10 Tips for Reducing Garden Maintenance
Focus on Trees, Hedges, Lawn and Groundcovers: I usually locate more horticulturally-involved garden beds close to the house where they can be seen and enjoyed; in areas where you will spend less time minimise your workload by choosing low-maintenance options
Revegetate or go native: 70’s native gardens were often set up with the intention of being ‘maintenance free’… whilst this is untrue, native or indigenous plants are generally less work than fussy exotics.
Reduce self-seeding plants: While I love the semi-wild look of self-seeding plants such as Centranthus ruber (valerian) and Myosotis (forget-me-nots) they need skillful management so they don’t get out of hand and smother other plants. Self-seeding trees such as sycamores are diabolical.
Install some edging: Your garden will instantly look much neater.
Grow a hedge: Clients will often think that a hedge is more maintenance than a mixed border of plants; it’s not.
Simplify plantings: It might be time to ‘bite the bullet’ and replace some old, poorly-selected plants. The last 20 years has seen the development of many plant cultivars which stay naturally small without pruning. When selecting shrubs and perennials choose cultivars which don’t require staking or spraying.
Install an irrigation system: While irrigation systems are generally only used mid-spring to the start of autumn in Trentham, there’s no doubt that it can take a lot of time to give a big garden the kind of thorough soaking which makes a difference.
Reduce the size of your garden: Generally, clients want nice views out of the windows and a place to sit or entertain in the garden. Think carefully before adding extra areas of garden which may become a burden to you.
Get rid of fussy small areas of lawn; Sometimes it’s better to have slightly larger garden beds and a path or some steppers
Do what you love: my last tip is to think about the gardening activities you naturally enjoy doing and to create your garden around those tasks. If you have the money available, outsource any jobs you may happen to dislike such as mowing lawns or trimming hedges.
Happy gardening,
Landscape Designer Kaz Krasovskis
Insta: @kazkrasovskis
www.kazkrasovskis.com.au
Image: Cottage gardens such as this have a casual air, but need careful planning if maintenance is an issue