6 Ways to Create Low-maintenance Landscaping

With the speed of life getting faster every year, few people have the time or the energy to focus on their landscaping. Watering and cutting grass are heavy work and can be overwhelming for those who have mobility issues or are enjoying their retirement.

Finding ways to simplify your landscaping without giving up on beauty is easier than you think.

You may think that having ornate and lush landscaping is the key to improving your curb appeal, but don’t underestimate the draw of simplicity and sustainability. Homebuyers are as likely to inquire about the eco-friendly features of a home as any other aspect.

If you are interested in creating an appealing landscape design for your home but don’t want endless hours of work, it’s easy to do on your own or with professionals like Malone’s Landscape. Let’s look at a few ways that you can create low-maintenance landscaping for your home.

Here’re 6 Ways to Create Low-maintenance Landscaping

1. Automatic Irrigation

Few homeowners have the time or patience to water their lawns and gardens regularly. Standing in the sun and dragging heavy hoses around the property just isn’t possible for many seniors or those with mobility issues. Watering is heavy work that could be made easier with an automatic irrigation system.

Installing an irrigation system can be done in just a weekend if you want to do it yourself. If you have the DIY skills and are willing to put in the labor, you can install an irrigation system that will water your lawn automatically.

If you aren’t inclined to try installing an irrigation system yourself, you can bring in a professional contractor to help you. Using a professional could get the job done in just one day.

With an automated irrigation system, you can set up a particular watering schedule that will save you both time and money. Regular watering in smaller intervals is healthy for your lawn and plants and moderates how much water you are using.

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2. Grass Alternatives: Moss or Clover

Grass maintenance can take a lot of work if you want your lawn to look great. Watering, fertilizing, and cutting can take hours away from the small amount of time that you have to spend with family and friends on the weekends. If you plant the right mixture of grasses and grass alternatives, you can cut your work in half and still have a great lawn.

Clover, in its many attractive forms, has been used in grass seed mixes for generations. Clover mixed with your regular grass seed can help your lawn look fuller and more luxurious.

Clover is drought-resistant, meaning that it requires less watering and can withstand extreme heat. It’s also less expensive than many grass blends and has little impact on the environment, as it rarely needs any fertilizers or pesticides.

For areas on your lawn that are a bit spotty due to shade trees, moss is a great grass alternative. Moss does well in all shaded areas where grass won’t grow. You can get attractive, soft, and lush surface coverage when you plant a moss mixture in your shady areas.

3. Rock Gardens

In hot and arid areas, it can be challenging to maintain a nice-looking lawn and landscaping. The lack of rain and high temperatures are tough on plants and grasses that are not specifically drought resistant. Creating a rock garden or using stone and pebbles as ground cover for your landscaping is a unique and beautiful option for your property. Smaller stones in your garden beds keep weeds at bay and create an excellent water table for your plants.

Placing larger rocks surrounded by hardy plants and bushes can result in a low-maintenance garden landscape that is elegant and stylish. The great part is that stones don’t need to be watered or pruned, giving you time to enjoy other interests and spend less time on landscaping maintenance.

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4. Ground Cover

If you want to keep things simple with your landscaping but also want to add a low-maintenance style, consider adding a few beds of colorful ground cover. Creeping thyme comes in various colors that flower during the summer, giving you a pop of eye-catching color without the fuss.

Ground cover plants are generally low-maintenance and need minimal water to stay looking great all year. Make sure to plant varieties of ground cover that are deer-resistant, so you don’t lose your garden beds to hungry deer.

5. Mulch

Using mulch in your landscaping is one of the easiest and most attractive ways to maintain your garden beds. You can make your mulch or buy a variety of colors and consistencies that meet your needs. Combining soil and chipped wood creates a powerful moisture sponge, making it unnecessary to water as often.

Mulch also helps to enrich the soil in your beds, making them the perfect place to plant your flowers and bushes. Weeds are no match for a good layer of mulch; it will keep them from taking over your garden beds.

6. Drought Resistance

One of the most labor-intensive parts of taking care of your gardens and landscaping is watering. Every plant seems to need something different, leaving you having to water nearly every day. It’s best for low-maintenance gardening or landscaping to choose seeds and plants that are drought-resistant.

Not only can drought-resistant plants give your garden a colorful look, but they can also survive with very little water and in hot weather. Drought-resistant plants often need less watering than once a week, giving you more time to do what you love outside the garden.

If you have a busy schedule, there is no need to scrimp on your outdoor landscaping. With the right planning and consideration, you can create a low-maintenance garden that will look great.

Keeping it simple and elegant, using drought-resistant plants, and installing an automatic watering system can eliminate much of the work that comes with elaborate landscaping. Keep your property looking great with a simplified landscaping plan and enjoy the outdoors without having to do so much work.

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