In our fast-paced world, low-maintenance gardens are certainly required by many of my clients, with a garden that demands minimal upkeep ideal for many people. This article outlines certain measures on designing a low-maintenance garden to ensure you retain the beauty of nature without the many demands of traditional gardening.

 

A note though from my experience as a Garden Designer. I have had many clients who have really wanted a low maintenance garden, but once I have explained how to maintain certain plants they gain confidence and realise that their wish for a low maintenance garden was more to do with not knowing how and when to do what is needed.

 

Strategic plant selection:

 

When creating a low-maintenance garden, strategic plant selection is the foundation of the garden.

 

  • Limit plant variety. Opt for a selection of 5-10 differing plant species. This will involve planting in large groups of the same plant. This means you will become increasingly familiar with the plants you have and their required care. If you are fully aware of what plants you own, you can also spot and eliminate weeds easier.Dotting different plants close to each other can be intimidating for an experienced or time poor gardener

 

  • Embrace native plants. Native plants are perfectly suited to the local climate and soil in the UK. They generally require less care and water and, as a bonus, the local wildlife may visit more often as they are used to these plants.

 

  • Some of these have deep root systems that allow them to access water and nutrients easier and some are great long flowering perennials: Erysium Bowles Mauves, Penstemons, Alstromeria, Fuchsia Delta Sarah, Lamb’s Ear, Erigeron karvinskianus, Alchemilla mollis, Campanula portenschlagiana and Coreopsis

 

  • Shrubs: These are generally long-lived, and if you choose evergreens they will maintain their appearance year-round. Examples are Hebe rakiensis, Hebe Caledonia, Phormium, Fatsia Spider Web, Yew in ball shapes. For non evergreen colour, have a look at: Lavatera Barsley Baby, Dwarf Buddlea and Hypericum. As with Perennials don’t be shy of planting three in one area rather than in singles.

 

  • Groundcover plants. These plants provide a layer close to the ground that can act as a mulch, meaning less watering is needed and weeds are often suppressed. Look up: Euonymous fortune, Cornus canadensis, Juniper horizontalis, Vinca, Bergenia and Barcopa

 

  • Thoughtful combinations. Choose plant combinations that complement each other, for example differing textures and colours. This creates an aesthetic effect year-round without the need to constantly swap out plants for visual purposes.

 

  • Embrace wildness. A low-maintenance garden doesn’t need to be perfectly neat and tidy. Embrace the beauty of imperfections and the wildness of nature for a more relaxed atmosphere.

 

Layout and design for minimal effort:

 

If you have the opportunity, creating a low-maintenance garden from scratch is a great way to ensure that you have minimal work to do in the long run. Ways that you can do this include:

 

Choosing the right plants and incorporating specific elements into your garden design is great for reducing the upkeep in a garden

 

No-Dig methods are a great way to reduce maintenance in your garden. Instead of digging compost into your soil every year, no-dig methods involve layering compost on top of the soil to promote healthier soil structure as well as significantly less work, letting the worms do the work.

 

Think about doing away with your lawn, and create a rich tapestry of low maintenance planting instead, or let your lawn be wild with a pleasant bedraggedness.

 

Starting off with healthy soil before planting anything is also really key to ensuring that plants have a better chance of survival, meaning less need for replanting and solving any issues a plant has. Using compost to get nutrient-rich soil improves drainage, reduces overwatering changes, and promotes plant health.

 

Creating a wildlife-friendly environment, which can require less upkeep, encourages beneficial insects and birds that naturally control pests. This reduces the need for chemical interventions, maintaining healthy plants. This also increases biodiversity, making your garden a thriving space to watch nature.

 

Creating a low maintenance garden, although initially requiring some thought and investment, is a great way to reduce the amount of time and resources you spend on garden upkeep, meaning you have more time to enjoy the garden you have created and the nature around it. Though of course, nothing beats knowing what to do and getting dirty.

 

What to do in June

Lots to do so stop reading this and get out there! But if you are just having a quick tea break read on.

Dead head roses and give them their Summer feed

Divide finished bulbs

Water any new plants you have put in this Spring

Pinch out Fuchias to help them flower in bushy sprays

Cut back old geranium foliage as they will grow out again

Plant out seed potatoes and tomatoes, the latter in the sunniest place you have

Believe it or not it is still not too late to plant runner Beans

 

Where to go in June

 

Wisley gardens is one of the UK’s most visited gardens. One of the major 4 RHS gardens in the UK, the variety and inspiration you will get there is mind blowing. It covers 240 acres so expect to spend a whole day there or more!

Wisley Ln, Wisley, Woking GU23 6QB