Secrets to a Low-Maintenance Landscape
Low-Maintenance Garden Design
In response to one of the most frequent requests from our clients — the desire for a low-maintenance landscape — it's crucial to dispel the notion that expansive English-style gardens with a multitude of perennial varieties fit this criterion. Managing the distinct maintenance requirements of 50 different plants hardly qualifies as low maintenance.
The Power of Simplification
For those aiming for a truly low-maintenance approach, the key lies in minimising the variety of plantings.
In modern landscape design, we prioritise dwarf varieties of shrubs, trees, and perennials, significantly reducing the care they demand. In our approach, we typically incorporate 5-10 plant types at most. This strategic simplification translates to fewer plants to master in terms of care.
It's not uncommon for clients to express a desire for low maintenance while simultaneously insisting on a landscape devoid of grass and filled with extensive planting beds. However, it's essential to recognise that numerous planting beds mean more time spent on the knees or crouched over weeding. To counteract this, we implement shredded bark mulch in all our planting installations, effectively reducing weeding efforts by about 90%. Moreover, planting beds often necessitate cutting down herbaceous perennials or ornamental grasses to the ground before winter or spring, emphasising the need to minimise the number of gardens.
The Low-Maintenance Approach
When delving into the concept of low-maintenance landscaping, it's crucial to approach it realistically and seek advice from seasoned professionals. With decades of experience in landscaping dating back to the 70s, we've encountered and addressed a myriad of challenges.
Consult with us to explore practical solutions, and let us design and implement a modern landscape tailored to your low-maintenance aspirations.
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