Gardening and lawn maintenance strategies are evolving each day, leading to the popularity of low-maintenance gardens. A garden surrounded by evergreen plants and stunning flowers is fascinating, but a lot of input is needed to maintain the outdoor area and keep it beautiful all through.
As long as there are plants in the garden, there will always be a need for maintenance. This calls for a lot of involvement when you either do it on your own or hire a gardener. A low-maintenance garden offers excellent convenience and is ideal for anyone that has adequate garden space but does not like the idea of gardening.
In the segment below, we discuss three key ways to create a beautiful low maintenance garden for your homestead.
1. Adding a Low Maintenance Composite Decking
Most of the people are keen on spending time outdoors, either catching some air on their own or hanging out with family and friends. Choosing the right type of decking is a great way to spruce up your outdoor area. Compared to traditional wood decking, composite decking offers advantages, such as the ones highlighted below.
Durability
Unlike wood decking, composite decking offers maximum durability. It is made of wood chips and plastic, thus giving it a wood-like appearance. The decking is highly resistant to degeneration caused by rotting, discoloration, molding, chipping, and staining. This is because of its insusceptible outer lining that enables the decking to maintain its vibrance and appeal.
Low Maintenance
Due to its composition, composite decking does not require frequent, thorough cleaning and still maintains its glow years after installation. There is no need for occasional sanding, re-painting or stain removal procedures. All that is needed is frequent cleaning with soapy water to eliminate the dust and pollen particles and collect the fallen leaves. Ensure that the detergent you use is not too harsh on the decking. The factors make it low maintenance compared to wood decking that requires frequent maintenance in terms of washing and staining.
Artistic
Composite decking comes in a combination of rich colors, that are highly saturated to give it a natural feel and look. Several unique colors come in shades of reds, greys, browns, greens, and blues. You can pair with the decking some accessories, including gates, outdoor furniture, and hurdles.
If you want a low maintenance garden, having a beautiful deck surrounding the area is a great idea for your homestead.
2. Avoid Planting Grass
Admittedly, we all love the fantastic look that is a well maintained green and lush lawn. It is essential to know that achieving the grass’s stunning look is not as easy. There is a lot of work and time invested to achieve that appearance.
Therefore, you could consider using artificial grass instead. This will mean that you can enjoy a lush green garden without having to trim it year-round. It will maintain its length and color so that you can always have a ready-to-use garden.
Frequent mowing, watering, weeding, pest control, fertilizing, and repairing are essential procedures to keep the grass healthy. Doing all this can be overwhelming, especially if you do not have a gardener. The question is, do you need the planted grass? If yes, can you consider to leave a manageable portion and replace the other area with artificial grass?
Artificial grass is a great way to achieve a well-maintained natural grass look. It is very magnificent, and the most significant advantage is that it barely requires any time-consuming maintenance. Purchasing artificial grass costs more, but it is all worthwhile since it’s durable and hustle-free.
There are different varieties of artificial grass to choose from, and they all vary in terms of pricing. The cheaper ones are generally less appealing compared to the pricey ones. The goal is to have a beautiful garden. Thus, it is crucial to set aside a budget that will allow you to buy one that is attractive and looks like natural grass. The minimal maintenance needed is to keep it dust-free, pick leaves, and hose it off. In short, if you want a low maintenance garden, don’t plant real grass!
3. Be Keen on the Type of Plants You Choose
It is vital to research different plants, then choose the most suitable for your low maintenance garden. It is advisable to select at least five plant varieties since they are easier to maintain. Sticking to fewer plant varieties will enable you to offer the utmost care without feeling overwhelmed. An important factor when choosing the right type of plant is to have information on the maintenance it requires. Some plants need a lot of attention, while others require minimal care. Also, you can go for low-maintenance plants that will produce beautiful flowers around the year. Some plants have lovely flowers intermittently, but still require a lot of care all through.
There is a wide variety of perennial plants that you can choose from. Even with minimal maintenance, these plants enhance the look of your garden. They provide color to your garden area and bring it to life, even during the dry seasons. Among the plants you can go for are; lavender, rudbeckias, geraniums, yucca, and Erigeron karvinskianus.
Lavender, for instance, does not need a lot of watering; once a week is enough. Planting lavender is a great way to achieve the minimal plants look while ensuring that your patio remains full of color. Lavender releases fresh scents to the air and is alluring on sight. It is also a renowned insect repellant, that does not require replacement after initial planting.
Erigeron karvinskianus and geraniums produce flowers for long periods and without the need for much attention. Geraniums come in different varieties which you can choose from to suit your outdoor needs. The Yucca plant is also a renowned perennial plant famous for its evergreen nature and beautiful white flowers.
All the above are easy steps that you can take to spruce up your homestead and achieve a fantastic low maintenance garden.
