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Low Maintenance Garden Ideas

Low Maintenance Garden Ideas

Gardening is either a hobby or a chore. Some people love getting outdoors to de-weed or jetwash the patio. For others, the thought of cleaning the garden furniture brings about a sense of dread!

Having a low maintenance garden is a good idea for so many reasons. Perhaps you’re renting a place, styling a holiday home, or just don’t have the time (or patience!) for gardening all summer long.

Whichever reason you need to know the best low maintenance garden design ideas, we’ve got the answers!

Keep reading to learn our top tips, tricks and ideas on how to create a low maintenance garden that looks stunning.

Choose Patio, Not Decking

Decking looks fantastic in a garden, but it requires regular maintenance to stay looking its best. The wood can quickly rot and warp when not cared for.

You need to routinely clean decking with a jet washer, keep it clear of debris, and treat the wood with a high-quality sealant every 1-2 years.

A patio can last much longer with little care. Even though it looks nicer when swept and jet-washed, it isn’t essential, and the slabs won’t fall apart without it!

Add Bark to Your Flowerbeds

Second to lawn care, de-weeding is probably one of the most time-consuming gardening tasks you can do!

Flowerbeds are constantly getting filled with weeds. It’s easy to find yourself needing to de-weed every week, if not more, in spring or summer.

But one of the best low maintenance garden ideas is to add bark to your flowerbeds. Simply scatter a thick, even layer under your shrubs and flowers.

It’ll act as mulch for your plants (which will keep them healthy) and prevent weeds from coming through.

Invest in Weather-Proof Furniture

Garden furniture adds convenience and style to an outdoor space. It creates the perfect environment to socialise, sunbathe or just enjoy some alone time with nature.

If you want a low maintenance garden, opt for outdoor furniture that doesn’t require tending to. Unlike metal or wooden tables, rattan furniture is stylish, low maintenance and hassle-free.

The best, most durable garden furniture is usually made from either premium flat weave, round & flat weave or round & wide weave. These weaves are strong, long-lasting and let you enjoy your outdoor space in comfort and style.

At Harts, our garden furniture is easy to care for, with strong, weather-resistant rattan and thick, durable cushions that are easy to clean.

Explore our full collection of garden furniture today.

Scatter Bulbs Around Shrubs

Another way to ditch de-weeding for good in your garden is to keep your flowerbeds compact and full of plants!

If you have lots of empty spaces between your plants and underneath your shrubs, they’ll almost always be filled with weeds.

To help you create a low maintenance garden, scatter fast-growing bulbs in the spaces between your flowerbeds. In just a short while (depending on the bulb), you’ll have a flowerbed full of daffodils or bluebells instead of pesky garden weeds!

Opt for Low Maintenance Shrubs

If you want a low maintenance garden, try to avoid:

  • Plants that aren’t frost-resistant: As they require wrapping or covering during winter, cold weather and frosts
  • Container plants: Because they don’t retain water very well, these plants often need daily watering in summer and spring to stay alive
  • Fast-growing plants or hedging: These often need regular pruning, with some species (like conifers) looking ghastly if you cut them back too late!

Instead, choose low maintenance shrubs that require little to no pruning, like Buxus or Red Robin.

Leave Fences Au-Natural

Painting or staining your fence looks pleasant. But, even with a high-quality paint/stain, it’ll still fade over time.

Most fences need repainting every 2-3 years, depending on weather conditions and paint quality.

If your fences are made from treated wood, you don’t need to stain or paint them at all. Keep it au-natural and it’ll keep one more task off your summer to-do list!

Make Use of Technology

Investing a little bit more in technology can help you create a beautiful garden with little upkeep. Here are some ideas on how to cut down on maintenance with technology:

  • Hate mowing the grass every week in summer? Choose a wide-cut lawnmower with a large capacity grass bag to make mowing quicker and easier.
  • Is your grass always full of fallen leaves in autumn? Choose a lawnmower with a built-in leaf shredder so you don’t have to pick them up before you mow.
  • Don’t have time to water the grass in summer? Invest in an automatic sprinkler system that waters the grass and plants on a set timer.

Have a Wild Area

Another one of our favourite low maintenance garden design ideas is to introduce a “wild” area in your garden! This essentially means letting the local wildflowers grow as tall and clustered as they like in a section of your garden.

While it sounds like it’ll look messy, you can make it look neat and tidy with borders or fancy edging to keep it contained. You can also scatter wildflower seeds instead of letting them grow naturally to ensure you like what grows.

When the wild patch is restricted to just one neat corner, it won’t look messy. Instead, it’ll look like an intentional garden feature.

Plus, having a wild area is better for the environment. It’ll encourage more wildlife, like bees, birds and insects, to enjoy your garden.

Summary

Gardening doesn’t have to be a chore! There are so many ways to design a low maintenance garden that doesn’t need work all-year round.

With high-quality garden furniture (that’s durable, weather-resistant and built to last) and the right shrubbery, you’ll have a beautiful garden with little upkeep in no time!

At Harts Furniture, we can help you create the garden of your dreams. Our rattan dining sets, sofa chairs and sun loungers are designed in the UK with outstanding quality. We offer you the very best designs, hassle-free.

Explore our full garden furniture collection today.