Low maintenance garden ideas
Low maintenance garden ideas: 29 stylish ways to create an easy-care plot
(Image credit: WoodBlocX)
Not got the time for lengthy gardening jobs? Then these low maintenance garden ideas are just what you need.
Sometimes, keeping your garden design ideas looking tip-top can feel daunting – most of us are busy enough as it is without tons of outdoor chores. But with a few tips and tricks, a low maintenance garden is a simple goal to achieve. And don't think that style has to be sacrificed for an easier gardening life – from fuss-free paving to gorgeous containers and furniture, your plot can still look the part without all the work.
As Sarah Squire, Chairman of Squire's Garden Centres says, 'We all lead busy lives, so it's no surprise that people sometimes feel that they don’t have enough time for gardening. However, there are lots of things you can do to make life easier for yourself in the garden.'
Low maintenance garden ideas: 29 looks that are easy to recreate
These low maintenance garden ideas will help you to spend more time relaxing, rather than working, in your plot. And, they look fantastic, too.
1. Soften a patio with pockets of planting
This low maintenance patio is sumptuously planted for an organic feel
(Image credit: Colin Poole/Future)
This verdant space is full of intriguing yet low maintenance features. Modern materials blend harmoniously with wilder pockets of perennial planting, sporting the likes of easy-care hydrangeas, ferns, and ornamental grasses. Meanwhile, the garden building adds a chic place to relax whatever the weather. And water feature ideas are an instant way to elevate a space – offering a ton of sensory benefits with very little effort required.
Tempted to recreate the look? Our guides on how to grow hydrangeas and how to grow ornamental grasses will help you get started.
2. Mix up materials for a chic seating spot
An urban spot is brought to life with a brick fireplace and functional seating
(Image credit: Joanna Henderson/Future)
The best gardens act as an extension of our homes, to be used for relaxing with family and friends.
And, this set-up goes to show that you don't need tons of fussy flowerbeds and acres of lawn to create a stunning scene.
The decorative parasol offers shelter from the midday sun, as well as providing a pretty focal point (check out our best garden parasols to grab one of your own). Meanwhile, the outdoor fireplace looks fabulous integrated into the brick wall and will keep everyone cozy as they lounge nearby. Hardy, drought-tolerant plants draw the eye upwards, softening the look.
Add a few potted plants and outdoor cushions and you've got the perfect place for easy indoor-outdoor living.
3. Turn an urban space into an easy-care oasis
Double up hard landscaping as seating
(Image credit: David Giles/Future)
If you're after some new outdoor seating ideas, then how's this for inspiration? We love how the hard landscaping offers function and structure, with the wall doubling up as a fuss-free bench.
By opting for a neutral color palette the space feels light and bright, whilst carefully considered foliage offers a burst of greenery to the scene.
True, you'll need to clip the miniature hedges once in a while, but in a plot this size, it won't take long.
4. Embrace a natural look for your borders
Embrace unruliness with soft, meadow-style planting
(Image credit: Mark Bolton Photography/Future)
If you're a fan of flowers but don't have time for tons of weeding and pest control, then opt for a wilder touch for your low maintenance garden ideas. Billowing borders can look beautiful filled with a jumble of hardy meadow blooms and grasses. Plus, pollinators will love it.
Plant a handful of easy-care perennials such as echinacea, salvias, and achillea – all you'll need to do is cut them back at the end of the flowering season. Alternatively, simply scatter handfuls of meadow-mix annuals into a wilder patch of your plot, for a colorful summer display. Our guide on how to plant a wildflower meadow has all the advice you need.
5. Try weathering steel details
Weathering steel is built to last and makes fabulous edging for borders
(Image credit: Annaick Guitteny/Future)
Modern edging ideas are a great way to get a garden into shape, fast.
But not only do they help to keep things in their proper place (gravel, mulch, etc), they can also look super stylish, too.
This example above is made of weathering steel – a stunning choice for all kinds of plots. And you don't need to maintain it as it's encouraged to rust – the layer creates a durable coating for the metal within.
6. Use a range of textures
Combine panelled fencing, cool paving, and sleek decking for a stunning look
(Image credit: Annaick Guitteny/Future)
Hard landscaping often requires much less maintenance than lawns, hedges, and endless flowerbeds. It generally just needs a clean a couple of times a year, and, for wood, perhaps an annual coat of protective oil (our guide on how to clean decking has more tips).
But, if you're wary of things feeling clinical, then mixing up materials is a great way to add interest. This combination of fencing, decking, and paving looks clean and considered, yet it certainly isn't dull.
Create a contrast against sleek lines with luscious planting. Euphorbias and geraniums are great choices for low maintenance garden ideas, whilst rosemary will add a pop of green all year (plus makes a fabulously fragrant herb).
7. Use pared-back paving for a contemporary vibe
Low maintenance paving is chic and fuss-free
(Image credit: Dobbies)
From porcelain pavers to natural stone slabs, paving adds a stylish surface to any garden, and is fuss-free to look after. Just take a look at our modern paving ideas to get inspired. We love how it creates a contemporary base for this comfy outdoor sofa and potted acers.
You will just need to give it a quick clean now and then, to prevent it becoming slippery over time. It's super simple to do, just take a look at our guide on how to clean a patio to find out more.
8. Raise up your beds
These raised beds from WoodBlocx make plants easier to access and are durable, too
(Image credit: WoodBlocX)
'Switching from ground level beds and borders to raised beds will make planting, growing, weeding and watering instantly easier,' says Henry Blake, Managing Director of WoodBlocX .
'Build your raised beds at a height and width that suits you and your lifestyle and fill with fresh weed-free soil,' he says.
'Raised beds are also brilliant for landscaping sloping gardens, creating easily accessible tiers and can be customized to include seating, retaining walls and steps.' You can leave them looking natural, or paint them to suit your garden's style.
And if you're worrying about having to maintain the beds, then think again. 'WoodBlocX raised beds require zero maintenance, they will not crack, warp or rot and are guaranteed for 15 years,' Henry says.
Our guide on raised garden bed ideas has all the tips you need to get started creating your own.
9. Liven up the scene with a mix of containers
Container planting is a low maintenance way to add interest to a patio
(Image credit: Future)
'Patio pots, hanging baskets and window boxes are the perfect way to add color and interest to your garden and many plants simply need to be occasionally watered and pruned,' says Marcus Eyles, Horticultural Director at Dobbies .
'Container planting is ideal for compact spaces, plus there are a number of vegetables that can be grown in pots, meaning you don't have to wait for an allotment space to start growing your own home-grown produce. Mix and match pots in an assortment of colors and choose plants in varying heights to quickly transform your outdoor space,' Marcus says.
Sarah Squire, Chairman of Squire's Garden Centres, suggests 'add ready planted containers – all the hard work has been done for you! Simply place them by your front door or on your patio to give instant impact to your garden.'
