There’s something very special about spending time outdoors and when you create a lovely garden space in your own property, it’s something that adds value in many more ways than mere finances.
Well-designed outdoor space makes a perfect place for entertaining and it can also add a wonderful calmness to your home – the ideal spot for reading, relaxing and enjoying.
But creating a garden doesn’t have to be a huge, ongoing chore. With some careful planning, making a low-maintenance garden space will improve the way you feel about your property – and the way potential buyers think about it, if you’re putting it on the market in the future.
1. GROW PLANTS TOGETHER
Those lush gardens that you love? The plants are grown together. It’s a way of maximising the space you have but the main thing is that it’s actually very healthy for your plants. By exposing less soil to the sun and wind, moisture is locked in and it also minimises the growth of nasty weeds. And some plants benefit from being together for other reasons, such as natural pest control (do a search on companion planting to learn more…).
2. SHAPE YOUR GARDEN
Want a good-looking garden? Pruning is a must. Yes, that takes time but it’s time with obvious benefits.
As dead and damaged branches emerge, trim them off. Lawn care is also key to a good-looking garden. If you have not got the time to do the work yourself, outsource it. If the financial resources to have a regular lawn maintenance specialist are not in your budget, your path to a low-maintenance garden must include reducing lawn space and looking for other alternatives (mulch, landscaped paving, etc).
3. FEED Your SOIL, instead of the PLANTS
Your plants need nutrients, just like you do. Because the health of your plants relies on healthy roots, when you add plant food to your garden you will get the most out of your investment if you ensure it is the soil that is being improved, for long-term garden health. Investing time and money in quality soil enrichment (talk to your local gardening specialist about the specific nutrients your particular plants will benefit from best) will help you create a low-maintenance garden in the long-run.
It’s a great reason to create a compost bin at home (and do your online research to get easy tips about how). By having a compost bin, you’ll minimise rubbish and help the environment AND provide a fantastic home for your plants to help you minimise the need for regular watering.
4. WIDE BEDS are best
Planting flowers and herbs in wide garden beds give your garden an order and rich depth. It also helps minimise weed growth (perfect for any low-maintenance garden).
Create your garden beds by edging them with large slabs of stone, or timber – after the initial hard work, you’ll halve the amount of gardening maintenance work you do by helping maximise water retention and minimising weed growth to create a garden you’ll be proud to own.
5. ADD colourful bursts
Greenery is great. But if you prefer a tropical feel, look at colourful flowers to make your garden pop.
Remember that herbs and vegetables are a great addition of colour too and the added benefit is that they help make your garden practical by providing food for you and your family.
Choosing the right plants for your garden depends on your climate and local environment, so be sure to talk specifically about your low-maintenance gardening dreams to your friendly neighbourhood nursery/garden centre to ensure that the plant choices you make are best for your property. To minimise watering time, choosing native Australian plants that are indigenous to your local area will help reduce water usage and form the foundations of a garden that looks good, without the need for intense garden maintenance.
Creating a great garden is a smart way to add value to your home – and even if you have no plans to sell your property this year, time and money invested in designing a low-maintenance garden will reward you in years to come.