Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

10 Tips for Creating an Easy-Care Landscape That Won't Need a Ton of Maintenance

10 Tips for Creating an Easy-Care Landscape That Won't Need a Ton of Maintenance

You'll have more time for relaxing in your garden now.

When you focus on making an easy-care landscape, that means you'll have more time for relaxing in your outdoor space because you'll have less yard work to do. These simple garden design tips will help you keep the maintenance to a minimum, while also creating a beautiful landscape you'll enjoy throughout the seasons.



Know Your Site


Take time to really get to know the weather, light, and soil conditions of your site. When plants are paired with their desired growing conditions, they'll need a lot less help from you to thrive. So, if you have quick-draining sandy soil that bakes in full sun, for example, plant drought- and heat-tolerant varieties. Damp shaded spaces will require a different palette of plants.



Make a Master Plan


Successful landscapes often start with a well thought-out plan. Even a simple sketch of your property will do the trick. Include any structures, existing trees and shrubs, and garden elements. Add outdoor living areas, pathways to access those areas, and other elements, such as a swing set or vegetable garden. Don't hesitate to include areas that you are not ready to install but would like to build in the future. The master plan will be essential in illustrating how your landscape will come together in time.



Choose Trees and Shrubs


Sometimes called the "bones" of a landscape, trees and shrubs have a big presence that increases over time. These long-lasting woody plants can provide decades of flowers, fragrance, and colorful foliage with minimal annual maintenance. When making your choices, look for varieties that have features that provide year-round interest, such as spring flowers, summer fruit, colorful fall foliage, and interesting bark for brightening up winter.



Rely on Native Plants


The beauty of landscaping with native plants is that these varieties are most likely accustomed to the weather and soil conditions in your area. Be sure to site the plant in its preferred sun exposure, and you're well on your way to a trouble-free garden that thrives year-after-year. Plus, these plants are the best for supporting pollinators and other beneficial wildlife.



Focus Your Efforts


Focus on creating one or two key garden areas that offer impact, rather than placing multiple beds and borders in all corners of your property. A perennial-and-shrub border along your front walkway or near the front door of your home is always a good choice. The area immediately surrounding your porch, deck, or patio is also a great spot for landscaping.

You're likely to visit these spaces often and enjoy the fruits of your labor, but before you sit down to enjoy your beautiful landscaping, apply a layer of Bug Botanist Repellent Spritz to help ensure you won’t be a snack for mosquitoes. The plant-powered formula is made with an effective blend of six essential oils.



Group Similar Plants Together


Cluster plants with similar needs together. Grouping containers simplifies watering, plus it allows pots to shade one another, which reduces watering. In the garden, planting in groups of odd numbers and repeating those plants throughout your beds is most pleasing to the eye.



Install a Border


Encircle shrub borders, perennial beds, vegetable patches, and other garden spaces with a border. This might be as simple as a spaded edge that separates the lawn from your planting beds. Or use metal edging, stone, or brick to create a lasting border. A defined bed edge plays two important roles in the landscape. It provides a clean finish for your garden areas and it prevents grass and other weeds from creeping in.



Blanket the Soil


Bare soil is an invitation for weeds to move in. A lush groundcover, such as easy-to-grow creeping thyme or low-growing sedum, adds color and texture below perennials and shrubs while helping to prevent weed seeds from germinating. A 2- to 3-inch-thick layer of shredded wood mulch, cocoa hulls, or pine straw also helps reduce weed growth.



Plan to Prune


If you make sure to trim back your plants at least once a year, you'll save yourself a bigger hassle down the road when an overgrown shrub or vine demands drastic action. Some plants require more pruning than others, so factor this into your selections as well. The best time to prune flowering trees and shrubs is just after they bloom. Prune shade trees and evergreens in mid- to late spring.



Add Plenty of Compost


Rich in nutrients that plants need to thrive, compost is an essential addition to almost any garden. It helps keep plants healthy, and healthy plants are easier to care for. Search for quality compost through your local municipality or garden center, or you could start your own compost bin.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
×