Low-Maintenance Gardens

Low-maintenance gardens can be very striking and have a high visual impact, and can also still be very stylish like those gardens that require more attention.

This type of garden is perfect for those people that do not have a lot of time to dedicate to gardening but still want to have a stunning garden without the hassle of mowing, constant watering, weeding and dead-heading. This type of garden also appeals to individuals that may suffer from a disability, infirmity or maybe just feeling the affects of old age.

The advantage of low-maintenance gardens is that they can go for long periods of time without being tended to, meaning that you could go on holiday for a week or two and come back to a garden that looks just as clean and maintained as when you left it.

Low-maintenance gardens are more often than not designed using only a select few plants that give a striking effect, but it is also possible to have a garden filled with plants. It will all depend on the amount of plants you choose that determines the time needed to keep maintain the garden.

Most low maintenance gardens are designed with gravel, stones, wood chippings and slate. The plants will then be spread out or gathered together in a way that compliments the garden design. As an example, gravel and stone gardens are low-maintenance, especially if you plant them with plants or shrubs that are drought-tolerant - such as lavenders. With this design, maintenance is limited to only trimming back the plants or shrubs that start to overgrow their space.

Weeds should not be too much of a problem if the ground has been properly laid with a plastic sheet or membrane and the covering with stones, gravel or wood chippings is nice and thick, you will rarely see one or two weeds appearing every few weeks.

The Garden Floor - Although it is often the borders and flower beds that provide you with the initial impact of a garden, the floor of the garden - paved and grassed areas for example - can take up the majority of the garden. This area will usually take up most of your time in terms of maintenance but will also have a huge impact in visual terms.

There are lots of ideas when it comes to designing the floor of a garden, such as paving, gravel and also decking. Make sure you take all ideas into consideration as this area of the garden will be the most expensive and for what you are going to spend you want as good as you can get it.

Gravel - Gravel is very useful for preventing weeds. Tip: A good weed killer, very carefully applied, should be used once before each season, this should control weeds for that upcoming season. Too much gravel does not always look very nice and is not to many individual's taste. Quite often a mixture of gravel and paved areas will compliment each other very nicely rather than having each on their own. Gravel is also a lovely 'flooring' for displaying shrubs or plants used in pots.

Decking -  Decking is always an option when designing your garden, consider timber decking instead of paving. The advantages to decking can be very appealing - if suitable timber is used and treated correctly, it can be practical, attractive and long-lasting. Make sure to stain your timber decking with a colour that can compliment the style of your garden and also goes with the interior colours of your house, for example, a warm colour or dark colour of stain.

Paving - For a smaller area to be paved, think about using bricks or clay pavers instead of concrete slabs. This design can be complimented well using 'warm' effect plants. Before deciding on the bricks you want to use, be sure to check with the supplier that they are suitable to be used as a path - some can crumble after frequent wetting and freezing.

Garden Planning Autumn Bedding Plants: 4 Bedding Plants that Can Keep Your Home Looking Lively and Attractive

It is possible to still do some gardening in autumn. It is surprising that some people forget about garden planning once summer is over and autumn comes full circle. But it can be done. You do not have to wait till late April or early May before you start planting in your garden again. There are autumn bedding plants that you can use.

You can keep doing what you did all summer, putting fresh flowers in your homes or in window boxes alongside flower borders. You might not have as much choice as summer bedding plants. But you still can afford to make your garden or home look colourful and happy-looking during the season. Here are 4 autumn bedding plants that can keep your home looking lively and attractive.

Golden Fleece

The Golden Fleece also known as Dahlberg Daisy is a great autumn bedding plant. When planted it buds through early fall. It is a 6-11 inch plant and exudes a sweet-citrus aroma. It would be a good idea if you plant some near the deck or porch. The Dahlberg Daisy is tolerant of sandy soil where there are hardly any nutrients or water to muster and does well in autumn gardening.

Tagetes

This well-scented flower does very well in autumn gardening even though it blooms all through summer. Leverage on the seeds in the flowers when deadheading and seed in September for blooms until the wintry conditions really do set in. Tagetes grow in average soil but ensure they get loads of sun.

Pinks

Pinks also known Dianthus, come in different colours despite their actual name. They are frost-friendly and this makes them great to be grown in containers, beds and borders. Keep them moist in well-sapped soil. Ensure that when you do your autumn planting they are either in full sunlight or partial shade.

Mini Cyclamen

This plant is a tough one and can last all through autumn and even past winter, if shielded in a window box or grown as an in-house plant. Ensure you keep them dead headed by getting rid of the flowers at the base point. They are beautiful and colour- attractive, people would hardly notice they have been stripped of their flowers.

