How to create a low-maintenance garden
Decrease chores and increase the joy you get from your backyard oasis.
Gardening should be relaxing, rejuvenating, and rewarding, not a burden. With summer just around the corner, it is the time when you should get the most enjoyment from your garden. You can minimize the amount of time you spend on not-so-fun gardening tasks when you create a low-maintenance garden.
Peter Pan, our design expert here at Mirabelle Gardens has tips for you on how to make your backyard oasis self-sustaining and easy to care for.
Where do I start when creating a low-maintenance garden?
Photo by Jan Canty on Unsplash
Choosing the right plants
The best way to ensure that your plants are thriving is to understand your garden’s microclimate and the growing season in your area. Is your garden sun-filled or shady? Grow thirsty plants where they get enough water and drought-tolerant plants in the hot and dry areas of your garden.
At Mirabelle Gardens we recommend plants that are native to the area. And we help you pick the right ones for YOUR microclimate to ensure you get to see them thrive.
Photo by Guillaume De Germain on Unsplash
Consider size and spacing for plants
Keep in mind the plant size and where you plan to plant them in your garden. A balance between taller and smaller plants creates a balance that enhances the beauty of the combination and does not overpower the space. Careful planning saves maintenance time down the line.
We at Mirabelle Gardens can help with guidelines on plants sizes and speed of growth.
Photo by Yen Vu on Unsplash
Mulch and ground covers are your secret helpers
No one likes to be on hands and knees for weeding. Your helpers avoiding this not-so-fun task is a thick layer of mulch around your plants to block the sunlight to the soil and prevents the weed seeds from sprouting. Another option is to plant ground covers that also result in preventing the weed from growing.
We have a wide variety of ground cover options available at Mirabelle Gardens. Talk to our knowledgeable staff members to get backyard design ideas.
Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels
Practice Tough Love in your low-maintenance garden
Less time spent watering is more free time for you and your family. Plants get accustomed to their environment. If you “spoil” your plants from the start by watering generously, they will expect additional watering. If you treat them with tough love from the start and minimize watering, you allow for the plants to develop better roots and grow more robust in dryer summers. And you will save water along the way.
Talk to our staff to pick the best drought-tolerant plants for your garden.
Setting up a low-maintenance garden NOW will save you a lot of time later! This summer spend more time for your family and friends.
Come visit your Bay Area plant nursery, Mirabelle Gardens, enjoy the relaxing grounds and let us help you find the perfect plants for your garden. Or join us for our gardening workshops and learn from our experts.