Sarah also says to use large pots to make a real statement, and suggests using evergreen buxus plants to introduce shape and structure.
Don't forget that the actual containers themselves can be a stylish feature for any patio space – we've got tons of gorgeous designs in our garden planter ideas.
10. ...and arrange them up steps
Breathe new life into lacklustre steps with a selection of pots
(Image credit: Dobbies)
Of course, containers aren't strictly reserved for the flat parts of your plot – they're a fabulous way to liven up stone garden steps ideas.
We love how this contemporary collection draws the eye with its variety of textural foliage. If you want to recreate the look, just make sure to push them to one side, and remember they're there come nightfall to avoid tripping over any in the dark.
11. Give self-watering plant pots a go
These Greenville trough (50cm) are from Elho
(Image credit: Elho)
Love plants, but don't always have time to water? Don't worry, there's an easy-peasy solution – self-watering pots.
Complete with in-built reservoirs, these sustainable containers will allow you to enjoy your plants without reaching for the watering can so often, for fear of them drying out. There's no need to worry about overwatering either, due to their nifty design.
Narrow enough to fit on the smallest of windowsills or shelves, they're perfect for a miniature herb garden. But if you're looking for more planting inspo, our window box ideas has lots more lovely looks.
12. Go for garden-friendly art
Outdoor art from YARDART UK
(Image credit: YARDART UK)
Works of art aren't just for indoors. You can now find outdoor art available, which is a quick and fuss-free way to elevate your garden's walls.
These digitally printed pieces are totally weatherproof and durable, so are great picks for low maintenance garden ideas. We love how they add a focal point to the back of this border: simply attach them to your fence or wall with the study architectural bolts for a show-stopping look.
It's perfectly in keeping with this year's indoor-outdoor trend, plus is an easy way to add a touch of personality to your plot.
13. Invest in fabulous, weatherproof furniture
Barlow Tyrie specialises in low-maintenance teak furniture, which will last for years
(Image credit: Barlow Tyrie)
'Invest in stylish new garden furniture and you'll want to stay outdoors year-round,' advises Sarah Squire of Squire's Garden Centres.
'Garden furniture made from weave or metal is very low maintenance as it can be left outside all year.'
Keep an eye out for teak outdoor furniture too. There are plenty of low maintenance and weatherproof varieties available, and it has a beautiful, pared-back finish.
'It's well known that teak acquires an attractive silver patina over time, due to the action of sunlight. It's a reason many customers choose the material,' says Peter Tyrie, Managing Director of Barlow Tyrie .
'However, if your furniture is new and you want to retain its original "honey" color, then you should use a Color Guard before it changes,' Peter continues. 'There are various different treatments and teak oils available on the market, which will inevitably stain your furniture. So, unless you want your furniture to turn a very dark and unattractive color over time from multiple applications, avoid.'
Fancy treating your outdoor space to something new? Our best wooden garden furniture buying guide is full of fantastic ideas.
14. Opt for solar-powered lighting
LUTECTable cube portable solar powered LED bollard light from Dusk Lighting
(Image credit: Dusk Lighting)
Good lighting is crucial when it comes to upping your garden's ambience. Plus, come night-time, it's important for seeing what you're doing and where you're going. But, if the idea of heavy-duty wiring puts you off, then why not consider an alternative...
'Solar powered outdoor lighting is a fantastic option for a low maintenance garden when you want to illuminate a walkway,' says Jamie Moxey, Design Consultant at Dusk Lighting .
'The energy-friendly option has been developed significantly over the years and there are now many affordable choices – there are now products which are both solar powered and motion-activated, with no external wiring required.'
'These elements mean the light can be fixed to any suitable surface to illuminate your path and you never need to worry about turning the light off when you come back into the house.
'
Our best solar lights buying guide has lots more lovely designs.
15. Go for a low maintenance lawn
Gardena’s Smart robotic mower is extremely quiet and will work in all weathers
(Image credit: Gardena)
Keeping a lawn looking good is arguably the most time-consuming of all garden jobs. But, you could consider having just a small area of short grass in the most formal area of garden and leaving the rest to become wilder and more natural – take a look at Chris Packham's lawn advice, for example. All you then need to do is mow it just once a year at the end of summer.
Replacing fine turf or very poor grass with a hard-wearing seed or turf mix is a possibility too. Both high-quality turf and very poor turf need aerating, scarifying (find out how to scarify a lawn in our guide), feeding, and regular mowing to keep them looking good. However, more durable lawn mixes labelled as 'amenity', 'multi-purpose' or 'hard wearing' are much more able to look after themselves.
Or how about a green alternative to grass that always looks neat and never needs mowing? A sedum, thyme or even a chamomile lawn are all worth considering and are tough enough to be walked on. They are hardy too, so will look good all year round.
If you do want to keep your whole lawn area regularly mown and you don't mind splashing out a little, one of our best robot lawn mowers will do all the work for you. It can be programmed to head out at pre-set times, before taking itself back to its charging station when it's finished. You don’t even need to be at home at the time.
Today's best robot lawn mower deals
1 Amazon customer review
☆☆☆☆☆
£703.95
View Deal
Low Stock
£1,099
View Deal
No price information
Check Amazon
16.
Try adding gravelGravel is an affordable and functional ground cover
(Image credit: Douglas Gibb)
If you decide to replace your lawn with hard landscaping, be sure you choose a permeable surface that allows rainwater to drain away safely. This is especially important in front gardens, where there are now laws that restrict how much of the space can be changed to hard landscaping (this is to ensure less surface water drains onto roads, potentially causing flooding).
Garden gravel ideas are a good, low-maintenance option for attractive, permeable hard landscaping and can look wonderful with sun-loving plants in or around them. But be sure to use a weed-suppressing membrane underneath it to ensure upkeep is minimal.
17. Pick drought-tolerant plants
Try alpines and succulents for low-maintenance appeal
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Even the keenest of gardeners will admit that having to water once, and sometimes twice a day at the height of summer can become very tedious.
However, if your garden soil tends to bake dry, as often happens with clay, see it as a plus point rather than a negative. Instead of trying to keep it moist, fill it with drought-tolerant plants that will thrive without additional watering instead – try eryngiums and lavender, for example.
Our small rock garden ideas feature suggests more plants that will happily live in slightly drier conditions – perfect if you're after low maintenance garden ideas.
18. Add an automatic sprinkler
The easy-to-programme Kärcher Watering Unit WT 4
(Image credit: Karcher)
If you do have some plants that need watering on a regular basis, installing an automatic watering system could save you hours of time every week. Plus, it'll help cut down on the amount of water that gets wasted.
Kärcher , best known for its pressure washers, have a good range of auto-watering devices. Watering starts and stops automatically at preset times, and the water won't flow unless it's actually needed, so there's no waste.
