▷ Beautiful and low maintenance: what are the solutions?

There is no time yet, but you want to live beautifully. It is not surprising that both in landscaping courses and when hiring a specialist, the most common task is that that would be nice and it should low maintenance. Let’s examine frequently used solutions to see if they work.

LARGE LAWN AREA

Until the land idea has matured, planting a lawn on the land is a practical temporary solution. You won’t have to wade through dirt, the area will look clean and uniform.

However I wait it is simply a flat space that has no character until other elements are present. So don’t wait too long and search plot ideasthat you would like to achieve by planting other plants. The idea can be suggested by the interior or facade of the house, by the concept of the block, by your lifestyle. Even though a well-maintained lawn looks great, just looking at it will wear you down in the long run.

Nice lawn, but isn’t it boring to look at? Photo from theberkshiregrasshopper.com

Furthermore, lawns are resource-intensive: both time and finances. It’s hard to think of another way of landscaping that takes so much time. Most people spend at least two hours a month mowing a small area themselves. Calculate how much time you spend on it in a year. In addition, mowing equipment is needed and where else to fertilize, renew the lawn in spring, aerate, water (or irrigation system), fight moss, rake leaves in autumn.

The lawns are left in modernly designed lots only the space really necessaryand nothing more.

THORNS

Aesthetics and minimal maintenance are often considered when planting conifers. Conifers of various sizes, shapes and colors are now available, and in Lithuania there are already many growers who can advise which ones to choose. If spygliuočiai well selected according to their specific growing conditions and already established in a new place, it is important to shape them every year: this will be their main care. If the environment does not require sterility, simply leave the fallen needles alone as natural mulch.

Conifers are great because they are architectural, maintaining their verticality, shape and color throughout the year. Although at the end of winter some plants may appear tired, brown, well-matched shapes it will still maintain a harmonious image.

Black pine (Pinus nigra) in winter.

If there are too many conifers in the land, this feature can become a disadvantage. Change of season it is the engine that makes us smile in spring, swim in flocks to see the cherry trees in bloom, and admire the bright red leaves of the vines in autumn.

Therefore, usually in a plot dominated by meadows and conifers, pots with bright annual flowers usually appear. Daily watering and picking the flowers are not up to the task at all.»low maintenance„.

If you want to revive the static image of conifers, perennial ornamental grasses, e.g. miscants, soruoles, melvenes, ašotės.

PERENNIAL DECORATIVE PLANTS

If the soil is well cleaned of aggressive weeds before planting, perennial plants it can be a good solution for low maintenance without compromising beauty.

The first step is to evaluate your environment. To require as little care as possible, plants should be selected not only for their beauty, but also for the place where they will grow, conditions. In less sunny soil, plant dry-loving plants (e.g. lavender, catnip, yarrow, yarrow), in moist shade – shade-loving plants typical of forest habitats (blueberry, fern, astilba, sedge), in sunny, good soil you can also plant hardy rose varieties.

Fern growing in spring.

Well chosen plants needs are satisfied by the existing environmenttherefore a little help is only needed in the first and second year, until the plant is established (weeding and watering), then the plants grow so that there is no room for weeds to intervene. Modern greening courses «Yellow Wheelbarrow» recommend that decorative herbaceous plants, which dry out and retain their shape in winter, should not be cut even in autumn – in winter the area with snow-covered plants looks even more interesting. At the end of winter it will be possible to remove the part of earth, which will constitute the main maintenance operation of the area planted with ornamental herbaceous plants.

Flowering shrubs and shrubs with colorful leaves: jasmine, snowdrop 'Diabolo', olive tree.

Flowering shrubs and bushes with colorful leaves.

Flowering bushes OR bushes with colorful leaves (flexible, dogwood, bramble, jasmine) is also a good low-maintenance solution. Do not use a film under the bushes, it is better to mulch thickly – it is more difficult for weeds to break through, and the bush is nourished naturally and a good soil structure is maintained. Working on overgrown bushes: shaping and adding mulch, really low maintenance.

Flexible explosive leaves of ‘Goldflame’ in spring

If the plants require it other conditionsof what you have much more attention will be needed. Those who like shade, but planted in the sun, will need watering. Those who like acidic soil (for example, rhododendrons) will need acidic peat for planting, and subsequently means for acidification. Plants from warmer regions will need to be covered for the winter and care must be taken to ensure they do not overheat or burn in the first spring sunshine. You may need to spray taller plants for diseases or pests. Annual flowers that come from hot countries need to be watered, fertilized, and some flowers need to be torn off.

Check before buying What are the growing conditions on your land?to choose plants well. If you like spending time with plants, don’t be afraid of bolder solutions. If you want to spend time on other things, think about that when creating your environment.