
What’s the first thing that pops into your head when you hear about gardens? It could be a row of gorgeous flowers, fruits and vegetables growing from the soil, or all of the back-breaking labor that comes with maintaining a garden. While effort is required for this outdoor activity, it doesn’t have to be so difficult. You’re the one who gets to decide what goes where after all. Why not start by planning a low-maintenance garden for spring? Here’s how you can do just that!
Choose Between Mulch and Rock
The best way to avoid having to do more work later on is to start off your garden strong. Sure, you could simply buy plants and stick them anywhere in your backyard. Not covering the ground around them, however, will come back to haunt you when the plants are completely surrounded by weeds. That’s why you should choose either mulch or rock for your gardening spaces. Each has its own pros and cons, but both will be effective at combating weeds from growing.
Purchase Low-Maintenance Plants
If you’re the type of gardener who would rather step out into the sunlight on occasion, then you should find plants that are a breeze to care for. HGTV offers a list of 13 Can’t-Kill Flowers for Beginners so that you can “watch your beginner’s thumb turn green.” This list includes:
- Sunflowers
- Marigolds
- Begonias
- Daffodils
- And more!
Looking for plants that are a bit more edible? Sweet bell peppers are the perfect fruits to grow in your backyard. You can even decide if you want green or red ones just by allowing the pepper to mature longer. Raspberry and blackberry bushes are also easy, only requiring a bit of pruning once a year around wintertime – that’s it!
Invest in a Mix of Perennials and Annuals
Did you know that not every flower you plant will need to be replaced each spring? The ones that don’t are called perennials. These flowers tend to bloom once a season for three or more years after remaining dormant throughout the colder months. Annuals, on the other hand, live to the fullest for one season and try to leave as many of their seeds behind as possible. While you may want more perennials so that they’re almost guaranteed to be back the following year, their blooms are shorter than that of annuals. Mix in a combination of both and research deadheading flowers to get the most out of their blooms.
Leave Room for Family, Friends, and Fun
Remember to leave enough room for fun activities that you, your family, and friends can enjoy when placing a garden. The middle of the yard may seem like the best place for your petunias to soak in as much sun as possible, but it will always be in the way. Try your best to find open corners or areas that stretch along the fence, house, or shed. This way, there’s less of a chance you’ll have to eventually move the garden when someone accidentally steps in it.
Don’t Underestimate the Versatility of Potted Plants
Let’s say that you don’t want to pick just one spot for your garden. There’s an easy solution for that – craft an arrangement of potted plants! Ditch the shovel for a hand trowel and purchase soil along with pots that are big enough for as many plants as you want. Place a few near the patio, another out on the old stump you still need to remove, and anywhere else you’d like because, hey, it’s your yard!
New Home, New Garden
Maybe it’s just time to move on from your current home and you’re looking for places that already have the perfect setup for a potential new garden. There’s a decent chance the homeowner could have even recently had the landscaping done for someone like you. You’ll never really know what’s out there without the professional guidance and resources that The Massey Team at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties has to offer.
Check out our current listings or call us (618) 791-5024 or (618) 791-9298 today.