The Sunday Mail
Your outdoor space is for relaxing in – and low maintenance gardens ideas are here to max up your enjoyment while dialling down the chores.
Choose plants that keep on giving
Opt for plants that are hassle-free, bounce back if you neglect them and quietly do their own thing for months – the simplest of low maintenance garden ideas. Wondering how to choose plants for your modern garden? Bamboo, ferns and ornamental grasses are good choices as they add structure, a cool design element and year round interest.
All they need is a quick comb through with your fingers occasionally to get rid of dry foliage. Try planting up containers with succulents such as echeverias and sempervivums for another easy planting idea. Use cactus compost and make sure there are plenty of drainage holes in the bottom of your pot. Position in the sunniest spot in the garden and enjoy. But remember: they need to go indoors at the end of summer.
Cut down on watering
Choose the largest pots you can find and group them together. As well as making an eye-catching statement, watering them and tidying up is easier too as they are all in one place. Another benefit to this simple low maintenance garden idea is that there is only so much growing plants can do in a pot, which means less pruning. Water thoroughly once a week rather than watering little and often, which encourages roots to stay near the surface where they will dry out more quickly.
Instead they drill deeper to find moisture. Applying a thick mulch of organic matter around the base of plants in spring helps lock in moisture too.
Opt for easy evergreens
They look smart and provide a cool green backdrop for your garden design. Evergreens require minimal maintenance too, and their structure extends the seasonal appeal right through late autumn and into winter. Neat greenery such as standard box trees clipped into pompoms look effortlessly smart every time. Another easy-to-look-after plant with staying power is viburnum, which keeps on giving whatever the month. It’s a looker too. Evergreens are generally happy-go-lucky shrubs, settling into pretty much any soil or position in your garden with the minimum of fuss.
Ban the hoe
Dandelions, bindweed, nettles and the one that is everywhere but you do not know the name of – weeds are just so demanding. Cut down on time spent on them with these easy tricks. Avoid leaving patches of bare soil at all costs as weeds will move in fast. Plant as densely as you can with super spreaders in drifts like herbacious perennials so every inch of soil is covered and becomes a no-go area for weeds.
Try the no-dig approach
Wise up to the benefits of no-dig gardening fast. It is one of the best low maintenance garden ideas because it allows you to grow while giving you a space that is all about relaxing and entertaining. So, going ‘no dig’ should be top of your list as it frees up more time for enjoying your outdoor space. Gaining control of weeds is easy this way as undisturbed soil grows fewer weeds than you would see after digging.
Opt for easy containers
Always choose containers you can plant up then forget about. Avoid wood, which needs regular maintenance, and ceramic and terracotta, which can be a nightmare when it comes to winter frosts as they can crack. The latest low maintenance garden ideas include styles are made from weatherproof resin that looks just like stoneware.
Decide on no-paint fences
The latest fences come in materials that do not need an annual refresh with paint, wood stain or varnish to keep them looking smart. What is more, they are built to last. Metal garden fencing is guaranteed to stay looking smart for 25 years with no maintenance.
Shrink that lawn
Lawns take a fair amount of annual work, and one of the ultimate low maintenance garden ideas is to reduce how much you have. If you really want to keep your lawn but make it easier to look after, try reducing the size of it or simplifying the shape for easier mowing. Think about replacing some sections of lawn with gravel, paving or decking. — livingetc