19. Try recycled plastic for your boundaries
Recycled plastic fence pales from Kedel
(Image credit: Kedel)
If you have a wooden fence around the perimeter of your garden, it will need treating and/or replacing every few years to keep it looking good and to prolong its lifespan. But, there are other options that are virtually maintenance-free. Take these recycled plastic fence pales, for example, which are available in bright colors as well as in more traditional black and brown.
A hedge can make a very environmentally friendly perimeter. And, if you choose a slow-growing species – such as holly – just a very occasional light clipping will be enough to keep it in check.
Avoid fast-growing species like leylandii at all costs, or you'll find yourself with hedge trimmers constantly in your hand. Although, if you do need replacements, you can find our best hedge trimmer picks in our guide.
20. Deck it out
Decking is a popular and low maintenance choice
(Image credit: Trex)
Decking makes an attractive, hard-wearing surface for seating areas and is a good replacement for labor-intensive patches of lawn.
But for the ultimate low maintenance deck, opt for wood-lookalike composite varieties.
Trex decking , for example, is manufactured from recycled material, and resists fading, staining, scratching and mould. It won't rot, warp, crack or splinter and just a simple soap and water clean every now and again is all that's needed to keep it looking like new for years.
We've picked out our other favorites in our best composite decking buying guide.
21. Give your borders an edge
Roman stone effect border from Waltons
(Image credit: Waltons)
Nothing makes a garden look tidier than neat edges – in fact, you can get away with no end of untidiness in the borders so long as the edges are neatly trimmed! But edging with a strimmer or half-moon spade takes a lot of time, and life will be a lot easier if you install permanent edging that you can mow right up to or over.
These days, there are lots of styles and materials to choose from, just take a look at our lawn edging ideas for starters.
This one above, for example, is made from recycled tires and allows you to install it in either straight lines or curves.
22. Right plant, right place
Give your plants the environment they need
(Image credit: Future/Clive Nichols)
A plant that's happy because it's planted in conditions that suit it perfectly will need far less cosseting. So, it will take up far less of your time than one that's struggling to thrive in a less-than-ideal situation. Establishing what sort of soil you have before you choose plants is vital (remember that even in the same garden, this can vary from one bed or border to another).
You may have clay or sandy soil, and it may be acid or alkaline – all of these determine the most suitable plants to grow in it. Our guide to soil types will help you check the conditions of your plot.
And, when you're thinking of investing in new plants, be sure to check their eventual height and spread too. Constantly having to cut them back to keep them in their allotted space is a huge time-waster: not ideal if you're looking for low maintenance garden ideas.
23. Simplify your planting palette
Pick a handful of plant varieties, from a spectrum of complementary hues
(Image credit: Annaik Guitteny)
Including a huge range of different plants in every border is inevitably labor intensive. This is because each one will need your attention at a different time, whether that's for staking, deadheading, pruning, or disease and insect control.
Instead, go for a restrained planting palette, with swathes or drifts of the same species or variety repeated though the border. Not only will it look fantastic, but it will also allow you to deal with all the plants in one fell swoop.
24. Go green
Try geranium phaeum 'Album' for a good low-maintenance perennial
(Image credit: Getty)
No plant can be said to be entirely maintenance free, but evergreens certainly come close – and a border full of lush evergreen plants can look amazing.
Try jungle-like Fatsia japonica, for example, or dainty Euonymous fortuneii.
To keep things interesting, mix in some low-maintenance perennials like hardy geraniums. Geranium macrorrhizum 'White-Ness' looks especially good against a backdrop of dark-leaved evergreens.
25. Choose low maintenance shrubs
Hydrangeas love partial shade but need some sun
(Image credit: Leigh Clapp)
Of all the plants that you could include in your low maintenance garden ideas, shrubs are the ones you are more likely to be able to put in and more or less forget about.
Once they're established, shrubs will usually only need watering in the very driest of summers, if at all. Other than that, an occasional light pruning will be all that's required.
For amazing summer scent in a sunny part of the garden, you can't beat Philadelphus 'Belle Etoile', while hydrangeas (now very fashionable again) are perfect for shady spots. For super-size flowers that last right through summer, go for 'Annabelle'.
26. Remember to mulch
A good layer of mulch will keep weeds at bay
(Image credit: Future)
Weeding can be one of the most soul-destroying of garden tasks, but there are two key ways to keep them at bay.
One is mulching – laying a thick layer of well-rotted manure, garden compost, leaf mould or composted bark around your plants. As well as locking in moisture, a mulch also blocks the light, meaning that weeds won't come to the surface – we have a handy ultimate guide to mulching if you want to know more.
The other key to a weed-free garden is dense planting – where there's a plant, there won't be a weed. So, pack every border and you will notice a big reduction in the time you need to spend on your hands and knees, pulling out that pesky chickweed.
Low-growing 'ground-cover' plants around shrubs are useful for this – try Vinca minor and Pachysandra terminalis. There's more top picks in our guide to the best ground cover plants.
27. Avoid anything tender
Opt for hardy plants to cut down on your gardening time
(Image credit: Malcolm Menzies/Future)
It's so easy to be tempted into buying a whole host of tender plants when they're on display in the garden center in spring and summer.
But remember that they can't stay outside over winter and will need wrapping up and bringing undercover just as it starts to get cold and miserable.
For an easy life, look for plants that are labelled as fully hardy for your low maintenance garden ideas.
28. Put down the spade
Try a 'no-dig' method for minimal gardening effort
(Image credit: Getty Images)
You could spend hours digging over your beds and borders at the start of every spring, but supporters of the 'no-dig' method of gardening argue that it's better for the soil, for the plants grown in it, and for your back, to leave well alone.
Instead, they advocate adding a thick layer of garden compost or well-rotted manure straight on top of the soil, to feed it and to suppress weeds by blocking out light (some first add a layer of cardboard too, to increase the light-blocking effect).
No digging, less weeding and super-healthy plants – you can see why many consider this to be a no-brainer.
Want to know more? Our no dig gardening guide has plenty more expert tips.
29. Keep on top of little jobs, but often
Don't let the weeds build up
(Image credit: Alamy)
Keep on top of weeding by pulling out the odd dandelion or strand of bindweed whenever you see them as you stroll around the garden. That way, it becomes a much less onerous chore than if you leave the weeds until they're starting to take over the garden and dealing with them has turned into a major undertaking.
Leave a small bucket or spare plastic flowerpot discreetly hidden in or near each border so you can simply drop weeds in as you pull them. Once you've filled it with weeds, tip them onto the compost heap or bin them.
Need more advice on how to get rid of weeds and stop them from spreading? Our dedicated guide has everything you need to know.
How do you make a low maintenance flower bed?
Making your beds low maintenance is relatively straight forward
(Image credit: WoodBlocX)
Making your low maintenance flowerbed needn't be hard, just follow this quick and easy checklist to get started:
- Opt for raised beds for easy access.
