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When it’s at its best, your garden should feel like your own private slice of paradise, replete with colorful flowers, lush shrubbery, and the cooling shade of proud trees. But the intense maintenance required to keep up this area can sometimes make it feel more like a burden.
Why not take some of the sweat out of gardening so you can enjoy your outdoor space? Whether caring for greenery is one of your favorite hobbies or you’re looking to invest less time and money into yard care, try these five solutions. They’re suitable for landscapes in just about every American climate.
Please your pollinators
Butterflies, bees, and other beneficial species aren’t just pretty to look at; according to the experts at the Pollinator Project, they’re also responsible for supporting between 75 and 95 percent of all plant life. So rather than deterring them with toxic insecticides, attract them by putting out small cups of water.
Providing pollinators such hydration stations in floral shades like light yellow and pink can draw them into your garden. Apply just one teaspoon at a time to each container (to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in them), and change the contents often to keep them fresh—pollinators will thank you by helping your flowers bloom brighter and produce plants that yield more.
Choose herbal ease
Grass lawns are incredibly high maintenance, and depending on where in the country you reside, they can be far too water-demanding for the environment, local ordinances, or your utility costs. To save resources, plant a more resilient herb garden. Paring down an expanse of troublesome grass with even a small section of these plants could make a significant impact.
Opt for species like oregano, mint, and chamomile, all of which can grow into eye-catching and healthy ground cover because they’re hardy, tolerate direct sunlight, and don’t need to be trimmed until you’re craving their fresh flavors.
Lay a rock garden
Alternatively, you could go even hardier with boulders, colorful pebbles, pond stones, and other rocks. Talk about low-maintenance—such materials will create a striking garden while having minimal tending needs. Simply lay a variety of them in areas where your landscaping is struggling, and watch as the occasional wildflower, tree sapling, or other pleasant growth sprouts out of them. (If you find some unsightly weeds, they’ll be easily removable.) You could also plant vines to sprawl across your rock garden for a lush look.
For the most attractive results, try this simple approach: Imagine a series of ribbons extending from your curb to your foundation, then set down rocks in alternating heights within each row. The variety of sizes, colors, and textures will catch the eye and elevate your curb appeal far beyond what a struggling lawn could.
Try planting by number
There are also fun, virtually effortless ways to plan your garden, such as by utilizing Plant by Number. This company takes the stress out of installing a new green space with its easy-to-follow layout maps that you can customize based on your property, have shipped to your home, and position in the area of your choosing. From there, you simply fill them in with the best flora for each numbered spot—much like filling in shades in a paint-by-number coloring book.
Designs come in templates like Driveway Design and Privacy Hedge, so you can transform just about any zone of your yard into a lush garden. Intentionally planning your landscaping in this way helps ensure that you find the best species for each space’s watering, draining, and sunlight needs. That way, your investments can not only survive the heat of summer but also flourish through the seasons beyond.
Dig wide, not deep
Once it’s time to install flora, your instincts may be to grab a shovel and prepare to dig a trench so deep you’re practically drilling for oil. But the width of the hole you dig actually matters more than its depth. Rather than boring to the exact deepness of the pot a plant has come in, create a wider, shallower circle that is two to three times the roots’ diameter. This will allow you to work with softer, more malleable topsoil while also helping you prep your new plants correctly, granting them space for their roots to expand and seek nourishing earth and hydration. Using this technique also encourages you to leave ample space between plants so they can mature horizontally as well as vertically and not compete for precious resources.
Following these hacks can help you cultivate a garden that promotes relaxation instead of causing stress. To make caring for these spaces even easier, don’t burden yourself with chasing perfection. After all, every garden is a work in continual process, so if you experience setbacks, there is always room to grow.
