What’s your biggest complaint about gardening and yard maintenance? Our guess is that you said, “weeding!” We’ve never met someone who actually enjoys weeding. The other common complaint is that it takes too much work and effort to make the yard look nice.
However, it is possible to have an amazing looking yard and not struggle with upkeep. We have a few simple tips to help keep weeds at bay and examples of low maintenance plants that will increase curb appeal by adding pops of color.
Unquestionably, the easiest way to make your yard less laborious is to hire a professional to fertilize and mow your lawn. Grass requires a substantial amount of upkeep. Your Rock Solid team will create an oasis in your yard by taking care of the lawn care and maintenance while you put your feet up and appreciate the view. Or we can help design and install a low maintenance garden that you’ll enjoy all summer long. More information about garden services.
What to Plant For in a Low Maintenance Garden
Perennials are your answer! They’re garden time-savers as they keep coming back year after year. When picking out your perennial plants, there are a few factors to consider, including hardiness, shade/sun tolerance, drought resistance, and longevity.
When selecting your plants, look for those that will survive our Minnesota winters, which is a hardiness of Zone 4 or higher. Also, check the water and sun requirements when choosing plants for different areas around your yard. Generally, select lighter-colored plants for shady areas and drought resistant in your hot spots. Make sure to also add variety to your garden by picking plants that bloom all season or at different times and select those with varying heights and texture. This will add depth to your garden all summer long.
The Perfect Perennials
Below is a few of our recommended plants that thrive in our climate. You can refer to our plant catalog for more options.
- Asters are hardy, late bloomers.
- Astilbe is a shade-loving plant with amazing texture.
- Daylilies are early bloomers that require very little maintenance.
- Hostas are another shade-loving plant that are renowned for their colorful leaves.
- Hydrangeas, technically a shrub, are a show stopper and are surprising easy to care for.
- Sedum changes colors throughout the growing season and is great ground cover.
Easy Care Trees and Shrubs
Evergreen trees and shrubs are also an effortless, low maintenance addition to your yard. They have very little fall clean-up unlike the leaves from your deciduous trees. Plus, they add color to your yard even in the winter.
If you have area in your yard with wetter soil, balsam fir and black spruce trees make excellent additions. Whereas a ponderosa pine can tolerate soil that in high pH or clay-based.
Great evergreen shrub options include boxwood, daphne, lavender, barberry, and euonymus. Using boxwoods to line your driveways is an effective way to ensure minimal clean-up and weed growth.
Watering and Mulching
Weeding is the most tedious tasks when it comes to yard maintenance, but there are a few ways to minimize weed growth. First, add a top dressing such as mulch, gravel, or slate. This top layer will suppress weeds and make your gardens look fresh.
The key to using mulch as a weed suppressant is to build it to 6” of depth. Often mulch depth is applied to less depth because of the cost; however, six inches of mulch will block any sunlight reaching the dirt ensuring weeds will not grow. We also advice that Preen, a 6-8 week weed preventer, be applied to the mulch beds in the spring and mid-summer. Preen is also effective when added to rock beds.
As for your lawn, a dense lawn will prevent weed seeds from landing on open soil and growing. So, keeping your grass healthy by watering and fertilization is important. The most convenient and least laborious way is to install a sprinkler or a fertigation system. With an irrigation system, you’ll have the time to sit back and enjoy your property with the benefit of a lower water bill. The precision of an irrigation system helps reduce water waste and give your plants the water they need.
If you’re thinking of installing a sprinkler system in your yard, our team can help design, install and maintain your irrigation system. You’ll have an entire team of lawn sprinkler contractors dedicated to long-term quality and value.
Give us a call at 763-398-0739 for more information or a for a FREE, no-obligation consultation on an irrigation system or maintenance package for your lawn and garden.
