When starting a landscaping or gardening project having a quality landscape design plan ahead of time can do a lot to reduce future maintenance.
In this article, I'm going to share some common mistakes that people make when designing or planning out their landscaping projects that can lead to more maintenance down the road.
I hope to go beyond the basics and share some tips you probably haven't heard anywhere else.
Of course, there's no such thing as a no-maintenance landscape.
Everything is going to require some level of maintenance but some things are going to require less maintenance than others and you can kind of incorporate that into your strategy a lot of times when making a landscape design plan.
We're choosing ahead of time what kind of maintenance we want to do.
I had a landscape design client once who hated mowing lawns but it hadn't occurred to her that she could not add along to her landscape design plan.
If you have a garden you're going to need to spend time mulching and weeding and planting plants may be irritating things when you first start this is just a part of it but it's nice to keep your preferences in mind as we go through the design process.
So let's get into some specific tips and let's start by talking about plants.
1. Too Many Herbaceous Perennials and Annuals
first tip for reducing maintenance through landscape design planning is to avoid adding too many herbaceous perennials or annual plants to your landscape design plan.
Some quick definitions of an herbaceous perennial plant is a plant that comes back year after year but in the winter time it usually goes dormant and it completely dies back so that there's no you know living or woody plant structure above the soil surface in the wintertime.
An annual plant completes its life cycle in just one year and just one growing season, so it's usually grown from seed by you or by a nursery and then they die at the end of the season when it gets a little bit colder, while herbaceous perennials tend to be the most popular in garden design or landscape design, they tend to require a little bit more maintenance than shrubs.
For this reason, I generally recommend that people create designs that focus on shrubs and then fill in spaces between grasses and perennials.
I especially recommend evergreen shrubs that mature to the exact size that you need them to be to act as sort of the backbone for your design.
Shrubs will fill in more space over time and will compete better with weeds.
If you choose shrubs that mature to the correct size for your landscape you won't need to do much pruning.
Of course, the amount of maintenance will depend on the kind of shrub some shrubs require a bit more maintenance than others then some herbaceous perennials are really low maintenance as well.
In general, you can create a dynamic and beautiful landscape by focusing primarily on shrubs.
In the design there are tons of interesting you know bloom colors, leaf colors foliage textures you can create a solid design without having to lean entirely on these herbaceous perennial plants.
This is just something I don't hear very often in the landscaping industry encouraging people to focus their landscape designs on shrubs primarily and then on herbaceous perennials as kind of an add-on.
Of course, use native plants as often as you possibly can in your landscape designs because these plants have been growing in your area for thousands and thousands of years.
They're adapted to local climate patterns soil, so once you get them established they're going to require a little bit less maintenance than a plant that is from a different environment well.
2. Improperly Spacing Plants
The second landscape design mistake that can lead to more maintenance is improperly spacing plants and this is kind for two different reasons.
My favorite plant spacing method to recommend is where you research the plant's mature sizes and the new space so that they just barely overlap.
This means that once your landscape is established that the plants will be growing kind of shoulder to shoulder or overlapping slightly and then there won't be any space in between these plants for weeds to get much of a foothold.
Another aspect of improperly spacing plants that can lead to more maintenance down the road is planting plants too close together.
When you first install your garden plants are going to be pretty tiny.
A shrub that gets taller than me is going to come usually in a pot that's only like so big, It'll only be so tall so when you give this shrub like five or six feet in space to grow it's going to look way too small out in the landscape once it's planted.
Resist the urge to fill in this space by planting plants too close together because before you know It, you're going to have to spend time then moving these larger plants away to other parts of your yard.
You can always strategically add some annual plants in these large areas in between plants as they're getting established to sort of fill in space for the first year or even you can do it the first couple of years until plants get established.
Of course, remember that annual plants are going to take some work too you're going to have to plant them every year.
they could go to seed and spread around your landscape a little bit but If you're worried about having this space this is the best way to fill it at first rather than you know crowding plants too close together.
This is a really common mistake where people will do a landscape design they'll get a landscape design plan done and they'll install everything and then they'll just be shocked by the amount of space in between plants in this very first year and then they'll immediately go and buy more plants and fill in that space but in just a couple of years a very short couple of years that's going to create more maintenance down the road.
they could go to seed and spread around your landscape a little bit but If you're worried about having this space this is the best way to fill it at first rather than you know crowding plants too close together.
This is a really common mistake where people will do a landscape design they'll get a landscape design plan done and they'll install everything and then they'll just be shocked by the amount of space in between plants in this very first year and then they'll immediately go and buy more plants and fill in that space but in just a couple of years a very short couple of years that's going to create more maintenance down the road.
3. Too Much Garden Space, Not Enough Useful Space
something that can lead to more maintenance um is having too much garden space and not enough usable space.
