Month: February 2010

We know that curb-appeal and beautiful gardens help sell a home but it’s not always easy to achieve these things with our busy schedules. Low maintenance landscaping ideas is great for sellers who are out of town or who don’t have the time to look after a property.

Low Maintenance Landscaping Ideas

Let’s start with the lawn itself. Grass can be very time-demanding, as it requires regular watering and mowing. If you neglect a grass lawn, it will give away your secret by turning browning or growing into a messy jungle. Clover and moss are good alternatives to grass, because they are low growing and require little care.

If an all-clover or moss lawn isn’t your style, low maintenance landscaping ideas lawn mixes can be purchased instead. These lawns are usually derived from a mixture of slow-growing, drought-tolerant turf grasses, broadleafs and fescues. Note that these often include clover, but mixes with minimal or no clover can still be found. Low-maintenance lawn mixes usually need to be mowed a few times a year.

Smaller spaces can forgo lawns all together in favour of rock gardens. The primary ingredient in a rock garden is, of course, rock. These are then accented with plants that require minimal care. In general, choose rocks that are larger, because smaller rocks can be a nightmare to clear of leaflitter. Even if you don’t think you have trees nearby, autumn will prove differently. Gardens that use larger rocks can be vacuumed of excess debris, while smaller rocks may get sucked up and cause problems.

Flowering Plants

The best rock gardens are complemented by their plants, but the plants themselves don’t need to be showy. Rather than choosing a wide variety of plants, stick to a few types and repeat them throughout the garden. Good base plants for rock gardens are lichens and mosses, while nurseries and garden stores can suggest good flowering plants for your region.

A great way to green up your low maintenance landscaping ideas with minimal effort is with trees. Trees do need to be pruned but the reward is worth it. Evergreens are the most desirable trees, as they don’t shed, while deciduous trees can make a beautiful statement if you’re willing to rake the leaves.

Maintenance Landscape

Flowers, bushes and plants can also add to your low maintenance landscaping services if you choose the right ones. Native plants to any region are the most likely to survive, as they grow naturally in the area without human interference. Talk to your local nursery about the best low-maintenance plants and trees for your area. Factor in light levels and bring in a soil sample so they can best assess your needs.

The final key ingredients in any low-maintenance landscaping plan are mulch, stone, and pre-set irrigation. Mulch and stone look good and can’t die, while irrigation systems will water the plants and trees that can die. Both of these solutions require initial investment but reward you with long-term peace of mind. With a little bit of planning, the right landscape can look beautiful with very minimal effort.…