Contents
Are you tired of spending endless hours tending to high-maintenance plants that drain your time and resources? Not everyone has the time (or the patience) to spend hours each week tending to their garden. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to keep things looking lovely without turning it into a full-time job. Whether you’re short on time, new to gardening, or just want a more relaxed approach, choosing the right plants and planning your space carefully can make a world of difference.
Let’s explore some easy gardening tips and low-maintenance plant choices that will transform your outdoor space into a stress-free oasis.
Easy Gardening Tips
1. Choose the Right Plants
One of the biggest mistakes people make is choosing plants that simply aren’t suited to their soil, light levels, or local climate. Pick the right plants for your space, and they’ll largely take care of themselves.
Here are some tried-and-tested low-maintenance favourites:
- Lavender – Drought-tolerant, loves the sun, and smells fantastic
- Hardy Geraniums (Cranesbill) – Long flowering season and easy to grow
- Heuchera – Evergreen foliage in gorgeous colours, perfect for shady borders
- Sedum (Stonecrop) – Great for pollinators, thrives in poor soil and dry spots
- Ornamental grasses – Like Stipa tenuissima or Carex, which look great year-round and need very little care
- Ferns – Brilliant for shade and damp corners, and almost zero fuss
Perennials like these will come back year after year, saving you money and time on replanting.
2. Mulch Your Borders
A good layer of mulch—such as bark chips, composted manure or leaf mould—has loads of benefits. It helps retain moisture in the soil (so you water less), suppresses weeds, and adds nutrients as it breaks down.
Apply it in early spring or autumn for best results.
3. Group Plants with Similar Needs
Putting plants with similar water, light and soil needs together means you’re not constantly having to adjust your care routine for each section of the garden. It also helps everything thrive more easily, with less interference from you.
4. Use Containers Wisely
Container gardening is great for small spaces, patios, or areas with poor soil. Choose larger pots (which dry out more slowly) and group containers together to create impact and reduce watering.
Here are some top choices:
- Hostas (especially in shady spots)
- Agapanthus – Striking summer flowers and tough as old boots
- Erysimum ‘Bowles’s Mauve’ – Long flowering and low maintenance
- Thyme or rosemary – Edible, aromatic, and drought-tolerant
5. Limit the Lawn
Lawns are lovely, but they can be surprisingly high maintenance. If mowing and edging isn’t your thing, consider reducing your lawn area or switching to wildflower turf, gravel, or paving with planted borders.
Artificial grass is another option, though it has environmental downsides. Instead, look at groundcover plants like creeping thyme or Ajuga for a greener, wildlife-friendly alternative.
Learn more about wildflower lawns – RHS
6. Add Structural Elements for Visual Appeal
Enhance the visual appeal of your garden or patio with pergolas, arbors, arches, statues, and fences. These features can be simple to install and serve as focal points in your outdoor space without requiring additional maintenance.
7. Water Smarter, Not Harder
Install a water butt to make the most of rainwater, and use a soaker hose or drip irrigation to deliver water directly to plant roots. It’s more efficient, saves time, and keeps leaves dry—reducing the risk of disease.
Early morning or evening is the best time to water, especially in summer, when less moisture will evaporate.
8. Don’t Overdo It
Plants don’t need constant fussing. In fact, many thrive when left alone to get on with it. Overwatering, overfeeding, and over-pruning are some of the most common causes of plant problems.
By choosing plants that suit your space and giving them a good start, you’ll find you need to step in far less often.
9. Consider Your Physical Needs
If you have physical limitations like a bad back, opt for gardening solutions that minimise bending and strain. Long tables with potted plants or raised beds can make gardening more accessible and enjoyable.
Let’s Make Gardening Easier for you
At Cowen Landscapes, we believe gardening should bring joy – not stress. Whether you want a full garden redesign, some planting advice, or help with seasonal maintenance, we’re here to help you create a space you’ll love—without all the hassle.
Additional Links
From our website
External Links