Even planted areas can require a little bit more maintenance than areas that you're using actively patios, decks, pools nature play areas, sandboxes, swing sets, and pathways.
For places that we use for different reasons, we'll kind of break up the landscape design and make it so that we don't have this yard that's a solid garden that we have to weed in mulch.
I love to talk about a concept called use first landscape design which is simply designing a yard to make it as easy to use and spend time in as possible.
4. Not Properly Mulching
Number four is leaving your soil exposed or not properly mulching.
Mulching is probably the most important and the most under-considered part of any landscaping or gardening project anytime you expose the soil nature has this magical practice of attempting to cover the soil back up again using weeds this is because inside the soil there's something called the seed bank.
Essentially, there are just thousands and thousands of weed seeds that exist in the soil until conditions are right, If you bring them to the surface they have a couple of days before they are just going to start germinating, this means that right away we have to cover the soil with plants and mulch.
If you're starting a small garden where it's going to take time for your plants to become established you're going to have to cover every inch of exposed soil with mulch.
The first time you cover a new landscape and mulch, you're going to have to apply the most and expect to apply at least two to three inches.
Some sources recommend as many as five inches of mulch I've used around three inches in a lot of cases and had real success preventing most of the weeds.
You're never going to prevent all of the weeds but mulching consistently maybe even every year after that applying a little about a thin layer of mulch on top of your first couple of inches it's just going to help prevent the weeds so much.
5. No Edging Strategy
Mistake number five is not having an edging strategy.
The area between one kind of soil covering and another defines an edge.
Think about the areas where a gravel pathway and your garden mulch meet or the areas where your lawn meets just about anything else.
As you're making your landscape design plan be suto take a moment to stop and consider the edges and where the different materials are going to interact.
for example rocks alongside lawn or grass it's just going to require a lot of weed eating to keep that looking neat and in my opinion that's a little bit more maintenance than just having to edge your lawn also you don't have to have some sort of physical barrier between every material you don't have to put in some kind of edging.
I think for example if you have a beautiful mulched garden and then you have like a little loose gravel pathway the materials can kind of mix up a little bit it's not a big deal.
6. Not considering a "Wild Zone"
Mistake number six is not incorporating a wild zone.
this is one of my favorite tips for reducing maintenance when you have a large yard because there's always going to be some corner of your yard that you're just never going to go to.
Maybe it's like a small awkward corner between your shed and a fence or maybe it's this back section of your property where your neighbors are just going to stare at you if you hang out.
The first thing I recommend of course is doing the whole you think about why you're not using the space and see if you can figure out a solution to that so you can use the space but if there isn't going to be any solution you're not going to be using the space consider adding a wild zone.
A "wild zone" is a densely planted area.
The goal is to establish a thicket or hedge or just like a patch of nature, that's going to outcompete weeds ideally.
You're going to use fast-growing native plants that are super adapted to you know local climates, so you don't have to worry about irrigating them as well as you know native plants are going to support whatever wildlife can make use of that space.
You could also incorporate some non-native low maintenance plants in there as well if you would like but in general, you want to focus on the things that you're not going to need to worry about watering pruning, or taking care of in any way once they're established.
Of course, if you think about it the lowest maintenance part of any yard is going to have just established solid plant matter.
the more of these wild zones that you have the less of your yard that you'll have to like actively maintain and you can have like a wild space that doesn't have to look like this crazy wild thicket it just depends on what plants.
7. Too Much Lawn
This is because the lawn just simply requires a different kind of maintenance than a lot of other parts of your landscape require.
you know you have to head out to mow pretty consistently, you can't let it go for too long but you really could neglect some other parts of maintaining your yard or garden a little bit longer than that.
You also need to have a mower. in a lot of cases maintain a mower or pay a landscaping service to take care of this.
If you love your lawn then it is a great thing to have but a lot of times you can kind of design the lawn away from your landscape.
8. Too Much Rock or Gravel
Avoid using materials like river rock or gravel if you're not prepared to maintain them.
Weeds are inevitably going to start sprouting up between these rivers, rocks, or in the gravel and you're going to need a system for maintaining them.
Keeping leaves or little bits of organic matter out of these spaces it's going to be important because once these things break down it creates this extra little environment where we will be encouraged to germinate.
You can pull these weeds out by hand you can use a tool like a hoe and loose gravel to kind of get any smaller weeds that are germinating before they get too big.
You can use a propane torch weed burner or something like that.
There are no tricks for reducing maintenance in this kind of environment besides installing it properly so you know no weeds are going to like come up through the gravel right after you plant right after you put it in there, as well as keeping it kind of cleaned out.
So, just keep in mind as you're adding something like a dry creek bed or gravel pathways to your landscape design that you're going to need to maintain the weeds that come up in this space.
