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Essex Artificial Grass Experts
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We Supply. We Install. We Do it All.
Essex Artificial Grass Experts
While for some people gardening is a hobby and something that they don’t mind dedicating endless hours to, for others, all they want is a beautiful outdoor space to relax in —not something that adds to their already lengthy to-do list.
So, what are the best low-maintenance garden ideas? How can you create a garden that requires minimal care and upkeep? Can you have a garden that’s attractive but also doesn’t require lots of attention and tidying?
Here are the smartest things you can do to keep your garden looking its best without committing yourself to hours of weeding, pruning, and mowing.
One of the most time-consuming tasks in a garden is mowing the lawn. This makes artificial grass installation one of the best low-maintenance garden ideas.
Artificial grass has lots of perks, from using less water to being more kid and pet friendly. Once installed, it requires very little upkeep. Just the occasional brush or hose down. And it keeps its gorgeous green colour year-round.
If you decide that artificial grass isn’t the right choice for you, then you could always get rid of the lawn entirely. Instead, have lots of big flower borders, decked areas, and some sweeping pathways. And then what about a small patch of artificial grass in a corner for sunbathing during the summer months?
If getting rid of your lawn completely fills you with gloom, then at least make your life easier by installing a permanent edge around the lawn with a run of bricks or stones. This means you’ll no longer have to go around trimming the edges of the lawn, which is awkward and time-consuming. Similarly, get rid of any difficult angles and corners that are hard to manoeuvre with the mower.
You can also get artificial grass edging to surround your fake grass lawn, with various options on offer from timber to steel.
For a low-maintenance patio, one of the best materials is porcelain. Porcelain slabs and boards look a lot like natural stone or wood but require far less upkeep. They’re hard-wearing, repel dirt and frost, and won’t fade after time.
The initial financial outlay is more but you’ll soon reap the benefits when you can actually enjoy sitting on the patio rather than cleaning it with a jet washer.
Some of the best low-maintenance plants are those that offer interest for more than one season, giving you more bang for your horticultural buck, so to speak.
Look for plants that have a second flowering later in the year, such as delphiniums, yarrow, and echinacea.
Perennials are also superior to annuals when it comes to maintenance, as you won’t have to replant the following year. Lavender is one of our favourites. Evergreen plants like juniper and azalea are also a good option so your garden doesn’t look totally bare in the winter.
Finally, don’t plant fast-growing hedges if you can help it as it just means more work. Instead, opt for plants like holly or yew which grow slower. And steer clear of creepers that will soon take over your garden if left unattended.
Another smart move is to plant ground cover—plants that naturally grow low, forming a kind of carpet. This will avoid the need for too much weeding. Good options include creeping thyme or lily of the valley.
If you’re creating new flower beds from scratch, definitely consider investing in a weed-control fabric. These permeable membranes suppress and control weed growth without chemicals and weed killers while also improving water retention. This means less work for you.
Who has time to water the plants every few days during the summer months? And with the heatwaves we’ve been having in recent years, you might find yourself holding a watering can or hose even more regularly.
So instead consider investing in a drip irrigation system —a series of tubes that slowly drip water into the soil. Or consider a smart sprinkler system that allows you to turn sprinklers on and off remotely via an app.
Mulching means applying a layer of material to cover the soil and the base of plants to suppress weeds and lock in moisture, acting as a kind of blanket. One of the best kinds of mulch is shredded bark. As well as saving you time, it can also make your garden look a lot neater.
Pots aren’t the best time-saving garden solution as you have to water them more than flower beds but if you’re set on having plant pots, then opt for larger ones rather than smaller ones. The smaller the pot, the faster the soil will dry out.
The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) label is a certification from the UK Royal Horticultural Society that verifies that the plant is likely to do well in standard garden conditions. If your plant is likely to thrive without too much extra care and attention, this will save you time in the long run.
Why not have a section of your garden that is the dedicated ‘wild zone’? Here, you could simply sow some seeds and then let nature do whatever it wants. This is great for wildlife and can look beautiful too. And with no extra input from you required.
Whether you don’t really like gardening or you don’t have the time for it, it’s clear that the most low-maintenance garden option includes either artificial grass or no lawn at all, along with hardy and fuss-free perennials and shrubs. Extra equipment and tools like irrigation systems and weed suppressor fabrics can also minimise the workload.
The result? A gorgeous garden and plenty of time to enjoy it.