Tips for the Low Maintenance Garden

Of all the requirements we get asked to fulfill, the request for the low maintenance garden is by far the most common. Plants, however, are living, growing, changing things that do not remain static. So, is the quest to control nature futile? Should we throw in the towel and accept a jungle aesthetic? Here are some tips to help manage the challenge. 

Reduce perennials, increase shrubs

In our experience, perennials require more maintenance than most shrubs. Deadheading, staking, dividing, fall clean-up are typical perennial maintenance chores (https://extension.psu.edu/care-and-maintenance-of-perennials ). The herbaceous nature of perennials also makes it easier for them to be invaded by weeds, making it more important to keep up with regular weeding. And, if you've ever had an invasive weed get into one of your perennials, you know it can be impossible to get it out! Shrubs, in comparison, provide dense shade to the soil below, making it difficult for weed seeds to germinate. If some do take hold, it’s harder for them to compete with the biomass of a shrub. Perennials can be a great way to inject colour into the garden but use them sparingly if you want to keep gardening chores to a minimum.

Dividing perennials:

Deadheading perennials:

Staking perennials:

Fewer garden beds, more well-planned lawn areas

I know this seems contrary to what most people think, but if you evaluate the degree of effort that goes into maintaining a lawn vs. maintaining a garden bed, I think the lawn wins out. That is to say, that although the number of hours required to maintain each may be similar, bed maintenance requires more strenuous, rigorous effort. Plus there are things you can do to make lawn maintenance easier.

Interlock mowing strip:

An irrigation system eliminates the watering effort required to keep a lawn green in the heat of summer. You could also seed/over-seed with a drought tolerant lawn mix to reduce watering needs. Lawn fertilization is quite an easy do-it-yourself task, but lawn fertilization companies are also quite affordable in comparison to garden bed maintenance services. If a lawn is designed so that there aren't any awkward or steep areas and if garden beds are edged with an interlock mowing strip, lawn cutting is made that much easier. If the lawn is cut regularly, the short clippings can be left on the lawn to add nutrients back into the soil, eliminating the effort of dumping bags of clippings. This requires regular, scheduled effort but it's far less laborious than the back-breaking work of endless weeding, dead-heading, dividing, pruning and mulching of plants. So, this is not to say that you should grass all your beds, just use them strategically.

Select shrubs that won't outgrow their space

Wherever possible, planting beds should be at least 3 feet wide since shrub options are quite limited at smaller  widths.  Shrub height can be a problem too, so be sure to verify that the mature height of a shrub is acceptable for its location. More and more dwarf versions of shrubs are coming to market, making it easier to select shrubs that wont get too large for their space.   If a shrub requires regular cutting back to keep it in check, it isn't a low maintenance option.

Overgrown shrubs

Oversize shrubs

Maintain a thick layer of mulch around plants

Mulched garden beds

Mulch insulates plant roots from extreme temperature fluctuations, reduces moisture evaporation and reduces weeds. Natural mulches, like composted pine, also enrich the soil and improve its structure as they decompose. Bagged mulch can make applying or topping up mulch easier too. Transport and clean up time is saved as bags are easily transported to where they are needed and emptied right onto the beds. Mulch top-up every other year is usually sufficient and a minimum of 3" - 4" layer should be maintained.

Select the right plant for the site conditions

If a plant isn't planted in its ideal conditions, it won't thrive, is more susceptible to disease and will decline in vigour. Understand the conditions of your site (light, soil moisture, soil type, soil pH, wind exposure) and select plants that thrive in these conditions. You'll save money that would have been spent replacing plants as well as time and effort in treating them for disease. Enlist the help of a horticulturalist or do some research to ensure you select the right plants for your specific site conditions (https://www.provenwinners.com/learn/right-plant-right-place ).

Space plants at 75% of their mature size

When we create a planting design, it is customary to represent plants at their mature size on the plan. Rather than space them with no overlap, I like to space them so that there is about 20% - 25% overlap between plants. Too much overlap can create crowding and disease issues but too much space between plants encourages weeds to grow in the gaps. Where there is light, there will be weeds, so by spacing plants slightly closer, the plants will fill in quicker, creating an inhospitable environment for weeds. If a plant is particularly susceptible to fungal disease, however, it should be given adequate space to minimize the ambient humidity.