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