Gorgeous Low Maintenance Garden Tips

Do you ever flip through garden catalogues or scroll social media and feel a bit of envy towards those really complex gardens that look like they were crafted by a full team of master gardeners?

We all want a garden like that. But let’s be real, between the weeding, watering, pruning, and everything else, it can start to feel like a full-time job. That’s why a lot of people with big gardening potential end up putting it off, season after season, living vicariously through someone else’s picture-perfect backyard.

But don’t let those social media pictures discourage you. Not all gorgeous gardens have to be high maintenance. In fact, with a little planning, you can have an amazing garden that almost seems to take care of itself.

Now, it is worth nothing that low maintenance does not mean no maintenance. As gardens are filled with living things, they still need to be looked after, particularly during dry spells or severe weather (or even an occasional sneaky weed will need pulling). Here are some things you can do to set up a garden that won’t ruin your back, or your schedule.

Assess Your Goals

Before you start digging, it is important to actualize your visions in a practical lens. Consider the amount of time you actually have, or want, to spend in the garden each week, and be honest, there’s no shame in that! You want to set up a garden that works for you and your lifestyle.

Even when going with a low maintenance garden, you can still gear the design towards a specific vision. Do you prefer a more wild, natural look? Or are you looking for something that will stay neat and tidy? Considering the options will help you choose the best plants for your vision.

Choosing the Best Plants

This is the most important step for cultivating an easy-going, low maintenance garden. If you are low on time and need some reliable plants that will grow steadily without the need for much intervention, then consider the following factors:

Native Plants: Native plants that are naturally suited to your local habitat will require less special attention like extra watering, fertilizing, and even pruning. If you’re looking to fill a shady space with a no-fuss native plant, Black Cohosh is a beautiful choice.

Perennials over annuals: Perennials are plants that return year after year, whereas annuals will need to be replaced. If less work is your goal, then perennials are the best choice. But you don’t have to say goodbye to the cheery blooms that annuals typically have. Plenty of perennials, such as Black Eyed Susan, pack a serious colorful punch.

Drought Tolerant plants: Dry spells during the hot summer are basically guaranteed. For a garden to be truly low maintenance, it is best to choose plants that can take a little drought. Choose plants that are hardy and adaptable, such as Creeping Phlox.

Groundcover over grass: If you want to eliminate the need to mow the edges of a garden bed, consider replacing grass with sprawling groundcover. This not only helps to smother weeds, but also adds texture and color. Some groundcovers can spread rather aggressively, so go for slow-to-moderate growers like European Ginger.

Setting the Garden up for (easy) Success

Once your chosen plants are chosen, you will want to support the growth of the garden while simplifying its future needs.

Apply Mulch

This is a crucial step for low maintenance gardening. Mulch will ensure there are less weeds to pull as it blocks sunlight from reaching potential invaders. Applying 2-3 inches of mulch also guarantees better moisture retention by blocking evaporation. And as a bonus, mulching looks great and ties the whole garden together. Organic mulches will also help to naturally fertilize the garden as it breaks down over time. Simplify Watering

Some gardeners choose to automate the watering process as a whole with drip irrigation or soaker hoses. If you have the means to do this, then it can be a great idea that will save you hours of labor during the hot summer.

Lay Landscape Fabric

To really ensure weeds aren’t escaping through, consider laying landscape fabric down to smother any burgeoning roots. This will require more work up front but will nearly guarantee a weed-free garden for years.

A low maintenance garden doesn’t mean you aren’t still totally obsessed with the plants, it just indicates a higher degree of careful planning and a decision to work with nature, rather than against it.

Gardening is all about beautifying your space, giving back to nature, and getting to enjoy the fruits of your labor, so why not simplify it? Actualize your growing goals, choose the right plants to support your vision, and put in a little initial prep work to get you started, and you will have a social-media worthy garden!