12 Ideas and Tips for Creating a Low-Maintenance Garden

Do you love having a garden but lack the time, space, or interest to maintain one? The good news is that you can still have a gorgeous garden space with these 12 tips and ideas for creating a low-maintenance garden.

Creating a beautiful garden doesn’t have to be hard work. With a few simple strategies and a little planning, these low maintenance garden ideas will reward you with an easier gardening life.

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I’m a self-taught hobby gardener, not a Master Gardener. Everything I share with you on my blog is my opinion and things that worked for me.

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1. Limit the Variety of Plants in the Garden

The fewer types of plants you have in the garden, the easier it will be to maintain. Keeping your garden small with just 5-10 varieties will help to keep you organized and in control.

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2. Use Organic Matter for Low Maintenance Garden Beds

Garden beds with organic matter like compost, leaves, or grass clippings can greatly reduce weed growth and minimize water needs.

The added nutrients that organic matter provides help to grow healthier plants in the garden.

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3. Grow Low Maintenance Garden Plants

For more low-maintenance options, choosing the right plants can give you a lot of time back in your life, and keep you from working hard in the garden.

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Drought-Tolerant Plants

One of the best low maintenance gardening ideas is choosing primarily drought-resistant plants. You’ll spend less time watering the garden and more time on other things you love.

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Native Plants

Plant natives that are already adapted to native soil types in your garden.

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Evergreen Shrubs

Another low-maintenance option for the garden is growing evergreen shrubs. They are perfect for providing interest in the garden throughout the year when other deciduous plants are leafless.

Grow low maintenance evergreen plants for pots for year-round interest in the garden.

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Non-Invasive Perennial Plants

Do your research before purchasing and planting any plants you’re unfamiliar with. Avoid invasive, fast-spreading perennial plants that will invade other areas of your garden.

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4. Avoid Planting Perennials That Attract Pests

Try to avoid growing any plants that attract pests, such as snails, slugs, aphids, deer, and rabbits. This will reduce the need to perform the daunting task of using pest control.

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5. Use Ground Cover in Your Garden

Using ground covers will result in fewer weeds while adding beauty to your garden. Mulch, pea gravel, and river rock will reduce the need for watering.

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6. Avoid Plants That Need Support

If you’re looking for less work in the garden, avoid perennials such as dahlias and other tall plants that may fall over in the rain and wind, causing damage.

These plants need to be supported by stakes or tied to trellises. It can be quite time-consuming each year with not only the setup support process but raising the support tie height as the plants grow.

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7. Pick the Best Location to Grow Your Low Maintenance Perennials

Be thoughtful when deciding which plants you will grow in your garden.

Read the information about each plant, so you’re not only aware of how big it will get but to make sure you choose a variety that won’t overgrow the space or spread to areas in the garden you don’t want them to. The last thing you want to do is have to transplant it.

Pick low maintenance garden perennials that will thrive in your garden’s light and soil conditions.

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8. Add Hardscape Elements for a Low-Maintainance Garden

Hardscape elements can help to define any space. The more hardscaping you have in your garden, the less work you’ll have to do in the garden.

Low maintenance cottage garden ideas such as patios, arbors, pergolas, gazebos, and water features are great options to add beauty to your garden without much work.

Natural stone, brick, tile, or concrete can create a gorgeous space that requires less maintenance.

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9. Planning a Low Maintenance Garden with Seating Areas

Adding seating areas to your garden is a great way to relax and enjoy your outdoor space.

You can create a low-maintenance seating area with benches, swings, or outdoor furniture that doesn’t require a lot of upkeep.

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10. Install a Garden Watering System for a Low Maintenance Garden

Investing in an irrigation system with drip irrigation or soaker hoses will help to reduce water usage, keep your plants healthy, and reduce the risk of disease.

These systems apply the water directly to the soil, reducing the water loss from evaporation, overspray, and runoff. Because this method keeps water from setting on the plant leaves, you will reduce the risk of disease.

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11. Grow a Garden of Low Maintenance Outdoor Potted Plants

You don’t have to plant your flowers in the ground to enjoy a garden.

Planting flowers in containers or window boxes is a great way to add color and beauty to your garden without much maintenance.

You’ll have fewer weeds and a better way to control plants from spreading to areas where they shouldn’t be growing. They require less water and are easy to move around.

Growing flowers in containers is also a great option for those gardeners that only have a balcony or patio to work with.

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12. Keep a Garden Journal

Keeping a journal with watering, fertilizing, and pruning schedules will keep you organized and help keep you up with your garden’s maintenance needs.

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Creating a low-maintenance garden is possible, even for those with busy lives and little time.

By following these tips, you can have a beautiful garden with minimal effort. This will leave you with more time to enjoy your outdoor space.

I hope this post has given you some ideas on creating a low-maintenance garden. I’d love to hear what you think. Be sure to leave a comment below.

Until next time,

Happy Gardening!

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