Many people think every aspect of landscaping is equally important. In reality, as with most things in life, you get about 80% of the results from 20% of the effort.
You do not need to spend every weekend planting high-maintenance trees or digging trenches. You can focus on the tasks that will give you the biggest return on investment. But what are they?
Using heavy dark mulch
One of the best ways to start is by using heavy dark mulch in your landscaping. Spreading black hardwood or dark brown mulch on your beds creates a sense of luxury and professionalism, and it makes your green plants and colourful flowers pop more than regular brown mulch.
On a professional level, it also smothers weed seeds, so you do not get random green shoots popping up all over the place that you have to regularly remove. This saves you even more work and effort on the weekend, so you can spend your time the way you want.
Using the one big pot rule
Another easy landscaping tactic used by professionals like Southview Design is the “one big pot rule.” The idea is to avoid using dozens of cheap plastic pots around your garden, which can look cluttered, and instead choose one or two statement planters.
Place one tall, dramatic centre plant, then add a few smaller, supporting plants around it, usually flowers like petunias or geraniums. You can also add spiller plants, like vines, that creep over the planter’s edge over time to make it look even more dramatic and organic.
This approach saves you time because it saves you work. You do not have to water lots of different pots all the time. Instead, you water one or two and then get on with your day.
Use perennials in ground covers
If you want even less work, you can cheat by using perennials and ground covers. These hardy, aggressive plants are real survivors and don’t need much tender loving care. They can thrive in shade or full sun all day and even make it through drought if you forget to water them.
What’s more, they tend to come back bigger and stronger every year. After a couple of seasons, they usually stick around. They crowd out weeds by hogging their root space and look lush and intentional, making your garden more aesthetic over time.
Mow high
You don’t need your lawn to look as trimmed as a golf course. That’s why many professional landscapers recommend keeping lawns mowed higher. Use a setting around 3 to 4 inches and use a string trimmer along the perimeter. Longer grass has several benefits:
- It creates natural shade.
- It allows weed seeds to take root.
- It retains moisture better.
- It hides lumps and bumps in the ground, so it looks better.
Add some light overnight
A final easy hack is to install solar-powered LED pathway lights that shine from the ground at night. They look amazing in the evening and can highlight your walkways or draw attention to the garden features you want to show off.
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