A garden is a beautiful and relaxing space that can bring joy and peace to your life. However, maintaining a garden can be time-consuming and overwhelming. If you find yourself spending more time on maintaining your garden rather than enjoying your garden, it may be time to make some changes. In this blog post, I will share some tips and tricks to make your garden lower maintenance, so you can spend less time on upkeep and more time enjoying your beautiful outdoor space.
Tip #1 - Do Your Research
Before you go off on a frenzied trip to the garden center and start grabbing plants left and right, listen up. You simply must know what you're planting before you put it in the ground.
No more haphazard planting - take the time to research and choose the perfect plant for the perfect spot. Use our website or do a google search to get an idea of what the plant’s perfect conditions might be… and REMEMBER… we are here to help … run your plant choice past us before you buy if you’re unsure. We will do our best to help you because we want you to succeed!
For example, you saw a post on Pinterest of the perfect hosta / fern combination that would look absolutely perfect in that corner of your backyard. Do some research first and realize that they won’t flourish in your hot and dry, sunny backyard… the direct hot sun will cause the plant’s leaves to wilt and dry out, and you will need to be constantly watering them to keep the soil moist. They will most likely develop burnt leaves which will need to be trimmed off to keep them looking barely healthy...
And those gorgeous ‘Stargazer’ lilies you adore? They need plenty of sun to bloom and thrive!
So make sure you’re intentional about your plant choices. Don’t be shy to ask us for help, if you need it.
(Pro tip: Take a deep breath and do your research now… so when those spring plant sales pop up, you’ll be ready!)
I don't want you to end up with an invasive species or a maintenance nightmare on your hands because you “didn’t know”. At Lakeside Garden Nursery we do our best to curate a selection of plants that don’t fall into either of these categories, but please know that this isn't the case everywhere.
Do your research so that you can make an informed selection and ask for help. Finding the right plant for the right place can make all the difference!
Tip #2 - Reduce Annuals in your Garden
Annuals are beautiful, but are also some of the highest maintenance plants out there. They provide bursts of vibrant color through the growing season, but require yearly replanting and regular maintenance such as deadheading, trimming and fertilizing throughout the season.
It's a lot of work, my friends, and it may not be worth it if you're looking to cut back on maintenance.
Instead, consider replacing some of the annuals in your garden with perennials.
Perennials are plants that come back year after year, without requiring as much maintenance as annuals.
While they may require some pruning and fertilizing, they don't need to be replanted every year like annuals do and most require only minimal attention to thrive.
Their wide variety of colors and textures offer endless possibilities for creating a low maintenance and beautiful outdoor space, and many attract beneficial insects and pollinators as well.
Click HERE for a peak at the perennial possibilities!
Tip #3 - Give Each Plant Enough Room
When you're planting a new tree or shrub, make sure you know its full size so you can provide enough space for it to grow to maturity. This way, you won't have to deal with constantly trimming or trying to force a plant to fit into a space that it really doesn't belong in.
New gardeners often make this mistake - we want our landscapes to be full and lush with layers upon layers of plants, but that can take years to achieve.
Instead, consider planting plants that will get larger with time at the proper spacing and filling in the gaps with annuals or smaller perennials.
As your larger trees and shrubs grow and become more established, you can gradually reduce the number of smaller plants, thereby reducing your maintenance efforts.
Plus, larger plants can add more impact and interest to your landscape, making it look more mature and well-established.
Let Me Assure You...
Creating a low maintenance landscape IS possible.
If you follow just a few of these tips, you'll be well on your way to a garden that you can enjoy without spending every weekend maintaining it.
By selecting the right plants for the right location, you can cut down on the need for frequent pruning, trimming and weeding.
Consider planting perennials instead of annuals for less maintenance... and make sure you give your plants enough space to grow to maturity to avoid the need for constant trimming.
With a little bit of planning and effort up front, you can create a beautiful and low maintenance landscape that you can enjoy for years to come.
So, don't hesitate to try out these tips and enjoy a more relaxing and fulfilling time in your garden.. and please feel free to reach out if you need some help along the way!
Happy gardening!
~Melissa
Head Flower Lover at Lakeside Garden Nursery