Gardening is one way to keep yourself fit and busy, whether you are a retired empty-nester, under quarantine, or simply have a lot of time on your hands. Getting down on your hands and knees, with the dirt in your fingers, you get to see and observe plants grow. When planting a kitchen garden, there’s an added sense of accomplishment in enjoying your harvests.
Many turn to their gardens to feel better as well. In a world filled with uncertainty and stress, overwhelmed with work and problems, a growing number of people are gardening as a means to achieve a more positive disposition. In Europe, a specific type of home gardening is beginning to emerge. Referred to as “geo-sense,” this brand of designing home gardens involves the deliberate use of colors to create a beautiful environment.
Gardens can be stunning, but it does take work to make them so. If you are just starting out, or are unsure about how to build a garden, it would be worthwhile to take things slow. Our landscaping experts share a few tips for creating a garden that requires minimal effort.
Be Honest With Yourself
Flowers don’t just pop out of the ground. They need love, care, time and effort to grow in the areas where you want them to. Before you start buying supplies, ask yourself: How much time can you truly invest in this endeavor?
Can you spare an hour a week or an entire day? Be honest with what you can offer. Your answers can determine what type of plants you can have, which tasks you can do, and whether you need help or not.
Maintaining a lawn, for instance, takes a lot of time, effort, and resources. You need to water your grass regularly and mow high to keep the blades healthy. Weeding is another time-consuming task, so pick plants that are hardy if you don’t want to weed regularly.
Take into consideration other chores you may have. You may want an elaborate garden, but if you’re busy with other tasks, your backyard may suffer because of it. Start with a few plants and see how it goes; you can always add more later once you are ready to take on the additional responsibility.
Pick Low-Maintenance Plants
One of the critical aspects of stress-free gardening is picking the right plants. But with so many plants available, you can easily get overwhelmed. What should you pick?
When shopping for plants, choose natives. Because they are so common, people tend to think native plants are boring, but if you want a low-maintenance yard, always go for native varieties.
Why, you may ask? Homegrown plant varieties thrive in the local climate. If you live in a region where there are harsh winters, for instance, wintergreen boxwoods make for ideal hedges; conversely, if you live in the tropics, jasmines are more common.
Native plants generally require minimal maintenance, which is excellent if you are starting out or have limited time available. Start with a few plants. Other than minimizing the number of tasks, this prevents the issue of overcrowding and spreading potential diseases from one plant to another.
Design With Your Location In Mind
The layout of your garden works hand in hand with the plants you choose. Both factors can affect how much work you need to do.
Before you start determining where to put the plants, try to consider your area and the climate. Take into account the amount of rain, sunlight, and wind that goes through the space. Temperatures can vary depending on the season as well – keep this in mind while learning more about your location.
Even with homegrown plants, you need to think about the needs of each plant. The existing conditions in your garden can affect how well your plants will grow, and will dictate where best to place them, as well as the amount of effort you need.
The physical attributes also play a role. If your garden is on a slope, find out which plants grow best in which specific area. By researching the climate and plant placement earlier on, you can maximize the advantages of your plot and minimize potential issues in your garden.
Work With Professionals
In some cases, you may need to work with professionals to narrow down your options. For instance, if you have an existing swimming pool in your yard, you may need to contact a swimming pool contractor and a landscaper to know how to design your garden around this existing feature.
Landscapers, in particular, can create a garden that takes into account your needs and requirements. Their years of experience and expertise are useful in determining what plants can work in your garden. More importantly, they can arrange the plants in such a way that makes your yard look stunning.
Planning a stress-free garden takes work, especially during the initial research and preparation stages. But by following these tips, you can soon be on your way to building a garden that you can properly take care of in your spare time. For more gardening advice and services, contact a reputable landscaper today.
AUTHOR BIO
Rachel Hennessey manages the Pools and Landscaping Division of Hennessey LLC. She also works on Tender and Pre-Qualification and brings in new business to the company’s Construction, Interiors and Civils Division.