- Install an irrigation system – it's simple and inexpensive to install, suggests gardening expert Gena Lorainne of Fantastic Services .
- Fill with low maintenance plants (see below).
- Look for jumbo-bedding packs to brighten up empty spaces quickly, suggests Sarah Squire from Squire's Garden Centres.
- Remember to mulch, to stop weeds from taking over. Flowers, shrubs, and even trees will benefit, says gardening expert Gena Lorainne.
What are the best low maintenance plants?
'Bet on perennials!' says gardening expert Gena Lorainne of Fantastic Services. 'They flower for years and provide color and contrast to your garden.'
'They also spread quickly, grow in almost anything, and trust me they don't need maintenance at all,' Gena adds. 'Sometimes they may seem out of control by the end of autumn, but a quick stem chop will sort them efficiently.' Take a look at our guide to autumn pruning to get the know-how.
'Avoid fast-growing hedges,' Gena continues.
'They look very attractive, and most people use them for privacy screening or even for a fence, but they tend to be high maintenance. They need regular trimming, and if you are not able to do the job by yourself, it will cost you dearly.'
Sarah Squire of Squire's Garden Centres also shares her tips. 'Focus on planting what you love and love what you plant,' she says. 'Roses are one of my favorites, in particular 'Gertrude Jekyll' for a shrub rose and 'The Generous Gardener' as a climber. Both are such good performers.'
'Hydrangeas and hardy fuchsias bloom on and on in late summer, and my Salvia 'Hot Lips' often flowers into October,' Sarah continues. 'Also, never underestimate the power of a good shrub. For year-round interest and structure the garden shrub is a thing of beauty and needs very little care once established.'
Sarah is a freelance journalist and is lucky to be able to write about her two main passions: gardening and food. She recently took on an allotment too, and is really loving growing all her own fruit and veg then bringing it home to try out in new recipes for her food and gardening blog, A Cook's Plot .
Low Maintenance Landscaping - 23 Great Ideas
Reclaim Your Weekends
1/24
Some people love the backbreaking business of tending to lawn and garden. Then there’s the rest of us—we’d rather relax and let that little piece of heaven largely take care of itself. Ahead, find easy ways to make your outdoor space the envy of the neighborhood.
istockphoto.com
1. Play Hard
2/24
Less lawn equals less work. That’s the best argument for hardscaping—that's the use of pavers, brick, or decorative stone. Whether you opt for a patio or lay garden paths, you’ll have a durable surface that never needs weeding or watering, although you might want to sweep it occasionally. Options abound, from neat grids to a patchwork effect—great low maintenance front yard landscaping is just a stone’s throw away.
RELATED: 9 Ideas for a Beautiful Brick Patio
istockphoto.com
2.
One and Done 3/24
Perennials are the gift that keeps on giving, season after season, unlike annuals, which you have to plant every year. Some perennials are more carefree than others, though. Forgetful gardeners will love the drought-tolerant pasqueflower or the delicate-looking but durable penstemon. For hot and dry climates, we like brilliant sedum, and, yes, yarrow (don’t dare call it a weed!).
RELATED: 50 Plants That Thrive in Any Yard
istockphoto.com
Advertisement
3. Go Native
4/24
Plants adapted to their environments long before people did, so native species are a wise choice for the laid-back landscaper. Native plants require less fertilizer, water, pesticides, and overall care than plants brought in by settlers. To learn what will thrive in your neck of the woods, type “native plants” and your state into a search engine—you’ll find tons of info.
RELATED: 34 Amazing Plants That Are Native to North America
istockphoto.
com
4. Fake It
5/24
Artificial grass has come a long way from your granddad’s Astroturf. Today’s synthetics, made of nylon or polymer, have varying heights and color gradations to look and feel more like the real thing. You can even plant a tree in it. Though pricey ($7 to $18 per square foot), your faux lawn will be absolutely fuss-free.
RELATED: The Best Artificial Grass for Your Outdoor Space
istockphoto.com
5. It’s Easy Being Evergreen
6/24
What could be simpler than plants that keep their vivid, verdant color all year long? Put dwarf varieties into flower beds, set shrubs near your house to disguise the foundation, choose tall, columnar types for privacy—there are even creeping varieties for ground cover.
RELATED: 10 Evergreens to Beautify Your Garden Year-Round
istockphoto.com
Advertisement
6.
Borders Without Bother 7/24
For interesting edges without the effort, try clumping monkey grass (Liriope muscari) along flower beds, borders, and walkways. This Asian native is hardy and stands up to dogs, deer, bugs, and weeds. As a bonus, it grows well in a variety of soils and climates. Monkey grass can grow to about 15 inches, so trim it if you wish or go long.
RELATED: 20 Plants to Use as Lawn and Garden Borders
istockphoto.com
7. Less Is More
8/24
Rather than crowd a bed with lots of plants you’ll need to tend, put in just a few high-impact, high-performance varieties. Planting one or two nice trees and some powerhouse perennials gives you more time to sack out in the hammock.
RELATED: 20 Tiny Backyards We Love
istockphoto.com
8. Set in Succulents
9/24
If watering falls low on your to-do list, succulents (like echeveria, agave, and sedum) are your garden go-tos.
Tough, colorful, and captivating, they also play well with others, so mixing ’em up adds more excitement to your landscape. Drainage is key, however: Depending on your local soil, you might be better off putting these shallow-rooting, sun-loving plants in raised beds with porous, well-aerated soil.
RELATED: Solved! Why Are My Succulents Dying?
istockphoto.com
Advertisement
9. Flower Power
10/24
A rose by any other name probably isn’t as easy as the Knock Out rose. These set-’em-and-forget-’em flowers are heat resistant, pretty much prune-free, and “self-cleaning”—you don’t even have to deadhead them. Just use a good organic or chemical granular rose food in early spring, and follow up with foliar feedings (liquid fertilizer applied to the leaves) through the blooming season.
RELATED: 12 Fast-Growing Shrubs to Plant This Fall
istockphoto.com
10.
Stay in Your Zone 11/24
Remember to pick plants suited to your USDA hardiness zone. Anything too tender is destined to failure, and who needs the frustration? While you’re at it, a soil test will diagnose your dirt and tell you what nutrients it might need to keep your plants low maintenance. Your local extension office can help advise you, too.
RELATED: Buyer’s Guide: The Best Soil Test Kits
istockphoto.com
11. Crunch, Crunch!
12/24
Strew irregularly shaped rocks around for the no-sweat simplicity of paving with a softer, more organic vibe. Gravel can be either man-made, which is ideal for high-traffic areas, or natural (smoother but less stable—so use where traffic is light). To keep the space looking spiffy, banish errant leaves as necessary with a wire-tined rake.
