Landscaping Plans:
Design with Maintenance in Mind

We've all felt that sudden urge to buy something stunning... maybe you arrive home with a gorgeous morning glory plant and are all too eager to show it off in your garden. So you hastily put it in the ground, only to have the plant eventually overtake all the other plants around it. Never fear! Today we will cover "how to design with maintenance in mind..." so the next time you get hit with the creativity bug, you'll know exactly where and how much to plant so as not to make work for yourself down the line.

Low maintenance, or no maintenance?

Let me state right up front that there is no such thing as a "maintenance free" yard. A garden will always need watering, pruning, and general care. That said, there are, however certain precautionary steps you can take to lessen the amount of sweat and toil you put in. Because face it, as much as you can't wait to get out there and start digging up the dirt during those first few warm days in March... by the time July rolls around, the last thing you'll need is to be stuck slaving away in the scorching heat!

What kind of plants are low maintenance?

As one might expect, the types of plant which require less maintenance are of course the ones that don't need a lot of water, frequent trimming or extra fertilizer and other care. When shopping for low maintenance plants to decorate your yard, select ones that do not need to be trimmed often, won't attract pests and aren't too picky about the soil quality. For Southern Californian gardens that means plants that work well with our dryer climate. For example, if you're pondering whether to select a rose bush versus a poppy plant, go with the poppy because this is a native to our area which will naturally thrive with little extra attention.

The tougher plant that survives well in full or partial sun and that needs little watering would be the ideal plant in your garden. Next time you visit your favorite nursery, consult with a few people there to discover interesting and new species of plants that will flourish readily in our area.

Slow growing plants also do well with minimal upkeep. Slow growing refers to plants like the Mariposa Lilly, which takes anywhere from 3 to 5 years for the plant to grow from a bulb to mature size. Of course, the disadvantage of having plants that take their time to mature are that you must wait a relatively long time before your garden gets that "in full bloom" appearance. However, if you lead a busy lifestyle and don't mind waiting, slow-growers may be ideal for you.

Dwarf varieties of your favorite plants are also a good idea, as the regular sized versions could grow too tall to trim, or might end up blocking the view of something else. Shorter plants are also less likely to "flop over" from the heat or weight of the plant.

How do design my garden to be low maintenance?

There are all kinds of things you can do to ensure a stunning backyard that doesn't require toiling in the hot sun for hours on end. For starters, you can plant flowers and other plants in an assortment of containers. Potted plants are ideal, especially if you have limited space such as in a condo or garden apartment. They allow for easy relocation of your plants as well as brings some quick and easy color and texture to what would otherwise have been, say, a bare concrete back patio. Another handy feature of container planting is that if you discover a plant doesn't like as much sun as it's getting, simply move it under a balcony or umbrella! This is much quicker and more efficient than having to dig up and move now-unhappy plants that you put in the ground earlier in the season.

Speaking of patios... they're a must-have for your yard, no matter what the size. Other than sweeping and occasionally having to add more gravel, a patio is practical, usable space that won't require watering or mowing. You can set yours up with comfortable seating and tables, and just a few accent plants in pots to pretty up the area.

Make practical choices that match your lifestyle.

When planting in your garden, think about how much time you're likely to spend working out there. Perhaps summertime offers more free time than spring or fall, so you can choose plants that meet this need in terms of their level of care. Maybe you need plants that can fend off frost.

It's all a matter of time really; would you see yourself being busier now or later? Since there is no such thing as a garden that is maintenance free, you will have to dedicate some time weekly to maintaining it. Depending on the plants you choose, the amount of work and care you put into your garden is totally up to you.

All photos are property of the Yard Fairy.

Useful Sites:

Low Maintenance Garden from GardenGuides.com

How to Grow a Low Maintenance Garden

Read more landscaping articles | Learn about our services | Learn about do-it-yourself landscaping bed design | Discover garden coaching | Sign up for the Yard Fairy Newsletter

Find The Yard Fairy Online At...

Blogger Delicious Digg Facebook Flickr LinkedIn Reddit RSS Feed

Smug Mug Stumble Upon Technorati Twitter Vimeo YouTube