If you want good results for these autumn bedding plants, position in areas where they can get as much sunlight as possible. And if you have to water them, do not overdo it. They would not thrive with too much water. Take heed of smaller plants, it is so easy to over water them. Check the manure regularly as they easily cake during autumn planting.

You can also elevate the pots or containers from the ground to encourage drainage and hinder the dry conditions from cracking the pots. Using bubble wrap around or tattered paper is a handy tip you can adopt to reduce the freezing of the roots of autumn bedding plants.

Border Planting

It is always better to plan your planting scheme than to buy plants on impulse. A planting plan helps to achieve a balanced and interesting long-term result, and as the plants grow individual items can be added to the design as needed. No two gardens are the same, but most do incorporate at least one or more of the various established planting features.

Borders

Whether a border takes the form of an island, or is backed by a wall or hedge, it is important to choose its plants with care to obtain a good balance of height and colour. Planning is best done on paper in the form of a simple sketch; many nurseries and garden designers offer this service.

Attractive displays can be achieved by selecting plants of similar colours; this can apply to both flowers and foliage. The theme can be developed according to seasonal performance times. White, silver, grey, yellow and gold borders offer scope for the use of unusual foliage colouring and variegated leaves, while solid pink, red, blue or purple flower colours can create a dramatic effect.

It is sometimes suggested that border planting is a laborious method of cultivation, but if due care is given to preparing the ground and eradicating weeds and pests, only limited maintenance will be required once the bored is established.

Perennial Border

Also called a herbaceous border, this is a border of perennial plants grouped according to a scheme which shows them to their best advantage and makes allowance for individual heights and spreads, colours and textures. The choice of border perennials is now almost endless; suitable evergreen conifers can also be incorporated, for winter effect, while bulbs will will provide additional attraction in spring.

Mixed Border

This type of border will contain a mixture of many different types of garden plants, and may include shrubs, shrub roses, conifers and selected small trees as as well as garden plants. This type of planting allows the widest scope for achieving year-round interest and including the broadest range of different plants.

Spot Planting and Infilling

Both of these terms refer to plantings which add colour and interest to a particular area of the garden, normally on a short-term basis. The plants are 'spot planted' in sites where seasonal 'lifts' are needed. Annuals and bulbs lend themselves particularly well to this use; similarly, biennialis and perennials can be used to colour a shrub border and suppress weeds while th shrubs establish themselves.

Solo and Mass Planting

Solo planting is the siting of a single plant to create a focal point, either in isolation or as part of a grouping. Mass planting is the use of a single variety, or limited number of varieties, in large numbers to achieve a broader and often more spectacular effect than can be obtained with a small group or feature planting. Most garden plants lend themselves well to mass planting.

Isolation Planting

Many perennials, ferns, grasses and alpines are best planted individually or isolated in small groups; planting in isolation allows the full effect of shape and form to be seen. If grouped, numbers should be determined by the plant's size and the area that can be allocated to this type of planting. It is advisable to leave a clear margin of 1ft (30cm) around the base of the planting, to be enlarged as growth develops. The area can be covered with a layer of sedge peat, shingle or stones to keep down weeds.

Water Features

Many gardeners are fortunate enough to have a pond or stream within the garden area; others may have a garden bordering a river or lake. All make beautiful garden features, though planting them well can be difficult. Natural water features should be exploited to the full, as many plants benefit from the extra moisture. As a rule, moisture loving plants require adequate drainage and an open soil texture which allows their fleshy roots to penetrate easily. Bold plantings of a few varieties provide the best display.

Rock Gardens

A well-constructed rock garden in an open, sunny position presents the ideal situation for growing alpines. A rock garden should imitate nature; if possible, the construction should follow the natural contour of a slope or bank. Alternatively, soil and stones can be built to a maximum of 3ft (1m) high. Moisture-retention and free drainage are necessary.

Edging

A number of plants lend themselves to use as edging for paths, borders and feature plantings, often making attractive displays before the plants behind come into flower. Spacing should be at 25 per cent less than the plant's full spread.

Container Plantings

Container-growing is an ideal way to give dull areas of the garden a lift of colour and create beautiful temporary displays both in the open garden or in confined spaces. The vast majority of garden plants can be grown in containers, provided with a good potting medium and regular watering and feeding. Garden centres usually stock a wide range of tubs, hanging baskets and other containers. An additional bonus is that less hardy plants can be started in containers under cover and then moved out of the greenhouse when all fear of spring frost has passed.