RELATED: The 9 Best Types of Gravel for Your Driveway
istockphoto.
com
Advertisement
12. Pass on the Grass
13/24
Give your mowing muscles a rest—and lighten your water and fertilizer load—by swapping traditional turf for a no-effort ground cover. These plants create a pleasingly plush carpet, and there are enough varieties to suit just about any climate and traffic condition. Consider mat-forming creeping perennials like New Zealand brass buttons (Leptinella squalida), Scotch or Irish moss (Sagina subulata), or low-growing clover.
RELATED: The Dos and Don'ts of Planting Ground Cover
istockphoto.com
13. Set and Forget
14/24
Remembering to stay true to your watering routine can be tricky. Take steps to automate it so you’re less apt to forget. If you have an irrigation system, set up the timer based on what’s appropriate for the season. And if you don’t have underground sprinklers, you can still automate the process by purchasing a timer that attaches to your hose bib.
Your grass will thank you.
RELATED: The Best Sprinkler Controllers for Lawn Care
istockphoto.com
14. Trouble-Free Trees
15/24
When selecting trees for your landscape, choose those that are low maintenance to avoid having to spend your free time cleaning up a carpet of spent blooms, hickory hulls, or invasive seedlings. Opt for evergreens and standard shade trees that don’t drop a lot of extras or reseed themselves all over the lawn.
RELATED: 10 of the Best Trees for Any Backyard
istockphoto.com
Advertisement
15. Skip the Rake
16/24
Why spend hours and hours of your fall weekends raking leaves? Run over leaves with the lawn mower to make a mulch that will act like a superfood for your lawn. Then sell your rakes in the next yard sale.
RELATED: Buyer’s Guide: The Best Mulching Lawn Mowers
istockphoto.
com
16. Set Some Barriers
17/24
The more time you invest up front putting down weed barriers in your landscaping beds, the less time you’ll spend battling the unwelcome plants later. Just be sure to choose fabric barriers that are permeable enough to let water run through, especially near any tree. Contending with fewer weeds equals more time relaxing with family and friends—it's a win-win.
RELATED: Wage War on Weeds With 7 Unbeatable Tools
istockphoto.com
17. Maintenance-Free Mulch
18/24
Want an easy way to cross a major spring and fall project off your to-do list? Replace organic material mulch like wood chips or pine straw with pea gravel or river rocks. These options require much less maintenance and don’t need to be refreshed every year. If any weeds pop through, take the little bit of time needed to pull them right away. Once weeds go to seed, you can expect even more of the same next year.
RELATED: 8 Ways to Upgrade Your Backyard With Pavers
istockphoto.com
Advertisement
18. Ease Watering Woes
19/24
That timer on your hose or sprinkler system can automate lawn watering. But what about your garden beds and vegetable beds? A few tools can ease this burden. Start by laying out a soaker hose and covering it with a thin layer of mulch to protect it from the elements. Then set a reminder on your phone to run it as needed, or use an automatic hose timer.
Speed up your watering even more by investing in a quick connect system. This little tool makes it easier to thread hoses to soaker hoses and sprayers or switch out watering tools. Install a male end on the soaker and sprayer and a female end on the main hose. When it’s time to change watering tools, just pull back on the female end and pop it onto the connector.
RELATED: Buyer’s Guide: The Best Lawn Sprinklers
istockphoto.
com
19. Choose Plants That Make New Plants
20/24
Although some flowers grow only as annuals in your area, you may be able to save time by starting them one year and leaving them to self-seed so they just appear out of the ground spring after spring. Productive seeders worth consideration include colorful cosmos, California poppies, giant larkspur, nigella, and portulaca. On the herb side, try dill (a host for swallowtail butterflies) or parsley. Best of all, it’s your neglect that helps them reproduce. Leave the faded flowers on, especially toward the end of summer. That allows seeds to drop or blow in the wind, and it might even feed a few birds.
A similar strategy is to choose plants that spread via runners. Many good candidates are ground covers like creeping jenny, but some edible plants, such as strawberries and mints, also send out runners and re-root. Leave them to spread as they will or control them as needed.
RELATED: 10 Fast-Growing Plants for (Almost) Instant Curb Appeal
istockphoto.
com
20. Plant and Repeat
21/24
Once you get the hang of caring for a native or otherwise low-maintenance plant, add another one. If you lose a shrub, replace it with a duplicate of one that worked for you. It’s likely that any plants that have thrived in your conditions and care (or even your benign neglect) will be good bets going forward, as long as the sun exposure and soil are similar from one spot to another.
If you think owning several of the same plant is just too lazy, think again. A tenet of landscape design is the “rule of threes”: to unify the landscape, repeat elements in groups of threes or in other odd numbers. For instance, you might place three matching Knock Out roses irregularly in the landscape, or plant a line of three ornamental grasses, or station three identical containers along a wall.
RELATED: 30 Plants for Your Easiest Garden Ever
istockphoto.com
Advertisement
21.
Redirect Rain 22/24
Catching rain in a well-designed barrel is an eco-friendly way to garden, saving nature’s moisture for dry times. Truth be told, however, a rain barrel needs periodic cleaning and should be emptied before winter, so it tends to add to your landscaping tasks. Another option is to simply redirect the rain. If you can force the water that pools under your downspout to travel 15 feet away to your tree, you can prevent puddling and reduce the time (and water) you would otherwise have to commit to irrigating the tree.
There are several ways to do this. One is a French drain, which requires some work up front but allows you to direct the water underground toward the thirsty target. An easier DIY project is to create a dry riverbed by digging a gentle slope from the ground below the downspout to the perimeter around the tree, then filling the pathway with rocks, gravel, or river rock.
RELATED: How to Make a Rain Chain
istockphoto.
com
22. Let Nature Control Pests
23/24
There is nothing more natural than critters eating other critters, so do your best to encourage natural predators to visit your property and take care of undesirable pests. Attract barn owls, which feast on flying insects and rodents, as well as other helpful pest-eaters like woodpeckers, bluebirds, and cardinals, by providing water in the form of a bird bath and appropriate shelter, such as nesting boxes or even dense shrubbery—which mean less pruning for you! You can also try introducing lady beetles or other beneficial insects into your landscape and hope they stick around.
RELATED: Buyer’s Guide: The Best Bird Baths
istockphoto.com
23. Reduce Container Care
24/24
Containers add pretty color to your landscape, but they can dry out quickly and need to be watered more often than beds. You can invest in an outdoor self-watering container for herbs or ornamental plants, or purchase a few simple tools.
For instance, try plant stakes that draw water from a reservoir, or take a tip from ancient irrigation techniques and bury an olla jar in a container or garden plant for consistent water that seeps through the clay. You will have to fill your olla jar or other watering tool periodically, but not every day. And that slow, steady seeping or dripping is better for the plants than rushed, inconsistent watering.
Amazon.com
Don't Miss!
If you have the money to hire a handyman for every household woe, go ahead. But if you want to hang on to your cash and exercise some self-sufficiency, check out these clever products that solve a million and one little problems around the house. Go now!
