Expert advice

Time-saving tips for gardeners

- HANNAH STEPHENSON

JUGGLING work, family, cooking, cleaning and gardening can be a heavy load - especially in hot weather.

Recent research by Gumtree has found that nearly a third of people in the UK say they just simply don’t have the time required for garden upkeep.

“Even if you love being outside, finding the time (and energy) to keep up with weeding, watering, or just basic tidying can feel like a lot,” says gardening expert for Gumtree, Michael Griffiths.

He offers these five time-saving tips on making the most of your outdoor space without it becoming overwhelming.

1. MAKE LOW-MAINTENANCE PLANT CHOICES

When planning your garden greenery, go for plants that pretty much look after themselves. Hardy perennials, evergreen shrubs and ornamental grasses are solid choices that don’t need constant attention and are more likely to look great no matter the time of year, he says.

Time-poor gardeners should skip the high-maintenance annual plants that always require watering and deadheading; they’re pretty, but needy. Slow-growing or compact varieties save you time on pruning, and groundcovers like creeping thyme or hardy geraniums are great for filling gaps and keeping things low-effort.

2. WATER WITHOUT HASSLE