Some people love spending hours gardening, getting dirty and calloused but satisfied that their hard work will pay off and they will be rewarded with a beautiful garden. Other people seem oblivious to the one metre high weeds overtaking their front lawn. Most people, however, like the look of a garden but are not interested in putting a lot of work and money into gardening.
It is a conundrum, but one that can be solved. With a few simple resources and the right advice, you can create a space you enjoy and don’t have to go to great lengths to maintain. Keep reading to find out how you can save yourself time and effort with a low-maintenance garden.
Review your existing maintenance requirements
First, start by assessing your garden space and all of its many elements, whether it be a large yard, a courtyard, porch or balcony. Assess the condition of your perimeter fencing. If your fencing is growing dilapidated or may be reacting to weather extremes, then consider replacing it with Colorbond steel fencing as these fencing panels won’t rot, and do not require repainting, oiling or repointing, making it low maintenance. If you’re replacing your fence, adding one, or even building new garden features (such as a patio or shed) then do so at this point as well.
Check if your irrigation systems must also be updated – or if you may benefit from installing one, if there currently is no system in place. Locate taps, irrigation, and sprinklers and mark them on a garden plan. Be sure to also test your soil quality using a pH test kit, and remove rubbish and unwanted items that may be in the area.
Decide if you’re going to keep any existing plants and if so, add them to your plan. If your garden is weedy and overgrown, now is the time to clear them all out, whether by hand or machine. Similarly, if you have established trees you may need to use a digger to get deep enough to excavate the roots. If you’ve recently cut down larger trees to either make space or for storm protection purposes, then be sure to enlist stump grinding services wherever necessary.
Opt for native plant species
Xeriscaping is the practice of creating a garden that is so well suited to the local climate that it needs almost no extra watering or maintenance. When looking at garden styles and particular plants that you like, lean towards native plants, particularly those endemic to your area.
Endemic plants are those native to your local area and, because of this, they are perfectly suited to the climate and geographical conditions. Natives also generally require less water, minimal fertilising, and can grow in poorer soil conditions. Simply put, using endemic plant species in your garden design is a superb method for ensuring your garden is low-maintenance from the roots up.
Ditch the lawn, opt for groundcovers
Avoid having a lawn area if you can. To keep a lawn looking green and lush it requires a lot of water and fertiliser, regular mowing, and pets should stay off it to prevent them from digging holes or scruffing it up.
If you would like green areas that aren’t lawn, plant perennial ground covers instead. There are many hard ground cover plants available in plant nurseries today, including Dichondra, Scleranthus biflorus, and Casuarina ‘Cousin Itt’. Whilst they may not withstand the roughest games of football in the backyard, the unique growing characteristics of these robust grasses and groundcovers more than make up for it.
Plant perennial, avoid annual
Where possible, plant perennial plants as they need much less maintenance than their annual counterparts. Annuals die after one season whereas perennials can live anywhere between two and 5,000 years!
Annuals are more labour intensive as young plants require more watering than established ones and, as annuals die off, replacements need to be planted to avoid gaps in your garden. Perennials are hardy once established, requiring less plus they don’t need to be replanted after every season.
Selecting slow growing perennials will reduce how regularly it will need pruning, if it needs pruning at all. And if you are set on an ‘English Cottage Garden’ look, you’ll find that most of these slow-growing perennials can easily be integrated with more traditional perennials like lavender, roses and geraniums.
Minimise plants
If you are looking for an ultra-low maintenance garden, you can have minimal plants and use rocks, pavers and/or mulch to highlight the plants you do have. Plan the layout you would like using design elements and principles, to create a balanced garden with the plants as focal points.
Choose drought-tolerant plants, such as most types of Australian grevilleas, dianella grasses and correas, or arid-loving cacti, and create ‘islands’ of plants surrounded by landscaping materials. Mulches work well with many varieties of drought-tolerant plants. And with drought-tolerant plants typically boasting a wider range of foliage and flower colours (as they’ve evolved to require less green foliage which means reduce chlorophyll and lower risks of transpiration), you’ll be sure to find some striking plants that make your garden beds effortlessly vibrant.
Using landscaping materials gives you flexibility to use any number of plants, from one tall feature cactus to multiple islands of densely packed plants. Arid and semi-arid (e.g. succulents) plants look striking against river rocks and stones with compacted crushed limestone paths.
There are many elements to consider when planning a low-maintenance garden, from layout to mulch type. The style you choose is also contingent on time, cost, location and personal aesthetic.
Ultimately, a low-maintenance garden is one that requires minimal watering, isn’t fussy about soil or fertilising, does not shed excessive amounts of leaves, bark or branches, and can go without regular pruning.
Now that you have some of the basics down, it’s time to get busy in the garden!