Peter Dowdall: Preparing your garden for the coming rapid growth
Choisya, or Mexican orange blossom, is a fantastic choice, with glossy green leaves and scented white flowers that appear in spring and summer.
As we emerge from the depths of winter and early spring, a time when the garden has been relatively slow and quiet, we now find ourselves hurtling into the season of full speed ahead of garden growth.
The days are getting longer, temperatures are rising, and suddenly life is surging back into our outdoor spaces. Before we know it, the garden can run away on us, and for many, keeping up with its demands can feel like a daunting task.
The reality is that not everyone has the time, the energy, or even the inclination to spend hours every week tending to their garden and that is absolutely fine. A garden should be a place of enjoyment, relaxation, and beauty, not a source of stress or an ever-growing to-do list.
For those who love to be out there, hands in the soil and secateurs at the ready, then their gardens should reflect that passion. But for those who prefer to enjoy their outdoor space with minimal maintenance, it’s important to design a garden that works for them too.
A well-thought-out, low-maintenance garden can be just as beautiful and rewarding as one that requires constant attention.
Choosing the right plants is key. Some plants thrive with very little intervention, while others demand regular pruning, feeding, and deadheading. If you want a garden that more or less looks after itself, focus on plants that don’t need constant care.
Evergreen shrubs are a great place to start because they provide structure, texture, and colour all year round without much effort. Choisya, or Mexican orange blossom, is a fantastic choice, with glossy green leaves and scented white flowers that appear in spring and summer.
Pittosporum is another winner, offering a lovely, dense form that stays looking good with minimal fuss. And then there’s Mahonia, a hardy shrub that brightens up the winter months with its cheerful yellow flowers and is happy in shade.
Perennials are also your best friend in a low-maintenance garden because they come back year after year, saving you the trouble of replanting. Geranium ‘Rozanne’ is a fantastic variety, producing masses of purple-blue flowers over a long season, while Nepeta, or catmint, forms neat mounds of grey-green foliage topped with lavender-blue flowers that bees adore.
If you want something bold and bright, Echinacea, or coneflower, will deliver colour with very little effort.
And don’t forget ornamental grasses, which add movement and texture while asking for next to nothing in return. Stipa tenuissima, or Mexican feather grass, is one of my favourites forming soft, wispy mounds that catch the light beautifully, while Miscanthus ‘Gracillimus’ adds height and structure well into winter.
The design of the garden plays a huge role in how easy it is to maintain. It’s important to focus on structure rather than relying solely on flowers. The correct choice of shrubs, hedges, and architectural plants will ensure the garden looks good in every season, even when flowers aren’t in bloom.
Hard landscaping can also help keep things manageable. Gravel paths, paving, or large planters can cut down on the amount of weeding and general upkeep required.
Keeping the plant palette simple is another trick that makes a big difference. Rather than cramming in as many different varieties as possible, stick to a smaller number of plants that you know will thrive. Using the same plants in repeated patterns creates a natural, flowing look and avoids the need for constant rearranging and tweaking.
If you have a lawn, you’ll know it can be one of the most time-consuming aspects of gardening. If you haven’t invested yet, then think seriously about a robot lawnmower. Weeds are one of the biggest headaches for gardeners, but a little bit of forward planning can save you hours of battling with them later.
Mulching is one of the simplest and most effective ways to cut down on weeding while also helping the soil retain moisture. A good thick layer of organic mulch, like bark or compost, applied in early spring will keep the weeds down by preventing light from reaching them. At the same time, it will improve the soil as it breaks down
A well-planned garden should work for you and your lifestyle, providing enjoyment without feeling like a chore. The key is to let the plants and design do the hard work so that you don’t have to.
A garden that looks good year-round without demanding constant attention is not only possible but actually quite easy to achieve with the right approach. And remember, whether you’re out there gardening every day or just enjoying the view with a cup of tea in hand, the best garden is the one that brings you the most joy.
