If your dream is enjoy a green, flowery garden full of life, but it does not require too many hours of work, you should know that it is possible to simplify tasks. And it is not about sacrificing the beauty or diversity of plants, but about work with nature and not against it.

According to gardening expert Katharina Petzholdt, an easy-to-care for garden is born from two pillars: intelligent planning and the use of appropriate species.

HAVE A CLEAR GARDEN STRUCTURE FROM THE BEGINNING

If the garden design is well thought out from the beginning, Much maintenance work can be avoided.

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Divide the land into well-defined areasplacing paths strategically and clearly separating lawn areas and flowerbeds saves time and avoids later problems.

A frequent mistake it is dlet the edges of the flower beds merge with the grass no clear delimitation. Although aesthetically it may look natural, this causes the grass to invade the beds and complicates cutting. A simple border can avoid that extra task.

Choose hedges that take care of themselves

Trimmed hedges, so traditional in many gardens, require shears and constant attention. Instead, wild hedges hardly need pruning and they integrate perfectly into the landscape. In addition, they offer shelter and food to birds, insects and other animals.

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Among the ideal species are hazel, hawthorn, elderberry, dogwood, blackthorn or holly. All of them, in addition to being easy to maintain, provide texture, color and biodiversity throughout the year.

Reduce grass, more life and less work

Carpet-type grass is beautiful, but also very demanding, you have to cut, fertilize, water, scarify… The alternative? Replace part of the lawn with flowered meadows or areas with vegetal cover. This reduces the workload and enriches the ecosystem.

The natural grasslands They thrive especially well in poor, dry soil. There, perennial plants such as scabiosa, plantain or wild primrose displace the grasses, forming a varied tapestry that It only requires one or two cuts a year.

Padding, your great ally

Cover the soil with organic materials prevents it from drying quickly and helps stop the growth of weeds.

This translates into less watering and less weeding. Plus, it improves soil health by breaking down slowly.

You can use shredded bark, compost, dried leaves or straw. Mulching, especially in spring and fall, maintains moisture and Protects roots from both heat and cold.

A wild corner is also a garden

Not all land has to be “perfect.” Leave a corner of the garden as a wild space where nature does its thing Not only does it save effort, but it also promotes biodiversity.

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Over there leaves, fallen branches or stones may accumulate, generating shelters for insects, amphibians and small mammals.

In these areas There is no need to mow the grass, prune, or collect leaves. Intervention is only done if a plant spreads too much or there is an obvious imbalance.

Plant with your head, not by impulse

One of the most common mistakes in gardening is plant without considering the environment. Each species needs a specific type of soil, orientation and humidity. If you choose to plant a lavender in the shade you have to know that it will suffer, just like a violet in full sun.

Before planting, it is important Observe the garden at different times of the day and year, and choose based on actual conditions. This will avoid future transplants and unnecessary losses.

Plant size does matter

When planting, You have to think about the final size of the species. Many times bushes or trees are placed very close to paths or walls and, when they grow, they need constant pruning or cause inconvenience to neighbors or the garden itself.

It is better to leave more space from the beginning, even if it seems empty at first. To temporarily fill those gaps, seasonal plants or annual crops can be used.

put Native plants: they give less work, more success

local species They are adapted to the climate and natural rhythm of the area. That is why they require less care, do not need special protection in winter and are usually more resistant to pests.

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You can, for example, plant yarrow. Other recommended species are aconite, bellflower, alchemilla or wormwood. In addition, many of them are ideal for pollinators.

A simple garden is also possible

Not every garden involves spending all day digging and planting. There is vegetables that are planted once and produce for years, such as rhubarb, asparagus, tupinambo and wild garlic.

Also the bush-shaped or dwarfed fruit trees They adapt well to small spaces and require little work beyond occasional pruning.

The expert’s advice

Katharina Petzholdt sums it up like this: “Take time to get to know your garden before acting. Observe its light, its soil, its seasonal changes. The better you understand it, the fewer mistakes you will have to correct later.”

When the garden is planned wisely, it flourishes without becoming a burden.

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