Does spring gardening and maintenance stress you out? Is your green thumb feeling a little sore? Great news: the season may be changing, but your grounds-keeping routine doesn’t have to.
Best of all, and contrary to popular belief, there’s no need to move mountains of control issues to have a low-maintenance garden – though we’re all about growth in this season. As your landscape’s cosmetic surgeon, we’ve got all the tips and tricks to make this resuscitation quick and pain-free so you can keep it stayin’ alive for years to come.
So put on some New Grass (and garden) Revival, push 5 ml of sunscreen, and peruse these low-maintenance hacks to bring your front yard back to life this spring.
Nip it in the bud
Set your garden up for success, and reset its foundation annually. When it comes to the dreaded weeding and watering management, mulch is the trade secret. Adding approximately two inches of mulched wood chips to your garden (roughly an inch away from the plant bases) puts a barrier between the sunlight and soil. By blocking light access, it subsequently stops anything underneath from growing and retains the moisture around your plants.
Pro-tip: laying landscape fabric under the mulch can help address any persisting weed-related issues.
Be faux real
Itching to put a stitch in the amount of time you spend in your garden? Skip the maintenance drama and mix in some garden decorations or faux plants instead! Gone are the days of choosing between cheesy lawn gnomes (which we love – if you’re into that sort of thing) or plants that boast a toddler’s sense of self-preservation. Instead, consider incorporating artsy lanterns, statues, decorative rocks, bird/animal feeders or lighting features (to name a few) to fill the space with lively personality – without the need for wellness checks.
Aerate for the success rate
Give your grass the breath of life and aerate the soil. This process will punch small holes in your lawn, providing easy access for water, fertilisers, and oxygen to reach the roots. It’s best to aerate while the ground is damp for the machine’s efficiency, but also to help the fertilisers to spread and absorb evenly. By aerating your lawn, you will be building on a refreshed base and lessening the gardening effort as the once-a-year work you put in now will go a greater distance.
Pro-tip: laying down some grass seed afterwards will help your lawn grow, so choose a time when you can water your property for the following two weeks.
Fake it so you don’t have to make it
Coming from the world of ‘work smarter, not harder,’ consider including small patches of artificial landscape grass. This inclusion can be especially rewarding when incorporated in the backyard. Take a step towards green living by conserving energy and never having to mow or water again. Leapfrog the dandelions and brown grass into soft, UV-resistant green grass all year long.
K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Silly)
Kermit may say, “it ain’t easy being green,” but the muppet-verse never considered Vifloor’s Emerald Landscape Grass solutions. Grass is intrinsically high maintenance – especially in a home with lots of human or pet traffic. So if you’re looking for a fuss-free alternative, why not get the no mow-lawn that lets you maintain a manicured appearance? Spring and summer are for adventures, so don’t let your garden ground you – go pro with faux!