Using low-maintenance landscaping techniques can reduce much of your yard work. Why add to your mowing, weeding, watering, and pruning? By selecting different plants, shrubs, trees and landscape plans you can cut back on yard work you will have more time to enjoy the backyard.
Here are a few tips that will help you cut back on gardening and landscape work:
Choose the right plants
Native plants (plants that are native to your growing area) have less insect problems; they adapt to surroundings more easily than exotic species and need less water than plants that have been brought into your growing zone.
Group plants that have the same cultural needs will save time when watering and fertilizing. For example a rock garden is am area that requires less work and will do well will low plants. While a perennial shade garden will add color to a quiet area of the yard where grass may not grow well.
A shrub that grows to six feet tall will require regular pruning if planted under a window that is three feet above the ground. Read the planting instructions on a shrub before you buy it and match it for the area you plan to use it in. There are many dwarf varieties of trees and shrubs that are ideal for small areas and may never need pruning. I just bought several shrubs that only grow two to three feet tall.
It helps to keep the planting beds narrow for easy access to interior plants. Design the garden or flowerbeds with long, sweeping curves so that the mower can reach the edge, eliminating hand trimming. Border edging will also cut down on weeds entering g the garden bed areas.
Mulch, mulch, mulch
Mulch is my best friend. A thick layer of organic mulch around plants help to control weeds, conserves soil moisture, adds nutrients to the soil and can give the yard a flowing balanced look. Popular organic mulches are tree bark, shredded leaves, pine needles, compost and plant wastes such as cocoa shells. (If you have any pets, please note that cocoa mulch contains theobromine, which is lethal for dogs and cats.) If weeds are a serious problem, lay down several layers of newspaper or a layer of cardboard before mulching.
- Landscaping Mulch: Take on big landscaping projects with the Scotts Nature Scapes Color Enhanced Mulch Deep Forest Brown
- Wood Mulch with Lasting Color: Our brown mulch gets year-long color from Color Guard technology and is sourced from natural forest products, never using recycled waste wood
- Prevent Weeds Naturally: Use a 3-inch layer to naturally prevent weeds by blocking growth and access to sunlight
- ORGANIC MULCH: With this Miracle-Gro Organic All Natural Mulch bulk pallet, you can cover your biggest landscaping and gardening projects
- SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS: Made with dye-free, sustainable wood (recycled green waste inputs, including diverted scrap wood from lumber processes)
- WEED PREVENTION: Our organic mulch helps with the prevention of weeds in your garden and landscape beds (a 3 inch layer naturally prevents weeds by blocking growth and access to sunlight)
- 100% Organic & Peat-Free: Our organix mulch mix is 100% organic & peat-free. Peat is one of Mother Nature’s most important stores of carbon. Instead of imported peat, the base of our soils is made from upcycled plant matter or wood fines from the United States!
- Intended for use in Mulch Soil: Our unique soil blend is ideal for nurturing herbs, vegetables, and fruits planted in a raised bed. Its nutrient-rich composition provides the essential elements for promoting robust growth, vibrant flavors, and bountiful harvests. It’s also proudly made in the USA.
- Better Moisture Control and Water Absorption: Our unique soil blend incorporates yucca extract for moisture control, dolomitic limestone for pH balancing, and gypsum for better water absorption.
Keep the lawn as small as possible
This is my problem in my backyard. Due to the creek I need to mow to keep control of snakes and river rats. I really have too large of a yard, so to help cut down the mowing time I use ground covers, have a wildflower area, terraced garden areas, and mulched beds. Walkways, decks and patios will also cut down on the size of the yard that needs tending to.
A healthy lawn
A healthy lawn is less likely to be bothered by weeds, insects, and diseases. It will not need to be repaired as much for bare spots.
Keep the grass a little taller; let it grows to three or four inches and then mow off one-third. High grass shades out weeds and won’t dry out as quickly as closely cropped turf. This is very important if you are suffering from a drought. Watering the yard takes time, money and is not as eco friendly as a low maintenance lawn.
Learn to water less frequently but deeply. This will encourage your plants to develop deep roots.
The most important rule you can remember when planning your garden is to remember “the yard is for enjoyment.” Do you really want a landscape design that takes 20 hours a week to maintain?