Are you looking for the best solution to create a low-maintenance garden?

Perhaps you don’t have the energy or mobility to regularly maintain your garden. It could just be that you’re incredibly busy, have a young family, or are away from your property for weeks or months at a time.

Whatever the reason, if you want to enjoy your garden without having to regularly take care of its upkeep, there are solutions out there to help.

In my experience as a professional landscaper, I’m going to talk you through two of the best ways to create a low-maintenance garden.

The best solutions for a low-maintenance garden

The best way to create a low-maintenance garden is to install artificial grass or a resin-bound patio. Both require minimal maintenance, and look great all year round. At the same time, they combat drainage problems, so no reoccurring issues. Both are also pet-friendly. You can easily remove pet faeces, and wash mess away, which is not as easy as with slabs, chips or decking.

Both have long life expectancies, so no replacing it after just a few years like other alternatives. This really makes them the best investment. Saying that, artificial grass is the most popular option when looking to replace a natural lawn, and resin-bound is usually used alongside this to create a patio area, so you can get the best of both worlds!

TIP: There are other alternatives to natural lawn, which you can read about in our recent blog post: ‘5 of the Best Alternatives to Natural Grass for Your Garden’.

Let’s take a closer look at both, below:

1. Artificial grass

In my opinion, artificial grass is the best way to create a low-maintenance space. This is because it requires minimal upkeep whilst looking great all year round. But even better, it’s provides a soft area for children to play on, and pets love it, too! It can easily be maintained on an annual basis by your chosen installer. This service can (in most cases) be carried out as often as you like.

Because it’s fully porous, drainage issues become a thing of the past. Plus, on average, an artificial lawn can last 15 – 20 years. At £55 – £65 + VAT per square metre (supplied and fitted), artificial grass can be a bit of an investment, but its because of its longevity and low care requirements, it’s becoming a more popular option for homeowners.

In fact, most good quality artificial grass should come with a manufacturer-backed guarantee covering UV Stability (fading/discolouration), along with tensile strength, to ensure it can withstand heavy footfall. (We’ve explained a little more about guarantees in this blog post).

2. A resin-bound surface

Just like artificial grass, a resin-bound surface is fully-permeable, so perfect for drainage. It’s non-slip, comes in a variety of colours, and is also non-fungal, so weed growth is restricted. If you’re looking for an alternative to a hard surface like concrete, pavers or decking, a resin-bound surface can be a good choice.

It’s not the best solution for children or pets, as this is a hard surface, but many homeowners choose to install it alongside artificial grass. And unlike normal paving, it works out as a much better investment in the long-run for things like driveways, pathways and patios, as it requires less maintenance, and leaves no weeds or puddles. It also lasts a good 15 – 20 years.

Costing slightly more than artificial grass, at around £80 + VAT per square metres (supplied and fitted), this is also a bit of an investment. Installation is also very much weather-permittent, as it can only be laid when the ground is dry.

The best of both worlds?

Of course, there’s nothing to stop you having both artificial grass and a resin-bound surface in your garden. These days, many homeowners choose a full garden makeover, with a good-sized artificial lawn space, and a smaller area of either patio or a resin-bound surface to lay furniture and entertain guests. Other decorative options include flower beds, for adding a bit more colour!

Advice from an experienced landscaper

Unsure of which low-maintenance solution would best suit your needs? I’d advise you to think carefully about what you want from your garden. Adding artificial grass on its own will cut down maintenance time, and provide a nice, soft surface for children and pets. Or, you may wish to have a patio or resin-bound surface to complement your lawn.

Both of these options will reduce the amount of time you’ll have to spend maintaining your garden. Especially just taking away the regular cutting of grass can make a huge difference! Flower beds can also be an option if you still like the idea of coloured flowers and blooms in your garden.

One of our elderly customers loves looking after the plants and trees in her garden, but didn’t have the energy to use a heavy lawnmower anymore. She also didn’t want to employ someone to regularly cut the grass. We had installed artificial grass in her neighbour’s garden, and she had heard how much better it was to take care of.

Our customer’s grass wasn’t in a bad condition, but it was patchy and had burnt out areas. We installed artificial grass on her property, and now it perfectly complements the plants and trees, allowing our customer to have a low-maintenance lawn, 365 days a year.

Conclusion

 

I hope you’ve found this blog helpful when considering your options for a low-maintenance garden. Both artificial grass and a resin-bound surface are great options if you’re looking for the lowest maintenance solutions for your garden. You could even have a combination of the two, depending on how you want to use your garden.

Do you have any questions about creating a low-maintenance garden? Simply leave a comment below. I’d love to hear from you!