6 Low-Maintenance Landscape Ideas for a Stunning Garden

Your home’s curb appeal is what makes the first — and most significant — impression on tenants, neighbours, and visitors alike. But what if the idea of spending hours mowing, pruning, weeding, and watering your garden doesn’t fall under your definition of a fun weekend? Incorporating low-maintenance landscape ideas is the solution.

In this article, we’ve compiled the top 6 low-maintenance landscape suggestions that will not only help you work less but will also get the best bang for your buck. Do you need more info and tips? Book a call with one of our Landscape Design Gurus.

Low-Maintenance Landscape Ideas: Consider Xeriscaping

Xeriscaping refers to the practice of designing your landscape in a way that reduces the need for irrigation and, hence, minimises water usage. Depending on your property setup and preferences, xeriscaping can be carried out in several ways, including examples like:

• Choose plants wisely: Try opting for drought-resistant plants that also add aesthetic appeal, such as lavender, nepeta, geums, catmint, coneflower, etc. Follow this by grouping together plants with similar water needs to create water zones. Another smart idea would be to grow plants native to your area (or to areas with a climate similar to yours). Such choices are better adapted to the weather pattern and climate zone, so they require less upkeep to stay healthy.

• Improve the soil: Adding mulch and organic matter (like compost and fertilisers) will improve the quality of soil, which, in turn, helps retain moisture and water better while encouraging improved plant growth. Pro Tip: Different plants have different requirements. Native plants, for example, do not require much organic matter. Have a chat with one of our Landscape Design Gurus to understand what’s needed for the plants you’re considering.

• Add a hardscape: Cover the unused softscape areas with an attractive hardscape made of gravel or rock to prevent such parts from absorbing the moisture required by your intended plants.

Add a Walkway

Credit: Home BNC

Take a look at your lawn. Do you see damaged and bare spots in the high-traffic areas? If so, you can cover them up with a beautiful walkway which will enhance the appeal and eradicate the need to constantly replenish the defaced portions.

Best of all, a walkway requires minimal maintenance and is a super affordable addition. From paving slabs and bark chippings to mulch and gravel, there are tons of options to match your budget and style.

Select Low-Maintenance Plants

While it’s always tempting to grab all the splashy and bold flowers, they may not always be the best choice for your lifestyle and budget.

Below is a list of some amazing options you can consider to cut out the hassle of technical research and the stress of wrapping your gardenias with blankets each time the weather becomes chilly — and you won’t even have to stress about what to do with your bare garden in the winter!

• Perennial plants: Perennials will reduce the time spent fighting pests and weeds. A lovely group of stonecrop, eyed susans, and daisies are a perfect combo for continued enjoyment without investing much effort.

• Evergreens: To relish the vibrant shades of greens all year round, plant evergreens like understated hedges and showy deciduous. They add texture, offer privacy, and require very little care.

• Easy-to-grow flowers: From sunflowers and canna to salvia and poppy, there are hundreds of easy-to-grow summer flowers that can give your garden a bright and welcoming aura without any hard work!

• Native plants: As we’ve discussed above, native plants are suited to the environment of your area, which means they need very minimal water, pesticides, and fertilisers. They also provide protection for the environment as they reduce water run-off, improve air quality, and eliminate the need for equipment like mowers.

Include Fun Features as Garden Art

Credit: Build Review

Landscaping isn’t only about greenery and bright flowers — structuring your outdoor area with fun features is a great low-maintenance idea that can serve as a focal point and accentuate the beauty of your plants.

Adding functional and artistic features, such as a birdbath, arbour, or sculpture, is a cost-effective way to highlight various areas and retain the moisture levels of your garden.

Install a Water Feature

Credit: Botanica

Just like garden art, a water feature can offer double duty by being both aesthetic and functional simultaneously. It brings a soothing audible element, sets up an attractive statement piece, and attracts birds to your backyard. Whether it's a fountain, an underground sprinkler system, scuppers, a rain curtain, streams, or a small swimming pool, water features can effortlessly transform your garden.

Look for Grass Alternatives

Credit: Neograss

Grass definitely adds functionality, comfort, and order to your garden, but it requires regular upkeep. Therefore, replacing grass with an alternative that requires less watering and other resources is a smart way to reduce the maintenance you’ll have to provide.

Artificial turf, for example, is a great replacement that is as eye-dazzling as natural grass. Although it might require repair for the torn or worn-out parts, it is still a lot more feasible than a plant-based lawn. If you’re okay with slight maintenance, then the only work left is to choose from the three different types of turf: polythene, polypropylene, and nylon. These mesmerising picks not only add visual appeal to your garden but can also help conserve water!

Our Final Thoughts

Decorating with low-maintenance design ideas can help your garden look postcard-perfect all year round, regardless of the weather. But remember, any outdoor space will always require some maintenance. The goal is to create an oasis that can be maintained within your comfort levels. So, what are you waiting for? Use the aforementioned ideas and start designing a beautiful garden now!