How to make your garden beautiful with your own hands, garden design photo
A beautiful colorful garden from spring to late autumn is not a dream. But not everyone wants to spend all their time on the site, planting flower beds and caring for the lawn. How to make a garden beautiful and cozy with a minimum of effort - to enjoy the colors of the garden, lying on a deck chair with a book or rocking on a garden rocking chair? Firstly, competently plan the landscape and, secondly, select plants that require a minimum of care.
We tell you how to make a beautiful garden with your own hands - photos and ideas are attached! nine0003
RHS Chelsea
Think about which garden is easier for you to keep tidy - a regular French garden that requires frequent cutting of garden forms, beds that exclude even a hint of weeds, or a slightly neglected English with its free layout? Logic suggests that the English version is more convenient.
Dear Garden Associates, Inc.
In the photo: a picturesque lawn with wildflowers will help you easily create a beautiful garden with your own hands
The fewer flower beds in the garden, the easier it is to care for. Choose vibrant shrubs that change their appearance throughout the season. But still it is difficult to imagine a luxurious garden without flowers at all. How to beautifully decorate a garden without making a lot of effort? Lay large areas under the lawn or a picturesque lawn with clover, daisies, tenacity.
Weeds are not so noticeable on it - it is enough to mow them. By the way, daisies easily tolerate a haircut and bloom remarkably, very low above the rosettes of leaves. nine0003
Jerry Fritz Garden Design
In the photo: how beautiful to decorate a garden without flowers? - Plant ornamental shrubs!
A beautifully flowering front garden that fills the space in front of the house will create the feeling of a painstakingly cultivated garden. But the rest of the area can be left under the lawn, surrounded by bushes. Instead of flower beds with geometric shapes, create mixborders with a free arrangement of different plants. They look more picturesque and look good even when overgrown with weeds. nine0023 Choose frost-tolerant plants that are resistant to our climate. Combine plants with different foliage in height, shape and color so that even when not in bloom, the garden remains decorative and beautiful.
Arrange mixborders at the intersection of paths to complicate the look of the garden.
RELATED ARTICLE…
Frost-resistant plants - choosing and trying on
Kingdom Landscape
In the photo: when deciding how to decorate the garden, give preference to beautiful compositions of unpretentious plants and various decorative elements
Van Zelst Inc
If there is a landscape difference on the site, do not be afraid to create terraces and retaining walls - they will enrich the garden picture, make it more picturesque.
A paved patio will also do the job of creating a backdrop for the flowers, and it will also reduce the hassle of mowing the lawn, a tiring task even with a self-propelled petrol lawn mower.
By the way, quality equipment will greatly simplify the care of the garden. In addition to a lawnmower suitable for open flat spaces, stock up on a petrol trimmer to cut grass and weeds around bushes and trees.
nine0003
NLH Landscape Architects
Lawn Tip
Once the grass has grown over ten centimeters, a weekly mowing (or at least once every two weeks) will accompany your gardening experience. Remember that the correct mowing of the lawn involves mowing with a “snake”, so that the grass crushed by the wheels falls under the blade of the mower going in the opposite direction.
The shape of the lawn and the organization of the plantings around it is very important. The more separately growing plantings in the middle of the lawn, the more time you will spend. The border between lawn and solid plantings is another important decision to make maintenance easier. nine0003
Optimizing lawn mowing is no reason to completely abandon the tapeworm in the middle of it. If we are talking about a tree, form its crown at such a height that you can walk under it freely. Plants that should be spaced apart should not be planted closer than the width of the wheels of a lawn mower, otherwise you will have to cut the grass with a trimmer, and this is quite tedious.
RHS Chelsea
To avoid clogging the soil between out-of-lawn plantings, cover the soil with a decorative mulch (such as bark). Between young plantings, it is worth covering the ground with non-woven material and sprinkle with gravel - this will save you from weeding and ubiquitous grass. Or, if fresh plantings of shrubs and perennials require filling in the space between young plants, colorful annuals can be used. These simple tricks will help you not only save time on caring for the site, but also decorate your garden. nine0003
RELATED ARTICLE…
Garden Care – Creating a Low Maintenance Garden
J. Peterson Garden Design
What to Plant in Your Garden
do not require pre-germination, bloom for a long time and brightly, and also sown next year by self-sowing: escholzia (Eschscholzia), self-seeding poppy (Papaver rhoeas), annual flax (Linum grandiflorum), cornflower (Centaurea), flaxseed (Linaria vulgaris), calendula (Calendula officinalis).
nine0003
Verdance Landscape Architecture
Bulb flowers: buried and forgotten
Tulips and hyacinths are magical spring flowers that delight the eye at the beginning of the season. But imagine what will be in their place in the summer, as soon as the flowers fade? Drying leaves that you still can’t cut off, so as not to deprive the bulb of the accumulated nutrients in this way. But after the leaves have completely dried, you need to have time to dig the bulbs to dry. And in late summer or early autumn, you will have to re-plant them. nine0003
If you really want tulips, plant wild species: they look rather unusual. Daffodils in one place can bloom well without digging for about 4-5 years. The only problem is yellowing leaves that cannot be cut until completely dry. Therefore, choose a place for them next to perennials, which will cover them with their leaves in summer.
Arcadia Gardens, LLC
However, if you cannot imagine your English garden without large beautiful tulips in spring, place their bulbs in plastic nets in the ground - it will be easier and faster to dig them out to dry.
Allow yourself to forget about this process for a year - one summer spent in the ground without drying out will not cause such terrible damage to the tulips blooming next year. The ideal "shelter" for faded bulbs will be hostas, peonies, daylilies. nine0023
Maria Hickey & Associates Landscapes
Do not be afraid of weeds and constantly fight with them. The garden, close to the country style, suits a slight neglect. The latest trends at the Chelsea Garden Show are further proof that weeds can brighten up any garden.
Keep the natural forms characteristic of your soil. They will give the garden a more natural look. For example, an ordinary garden chamomile creates beautiful compositions without any participation of a gardener, links plantings together. In addition, it blooms for a long time and is very resistant to heat and drought. Even burdock with its huge leaves can look impressive, and thistles can decorate a composition with lupins and rudbeckia with their flowers.
nine0003
Read also ...
CHELSEA Flower Show Lessons: What fashionable colors to decorate the garden
RHS Chelsea
perennials - only the most unpretentious
peonies are required by regular fertilizers, pouring before flowering and cutting feces in the winter, but this care will pay off a hundredfold when the garden is filled with huge fragrant flowers. Daylilies thrive in full sun and, like peonies, even after they have faded, will look decorative and neat. nine0003
Ornamental foliage and beautiful arrows with white or lilac bellflowers of the host - ideal for semi-shady and shady places (including under trees, but not near the trunks). True, the hosts will need to be cut off after the first frosts, which will “beat” their leaves, and in October they will be mulched with earth for the winter.
