In a previous article, we talked about how to make the most out of your garden all year round. When you have a beautiful and cosy garden with the right features, you can use it for anything from family gatherings to a relaxing night away from the kids.
There is a lot you can do to make your garden more functional. More importantly, some of the upgrades you can add to the garden will make the backyard itself easier to maintain. You’ll be surprised by how much these upgrades can transform your garden.
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Add Functional Surface
Adding a deck or a patio area is a great way to make your garden more functional. More surface means you don’t have to spend as much time mowing the lawn or watering it. You shouldn’t transform your garden entirely, but adding small areas here and there helps a lot.
For instance, you can use composite decking to maintain that natural tone and have a functional deck at the same time. The material from Ecoscape UK in particular is designed to be environmentally friendly and very durable. Learn more about composite decking on https://ecoscapeuk.co.uk/.
Aside from a deck, you can also add pathways to combine different parts of the backyard. This also allows you to divide the garden into several areas, each with a theme or a colour scheme. You can create the illusion of space by utilising curves.
Automate Garden Maintenance
Keeping your garden beautiful and functional all year round is a big challenge, but automation is your friend if you want to eliminate some of the tedious tasks. Adding automatic sprinklers is always a good start. Smart sprinklers will not only keep your plants fresh, but it’ll also help you to conserve water at the same time.
Adding smart soil sensors to different parts of the garden is a good idea. The sensors tell you exactly what your plants need, taking the guesswork out of gardening. Some smart garden systems let the smart sprinklers talk to sensors directly, automating garden maintenance on another level.
To complete the set, pick up a couple of robotic lawn mowers. It is also a good idea to convert your garden lights into energy-efficient, solar-powered LED lights. The combination practically pays for itself since you will be saving a lot on your utility bills.
Stick with Perennials
The right type of plants you add to the garden matters. Remember that there are perennial plants, which you only need to plant once. Unlike annuals which require you to plant new ones every year, perennials are more resilient and will continue growing and blooming in your garden.
More importantly, perennials tend to require less maintenance. Pasque, for instance, can live without water for an extended period. Penstemon or Beardtongues are just as resilient, requiring only minor pruning to keep them from growing excessively.
When choosing your perennials, take into account the climate in your area, the soil condition that you have, and the amount of work that you like to do in the garden. There are perennials for every type of garden. You just have to find the best ones for yours.
It’s Okay to Fake It
While you are at it, you can also pick up faux flowers and plants. Similar to adding hard surface to the garden, this is something you want to do sparingly. That said, there is no harm in adding faux plants to the landscape. There are actually some key benefits with this; for starters, faux plants are great for adding colour to the garden all year round. You don’t have to wait for the next season – or worse, spring – to see some gorgeous colours on the landscape. Faux plants also work well with functional garden areas since they will not cause issues like itching or irritation.
However, faux plants still require a bit of maintenance, mainly cleaning. Make sure you choose fake plants with the right materials when making your purchase. They still have to survive the elements and look good in your garden.
Use Trellises & Accessories
Not all garden furniture and accessories require a fully functional deck or patio. There are items designed to blend well with the rest of the garden. A classic case is a pagoda that also acts as a trellis for climbing plants. Adding a rose trellis to a corner of the garden is another good example. Climbing plants usually require less maintenance, so as long as you have a strong structure in place, you have one more element to add to the landscape.
Other accessories are just as appealing. A water feature, LED strips to go with the solar-powered lights we mentioned earlier, and even more elaborate accessories such as an iron sculpture or hanging harmony bells act as that special ingredient that completes your garden.
Don’t be afraid to experiment. You now have a good few tips and tricks for a beautiful garden that requires less maintenance. The more you plan for these upgrades, the more you can focus on functionality without spending too much time keeping the garden looking beautiful.
