This might mean turning the area over to gravel, permeable paving, decking or bark. There is, however, no getting around the fact that lawns are one of the most intensive features in a garden so there may be no choice but to replace with an alternative. Use a mower with a wider cut and more capable power unit, or even consider 'Robot Mowers', that mow unattended.Remove small fiddly, narrow areas, to cut down on edging and reduce time and effort spent manoeuvring mowers.If budget allows, getting in the professionals to keep on top of your lawn can take a weight off your mind and even free you up to get on with those other ‘nicer’ gardening jobs. Consider using a professional lawn maintenance company.Or at the very least look for edging shears that incorporate a collection box. There are many styles and materials to choose from including Everedge, Rite Edge and Smart Edge. This will reduce the need for hand edging. It is also more likely to support a greater variety of wildlife. Relax weeding, feeding and moss control – such a lawn will be more of a visual patchwork but will often stay greener for longer when stressed by drought or waterlogging and is perfectly acceptable for many gardeners. Some mixes include micro clovers to help reduce the need to water and feed. Look for seed or turf that is described as ‘amenity’, ‘multi-purpose’, ‘hard wearing’ or simply ‘low maintenance’. Fine or high quality turf will required more input in the form of aerating, scarifying, feeding and mowing than more durable lawn mixes. Replace fine turf with a harder-wearing seed or turf mix.It may be worth investing in a ‘recycling’ or 'mulching' mower which is designed to chop the clippings before returning them to the lawn. To reduce problems with unsightly strips of brown, dead grass sitting on the surface of the lawn, mow as regularly as possible. The lawn will also need feeding less as some of the nutrients will return in the fallen grass. By allowing the clippings to drop back onto the grass, less time and effort is needed to empty the box. You can even add interest by introducing wildflower plug plants into the sward. Introduce a sense of purpose to long grass by mowing a path through the centre or a strip at the edge. Experiment with different frequencies of cut some parts may be acceptable with being mown just once a fortnight, while some ‘wilder’ areas could be left unmown between March and September. Consider keeping a small area of short grass in the most formal area of garden but reduce the amount of cutting in other areas. Ensure you check the expected mature height and spread, otherwise pruning may be necessary if the space is too small for the plant. There is no such thing as a ‘no maintenance’ plant but many hardy evergreens, once established, will require little care. A living hedge may require clipping every year but if kept to a manageable height this might in the long run be less onerous than having to paint and replace wooden fencing. Some design decisions will not be so obvious. Equally, it may be that an automatic irrigation system, especially for lots of pots and planters, could take a lot of stress out of watering. Consider installing a water point close to where you are most likely to need it (e.g. For example, if growing your own vegetables is high on the priority list, keep a veg patch that will meet your needs while minimising activity elsewhere such as replacing lawn with paving or a rose garden with a shrub border.Īlso try to position features that are more labour intensive closer to the house or the shed so you’re not wasting a lot of effort walking, carrying or barrowing items up and down the garden. Start by looking at how much input you can make to the garden and the features or functions that are most important to you. How to create a low maintenance garden Design and planning
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