Irises - Siberian (Iris sibírica) and swamp (Iris pseudacoru), easy to care for - will decorate moist sunny places in the garden.
Before the onset of winter, they will also need to be cut at a height of 10 cm above the ground. Bearded irises will require more care: weeding, digging rhizomes (bearded irises stop blooming profusely and start to hurt when their rhizomes deepen), shelters for the winter. But still, bearded irises are one of the best garden decorations in June. To make it easier to care for them, choose old proven varieties that grow quickly and are resistant to diseases. nine0003
Daisies, lupins, rudbeckia - all these are very resistant plants that look beautiful both in flower beds (elongated flower beds) and separately in a mixborder. They can be grown in the garden directly from seeds.
Biennials - Turkish carnation (Dianthus barbatus), stem rose (Alcea rosea) - are also suitable for flower beds and mixborders and are very easy to grow. The only thing to consider is that they bloom only in the second year after planting, and then they must be removed and planted again, otherwise there will be no lush flowering.
nine0003
RELATED ARTICLE…
Garden Perennials - Hardy Long Flowering Plants
Simply Garden Design LLC
Flowering Ornamental Shrubs
shrubs . Arrange shrubs of different types, heights and shapes around the perimeter of your garden, near the fence, next to the buildings. The more picturesque, the better - even if one of them freezes over during the winter, the neighbors will hide its untidy appearance. nine0003
The common lilac is a must have in a low maintenance garden. In May, the fragrance of her flowers will flood the entire garden, and everyone knows about the beauty of the luxuriantly flowering bushes. Choose varieties with large double flowers - "Hope", "Beauty of Moscow" and other varieties of L. A. Kolesnikov, striking in the size of flowers and wintering well in the Moscow region. The only concern is to trim the faded brushes after flowering.
RELATED ARTICLE…
Ornamental Shrubs – Selection and Planting
Le jardinet
Grow quickly in a sunny place into a huge sprawling three-meter bush capable of vesicle.
To create a contrasting composition with other shrubs and flowers, choose one of the brightest expressive varieties - Physocarpus Diablo with dark foliage. In June, it will be covered with white flowers, collected in slightly pinkish corymbs. In June, mock orange (garden jasmine) will decorate the garden with its white flowers with the scent of jasmine.
White Derain (Cornus alba) in its popular variegated form blooms beautifully in spring, expressively turns pink in autumn, and its red twigs are spectacular even in the winter garden. Plant sod on moist soils, where it develops rapidly, and always in the back of the composition, otherwise soon you will not see neighbors behind it - sod, like the silver sucker, behaves quite aggressively, taking up much more space than was allotted according to plan.
Don't forget about wild rose - after fragrant flowers, it leaves bright fruits to decorate the garden. nine0003
Decide for yourself, after evaluating the amount of necessary autumn work, whether you are ready to see forsythia in your garden.
This yellow-flowered yet leafless shrub makes a big impression in early spring. By autumn, its graceful foliage is painted in different colors. But for good flowering of forsythia, it is necessary to hide it in a shelter during the winter near Moscow: in the fall, you will have to pay special attention to forsythia, bending its branches to the ground and wrapping it with lutrasil.
Kingdom Landscape
For the foreground in a composition of shrubs and perennials, spireas in all their diversity are suitable - gray spirea (Spirae a cinerea), Japanese spirea (Spiraea japonica), Vanguta spirea (Spiraea vanhouttei) and others. All of them are very decorative: they bloom beautifully, moreover, at different times and without any care. The branches of a low gray spirea are completely doused with small white flowers in the spring. In summer and even again in autumn (when pruned after flowering), Japanese spirea blooms with corymbs of pink flowers.
nine0003
The Plant Place Nursery
Kristen Charlson
Hydrangea arborescens and Hydrangea paniculata are a decoration for semi-shady places in the garden. It looks great in compositions with coniferous plants.
Barberries (frequently found common barberry Berberis vulgaris and Thunberg's barberry Berberis thunbergi) do not bloom with yellow flowers, but their characteristic leaves and branches with small red berries look very decorative. Moreover, last year's berries remain on the bush. The same can be said about the European spindle tree, extremely decorative in autumn thanks to the flaming foliage and its special fruits in the form of opened bright pink boxes with orange berries inside. nine0003
Willow 'Hakuro Nishiki' (Salix integra Hakuro Nishiki) is another low-maintenance ornamental shrub whose leaves, not flowers, are worthy of becoming a garden decoration.
The white leaves on the young shoots of this willow are painted in the sun in pale pink tones.
Article on the topic ...
Shadow -loving plants for the garden
Van Zelst INC
Van Zelst INC
trees in color and not only
usually wait until the planted young trees will show themselves all over the entire plant. beauty, and not every gardener can master the planting of large-sized plants. So if your garden already has large trees, let them be the basis for creating compositions from shrubs and perennials, because without them it is difficult to achieve a sense of natural luxury and scope in the most beautiful garden. nine0003
Of the things worth adding to the garden, apart from beautifully flowering apple trees, cherries, plums, is bird cherry in its red-leaved form. Horse chestnut with candles of flowers and decorative foliage is good even in the form of a young tree.
Manchurian walnut (Juglans mandshurica) due to large openwork leaves, growth rate, excellent winter hardiness is another candidate for your garden. The red-leaved forms of oak and maple will support the purple barberry bushes, the red-brown foliage of the Diabolo vesicle with the color of the foliage. nine0003
James R. Salomon Photography
Eiler Garden Landscape Design Studio
Evergreen Garden
Be sure to add coniferous shrubs and trees to the garden. Junipers of different forms perfectly connect different plants in a mix-border - you can already create a decorative garden from junipers and thujas alone, playing with the color of the needles (yellow-colored Aurea forms, white-tipped Albospikata) and the shape of the plants. All these plants can be easily found in nurseries: more budgetary - in the form of very small seedlings and more expensive - at the age of three to five years.
What to choose depends only on the budget. nine0003
Of course, proper planting of all these plants and the correct set of fertilizers in planting holes of the required width and depth will require a lot of effort, but only once. And with the most minimal care, such a garden will sparkle with all the richness of colors in a few years. You just need to give him a little freedom.
RELATED ARTICLE…
Coniferous plants for the garden - selection and use
TELL US…
What tricks and secrets of the garden for the lazy do you know? Share your ideas and photos with us in the comments section! nine0012
Plant and forget: 15 plants for a low-maintenance garden
Who among the lucky owners of a summer cottage has not thought about a plant-and-forget garden at least once (aka “light”, aka “lazy” garden) ? But it's not just laziness: some simply do not have enough time, while others have the experience to grow capricious crops. However, everyone wants to have a beautiful, well-groomed garden, and not a bunch of randomly growing greenery.
