Love the idea of immaculate front yard landscaping but don’t have tons of time for yard maintenance? Totally understandable!
That’s why low-maintenance front yard landscaping tips like these are so awesome. Read on to learn easy tricks for sprucing up a front yard but keeping it manageable.
Automate Irrigation
All plants need water, especially under the hot Georgia sun. To make any yard lower maintenance, automatic irrigation is always the first step. With an irrigation system in place, there’s no worrying about watering the lawn after a hard day at work.
It’s not even necessary to have a full underground system in place, though those do tend to look nicer. A simple timer attached to a watering hose will automate a moveable sprinkler or drip line. Compared to hand watering, that’s an upgrade.
For the biggest improvement, though, look to underground automated sprinkler systems. Being able to hide most of the plumbing under the soil keeps the landscape natural and uncluttered. It also keeps lines underneath patios, lawns, and pathways for fewer trip hazards and a tidier appearance.
Plant Evergreens
Evergreen trees are a staple in any low-maintenance front yard landscaping. Slow-growing varieties require little pruning and there are no flowers to deadhead in the summer or leaves to pick up in the fall.
There are also a wide variety of plants to choose from. Short bushes are great for flower beds, taller trees offer privacy, and some evergreens can easily be pruned into fun topiary shapes.
And the best part is they stay lush and green all year round!
Incorporate Rocks
Rocks are the casual gardener’s best friend. Since they are not living things, they require almost no maintenance to maintain. And they come in an incredible variety of colors, sizes, and textures.
Lay high-quality landscape fabric under a gravel pathway or rock garden to avoid weed problems. This also makes it easier to clean up debris falling on top of the rocks. Further, the fabric keeps the rocks from being pushed into the ground or mixed in with the soil.
Choose Fencing Carefully
When choosing fencing materials, keep in mind the amount of maintenance involved. Wooden fences require periodic sealing and re-staining or re-painting. Another drawback is that maintaining standing wood fences requires preparation to avoid spilling and damaging surrounding hardscape and landscaping.
On the other hand, block walls, metal fences, and vinyl fencing require almost no maintenance. These materials come in a wide variety of colors and styles that will fit in with any landscape design.
Plant Only Perennials
Annuals are a major time sink for people who don’t have a lot of time for gardening. Plant them and they only bloom for one season — the opposite of low-maintenance front yard landscaping.
But those who plant perennials will enjoy beautiful blooms year after year without having to replant each year. And with minimal care, those plants will grow larger to make a greater visual impact with hardly any additional work.
Of course, even amongst perennials the amount of maintenance varies. Flowering ones will require deadheading the old blooms, but non-flowering ones are available for those who wish to avoid this chore. Look to plants with colorful or variegated foliage to get an interesting landscape without the work of flowers. Crotons, hoyas, and coleus fit the bill.
Use Ornamental Grasses
Ornamental grasses are an excellent plant to use in a low-maintenance front yard landscaping design. They offer texture and visual interest without requiring much effort to care for. They’ll need a trim every so often, but far less frequently than having to mow the lawn.
Some homeowners don’t want to get rid of the lawn entirely but want a smaller lawn that’s easier to care for. Ornamental grasses are commonly grown in gardens or berms placed like an island in the lawn. This reduces the overall size of the lawn to make mowing sessions shorter.
Add Mulch
Wouldn’t it be great to have something that cuts down on weeds, protects plants in winter, holds moisture, makes an attractive ground cover, and improves the soil quality all at the same time? Mulch is your friend!
Mulch is lightweight compared to gravel and affordable. But be sure to buy in bulk for a better price and have it delivered. Don’t use bags to do a whole yard!
And it’s not too difficult to install. Lay down landscape fabric to prevent weeds and cover with mulch to form a natural-looking ground cover. Using the same mulch in garden beds across the yard unifies the space and makes the design feel intentional.
Choose Trees Very Carefully
To keep your front yard landscape easy to maintain, it’s important to think carefully about the types of trees to include. Some varieties can make quite the mess. Spent blooms, dropped seed pods or fruit, or fallen leaves can require constant cleaning at certain times of the year.
Trees can also easily outgrow their space or do poorly in the wrong climate. Look at what is working for the neighbors to inform tree purchasing decisions and research varieties carefully. The wrong tree in the wrong spot leads to expensive and time-consuming maintenance. Sometimes, a tree even requires removal.
Our Best Tip for Cutting Your Maintenance Time?
Give us a call, of course! We get it. Our clients lead busy lives and we’re here to take the yard off your plate. Our landscaping services experts are standing by to help you achieve the landscape you’ve been envisioning. Contact us today to get going on your next project!
