In this modern age, the majority of us live busy lives and our gardens can fall by the wayside.
Although ‘87% of UK households have access to a garden’, not everyone has the time they’d like to spend tending to their gardens.
Whether you’re a beginner or simply don’t have the time to garden, you might be looking for low-maintenance ideas for your large garden.
Low-maintenance ideas for large gardens include, but are not limited to:
- Scale back the lawn
- Swap flower beds for shrubs
- Stick to simple plants
- Install gravel paths
- Opt for perennials
1. Scale Back The Lawn
A low-maintenance garden idea is to scale back the lawn.
A large lawn is a lot to maintain, particularly during the hotter months when you have to mow and water it more frequently to keep it in the best condition.
If you scale back your large garden lawn, you’ll have less grass and garden waste to contend with.
Ways to scale back your lawn might include adding a patio or decking to your large garden.
Not only will this help to scale back the lawn in your garden, but will also allow you to create a new outdoor living area for the whole family to enjoy.
2. Swap Flower Beds For Shrubs
While flower beds can be a lovely addition to any garden, they can look unkempt if you don’t have the time to tend to them.
Shrubs are a wonderful way to incorporate colour and greenery into your garden without creating more work for yourself.
Low-maintenance shrubs generally require little fertilisation and have more resistance to pests and diseases, making them a better alternative to many flowers.
Shrubs to plant might include heather or skyrocket juniper to name a few options.
If you’re not confident in replacing flowerbeds with shrubs, a garden designer will be able to collaborate with you to create a garden you’re proud of.
3. Stick To Simple Plants
A low-maintenance idea for large gardens is to stick to simple plants.
While it might be tempting to have a wide variety of plants with varying needs in your garden, this isn’t recommended for a low-maintenance garden.
That said, you’ll want to opt for varieties that don’t require much in terms of care and consideration.
Low-maintenance plants include, but are not limited to:
- Echinacea
- Fuchsias
- Marigolds
These plants are excellent for adding a range of colours to create a tranquil space without you having to tend to them too much, making them ideal for those who don’t have as much time for gardening.
If you’re interested in discovering garden design ideas for large gardens, be sure to read our blog here.
4. Install Gravel Paths
The next low-maintenance idea for large gardens is to install gravel paths.
Gravel lends itself to Mediterranean and drought-tolerant plants, from lavender to cistus, both of which grow well in and around the stony ground.
Gravel is not only affordable but is incredibly low maintenance when compared to grassy walkways.
Grass requires regular mowing throughout the year to ensure all pathways are well-maintained. While you may have to deal with the occasional weeds growing through your gravel paths, gravel is a great low-maintenance alternative, and installing it is a perfect garden design tip for beginners.
Transform your large garden with gravel pathways!
5. Opt For Perennials
Lastly, a low-maintenance garden idea is to opt for perennials.
As there are ‘perennials to suit all soil types and garden conditions’, they are some of the easiest plants to maintain.
Perennials are great for a year round garden as once you’ve planted them, they come back year after year. This saves you from going to the effort of planting new flowers like you’d need to when planting annuals.
There are a range of perennials depending on your tastes. For instance, lavender offers a wonderful purple colour and powerful aroma to your garden.
Some other favourite perennials include daffodils, peonies, and periwinkles, all of which will brighten up the space with minimal effort to create a serene garden you can relax in.
You can find out more about planting low-maintenance landscapes in our Gardening Guru feature post.
How We Can Help To Create A Low-Maintenance Garden
We at Raine Garden Design have years of experience in designing low-maintenance gardens of all sizes.
If you’d like to transform your garden with any of our low-maintenance ideas, we offer a comprehensive garden design consultancy to clients seeking a beautiful and functional outside space.
We can create lasting low-maintenance large garden designs which will mature and complement your property over the years.
To learn more about our garden design services at Raine Garden Design, get in touch at studio@rainegardendesign.co.uk or on 07702 042559.
Written by Jemima Thomas for Raine Garden Design.
