Unless you’re willing to spend a few hours every single weekend focusing on the upkeep of your outside space, it will be wise to create a maintenance free garden.
Contrary to popular belief, that doesn’t have to take months to complete, and it doesn’t have to break the bank. All you need are some brilliant ideas and the right information. Luckily, I’ve been helping people in my local area to alter their gardens in this way for many years. So, I’m probably the best person out there to give you a helping hand.
Of course, what kind of alterations you make will depend on the size and shape of your garden. So, before you do anything else, it would be sensible to draw out a plan. Using a tape measure, it should be simple to get the dimensions right. Once you’ve done that, you are free to start experimenting with different ideas.
Pave and pave again!
Reputable retailers like EasyPave and their competitors stock a wide range of different paving solutions. You should take a long look through various websites until you find something that suits your desired aesthetic. By paving the bulk of your garden, you will remove the need to mow the lawn or deal with strimming. While you’ll still have to jet wash the slabs from time to time, that won’t take very long.
Evergreen trees
There are many advantages to planting evergreen trees in your garden. Not only will they look stunning all year round, but they’ll also keep their leaves and branches during the cold months. That means you don’t have to go around your garden sweeping or raking them up. Conifers are usually preferable, as they don’t grow very quickly either. That means you’ll spend less time shaping them and cutting them back.
Build a pond
You’re going to need something to break up all the paving. A pond is a good idea because it doesn’t take long to create, and will add an element of wildlife to your outdoor space. If you have children, they are going to love sitting on the edge and watching the fish. Just make sure you keep your eye on them as large areas of water can be dangerous to kids for the obvious reasons.
Create a rock garden
Rock gardens are a cheap and simple way of adding style to your garden. You can pick your rocks up from anywhere, so there’s no need to purchase them if you’re willing to go for a long walk in the countryside. It often looks good if you use the rocks to create flower beds, and there are plenty of articles online that give you tips on how to do that.
As you can see, there are many different things you can do to reduce the amount of maintenance your garden requires. With that in mind, it would be wise to start work immediately. At the end of the day, the longer you wait; the more times you’ll have to get the mower out. We all hate doing that.
Catch you next time!
You might enjoy our article: 10 of the Oldest Surviving Gardens in the World
Main image by Lee Haywood.