One of the many underestimated household chores homeowners must tackle is maintaining the yard. The list of tasks to accomplish is a long one! So much so that some people feel that taking care of the yard eats up their entire summer.
And yet, it is possible to significantly simplify your yard maintenance all while still being able to enjoy a beautiful and functional outdoor space.
Purchase a Robotic Lawnmower
With modern technology you can now automate certain maintenance tasks and will reduce yard work to save time and energy. Many homeowners’ new favourite gadget is the robotic lawnmower. Just like an automated robotic vacuum, this device can cut your grass for you, at any time of the day or night!
Select Hardy Plants
If you want the plants in your garden to thrive, they must be suited to your backyard’s growing conditions (sun, shade, wind, etc.). But to really reduce your garden’s demands on your time and make your life easier, always opt for drought-resistant plants, such as succulents, lavenders and ornamental grasses. They need less watering and pruning.
Install an Automated Watering System
An automated watering system, like a water timer for your sprinklers or a drip irrigation system, can save time while ensuring your plants are regularly and adequately watered. Be sure to set a watering schedule which corresponds to your plants’ specific needs and the weather conditions, to avoid wasting this precious resource.
Such a system can equally be employed to water the lawn, and prevent it from drying out, in accordance with your municipality’s authorized lawn watering schedule. This way, you’ll also spend less time trying to bring it back to life with various treatments!
Apply Mulch to Control Weeds
Mulch is an excellent means of minimizing weeds all while retaining the soil’s moisture. Spreading a layer of organic or stone mulch around your plants and in your beds will reduce the number of hours spent weeding as well as protect your plants from extreme temperature fluctuations.
Avoid Wooden Structures
It can be quite tempting to build with wood, whether it’s a fence, deck, shed or balcony. It’s typically the cheapest material; however, it can be very high maintenance, requiring regular sealing, for example. In fact, the entire surface needs to be refinished every two to three years! A composite wood product undoubtedly constitutes the most practical option: it’s durable, it doesn’t fade in the sun, no sealant is necessary, and it comes in several colours.
Make Sure Your Tools Are Readily Accessible
Install a garden shed or set up a practical storage area for your garden tools. And don’t make the mistake of just putting them away haphazardly when you’re finished using them! Maintaining the yard is hard enough as it is. Do yourself a favour and keep your tools close at hand, clean and organized.
Cut Back on the Green
Of course, being surrounded by lush green plant life in the backyard is important, even essential. But you might still want to consider reducing the size of your lawn and flowerbeds by creating one or more paved patio zones. These can serve as relaxation or entertaining spaces and need far less maintenance than grassy or planted areas.
Another solution is to go faux and lay good quality artificial turf in certain sections of the yard (especially shady spots where grass inevitably tends to yellow). You’ll get the benefits of a green yard, maintenance-free!
Conceal Less Attractive Areas
Is the shed’s paint peeling? Is your fence looking old and faded? If you don’t want to tackle such a big project right away, try to keep the offending structure out of sight… or at least out of mind! Your best friends in these situations are climbing plants like vines, honeysuckles and rambling roses.
Opt for Weather-Resistant Furniture
Investing in garden furniture and accessories that can withstand anything Mother Nature throws at them will lessen the need to cover them or put them away diligently. Materials like reinforced plastic, aluminum or water-resistant fabrics are ideal as they can stand up to a wide range of weather conditions. And if you must tidy away your accessories every evening, store them in a large airtight deck box.
We hope that with this advice you will have more free time to spend actually enjoying your backyard with your friends and family!