Everyone dreams of it. A house to call their own. A yard to chill and recharge their batteries. However, if you’ve had yours for quite some time, you’ll realize that having your own yard means spending hours to rake, water, fertilize, mow, weed, and prune, and it may no longer feel like a place to relax.
Garden maintenance doesn’t have to be such a huge task. With the right choice of plants and landscaping materials, you won’t have to spend a lot of time making sure your garden stays pleasant to the eyes.
After all, you already have a full, busy life, so your yard should serve as your place to unwind after a hard day at work. But, in order to make that goal happen, making smart choices is key.
Two of the most time-consuming gardening tasks are watering and mowing the lawn, so you should start by looking for ways to reduce your watering needs and the amount of grass you need to work on.
Look for plants that don’t need to consume a lot of water and could also work as an effective alternative to grass. If you’re seriously thinking about getting into low-maintenance landscaping, these ideas might work for you:
1. Create a rock garden instead.
With a rock garden, you can fill your yard with drought-tolerant greens that won’t need much upkeep. In addition, if you hire a decorative rock delivery service in Utah for your garden, they can serve as style elements that don’t need water or any kind of maintenance.
Envision the type of rock garden you want, then try to learn the basic principles behind it and research about the right plants that would work perfectly for this kind of environment.
2. Choose the right grass or look for an alternative.
In a garden, grass is everywhere, which means it needs a lot of work to stay green and healthy. Other than water, fertilizer, and a lot of mowing, grass also gets damaged easily. So, for easier grass maintenance, consider the climate you have in your region.
For northern climates, fescue is your best bet. It’s not prone to diseases, and it’s known for its slow growth. So it won’t require as much fertilizing and mowing as other grass types. Moreover, it’s more affordable than sod. For Southern climates, Bermuda is highly recommended.
It’s nearly impossible to damage — it can handle pets and kids’ excessive romping. It can also survive in poor soils. You can also consider moss — known for being fuss-free plants — as a good alternative for grass.
3. Never forget to put mulch around your plants.
This is a great way to handle weeds. Put mulch around your plants, and it will discourage the growth of unwanted weeds. With proper mulch placement, you also won’t have to worry about watering your plants often. It’ll also keep the soil enriched, allowing your plants to grow strong and healthy.
Now that you’ve learned some smart ways to lessen your garden responsibilities, you can have more time to pamper yourself and actually use your yard for what it’s really meant for: fun and relaxation.