Everyone wants to have a backyard that they love, but it can often feel like maintaining those much-loved backyards requires more time and effort than most homeowners would like.
But what if there was a way to have a brilliant-looking backyard without having to feel like you have a second job? Well, we have good news: there is a way — it’s just that it requires a little bit of forethought and planning.
If you’ve just moved into a new home, or you’re planning to overhaul your backyard, then the following tips should ensure that you can have the perfect space and your time and energy.
Don’t Be Overly Ambitious
It’s easy to get carried away when designing a backyard, especially if you’ve been gaining inspiration from the leading exterior design websites.
But remember this: the more ambitious the landscape, the more time-consuming the upkeep. It’s also worth keeping in mind that ‘ambitious’ doesn’t automatically equal better, anyway. Overly designed backyards can look cluttered. Simpler layouts, on the other hand, look clean, sophisticated, and, crucially, can be a lot easier to look after.
Pick Native Plants
As with creating overly ambitious backyard layouts, it’s also very easy to get carried away by the thought of adding wonderfully exotic, colorful plants to your backyard.
While getting them in the ground is easy enough, keeping them alive can be a hugely uphill battle that will require a lot more time and energy, not to mention expertise. You can do yourself a favor by choosing plants that are native to your area, since they’ll always be primed to thrive. It’s about as low-effort as you can get, without compromising on the beauty of your backyard. Plus, there are other benefits to choosing native plants; local wildlife and pollinators will be delighted to see them!
Set Aside Time
Even the most low-effort backyards require some love and attention. It’s not so much about eliminating the amount of time you spend in your backyard, but sometimes, how much time it feels like you’re spending out there.
You’d notice if you have to spend half a Sunday morning just maintaining your backyard. You probably won’t notice if you’re out there for only ten minutes. Building in a few short sessions into the week makes it much easier to keep your backyard looking at its best, without really noticing it, especially when compared to having to spend hours out there at a time.
Invest in Lightweight Tools
Battery-powered tools have been increasingly popular with homeowners for a number of reasons, such as their lower volume and their eco-friendliness.
And if you’re looking to keep your backyard in shape with minimal effort, then there’s nothing better. The reason? Battery-powered backyard tools are significantly lighter than gas-powered tools. The lightest Worx leaf blower weighs just 3.8 pounds, making it highly maneuverable and easy to use even over extended periods. Plus, choosing lightweight, battery-powered options will simply make it more likely that you engage with backyard maintenance work, since you’ll know that you can do so without feeling fatigued afterward.
Mow More Regularly
Many homeowners fall into the trap of waiting too long to mow their lawn, because they believe that, since they haven’t to cover every inch of grass, they may as well wait until the grass has grown to a high height.
However, that’s nearly always a mistake. You’ll be covering the same area regardless of grass length, but how much time and effort it takes you can vary significantly. It’s just harder to mow longer grass. Plus, regularly mowing helps to keep the grass in good condition, which means less time and effort maintaining your lawn.
Water In the Mornings
You might be spending more time watering your backyard than necessary, without improved results, especially in the summer months. Some homeowners water their backyards during the midday heat because they think that’s when their grass and plants need it the most. In reality, it’s the roots that need the water, and if you’re watering when the sun is intense, then there’s a high chance that the water has evaporated before it has enough time to penetrate the surface and reach the roots. Watering in the mornings ensures that your backyard has the water it needs before the main heat arrives.
Trim When You Notice Dead Growth
It’s a lot easier and time-saving to pick up trash in your home when you first see it, rather than waiting for it to accumulate. Equally, it’s a lot easier and time-saving to simply trim dead growth in your backyard when you notice it. Letting everything just build up increases the amount of work you’ll need to do in one session. Plus, trimming away dead growth offers additional benefits, such as helping to keep plants and trees healthy and preventing your backyard from looking neglected.
Clear Debris Immediately
As with dead growth, it makes a lot more sense to clear backyard debris as soon as possible, rather than waiting for it to build up. Not only will you need to do it at some point, but leaves, branches, toys, and other debris bring down the appearance of your backyard and also make other tasks more challenging. It’ll take a lot longer to mow your lawn if you’re continually picking up branches, for instance.
Check The Weather Before Watering
Finally, the easiest way to reduce the amount of time you spend looking after your backyard is to check the weather before watering. If you see that rain is forecast, then you won’t need to go out with the hosepipe. In addition, this approach won’t just save you time, but can also reduce the risk of overwatering, which can bring its own problems that can be difficult to rectify.
Conclusion
As we’ve seen, none of the above tips are complicated. They just require a little bit of planning. By adopting the above small shifts, you’ll be helping to make your life easier without having to compromise the quality of your backyard, which is the best of both worlds.
