7 Tips to Create a Low Maintenance Garden.

One of the most popular requests we receive when discussing a clients brief is to create a low maintenance garden. Plants grow, shed leaves (yes even evergreens!) and nature always continues. So whilst there is no such thing as a completely maintenance free garden, there are a few things you can do to reduce the work load.

• Get the soil right before you start. Adding the appropriate soil conditioner or compost to a garden bed before you plant has multiple benefits. It helps your plants get the right nutrition and holds the moisture in, saving time and money down the track.

• Right plant in the right place. Choose plants which, when mature, will fit the space and thrive in your local climate. Plants which start small in the nursery but grow into 3m monsters and are jammed next to paths or beneath windows soon become a maintenance nightmare. The right plant in the right place makes life easy.

• Simplify your planting schemes. Lots of different plants means lots of different care requirements. Mass planting can be really effective visually and reduces the time required overall for pruning and shaping.

• Mulch mulch mulch. Probably the most important factor. Apply a garden mulch such as bark, pea straw or graded wood chips on at least 7cm thick and this help suppress weeds, regulate soil temperature and retains moisture. Avoid that awful plastic woven weed mat sold in the hardware stores. At best it reduces weeding for a couple of seasons but in the long run it destroys soil life. Genevieve said it best here in her North Coast Gardening Blog.

• Pots and lawns. Many people consider pots or lawns to be low maintenance garden options but these require regular weekly care to look their best. Compare that with a well mulched and planted garden border where you might only have to pull a few weeds once a month during the growing season.

• Install drip irrigation where possible. There are some great products on the market such as dripper line which provide steady, low volume watering delivered to the right places and are easy to install. Saves time and money in the long run and your plants will love it.

• The Ultimate low maintenance garden? – If you’re really stuck for time then get someone else to do it!! Talk to the team at Green Therapy and we’ll set you up with some low maintenance garden solutions or do those pesky garden chores for you. Gardens are there to enjoy after all.