Have you been out in the garden much this summer?
If it is less than you would like to thanks to the typical UK weather of being warm one minute and then pouring down with rain the next, then we feel your pain.
However, if you’re lucky enough to own some outdoor space then you’ll know it can be costly.
In recent months, there has been a growing interest in garden landscaping, driven by homeowners who find themselves short on time for maintaining perfectly manicured lawns.
On TikTok alone, hashtags like ‘low maintenance landscaping’ and ‘low budget low maintenance garden’ have amassed 40.9 million posts.
So it is no surprise that the current enthusiasm for no-grass gardens promises to save time, money, and effort. According to Paving Superstore, ditching traditional grass gardens can lead to long-term savings of a staggering £398.36.
Georgina Read, director at Paving Superstore, has shared her tips on why transitioning to a patio flower bed garden is a beneficial choice.
Read said: “Maintaining a typical UK garden lawn, averaging 188 square metres will cost approximately £142.90 annually in water, mowing, and waste disposal fees.
“Transitioning to a low-maintenance garden with one-third flower beds and two-thirds patio area could lead to savings of £43.30 annually.
“This is because flower beds require weekly watering during the growing season, costing approximately £99.60 annually.
“Over an average homeownership of 9.2 years, this switch could save a substantial £398.36.” Read explained that opting for a low-maintenance garden not only saves money but also time.
She added: “Our analysis found that the average UK garden requires weekly mowing from March to October.
“You could save approximately four hours and 36.5 minutes each year by eliminating the lawn, as the average UK lawn requires eight minutes and 33 seconds per mow.
“This means over the average homeownership period, opting for a low-maintenance garden when initially designing your garden could save you approximately 42.4 hours in lawn mowing.”
The expert also shared six more tips for creating a low-maintenance garden that is visually interesting. Here’s what you need to do:
Low-care plants
Plant low-maintenance shrubs, perennials, and trees that provide visual interest, but don’t require too much attention and time.
Repurpose pallets
Utilise pallets to create raised garden beds. They are often available for free on platforms like Facebook Marketplace.
Create a rockery
Stack large rocks to create height and define an area in your garden. Adding flowers among the rocks can also enhance the visual appeal.
Gravel areas
Use gravel in parts of your garden and plant bulbs and perennials that can grow through it. This acts as a weed barrier and allows water to reach the soil. Prepare with organic matter and top with gravel.
Large plant pots
Opt for a few large accent plant pots instead of many small ones to reduce maintenance.
Fill garden beds
Fill your garden borders with these low-maintenance plants to create a cosy garden while also preventing weeds. Plant densely and mulch to cover bare soil, effectively limiting weed growth.
