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Top 10 Tips for Low Maintenance Gardening
Want a garden that’s easy to care for? Plants that are properly planted in the right place, and watered regularly will be healthy and thrive. Follow good cultural practices to keep plants stress-free and they’ll be much easier to maintain. Check out our top 10 tips to get you started!
1. The right plant in the right spot
Number one rule for a low-maintenance garden: make sure the plant has the right home. And it’s always best to know where you’re going to put a plant before buying it. Select varieties that won’t overgrow your space, or spread beyond where you want them to go.
Some plants form little clumps and stay put, while others may spread rampantly. Sure, you can always a move a plant later, but that’s just one more thing to do, right?
Know your garden’s soil and light conditions and pick plants that will thrive in those areas. Your soil is the foundation for the garden, so be sure you know what type you have. Here’s some info to determine your soil type and advice on proper amendments needed for the best results in your garden.
2. Get plants off to a good start.
Proper planting procedures and adding extra nutrients will ensure happy plants. Planting too deep is one of the main reasons plants fail. Here’s a quick guide for planting in any soil.
When planting, additional nutrients help get your plants started in their new environment. Espoma’s Biotone Plant Starter Plus helps establish plants quicker and build their root systems.
3. Plan your layout.
Begin with the end in mind. You always want to plan the layout of your garden. Explore your area to find what areas get the most sun and water, so you can plan for what kind of plants you need.
Bonus landscaping tip: Plant in odd numbers: 3s, 5s, 7s, etc. so the area looks fuller and more aesthetically appealing to the eye. Odd numbers make a more organic shape than even numbers of plants.
Bonus landscaping tip: Plant in odd numbers: 3s, 5s, 7s, etc. so the area looks fuller and more aesthetically appealing to the eye. Odd numbers make a more organic shape than even numbers of plants.
4. Consider sizes and spacing for plants
When looking at plants, keep in mind the plant sizes and where you plan to organize them in your garden. You don’t want to overpower a garden with very tall growing plants and low growing plants won’t give you the variety you may want. You also don’t want to over shadow smaller plants with very large plants.
Note: Plant sizes on the tags should be used as a guideline, not a definite. The size of a plant is ultimately determined by placement, weather and soil conditions.
5. Mulch!!
Mulch is the answer to your prayers when it comes to weeding and watering. When you add a thick 2-inch layer of mulch around your plants, it blocks much of the sunlight to the soil and prevents weed seeds from sprouting. It also helps retain moisture in the soil.
Be sure to mulch 1-1 ½ inches away from the base of the plants. For more info about what kind of mulch you should use, check out Tips…Tricks… Types of Mulch
Be sure to mulch 1-1 ½ inches away from the base of the plants. For more info about what kind of mulch you should use, check out Tips…Tricks… Types of Mulch
6. Make watering simple
A drip irrigation system like Proven Winners WaterWise kit waters even if you don’t have time. Add a timer and everything is automatic.
Another easy way to water is with a soaker hose. Soaker hoses should be placed below the layer of mulch.
If you want to water yourself, use a water wand to extend the reach of your hose nozzle, and soften the flow of water. It’s best to water in the morning and at the base of the plant.
Another easy way to water is with a soaker hose. Soaker hoses should be placed below the layer of mulch.
If you want to water yourself, use a water wand to extend the reach of your hose nozzle, and soften the flow of water. It’s best to water in the morning and at the base of the plant.
7. Fill in space with grasses and groundcovers
Fewer open spaces mean fewer opportunities for weeds to take root. Some ornamental grasses clump without spreading too wide, and will add variety to your garden. Pick the right varieties, a few will spread vigorously.
Consider ground cover, rather than grass, particularly if your lawn is patchy.
You’ll save time mowing, and may end up with better results. Patchy lawns typically mean grass is fighting with tree roots or lack of sun. Groundcover is a great alternative to grass.
8. Use shrubs and meadow plants
Shrubs are very easy to maintain and provide a four season presence to your garden. Meadow plants are typically native plants that grow easier in this area. Examples include:
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Dwarf/Compact Shrubs Azaleas Barberry False Cypress Cotoneasters Daphne Deutzia Fothergilla Hydrangeas Junipers Lilac (Korean/Bloomerang) Roses (shrub/drift) Pines |
Meadow Plants Aster Black eyed Susan Blanket Flower Coneflower Evening Primrose Dianthus Native Grasses Daisies Lupine Columbine Poppies Coreopsis |
9. Choose sturdy plants
Always use sturdy, healthy plants and be cautious of fast-spreading and invasive perennials that might be harder to maintain.
Black-eyed Susan is considered an invasive plant because it reseeds. However, you can keep its seeds from sprouting by using a pre-emergent herbicide such as Preen.
10. Keep a Journal or scrapbook with tags
Keep a folder with all your plant tags, and where you’ve put them in your garden. The tags are very useful and will come in handy for future reference.
Write down information about each of the plants in your garden. Establish watering and fertilizing schedules. Keep a calendar with dates for pruning. Regular maintenance of your garden– a little bit at a time – and it will ultimately require less maintenance overall.
All of the above tips came from English Gardens’ free seminar: Low-Maintenance Gardening Tips. To learn more and attend one of our upcoming free seminars, click here to check out the schedule.
