If you’re reading our blog, chances are, you know how much effort goes in behind-the-scenes to keep a garden looking its best. Between pulling weeds, constant watering, and keeping everything in check, maintaining a garden can quickly feel overwhelming. The good news? You don’t have to choose between a beautiful outdoor space and your free time.
If you’re tired of spending hours every weekend on garden upkeep, these simple strategies will help you create a low-maintenance garden suited to Tassie’s climate.
Pick Hardy Plants
A great way to cut back on garden upkeep is to choose tough plants that don’t need constant care. In Tasmania, where summers can be hot and dry and winters wet and frosty, it’s best to pick hardy plants that can handle these conditions with minimal fuss. Some of the best low-maintenance yet still attractive choices include:
- Grevillea – Serves as a larger, hardy plant that requires minimal water while attracting native birds and bees to your garden.
- Kangaroo Paw – Creates eye-catching colours in smaller spaces with minimal water requirements.
- Lomandra – A spiky native grass that maintains its striking green colour throughout the year.
- Lavender – Loves the sun, naturally repels pests, attracts bees, and smells magnificent.
- Succulents – Very low-maintenance and perfect for pots and rock gardens in sunny positions with room to spread.
Replace High-Maintenance Lawns with Easier Options
A green lawn looks fabulous, but keeping it lush and healthy can take a lot of work. Mowing, watering, fertilising, and weeding can feel never-ending… Don’t even mention the drama of furry family members digging up your lawn! If you’d rather spend your weekends relaxing than pushing a mower, it might be time to look at some easier alternatives:
- Gravel or pebbles – Great for paths and seating areas with no upkeep.
- Ground covers – Attractive plants such as the Native Violet will spread to help naturally block weeds.
- Expanding garden beds – Maintain less lawn space with a neat, stylish garden design that prioritises plants in beds over grass.
If you still love the look of a lawn but want something easier to manage, Buffalo grass is a great choice. It’s slow-growing, tough enough to handle Tassie conditions, and requires far less mowing than traditional turf.
Use Mulch & Ground Covers
Mulch is a game-changer when it comes to low-maintenance gardening. A decent layer of mulch serves four important purposes:
- Blocks weeds by stopping sunlight from reaching the soil.
- Retains moisture, which reduces the need for watering.
- Insulates plants during colder weather.
- Improves soil quality naturally with decomposition.
Read our guide on why you need mulch in your garden!
For even less effort and a more permanent weed control solution, we recommend planting ground covers. These resilient plants will quickly spread across your garden to create a dense, aesthetic cover that suppresses weeds. Some great options are:
- Dichondra – A creeping ground cover that forms a green carpet.
- Native Violet – Tough and perfect for shaded areas.
- Grevillea ‘Bronze Rambler’ – Fast-growing and ideal for covering larger spaces.
Install an Efficient Watering System
Watering the garden can be one of the most time-consuming jobs, but with the right setup, it doesn’t have to be. A good irrigation system will keep your plants healthy without the hassle of keeping a watering schedule.
Drip irrigation is the best low-maintenance solution. It delivers water straight to the roots, meaning less waste and no unnecessary evaporation—ideal for Tassie’s changing climate. To make watering even easier, group plants by their water needs and set up a timer to water in the early morning or late evening when there’s reduced evaporation.
Soaker hoses are also a great alternative to an irrigation system if one isn’t in the budget. Lay them along your garden beds, turn them on, and let them do the work.
Design a Simple, Low-Upkeep Garden Layout
The way you design your garden has a huge impact on how much effort it takes to upkeep it. While it does look more impressive, a crowded garden design with pathways, beds, lawn, and many species of plants can be a nightmare to maintain. To keep things simple while still looking great:
- Go for raised garden beds – They drain well, help keep weeds under control, and are more convenient than having to bend down to ground level.
- Limit plant varieties – Stick to a few hardy, easy-care plants instead of juggling many high-maintenance species.
- Add well-defined pathways – Gravel or stepping stones keep things looking neat and cut down on the amount of weeding.
- Choose evergreen plants – They keep their attractive foliage year-round, so there’s less raking, blowing, and tidying.
Let Lawn Squad Do the Hard Work For You
Even a low-maintenance garden needs a bit of attention now and then! If you’d rather enjoy your outdoor space instead of spending hours looking after it, Lawn Squad is only one call away. We handle everything from mulching and pruning to hedge trimming and weed control, so you don’t have to. Let us do the hard work—check out our garden maintenance services in Hobart and surrounds.
