| Contrary to popular belief, owning a garden that is | | | | irrigation system conserve water, it also targets the |
| beautiful and well maintained does not have to take | | | | roots of the plants to obtain the best results. |
| up all of your spare time. With a few handy hints and | | | | Try to reduce the number of potted plants. Potted |
| ideas it is possible to save your time and still maintain | | | | plants tend to need more care and can prove to be |
| a landscape that looks healthy, lush and prospering. | | | | quite high maintenance so choose your potted plants |
| Research is the key to having a low maintenance | | | | wisely, opting for more drought resilient plants. Ensure |
| garden. Acquire a through knowledge on which plants | | | | that the pots are free draining, by seeing to it that |
| will need minimal care and plan your garden out | | | | they are filled with equal amounts of grit, sand and |
| accordingly first. Remember to take into | | | | compost, as this would make them less likely to |
| consideration the size of your garden, the climate, | | | | freeze during winter. |
| and how much time you are prepared to give to the | | | | Use bark chips or mulch to prevent the growth of |
| garden. | | | | weeds. Another option would be to plant ground |
| To start with, keep the shape of your lawn as simple | | | | cover shrubs as they take prevents weeds from |
| as possible as this will cut down on the time taken to | | | | getting water and nutrients and keep your garden |
| mow it. Alternatively, another time saving option | | | | effectively weed free. |
| would be to substitute grass for clover. Clover has | | | | To avoid shearing and pruning consider choosing |
| many advantages such as attracting beneficial insects | | | | dwarf or slow growing plants for your garden. Tall |
| to your garden, it doesn't need to be fertilized, it's | | | | shrubs need constant pruning and trimming and may |
| drought tolerant and also free of weeds. Therefore | | | | block the view from you window if left unattended. |
| clover is a better option if you are looking for a low | | | | To deal with weeds consider using a ground cover |
| maintenance ground cover for your landscape. | | | | that will thrive in your climate and grow quickly. |
| Drought resilient perennials are colorful, bright flowers | | | | Ensure that all weeds have been removed first |
| which make any garden look beautiful while at the | | | | though, so that the ground cover will not have |
| same time needing very little maintenance. Once | | | | competition for water or nutrients and will be able to |
| perennials have been planted, they virtually look after | | | | flourish quickly, thereby effectively preventing the |
| themselves, and also multiply as the years go by | | | | growth of weeds. In shady areas, try ground covers |
| ensuring your garden is always filled with color. | | | | such as pachysandra, barrenwort, or wild ginger. In |
| Consider a rock garden. Rocks add a lot of color to | | | | sunny areas, try creeping junipers, daylilies or |
| your garden and need no taking care of. A rock | | | | ground-cover roses. |
| garden, when combined with drought resilient plants | | | | If you find yourself pressed for time and unable to |
| will provide a look of a well designed garden that will | | | | take care of your garden, but still long for something |
| need minimum maintenance. | | | | that looks like it leapt out of a magazine cover, then |
| If you cannot afford to spend time watering your | | | | the best option is to hire a landscaper to take care |
| plants regularly consider going in for an automatic | | | | of all the hard work and leave you free to enjoy the |
| irrigation system. This is the easiest way to look | | | | garden and it's beauty. |
| after your garden, for not only does automatic | | | | |