I hope that these tips will inspire some new ideas you didn't have before and help you design a low-maintenance landscape.
If you have any additional low-maintenance landscaping tips, please add them in the comments below.
When embarking on a landscaping or gardening project, it is crucial to have a well-thought-out landscape design plan in order to minimize future maintenance.
While there is no such thing as a completely maintenance-free landscape, careful planning can significantly reduce the amount of maintenance required.
This article has highlighted several common mistakes to avoid when designing your landscape in order to minimize future maintenance.
The first tip is to avoid adding an excessive number of herbaceous perennials and annual plants to your design. While these plants are popular in garden design, they generally require more maintenance than shrubs.
By focusing primarily on shrubs and incorporating herbaceous perennials and grasses to fill in the spaces, you can create a beautiful and dynamic landscape with less maintenance.
Properly spacing plants is another important consideration. Researching the mature sizes of plants and allowing them to overlap slightly can help prevent weed growth and reduce future maintenance.
It is important not to plant plants too close together, as they will eventually outgrow the space and require relocation. Strategic use of annual plants to fill in space while the main plants are establishing can be a temporary solution.Creating a balance between garden space and usable space is essential.
While gardens require maintenance, incorporating areas such as patios, decks, or play areas can break up the landscape design and reduce the overall maintenance workload.
Designing a yard with a focus on usability and ease of use is known as a "use first" landscape design approach.Proper mulching is a critical but often overlooked aspect of landscaping.
Mulching helps prevent weed growth by covering the soil and reduces the need for frequent weeding. Applying a sufficient layer of mulch, typically around two to three inches, can effectively inhibit weed growth.
Regular mulch application in subsequent years can further reduce weed maintenance.
Having a well-planned edging strategy is another important consideration.
Properly defined edges between different materials, such as gravel pathways and garden mulch or lawn areas, can minimize the need for frequent trimming and maintenance.
While physical barriers or edging may not be necessary in every case, careful thought should be given to the interaction between different materials.Incorporating a "wild zone" can significantly reduce maintenance in large yards.
By designating a densely planted area with fast-growing native plants, you can create a thicket or patch of nature that outcompetes weeds.
This wild zone requires minimal watering, pruning, or maintenance once established, providing a low-maintenance area in your yard.
Lastly, excessive lawn or the use of materials like river rock or gravel can contribute to increased maintenance.
Lawns require regular mowing and maintenance, while rock or gravel areas are prone to weed growth.
Reducing the amount of lawn or using alternative materials that are easier to maintain can help minimize maintenance requirements.
By considering these tips and avoiding common mistakes in landscape design planning, you can create a low-maintenance landscape that is both visually appealing and functional.
Please note that while these tips can help reduce maintenance, some level of maintenance will always be required for any landscape or garden.
FAQs
Q: How can a landscape design plan help reduce future maintenance?
A well-thought-out landscape design plan can incorporate low-maintenance elements and strategies, reducing the overall maintenance required for the project.
Q: What are some common mistakes to avoid when designing a landscape?
Adding too many herbaceous perennials or annuals can increase maintenance.
It is recommended to focus on shrubs and use perennials and grasses to fill in the spaces.
Improperly spacing plants can lead to more maintenance. Research the mature sizes of plants and allow for slight overlap to prevent weed growth.
Having too much garden space and not enough usable space can increase maintenance.
Incorporating functional areas like patios, decks, or play areas can help balance the landscape design.
Not properly mulching the soil can result in weed growth.
Applying sufficient mulch, typically around two to three inches, can help inhibit weed growth.
Neglecting to establish an edging strategy can lead to maintenance issues.
Properly defined edges between different materials can minimize the need for frequent trimming.
Q: How can incorporating a "wild zone" reduce maintenance?
A "wild zone" is a densely planted area that outcompetes weeds and requires minimal maintenance. By using fast-growing native plants and allowing them to establish, you can create a low-maintenance area in your yard.
Q: Why should excessive lawn or rock/gravel be avoided?
Lawns require specific maintenance, such as regular mowing, which can be more time-consuming compared to other landscape elements.
Excessive use of rock or gravel can result in weed growth between the stones. Proper maintenance, including regular weeding, is necessary to keep these areas tidy.
Q: How can I design a low-maintenance landscape?
Focus on incorporating shrubs as the primary element in your design.
Use herbaceous perennials and grasses to fill in the spaces between shrubs.
Consider the balance between garden space and usable space, including functional areas in your design.
Properly mulch the soil to inhibit weed growth.
Plan and establish defined edges between different materials.
Incorporate a "wild zone" using native plants to create a low-maintenance area.
Minimize excessive lawn or rock/gravel to reduce maintenance requirements.