| While no garden is maintenance free, it is | | | | which are introduced. Native plants have |
| possible to create a garden with relatively | | | | proven their ability to survive in your local |
| few demands. Careful planning, proper plant | | | | climate and site conditions. They'll also be |
| selection and thoughtful design are essential | | | | less likely to succumb to disease and extreme |
| to creating a low maintenance landscape which | | | | conditions. Native species will create more |
| retains a garden's aesthetic qualities. | | | | diversity in the garden as well as a habitat |
| | | | for native wildlife. |
| Analyze your site thoroughly. Observe the | | | | |
| sun and shade conditions and test your soil | | | | Wildflower meadows are another type of |
| for Ph level and composition. Through site | | | | landscape which requires very little |
| analysis you'll be more informed as to what | | | | maintenance. Meadows are noted for their |
| plants are appropriate for your garden. | | | | stability and wide diversity of plants |
| Gardens planned with forethought will require | | | | resulting in vibrant colors and textures. |
| less maintenance as your plants will thrive | | | | Like the woodland garden a meadow will |
| and experience less stress. | | | | require very little maintenance after some |
| | | | initial work. Once a year, preferably in the |
| Group new shrubs into planting beds; they're | | | | fall after the seeds have dropped from the |
| generally easier to maintain in the garden | | | | plants, mow the field with the blades at a |
| than several sporadic individual plants. | | | | high setting. This will allow the plants to |
| Though flowers are higher upkeep than other | | | | get an early start in the spring. It also |
| types of plants, few would want to banish | | | | removes any tree and shrub saplings from |
| them from the garden completely. Perennials | | | | taking over the site. |
| require some work, such as deadheading, | | | | |
| though the season but they return and flower | | | | Aside from recreating native landscapes in |
| year after year. After the initial | | | | your garden, proper plant selection is |
| investment and planting, perennials are easy | | | | important when planning a low maintenance |
| to maintain. Annuals on the other hand, | | | | garden. For example, consider replacing some |
| require deadheading, frequent watering and | | | | lawn areas with groundcover. Groundcover can |
| need to be replanted every year. If you | | | | greatly reduce the upkeep in the garden while |
| decide to plant flowers in your garden, use | | | | adding a variety of textures and colors. |
| only a few and place them where they'll have | | | | Though groundcovers vary in the amount of |
| the highest impact. | | | | required maintenance all groundcovers should |
| | | | be considered low maintenance. Only |
| When designing your garden, remember, | | | | occasional pruning is necessary to keep |
| planting beds which are slightly curved or | | | | groundcovers from creeping into the lawn or |
| straight will be easier to mow around than | | | | garden beds. |
| those which are more complex. Edging | | | | |
| planting beds will help keep weeds out of the | | | | Pruning shrubs is one of gardening's most |
| lawn and grass out of the bed, reducing the | | | | important and laborious tasks. Some shrubs |
| need for weeding. There are many materials | | | | are fast growers which need pruning at least |
| which work well as an edging. Plastic and | | | | few times each season. Selecting slow |
| metal edging are found at most nurseries and | | | | growing shrubs will greatly reduce or |
| can be curved to follow the shape of the bed. | | | | eliminate the need for pruning. During the |
| Be sure to mulch the shrub beds after | | | | plant selection process, be sure to choose |
| planting, this will help reduce the growth of | | | | shrubs which will not outgrow their allotted |
| weeds as well as help the soil retain | | | | space so there'll be no need for |
| moisture. | | | | transplanting in the future. |
| | | | |
| Reintroduce nature into your garden to create | | | | Evaluate your needs before you begin planning |
| landscapes which are self-sustaining. A | | | | your garden. Consider the amount of time |
| woodland garden is a great low maintenance | | | | you'll be able to devote to the garden. With |
| landscape which utilizes many native species | | | | proper planning and some initial investment |
| of trees, shrubs and perennials. Plants | | | | of time and labor you'll be able to enjoy and |
| native to particular area will generally | | | | carefree garden for years. |
| require less maintenance than those plants | | | | |