A garden and a beautiful landscape can be a delight for any homeowner lucky to have a property with enough space for a well-maintained garden and landscape.
The problem comes when you have to carry out the various maintenance tasks which at times can be backbreaking and demanding. It can always be of big help therefore to implement some low maintenance landscaping ideas, to reduce the need for this work.
Lawns are an integral part of most landscapes, but also the parts that demand the most attention and work with the need for watering, mowing, weeding, aerating, fertilizing and other activities to maintain it.
Use Different Types Of Ground Cover
You can slash the time for doing all these chores if you replace some of your lawn with proper ground cover. This is especially useful in those open area of your landscape that is rocky or has a lot of shade that makes the growing of grass difficult.
Use small succulents which are drought tolerant and also low maintenance. You can choose from a wide variety of such succulents, but it is best to go in for those that will grow well in your geographical area.
Water them well and allow the soil to dry out before you water them again. You can also consider the option of using artificial grass, as some of the latest brands look as natural as the real thing.
Use Trees And Shrubs That Don’t Need A Lot Of Water
Another of the low maintenance landscaping ideas that can serve you well is to choose shrubs, plants and trees that do not require much water to thrive so that you reduce the time and effort required to water them.
Find Plants That Don’t Need Much Pruning
Plants must be matched to the soil that you have and once they establish a good root system, they will require the minimum of watering. Choose plants that do not require a lot of attention like pruning. The dwarf varieties of some of these plants can even resist disease and pests better.
Hardscape Part Of The Area
If you are carrying out any hardscaping like paving as part of your low maintenance landscape, go in for pavers that are permeable or have open joints that will allow the rainwater to be absorbed. Gravel pathways can help here.
You can also reduce the need for weeding if you use a lot of mulch and compost around the base of your trees and plants. The earthworms from the compost will do the cultivating, while mulch reduces the need to turn over the soil; an action which brings weed seeds to sunlight that fosters their growth.
Plant Perennials
Plant more of perennials as growing them will reduce the need for planting new plants that are seasonal. Make sure that all the plants in your garden are those that are native to your geographical area, as they will thrive better, and require less of fertilizer, water and pesticides.
Your local nursery will be a good guide for this, as well as a source of seedlings. Reduce the plants that you need to tend, and go in for just some nice trees and perennials that will allow you to have more free time on your weekends.