Creating a Low Maintenance Garden

Effortless Style for Busy Lives

Too busy to garden? You’re not alone.

Between work, family, and everything else life throws at us, finding the time (and energy!) to keep a garden looking its best can feel like a full-time job in itself. In more recent years, where our weather can swing from soft showers to surprise heatwaves, keeping a garden looking its best has added challenges but that doesn’t mean you have to give up on having a beautiful outdoor space. With a bit of clever planning—and the right plants—you can create a garden that looks great in every season, without demanding your constant attention.

Above we see a combination of evergreen shrubs, ferns, decking and container planting to create a natural looking outdoor space. Image courtesy of rawpixels.com (CC0)

Let’s walk through how you can create a garden that looks great all year round, with minimal effort.

Why Go Low Maintenance?

• Year-round colour and structure
• Reduced watering, pruning, and weeding
• A calming space to relax and recharge

And it doesn’t mean sacrificing beauty or personality — quite the opposite! It’s all about smart choices and letting nature do the heavy lifting.

Plants to use for a Fuss-Free Garden

Conifers are a great way to add structure to your garden with the added benefit that most are evergreen, which adds year round interest and is especially welcome on those dark winter days when many plants and shrubs are laid bare. Given the range of conifers available, there is bound to be a few that will suit your soil type and situation. Some conifers also make great hedges and wind breakers depending on your requirements.

When choosing a conifer, the main consideration will be space as you will need to choose a growth rate and eventual size that is suitable for your garden. For this it is useful to understand the following terms used to describe conifers:

• Miniature conifers grow at around 2-2.5cm per year with a typical specimen being around 30cm (1ft) or less in height and up to twice that in width after about 10 years.
• Dwarf conifers can grow 2.5–15cm per year with a typical height of between 60 – 180cm (2-6ft) after 10 years.
• Intermediate Conifers (or medium sized conifers) can grow 15-30cm per year with most reaching between 180cm – 4.5m (6-15ft) at full maturity.
• Large Conifers can grow quite vigorously at 30cm per year with a majority reaching over 4.5m (15ft).

1. Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) – Evergreen and tidy, perfect for structure with just one or two trims a year. Often used for topiary or shaped for container planting to add a focal point.
2. Rhododendrons and Azaleas - If you have an acidic soil, these plants come in various sizes and generally have leathery, evergreen leaves whilst providing you with a burst of vibrant colour in the spring.
3. Heuchera (Coral Bells) – These plants offer ruffled evergreen foliage in striking shades, great for borders and containers.
4. Pittosporum – These are a great evergreen foliage plant with leaves ranging from the dark reddish brown of 'Tom-Thumb' to the silvery foliage of 'Silver Ball' and a perfect for a sheltered position.
5. Camellia – Early spring blooms with glossy evergreen leaves, ideal for part-shaded gardens.
6. Griselinia littoralis – A hardy hedging plant offering privacy and year-round greenery.
7. Sedum (Stonecrop) – Succulent and drought-tolerant, with long-lasting blooms for pollinators. Great for filling those smaller spaces.
8. Phormium (New Zealand Flax) – Striking foliage and architectural form, no pruning required.
9. Choisya – Add structure and greenery all year with minimal care whilst adding some fragrance and lovely white flowers from late spring.
10. Carex (Sedge Grasses) – Evergreen grasses for texture, ideal for gravel or wild-style gardens.

Low-Care Landscaping Tips

• Gravel or Slate Mulch: Suppresses weeds and retains moisture, while looking smart.
• Raised Beds or Planters: Easier to access and water, and perfect for tailored soil conditions.
• Paved or Decked Areas: Create practical space with zero upkeep.
• Automatic Irrigation or Soaker Hoses: Save time and avoid stress during dry spells.

Here we see how gravelled paths and raised beds can be used to create a space that is easily navigated and maintained. Image courtesy of Durt-co.com

Clever Watering in a Changing Climate

• Mulch generously: Bark, compost or gravel all help keep moisture in and weeds out.
• Water early or late: Reduce evaporation and help roots soak it up efficiently.
• Group pots together: Creates a microclimate and reduces water loss.
• Install rain barrels: Harvest rainwater to use during droughts – great for the environment too.

Final Thoughts

A low-maintenance garden doesn’t mean a lifeless one. With a thoughtful mix of evergreens, perennials, and structural elements, you can have a space that brings joy every season — without the constant upkeep.

If you’re ready to create a beautiful but easy-to-manage garden, pop into one of our garden centres — we’d be happy to help you choose the perfect plants and give advice tailored to your space. Whether you’ve got a small city yard or a wild west coast plot, there’s a low-maintenance garden style for everyone.

We also have a team of landscapers with a dedicated garden design team that have 30 years of experience creating beautiful outdoor spaces for both private gardens and commercial needs. See our Landscaping and Garden Design page for more details.

Cover photo by denisbin illustrating red autumn leaves of various maples combined with conifers to proved an impactful low-maintenance garden. (CC BY-ND 2.0)