With proper planning and plant selection, a cherished dream can become a reality. nine0003
Photo: 7dach.ru7dach.ru
Everyone wants to have a beautiful, well-groomed garden, and not a bunch of chaotically growing greenery
Video of the day
To create a "lazy" garden, you can use flowers, decorative and fruit and berry bushes.
Flowers: annuals and perennials
1. Crocuses
Crocuses are considered unpretentious, if only because they bloom as soon as the snow melts in March, and bloom until May.
Crocuses
These perennials with bright purple, yellow or snow-white specks will enliven a still “dormant” garden. More about crocuses and other bulbs will tell publications:
Heralds of spring - crocuses
Bulb miracles: bright ideas for spring flower beds
General rules for autumn planting bulbs
Choosing and planting small bulbs
2. Viscaria
conditions.
Viscaria, or common tar
Viscaria grows well.
Very quickly, a "carpet" of greenery with flowers of pink, blue, purple and other shades appears at the landing site. nine0003
3. Lavatera
The most common annual in Russian gardens. Blooms in June and continues to bloom until autumn.
Lavatera
Lavatera looks impressive in flowerbeds due to the variety of colors (white, pink, pink-raspberry, yellow) and the optimal density and height of the bush (from 0.5 to 1.5-2 m). It tolerates rare watering well, does not need regular top dressing and loosening the soil. A closer look at this unpretentious beauty will help the article Beautiful Lavatera: Variety and Growing in the Garden. nine0003
4. Brunner
Brunner is suitable for landing in wet areas. With its blue inflorescences, located in a rosette of leaves, it will enliven the most shady corner of the garden.
Brunnera large-leaved Jack Frost
As a rule, the plant reaches a height of 60 cm, takes root well after transplanting into the ground and safely tolerates winter frosts.
The article Step by Step: Planting a Brunnera will introduce you to the nuances of planting this plant.
5. Aquilegia
This flower fully justifies its second name - "catchment". You don’t have to worry about watering aquilegia: even in extreme heat with dry soil, they will find water thanks to a strong root system. nine0003
Aquilegia
Catchment blooms from May to September. You will learn how to plant aquilegia and choose “neighbors” for them in the article Graceful aquilegia - the stars of shady areas.
6. Bathing suit
Bathing suit, or Siberian rose, is also loved by summer residents. It blooms well near water bodies and in the shade of fences. Likes shade and water. Yellow-orange flowers appear in May and "hold" until the end of summer.
Bathing suit, or Siberian rose
About 20 types of bathing suits grow on the territory of Russia. You can read about one of them in the article Forest and field plants in the garden: European bathing suit.
nine0003
7. Siberian iris
A unique species of irises that grows not only in the middle lane, but also much further north. Therefore, there is no doubt about the stability and durability of Siberian irises: they perfectly withstand cold, wind, moisture, and shade. The only thing they need is light. But even in its absence, they will not die, but simply will not bloom.
Siberian iris
And their flowering is worth seeing! Blue, white, blue-violet, yellow, orange or even two-tone inflorescences, immersed in the bright green of the stems and leaves. The publication Siberian irises: features, planting and care is dedicated to this particular species. nine0003
8. Cornflower
Perennial cornflowers moved from meadows to gardens a long time ago. The color scheme is both calm pink, pale purple, white or blue, and bright (yellow large-headed cornflower, or grossgame. Ideal lighting for cornflowers is partial shade. There are no special requirements for soil and “neighbors”.
They get along well with other plants
Whitened cornflower (Centaurea dealbata)
More information about cornflowers and their colors can be found in publications:
Blue cornflowers and more: growing in the garden
An amazing flower - an annual cornflower "Compliment" (mixture)
9. Lupins
Probably everyone is familiar with lupins. They don't need a special introduction. Sometimes lupine seeds come to us from a neighboring plot and germinate, and then the flowers grow rapidly.
Lupins
Lupins are a little less than a meter high. Flowering is lush and bright. Pink, white, blue, purple or mixed "hats", similar to spikelets, immediately catch the eye. Publications will tell about the cultivation of lupins, their types and useful properties:
Lupine - "wolf flower"
Lupins - a lush garden decoration
Lupine - a flower for joy, roots for healing the soil
Ornamental shrubs
10. Lilac
The leader among ornamental shrubs that do not require special care.
Tall lush lilac bushes with white, pink or purple buds fill the areas with a unique aroma. For all its beauty, the lilac winters well, grows quickly and will not die if the faded brush is not cut off in time. nine0003
Lilac
About the types and varieties of lilac, as well as its planting and cultivation, read the articles:
Lilac
Lilac: types, varieties, cultivation features
Unusual lilac for your dacha
What is the most beautiful lilac?
11. Mock orange or garden jasmine
Lilac will be replaced by mock orange. It is also undemanding, only blooms a little later. Garden jasmine is not afraid of cold weather, pests, and is not susceptible to disease. One or more varieties can be selected. They differ in the size and shape of the flowers, as well as the duration of flowering. nine0003
Mock orange
Articles will help you make your choice:
Mock orange - garden “jasmine”
Garden jasmine: how to grow and propagate mock orange
12.
Hydrangea is not great because it feels good in the shade say about many ornamental shrubs. Its inflorescences look like large balls of blue, white, pink or slightly pistachio. The plant blooms for a long time. Loves moisture. Winters well without shelter.
Hydrangea
How to choose the type and variety of hydrangea, plant it and provide it with the necessary care, you can learn from the articles:
Hydrangea: planting and care
Hydrangeas: a riot of colors in your garden how to plant it correctly
Hydrangea pruning
Hydrangea garden in the recreation center "Aivazovskoye"
Fruit and berry crops
13. Sea buckthorn
A truly unpretentious culture. Can withstand temperatures down to -45°C. Loves moisture and sun. Care is no different from caring for other fruit trees. There are more than 40 varieties of sea buckthorn. nine0003
Sea buckthorn
Breeders took care to develop varieties suitable for growing in the middle lane and in regions with prolonged frosts.
The authors of publications share their experience in growing them:
Sea buckthorn: planting, growing, care
Sea buckthorn is the queen of our garden
Sea buckthorn 'Gift of Moscow State University' and 'Chuyskaya'. Select, plant and grow sea buckthorn
Oh, this sea buckthorn!
14. Raspberry
Planting, watering, picking berries, pruning in autumn is about raspberries. Another fruit shrub for lazy people. nine0003
Raspberry
Raspberry loves moisture, shady places. After all, this is how it grows in the wild. Garden raspberries, for all their unpretentiousness, love fertile soils. It is described in detail in the articles:
Raspberries: planting in autumn, enjoying in summer
Raspberries: planting, growing, care
How to protect raspberries: features of winter and spring care pest control. nine0003
Secrets of a good raspberry harvest
Repair raspberries: one harvest is good, but two is better!
Organic raspberries in my garden
15.
