Low Maintenance Landscaping

Most low-maintenance landscaping is often an afterthought, when it comes to planning a landscaping design. The results are expansive patches of grass to mow and trim, with bald patches in grassy areas and plants that take extra seasonal maintenance. Minimum upkeep on landscaped areas requires landscaping plants and trees added slowly over time, instead of all at once. As plants take hold and trees start to shade the landscaped areas, a clearer picture of how the landscape will eventually look appears. Minimum landscaping is a low-maintenance way to assure the plants and shrubs that compliment each other and their surroundings are the first ones to be established. This takes out the costly and time-consuming job of moving a plant or tree for further landscaping designing down the line.

Grassy areas that previously sported bald spots and brown, dry stubs can be covered up by a pathway of pavers that take away the need for mowing. Creeping plants that cover these patchy areas are also great for ground coverage and take care of lawn mowing expenses. There are different alternatives to traditional grasses, including drought resistant ornamental grasses and succulents. These cut down on mowing and watering expenses. A line of eco lawn seed that is a mixture of clover and drought-tolerant seed grass may be another alternative to expansive grassy areas. Evergreen plants are prized for low maintenance landscaping care and lush looks in a landscaping area. Low-lying ground covers, like spruce and juniper, are perfect for landscaping.  English ivy is another popular ground cover.

Existing trees, shrubs and plants that are heavy drinkers, invasive species, and pruning nightmares can eventually be slowly replaced by low-maintenance foliages. Native plantings, like wildflowers and grasses that can be as ornamental and hardy as their more expensive counterparts, are growing in popularity. Native planting is crucial to the surrounding wildlife and other species of plants. Beds loaded with perennials cut down the need for planting every year. This also gives a landscape area the advantage of being used for experimenting with newer, drought-resistant plants and low-water plants.

As the perennial plants are selected and planted and grassy areas are replaced or covered with groundcovers, irrigation methods need to be fully researched. Low-budget and water-conserving irrigation controllers are easy to install and are worth the effort to incorporate them into a landscaping project. Where traditional and water-hogging methods of lawn and plant care took water bills to new heights, technology has once again saved the day. Smart irrigation controllers are the new water and time saving super-heroes of the landscaping arena. Technological developments with soil moisture censors, that water base on moisture levels, are great time and money saving fixtures for any size of landscaping area.

Alternatives to planting trees, grasses, shrubs and perennials come in the form of inexpensive pond features and fountains. These landscaping features take up space but not a lot of time. A weekend project is all the effort needed to put together a small pond that will make a big impact on the landscaping area. For added ease, use water-loving plants that do not need extra time to water. Rock gardens are great, low-maintenance alternatives to plants and can be very interesting and ornamental. Cactus beds and succulent plants are also brilliant low-maintenance planting options for landscapes. Some landscape owners expand on their outdoor living spaces by the expansion of patios and raised flower and herb gardens.?