"Maintenance-Free" Landscaping

To dispel the myth: There is no such thing as maintenance-free landscaping!

In fact, sometimes in their quest for maintenance-free landscaping, people create unmanageable yards that can end up far worse than imagined.

We can definitely identify with ideal of the "no-maintenance landscape" because we understand how time is precious, and no one wants to waste it on something they'll might only see on the weekend or the odd summer evening.

Even so, we believe that what you get from your landscape depends on what you put into it. We are not implying that you need an overflowing flower garden, weeded thrice a day, but we are saying that the effort of planning and executing a beautifully formed landscape will make you feel better, allow you to spend more time in it, and be more enticing to maintain.

In the following paragraphs we will go over some of the main elements of landscaping, how they can work for you, ways to maintain them, and tips on things to avoid.

Trees, Shrubs, & Perennials


Any living thing in  your landscape will need some love and attention. Luckily, half of this battle can be won by choosing the appropriate plants based on mature size, site-location, and hardiness zone. When these factors are well considered, much of the special care that would otherwise be needed can be eliminated. Furthermore, healthy plants, growing where they should, can provide you with fragrance, colour, and sense of stability and well-being.



Sod


AKA: turf, grass, lawn, pelouse. Whether you know it or not, one mowing and inch of water per week is the formula for maintaining healthy sod. This is one of the easiest ways to keep an area beautiful and free of weeds while creating a usable, resilient, kid friendly space. But remember that consistency is the key, and it will pay big dividends when it comes to your lawn.

We would recommend that you think twice before completely eliminating sod from your yard. Mowing the lawn is a much easier pill to swallow than painstakingly picking weeds from the yard you filled entirely with river rock.

Decorative Rock

Whether river rock, some other regional mountain stone, or anything in between, decorative rock has become a staple in the landscaping industry. It can add colour, style, and drastically affect the feel of a landscape all while lasting a very long time.

In order to use it effectively, rock should be laid on the proper base of high-grade weed barrier. We see too many instances where cheap, almost see-through, fabric has succumbed to the power of nature and her many plants and weeds. But don't fall into a false sense of security once the weed barrier goes down, it is only as effective as far as it provides seamless coverage, and only as long as it is kept clean.

Make sure that each fall and spring the rock has leaves and debris blown out so as to eliminate a place for weeds to grow. If sand, dirt, or leaves accumulate on top of the fabric, there is little you can do to stop weeds from finding this fertile spot and sprouting up.

Maintainable Landscapes

Instead of limiting your search to maintenance-free landscaping options, a more appropriate approach may be to examine how much care and effort you can give, and then effectively plan a way to maximize the features you choose.

You may need help in making these decisions, and you may need help in maintaining what you choose for your landscape, but that's what you your local landscaping experts are for. We believe that when you succeed at striking a balance between beauty and maintainability, you will feel at home in your landscaped space.