Perhaps the most common request of today’s garden clientele is “low-maintenance.” This can have a variety of different meanings to the ear of a Garden Designer. For one, it can mean “I want it to look pretty on its own,” or “I want to spend time relaxing in my garden, not working.” But whatever the interpretation, one thing is key to a low maintenance garden, design. Yes, design. My favorite thing.

Effective low-maintenance is all about design. Design provides structure for your plants and your hardscape that will last. A low-maintenance landscape is a lasting landscape. Whether or not you hire a Garden Designer or Landscape Architect, it is important to have a plan for your garden space, and make it your own. Your style and taste should be realized in your garden. It is your space!

So, here are some key ideas to use and remember when working towards a low-maintenance garden.

1. Garden with nature, not against it.

Select plants that will work with your site conditions. Use soil amendments and fertilizers that have long term benefits for your plants and soil.

2. Don’t be shy, use design!

Consult with one of us at Father Nature or buy a book. Grab your paper and pencil and see what shapes come out of your hand.

3. Remember to add design elements other than plants.

Walls, pillars, arbors, decks, patios, and pathways all aid in shaping and defining your garden space. Hardscapes help anchor your design, and can carry it through the seasons. It doesn’t change as your plants do, but remains constant.

4. Geometry is important.

Circles are soft, rectangles are contemporary, and squares are formal. Shapes define plant space and hardscape. Figure out which works best for you. Keep it simple! Too many combined different shapes can take more maintenance depending on plant material and paving material.

5. The more livable the space, the easier it will be to care for.

You want to be able to sit and enjoy your garden, not spend countless hours tending to and babying your plants. There is nothing wrong with careful plant tending. You can do that no matter what garden you have, but low maintenance is about achieving maximum levels of enjoyment with less garden toil.

6. Your plant palette can be as simple or complex as you want.

Keep in mind, though, to choose plants that will work within your site conditions. They will need less attention the closer they are to their natural environment. A simple, easy plant palette is the best option. But there is no reason you can’t incorporate some of your favorites. Remember, it can be simple or complex as you want. (see below for more tips)

7. Surprise! Water features are actually pretty low-maintenance.

They achieve several goals at once: lovely natural music, attracts birds, and serve as a stunning focal point.

And finally…

…a few general design tips, should you choose to strike out on your own:

If you choose a complex (it can be complex and low-maintenance, the two aren’t always mutually exclusive) plant palette, go for simple hardscape and materials. Too much complexity creates massive visual clutter. It is almost as if your eye has no where to settle, and is tossed around in a pin ball machine. Graphic, I know, but just trust me.

If you choose simple, note that every detail seems to stand out. Balancing the details is the trick for simple low-maintenance plant palettes.

Materials that pull “double-duty” are extremely valuable. For example, pebble mosaic on the ground plain creates interest and serves as a pathway or patio space. Plants with a strong consistent form are a good way to at structure without it appearing as hard as stone materials.

Think about: 1. Repetition (textures, shapes, forms, materials) creates unity. Too much variety is a maintenance headache. 2. Personality! Make it your own. 3. Editing. Low-maintenance may cause you to have to pare down a bit. But that’s ok! Choose what you like and what works, it doesn’t have to be boring and ugly.

Excited? Ready to get started? There is plenty of time to research and design before the spring starts. Below is a list of resources and books that might inspire you further.

“The New Low-Maintenance Garden,” by Valerie Easton. This book was the primary inspiration for this blog entry. It contains much more information about most of the above topics, and even wanders into the world of garden maintenance.

“Architecture in the Garden,” by James Van Sweden. Written by an extremely talented designer and Landscape Architect. This book will help the hardscape challenged designer in you.

“Gardens are for People,” by Thomas Church. One of my all-time favorites, and probably mentioned in previous posts. Valerie Easton says in her book, “…plants are great, but gardens are for people.” I bet she has read this book!

“A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, and Construction,” by Christopher Alexander. This book pertains more to the urban landscape, but the insight on patters in design is inspiring no matter the niche. A very valuable fireside read. Another one of my favorites.

Lastly, some eye candy!

When you garden with nature, choose to garden with Father Nature. We are always happy to be included!

This entry was posted on Friday, February 12th, 2010 at 6:15 pm and is filed under How Tos, Landscaping. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.