Gardening requires life's most scarce resource: time. Homeowners are constantly torn between the desire to have a perfect garden and essential chores that can't always be rescheduled. For these situations, we've prepared a few secrets for maintaining a garden on a busy schedule.
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Reduce size
The smaller the garden, the less time it will take to maintain it. Even at the planning stage, you need to consider how much time you have and whether it will be enough to care for a large lawn, demanding plants, etc. This means you need to approach the design process with a cool head, carefully considering whether you have the energy and time to maintain the landscape in good condition.
Filter ideas
After purchasing a plot, it's important to immediately plan the landscape and its design. There are many ideas, but most come from the sheer desire to transform the surrounding area and make it extraordinary.
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It's important to balance your options with your design choices. Too much extravagance will require more time for maintenance. There's no need to go minimalist, but it's worth sticking to simpler design options.
Don't skimp on preparation
Before starting a garden, it's important to establish proper drainage, consider the slope of the site, and carefully consider the placement of the lawn or meadow. This preparation will allow you to spend less time on the garden later; it will take on a life of its own, requiring only occasional intervention.
What to choose: a lawn or a grass field
If you really want a lawn, don't skimp; opt for a roll-out lawn. And most importantly, if you don't have the time, install an automatic irrigation system. It's the only option.
A lawn can be landscaped using groundcover plants. They suppress weeds, require little maintenance, and only need to be mowed every few weeks.
Limit vegetation
Keep trees to a minimum. They require a lot of care, are sensitive to climate conditions, and often die if not properly managed. Two or three trees per plot is sufficient, no more. Also, it's worth limiting the number and size of shrubs; once they become overgrown, you'll have to spend a lot of time tying, pruning, and other necessary maintenance.
It is recommended to avoid including plants in the garden that are not suited to the local climate. Foreign varieties of trees, flowers, and shrubs are extremely finicky, sensitive to sudden temperature changes, and require special care.
Fruit or ornamental
Fruit trees and shrubs require more attention than ornamental ones. It's better to choose the latter unless you plan to harvest your own fruit.
Geranium against weeds
Weeding accounts for 10-15% of gardening chores. Choosing the right plants that form a dense rosette and have leaves that penetrate the soil makes the task much easier. Geraniums, daylilies, and carnations are all suitable for this purpose.
Don't wait for caterpillars
With the arrival of spring, it is advisable to treat the garden for harmful insects in advance, rather than actively combat them in the summer.
Automate garden maintenance
Automated robotic gardeners don't yet exist, but you can use irrigation systems with a preset spray schedule, and a robotic lawn mower can carefully trim your lawn, saving you as much time as possible on this essential task. It's best to focus only on technologically advanced and useful features; unprofitable trifles will only clutter your garden.
Allow yourself more
If you're constantly short on time, you can enlist the help of a gardener. Even when choosing a design, it's worth consulting with professionals. Just tell them exactly what you want, and the design will be ready in just a few days.
