Creating Low Maintenance Gardens

While no garden is maintenance free, it is possible torequire less maintenance than those plants which are
create a garden with relatively few demands. Carefulintroduced. Native plants have proven their ability to
planning, proper plant selection and thoughtful designsurvive in your local climate and site conditions. They'll
are essential to creating a low maintenance landscapealso 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 anddiversity in the garden as well as a habitat for native
shade conditions and test your soil for Ph level andwildlife.
composition. Through site analysis you'll be moreWildflower meadows are another type of landscape
informed as to what plants are appropriate for yourwhich requires very little maintenance. Meadows are
garden. Gardens planned with forethought will requirenoted for their stability and wide diversity of plants
less maintenance as your plants will thrive andresulting 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'remaintenance after some initial work. Once a year,
generally easier to maintain in the garden than severalpreferably in the fall after the seeds have dropped
sporadic individual plants. Though flowers are higherfrom the plants, mow the field with the blades at a
upkeep than other types of plants, few would wanthigh 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 yearAside 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 otherplanning a low maintenance garden. For example,
hand, require deadheading, frequent watering andconsider replacing some lawn areas with groundcover.
need to be replanted every year. If you decide toGroundcover can greatly reduce the upkeep in the
plant flowers in your garden, use only a few andgarden 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, plantingmaintenance all groundcovers should be considered
beds which are slightly curved or straight will below maintenance. Only occasional pruning is necessary
easier to mow around than those which are moreto keep groundcovers from creeping into the lawn or
complex. Edging planting beds will help keep weedsgarden beds.
out of the lawn and grass out of the bed, reducingPruning shrubs is one of gardening's most important
the need for weeding. There are many materialsand laborious tasks. Some shrubs are fast growers
which work well as an edging. Plastic and metalwhich need pruning at least few times each season.
edging are found at most nurseries and can beSelecting slow growing shrubs will greatly reduce or
curved to follow the shape of the bed. Be sure toeliminate the need for pruning. During the plant
mulch the shrub beds after planting, this will helpselection process, be sure to choose shrubs which will
reduce the growth of weeds as well as help the soilnot outgrow their allotted space so there'll be no
retain moisture.need for transplanting in the future.
Reintroduce nature into your garden to createEvaluate your needs before you begin planning your
landscapes which are self-sustaining. A woodlandgarden. Consider the amount of time you'll be able to
garden is a great low maintenance landscape whichdevote to the garden. With proper planning and some
utilizes many native species of trees, shrubs andinitial investment of time and labor you'll be able to
perennials. Plants native to particular area will generallyenjoy and carefree garden for years.