We’re starting to come down on the peak growth months for most gardeners in the northern hemisphere, as the weather’s likely to become cooler and wetter, except for a few late heatwaves. While you might feel like your rest can finally begin, fall can require just as much clean-up up and next year, you have to do it all over again. If you feel like you’re ready to quit, rather than letting the wilds reclaim your garden, how about making it much easier to take care, instead? Here, we’ll look at a few ways you can do just that.
Choose Low-Maintenance Plants
If you want to avoid all the work that comes with nurturing a plant through all manner of challenges, then pick plants that already thrive in your climate and soil type. From native species to drought-resistant varieties, there are plenty of plants that require less watering, less fertilizing, and less pest control, and are much better at adapting to changes in the seasons. Aside from good low-maintenance plants, you may want to consider perennials, which can return year after year without you having to replant. By planning your plant selection strategically, you can avoid the constant upkeep that high-maintenance flowers and vegetables require. The right mix of hardy, resilient plants will help your garden look vibrant with much less effort over the long term.
Use Mulch To Stay On Top Of The Weeds
If you’re sick and tired of having to get on your hands and knees to weed, then you can at least reduce how much ground you have to cover by investing a little time and energy into mulching at the start of the year. A good layer of organic mulch, such as shredded bark or compost, helps prevent weed seeds from germinating by blocking sunlight. It also retains soil moisture, meaning less frequent watering. Over time, mulch breaks down and enriches the soil, reducing the need for additional fertilizers. All you have to do is apply mulch around your flowers, shrubs, and vegetable beds, replacing it at the start of the next year, and you can spend a lot less time weeding.
Streamline Your Cleanup With The Right Tools
Taking care of your garden can be time-consuming, especially when it comes to the cleanup. Debris, leaves, branches, and grass clippings can take literal hours to rake or sweep. Using efficient tools like a leaf blower instead can help you keep your flower beds, lawn, patios, and pathways clean without disturbing mulch or damaging your plants. There are models that come with vacuums and mulchers, as well, helping you cut even more steps out of the cleanup process. Other tools, such as cordless trimmers and a garden cart, can make your routine garden upkeep much, much easier.
Make It A Family Affair
If you’re stuck out there, taking care of the garden alone, while your family is none the wiser about how much work you’re putting out, it might be time to make it a collaborative affair. Sharing garden duties among family members can turn maintenance into a collaborative activity rather than a solitary burden. Gardening can become a family activity; just make sure that you’re assigning tasks in a way that’s age-appropriate. Younger kids can be taught to collect fallen leaves and water plants, while the adults should do anything that requires potentially dangerous tools. Teenagers can be taught to use the lawn mower and leaf blower, as well. A schedule that assigns tasks to each family member and going out to do it together can help break the chore of managing your garden into a much easier joint effort.
Install An Irrigation System
One of the biggest time-wasting activities required to keep your garden healthy is watering by hand. Rather than having to stand out there with a hose, making sure that you get every inch of the garden, consider installing an automated irrigation system, whether it’s a drip setup, soaker hoses, or sprinklers. Drip irrigation is particularly efficient, delivering water directly to the roots where it’s needed most. This reduces water waste and discourages weeds. Timers can ensure consistent watering, even when you’re away. You can adjust the system as the seasons change, too, allowing you to keep up with changing plant needs without having to keep an eye on them constantly.
Design The Garden For Easy Access
The layout of the garden itself can make a big difference when it comes to how much work, exactly, it requires. Arrange beds and pathways so that every plant is within easy reach without stepping on the soil, which compacts it and makes upkeep harder. Adding a raised bed or two can be even more helpful, as they improve drainage and help you better control your planting areas, which can prevent overgrowth and weed issues from being quite as common. If you group plants that have similar care needs close to one another, then you can prune, water, and fertilize much more quickly, as well, rather than constantly having to adjust your approach as you work.
Break It Down By Season
Having a pre-determined, seasonal schedule that outlines what you have to do and when makes it a lot easier to give your garden the work that it needs, when it needs it, instead of letting it all build up until you have a huge chore to take care of. For example, in early spring, focus on soil prep, pruning, and mulching. In late fall, concentrate on leaf removal, tool cleaning, and protecting plants for winter. Having a predictable routine helps you stay organized and ensures your garden gets consistent attention without constant daily effort. You don’t have to get out there every day, nor do you have to wait until it becomes a huge effort. Routine, scheduled maintenance keeps things light and easy.
If you want to keep your garden neat, it’s going to take some work. If you want to keep it neat and low-maintenance, it’s going to take some smarts. Start with the ideas above and see how you get on.
