LOW-EFFORT BORDERS

Facing garden overwhelm? Don’t despair – you can create inspiring, beautiful spaces with these expert ideas for easier-to-manage plots

- RACHEL CROW

Raised beds can be filled with hardy, easy-care plants, including rosemary, grasses, ferns and architectural choices

Whether you’re time poor or green-finger challenged, it is possible to enjoy a garden full of variety through the seasons. With careful planning and design, you can still create beautiful beds and borders brimming with colour and interest, with little maintenance required

Not only can a more hands-off approach benefit a gardener, but plants and wildlife can also reap the rewards of reduced intervention. Benefits include improved soil health and structure through no-dig practices; having a more sustainable garden with native and resilient plants that require less feeding and watering; and attracting pollinators and other beneficial insects, and so improving biodiversity.

‘Repetition is good for impact, creates balance and means easy maintenance,’ says Alice Ferguson

‘Low maintenance doesn’t have to mean evergreen or sterile,’ explains garden designer Sheila Jack (sheilajack.com). The key is to include planting choices that are tough, consistent, have numerous seasons of interest and which complement each other beautifully.’

FOLLOW ‘RIGHT PLANT, RIGHT PLACE’

For a low-maintenance border, choose the right plants for your site. Assess the conditions, light levels, soil and moisture, and choose plants suited to the location.