What if I told you that you could have a beautiful garden without putting a lot of hours into it? Here are 12 tips on how to create a low-maintenance garden.
Did you know that you can actually “have your cake and eat it too” when it comes to having a gorgeous garden that is also easy to care for?
I get messages all the time from people who want the beauty and benefits of having a garden but…
- don’t really like gardening
- just don’t have time to take care of a garden full-time.
- don’t have much space for a garden
Affiliate links are used for your convenience. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my full disclosure here.
I’m a self-taught hobby gardener, not a Master Gardener. Everything I share with you on my blog is my personal opinion and things that worked for me along the way.
12 Tips for Creating a Low Maintenance Garden
Here are some of the things you can do to create a low-maintenance garden.
1. Limit the Variety of Plants in Your Garden
The fewer types of plants you have in the garden, the lower the maintenance will be. Keeping your garden small with just 5-10 varieties will help to keep you organized and in control.
2. Choose Non-Invasive Perennials
Stay away from invasive, fast-spreading perennials in your garden. These plants are always hard to maintain.
Read up on perennials you are interested in BEFORE you make a purchase to make sure they are easy to care in your area for and won’t invade other garden spaces.
3. Grow Evergreen Shrubs in the Garden
Shrubs are not only low-maintenance but are perfect for providing interest in the garden throughout the year when other deciduous plants are leafless.
4. Avoid Planting Perennials That Attract Pests
Try to avoid plants that attract pests such as snails, slugs, aphids, deer, and rabbits.
5. Select Drought-Tolerant Plants in Your Garden Space
Choosing plants that are mostly drought-resistant will definitely make it so you have to spend less time watering the garden and more time on other things you love.
Plant natives that are already adapted to native soil types in your garden.
6. Avoid Plants That Need Support
Stay away from 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 and can be quite time-consuming each year with not only the setup support process but raising the support tie height as the plants grow.
7. Pick the Best Location in Your Garden to Grow Your Perennials
Be thoughtful when deciding on which plants you will be growing 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 that you don’t want them to.
The last thing you want to do is have to transplant it.
Pick perennials that will thrive in your garden’s light and soil conditions.
8. Mulch Your Garden Beds
Add a layer of mulch to your garden beds to…
- help suppress weeds by blocking sunlight from the soil
- keep the moisture in the soil so you don’t have to water as much
- balance temperature shifts
- keep from having to feed the plant
9. Hardscaping and Adding Garden Decor
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.
Here are some low-maintenance ideas that can be easy to install and will transform any garden space without adding any garden maintenance…
- Patios – brick, tile, concrete, and stone
- Arbors, pergolas or gazebos
10. Invest in a Watering System
Drip irrigation and soaker hoses are efficient ways to water garden beds.
These systems apply the water directly to the soil which reduces the water loss from evaporation, overspray, and any runoff. Because this method keeps water from setting on the leaves of the plant, you will reduce the risk of disease.
11. Grow Container Gardens
You don’t have to plant your perennials in the ground to enjoy a garden.
Creating a container garden is a great way to benefit from a beautiful garden AND keep it low-maintenance. You’ll have fewer weeds and a chance of plants spreading to areas where they shouldn’t be.
12. Keep a Calendar and Journal
Keep a journal and/or a calendar with watering, fertilizing, and pruning schedules.
This will keep you organized and easier to tackle.
I hope this post has given you some ideas on how to create a low-maintenance garden. I’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below.
CLICK HERE for my favorite low-maintenance garden perennials.
Until next time,
Happy Gardening!
PIN AND SAVE ON PINTEREST
If you’ve enjoyed this blog post, please pin and share this on Pinterest.
More Gardening Posts
Let’s Connect on Social Media
- Follow me @shiplapandshells on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook
- Join my Facebook Gardening Tips & Tricks Group.
Thank you for explaining how you should look to invest in drip irrigation or soaker hoses for your garden. I’ve been thinking about improving my gardening skills. I never would have thought about a watering system, but I can see how it would make maintenance easier.
This is awesome and perfect for me. You had me at low maintenance!
These are very helpful tips! We moved into a new home two years ago and my husband recent retired, so we are trying to do more with our landscaping, and we definitely have a lot to learn! It’s such a blessing to have experienced gardeners like you who share your expertise!💐🌷🌸🌺🪴
Great tips Kim!!! Thanks for sharing!
This is just want I need Kim. Great information.
Thank you so much, Rachel!
Thanks for these truly useful tips! Keep ’em coming.
I’m so glad you find them useful Debra. I will!
These posts always help me so much, Kim! I definitely want to have pretty flowers around but I’ve realized over the past few years it takes more time than I have to give. So, I’ve mostly stuck to container gardens on our porches. Love these tips and tricks for when I’m ready to dabble into flower beds and even garden veggie beds too. Loving and pinning, CoCo
The great thing is that you can always garden as much or as little as it works for you. Thanks for visiting CoCo, and for pinning.