing a low-maintenance garden is that most of the time spent in such a garden is for enjoyment of the features of the garden rather than for effort spent in making it looking pleasant.
And with all the advanced technology today, combined with a few inventive products like mulch (yes, mulching), one can achieve the desired landscape, regardless of the changes required.
Create your dream garden and enjoy it!