“The Low maintenance garden”
This is the holy grail of the average homeowner. For many people this means “zero” maintenance. Unfortunately this is simply not possible, however, not all gardens are created equal in this respect and some guiding principles will push the pendulum in the direction of “lower” and therefor more economical maintenance.
Design:
Simplicity and clear demarcation. Garden is garden; lawn is lawn; path is path. Avoid pot plants and planters as much as possible unless you have a lot of time on your hands.
Isolated plantings:
A definite no-no. Incorporate trees and shrubs within a grand sweep of mulched garden bed clearly separate from the lawn.
Paths and Garden edges:
Well constructed; kwik kerb or formed concrete or professionally laid paving;
Avoid:
Fences:
Well constructed with a properly thought out mowing edge in concrete; Chain wire fences MUST be kept well clear of the ground (at least 100 mm to allow the brushcutter to get underneath it. Have a look at the noxious vines inhabiting industrial area fences to see why.
Gates:
Tell your architect and or builder to make the gate to the rear of your property AT LEAST 1500mm wide. This will allow a dingo or a rider mower easy passage. The number of 900mm gates (or narrower) I have encountered over the years makes me want to cry!
Gardens
Well demarcated from lawn, house, paths
Waterwise plantings; or “needs no extra water” plantings
Look at what grows well in your neighbour’s property: A limited variety of good healthy specimens is preferred over an endless variety requiring constant pruning and fussing (unless you personally like that sort of thing) Remember as you grow older and your family needs change you may not have the time to “fiddle” in the garden. Weeds will take advantage of your absence so plan ahead. (Weedmat; mulch.)
Bush Fires
No one usually thinks too much about this subject unless it is a very hot day after a long dry spell and a good previous rainy season. It is a windy day and suddenly there is the smell of smoke in the air. By then it is too late to do much worthwhile. Too late to clear away the foliage which overhangs the house. Too late to clear the long run of long grass sweeping up from the gully to just underneath your new timber deck. Too late to do the many little things that had you done them a month or two earlier when they seemed like a waste of time, you could now relax. Good luck, it’s too late to call me too! But if you want to get ahead of the game call me in May. June, July or August and I’ll see what I can do to lessen the danger from bushfire.
Steps
Garden steps are sometimes a necessity on steeply sloping blocks. Poor planning, however, will leave you with a permanent maintenance nightmare. Give consideration to ramps where possible and make them 1500mm wide, if you have the room, for the same reasons as above in regard to gates. Be careful that the ramps are not too steep as in wet conditions they may be a tripping hazard. If steps cannot be avoided, the 'tread' of the step should be much wider than the 'rise' is tall. This means that overall the step flight will be much longer for the same rise as say a normal internal staircase. This is the case because often a handrail cannot be reliably provided outside. In addition a mower or wheelbarrow can be negotiated up a wide set of steps in a much safer/easier fashion than if the steps were of normal (200mm) width. Try it sometime and you will soon see what I mean. :-)