Even for experienced gardeners, it can be easy to spend too much time keeping up with your backyard. Landscaping ideas can inspire but also inhibit - how can you find time to take care of such a stylish outdoor space?
Luckily, there are plenty of ways to create a low-maintenance landscape without it feeling lazy. With the right plant and design choices, you can even create a backyard garden that does your work for you. Here are some great tips for a low-maintenance backyard:
One of the simplest ways to cut your time spent on your garden is by reducing the amount of watering you need to do. Luckily, there are plenty of drought-tolerant plants you can introduce to your landscaping design that can go longer in between watering sessions.
To get the most out of the least amount of water and care, try planting some drought-tolerant perennials. Shrubs like butterfly bush and Russian sage are perfect for areas with full sun, where the soil will dry out more quickly.
Another helpful backyard landscaping idea to cut back on garden maintenance is to get rid of your grass lawn. Not only will you save time and effort not having to weed, mow and water it, you’ll have the opportunity for creating interesting textures and plant combinations in the same space.
For shady patches of your yard, try planting moss. Most mosses are virtually maintenance free but create a lush, soft surface for the ground. In more sunny areas, ground cover crops like stonecrop, lamb’s ear and creeping thyme do well with a slew of backyard landscaping ideas.
Introducing hardscape elements like natural stone is a simple backyard landscaping idea for a low maintenance outdoor living space. Rock gardens are made up of stone and drought tolerant plants, either arranged in artistic or organic designs. Mixing a variety of different textures, colors and shapes of stone adds aesthetic appeal without adding more living things to take care of.
A stone patio or backyard fire pit are also low maintenance hardscape elements to consider. While they take more time and effort to install, they require very little upkeep and maintenance.
These are only a few low maintenance backyard landscaping ideas you can try. With the right choice of plants and decorative elements, you can make sure you work smarter rather than harder in maintaining your outdoor space.
Susan Shuxian Hu has been a dedicated realtor serving in Silicon Valley since 2010. With great passion, outstanding negotiation skills and due diligence, she has helped many buyers and sellers in their real estate needs. Living in West San Jose for more than 14 years, she has broad knowledge in Cupertino, West San Jose, Los Altos and Saratoga. She has enormous patience working with buyers and never tired of showing all possible properties that may fit client’s needs. Clients appreciate her best service to their satisfaction. She specialized in luxurious real estate purchase in Los Altos, Cupertino, Saratoga and Palo Alto. She also helped friend and past client’s referral working in San Francisco, Foster City and far reached Bay Area.
Susan Shuxian Hu was graduated in East China Normal University in Shanghai with bachelor and master degrees in Bio science. She came to US in 1989 and earned her Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics in Texas A&M University in 1996. After one year of postdoc in Southern Florida University in Tampa, she moved back to Orlando with her family and started working in Lucent Technologies. In 2002, Susan moved to California, Silicon Valley joined a start-up company. Since then she worked in high tech Corporation till 2009. Driven by her dream job pursuing, she found her passion working in sales by helping people in real estate after one year of education in De Anza business and real estate law study. Since then, she has been serving many people in Bay Area for their real estate needs.
With bilingual advantage, she has been actively working with Chinese immigrants as well as local engineers and residents. With rich high tech background and connection with Chinese community, Susan has served in luxurious real estate in last a couple of years.