How to Create a Low Maintenance Garden

As well as being attractive and serving as a hobby activity, gardens can also be a benefit to you financially as well.

This doesn't mean you need to start a mass flower production business. It simply means that by spending a little time and money, you can dramatically increase the value of your home and property.

Next time you're out driving around, pretend you are shopping for a new home. Pay close attention to the homes that you find attractive. Of these homes that you consider visually pleasing, how many are because of the house itself. You'll probably find that the majority of these properties are so pleasing to the eye, not because of the house, but because of a garden or landscaping scene.

Here are some easy and affordable tips for creating a garden that will not only increase the value of your home, but give you years of pleasure as well.

Most of us don't have the time to spend several hours a day working on a garden, so simpler is better. Plant low maintenance plants that require only minimal weeding, pruning, spraying and so on.

You can save time planting every year by using perennials. These will come back for several years after initial planting. Annuals, on the other hand, will die after one season, requiring you to replant every year, unless your climate is warm all year.

Although they can be found in a few color options, perennials are often far less colorful than the varieties found in annuals. Perennials, however, offer you the advantage of being a low-cost, one time investment that will last for years.

Some examples of low maintenance, fairly colorful perennials are foxgloves, lupins, irises and daisies. Another example are poppies, and are available in a few different color options, like yellow and pink.

Ground cover and non-flowering plants are another low maintenance option. Good examples of these are hostas, herbs such as oregano and sage, and yarrow. These plants look great and can add great contrast to your flowering plants.

Some plants, such as tansy, contain a chemical that is a natural insect repellent. They produce a lovely, yellow flower and the leaves contain a secretion that will keep mosquitoes away.

These plants often have a much stronger aroma you can enjoy from a distance, as well as being pleasing to the eye.

The plants are all very cost effective, especially in the long run, since they will bloom year after year.

Even though these plants are considered low maintenance, you'll still need to spend some effort on weed control. An inch of soil on top of some weed cloth can give you a good head start on preventing weeds. This will allow less light and heat to come in contact with weed seeds and prevent them from blooming. It will also choke out existing weeds.

Even if you're not a professional gardener, these tips can help you create a garden that will give you years of enjoyment, as well as a more valuable home.

         

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