Over the past few months, as we’ve all gotten more used to staying home, we’ve spent more time in our gardens and (when restrictions allowed) other people’s gardens than ever before. It’s become clear that some people are amazing gardeners, who know their agapanthus from their azaleas, how to grow potatoes, and have probably never killed a cactus or three, but they don’t necessarily have to be the only ones of us with incredible gardens.

For those of us who don’t have a lot of free time, may not be as able-bodied, or just don’t know what counts as pruning and what counts as plant homicide, here are some easy tips to keep your garden looking beautiful with a lot less effort.

1. Know what you want from your garden

Perhaps the way that most people spend more time than necessary on garden maintenance is because they didn’t plan it around their actual usage. 

If all you want is somewhere to sit outside on a warm night, then you could benefit from a paved garden with a little seating area and some native shrubs in planters. (Potted plants are actually a lot more work than you might think!) If you want to grow your own fruits and veg, then you could choose to sacrifice your lawn, which is the part of your garden that needs the most attention, for extra growing space.

Make a lists of all the features your garden must have before you start drawing, and don’t hesitate to use a garden drawing app.

2. Pick your plants carefully

Not all plants are created equally and some non-native ones will require added watering  (or a way to shelter from the rain), so go for some of these easier to handle ones:

  • Shrubs require less watering and can be grown easily through a weed-suppressing membrane, scratching two things off your to-do list
  • Perennials, like salad burnet, wild rocket, and British gooseberry, are pretty much maintenance-free and adaptable to most gardens
  • Bellflowers and cyclamen are natural snail repellents

Importantly, avoid planting:

  • Climbing plants, like ivy, which are hard to control, can cause damage to your house, and suffocate other plants
  • Plants that won’t thrive, like sun-seeking plants in the shadiest areas of your garden 
  • Any plants that need protection from the winter weather

3. Choose metal sheds, furniture, decorations, etc

If you want to reduce the amount of time spent on garden upkeep then opt for items made of metal with an anti-corrosion coating, rather than maintenance-prone material like wood. 

Metal items are strong enough to withstand typical and some not-so-typical usage, unlike plastic, which is prone to discoloration and to breaking easily and will need repairing or more likely replacing on a much more regular basis than you might expect. Metal with an anti-corrosion coating will keep it safe from the Great British weather without any maintenance.

Less time weatherproofing, repairing, or looking for a replacement in your local garden centre, means more time to enjoy your garden, preferably with a glass of wine or cup of tea, depending on your preference.

If you’re looking for quality sheds that are made of metal and come with a 20-year anti-corrosion guarantee, try this site.

4. Compost

There is no easier way to get nutritious soil for your garden than by making your own. You can just create a pile in the corner of your garden, but it might be easier to get a compost bin or, if you want to compost more than just fruit, veg, and the odd bit of paper, a hot bin because then there’s no need to turn it. Just dump the organic material in and wait.

5. Choose stone patios and paths

As mentioned above, wood is not very low maintenance and wooden decks will require regular weatherproofing, and possibly staining. Stone, however, needs no such thing.  Be aware that weeds can still grow through cracks and gaps, but the same things would happen with wood and can be sorted out with some (organic) weedkiller every year.

As you can see, with some thought it’s possible to create a garden that will require virtually no maintenance, leaving you lots of time to enjoy your outside haven. As with most things in life, a little bit of effort upfront means that you can relax for longer further down the line.

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