Embrace the Color: 7 Tips for Low-Maintenance Gardening for Busy Garden Loving Goddesses
In the background is Goddess Rose, tasked with overseeing my Roses.
In today's fast-paced world, finding the time to nurture a garden might seem as feasible as finding a diamond ring in your newly bought geranium plant. Between work, family, life's commitments and responsibilities, and trying to remember where you left your glasses (spoiler alert: they're probably on your head), the idea of spending hours tending to plants can feel like a whimsical fantasy.
But fear not, fellow Goddess! There's a solution that allows you to enjoy the beauty and serenity of your garden without the constant upkeep: low-maintenance gardening.
Gardening is one of my passions—actually planting and enjoying the beautiful, colorful, blooming plants is my passion—the weeding part of gardening, not so much, lol! So today, I thought I would research and write a blog post on how to decrease the weeding and other maintenance and allow me to have more time to sit and enjoy the WOW beauty of my gardens. I expect I am not alone in this desired outcome, so my wish is that you, too, gain some value from this helpful blog on low-maintenance gardening.
Low-maintenance gardening is more than just a new trend or a time-saver – it's a lifestyle choice and a source of joy and rejuvenation. It's about embracing the power of nature without feeling like you're on a never-ending quest to defeat the always-present weed monster. It's about having more time to cherish the simple pleasures of nature, from the delicate sprouts of spring Daffodils and Hyacinths to the vibrant hues of Roses in the summer and right through to the autumn beauty of flowering Dahlias and Chrysanthemums because you are not a slave to their care. It's about finding solace and serenity amidst the daily chaos and reconnecting with nature and its marvels. Discover the bliss of low-maintenance gardening today!
So, whether you have a vast backyard, a cozy balcony, or something in between, don't let a busy schedule hinder you from creating your WOW garden sanctuary. With a few clever strategies and a touch of imagination, you can cultivate a low-maintenance garden that flourishes with minimal effort, allowing you to bask in the beauty of nature whenever you crave a moment or, better yet, a few hours of respite and tranquility.
Getting Started: 7 Tips for Low-Maintenance Gardening
01: Be choosy when choosing your plants
Select plants that are as resilient and self-sufficient as you are. Think of them as your trusty sidekicks in the quest for garden greatness. Look for low-maintenance varieties that can fend for themselves and don't require constant pampering or attention. Some suggested options are Daylilies, Hosta's (I have an entire garden of mini Hosta varieties), Lavender, Black-eyed Susan, Cornflower, Peony, Bee Balm, Coreopsis, and ground covers of Sedum and Hens and Chickens; plan your garden in advance of planting to ensure plants heights are appropriately dispersed. You don't want something really tall planted in front of a ground cover type of plant. Here's a joke I heard about this. Why did the gardener avoid planting tall plants in front of the ground cover? Because he didn't want his low-growing plants to have an "inferiority complex" about their height! A little Goddess garden humor!
02: Summon Your Garden Guardian
Design your garden layout with ease and efficiency in mind. Use raised beds, containers, and strategic plant placement to create a garden fortress that's easy to defend against the forces of chaos (and pesky weeds). In addition to raised beds, as a celestial addition, I have introduced a divine guardian to my garden, a concrete statue of a Goddess, as an additional layer of spiritual safeguarding. I call her Rose. She is entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing my 30+ hybrid tea rose bushes and warding off fungi such as black spot and powdery mildew, as well as deterring pests like aphids and Japanese beetles from harming the rosebuds and leaves. Apparently, her celestial duties transcend mortal notions of time and wakefulness. At night, she routinely falls asleep on the job! I'd fire her, but her worth transcends ordinary measures. Basically, it is "out of this world."
03: Mulch Magic
Mulch isn't just for looks—it's a secret weapon against time-consuming tasks like weeding and watering. Spread a thick layer of mulch around your plants to suppress weeds, conserve moisture, and keep your garden looking WOW-worthy year-round. Mulch comes in various colors to suit different garden aesthetics and preferences. Some common colors of mulch include natural brown, black, red, gold/yellow, dark brown, cedar, chocolate, and green. These are just a few examples of the mulch colors available to gardeners, which allow for customization and creativity in your garden design.
04: Water Wisely, Goddess
Forget the days of lugging watering cans around the garden like a mere mortal. Invest in a drip irrigation system or soaker hoses to deliver water directly to the roots of your plants, leaving you more time to bask in the glory of your garden domain. Hopefully, the rain takes care of most of the watering, but sometimes they need a drop more water, but be careful, don't drown them in attention.
05: Perennial Power
Embrace the magic of perennials – the eternal warriors of the garden world. Plant them once, and they'll return year after year with minimal effort on your part, like loyal subjects in your kingdom of color. I am a big fan of perennials. First is the fact that they come back to visit me every year, but equally important is the vast array of varieties and the ability to split pieces off to share a bit of my garden glory with my family and friends.
06: Prune with Purpose
Regular pruning helps keep plants healthy and promotes vigorous growth. Focus on removing dead or diseased branches and any overgrown or tangled growth that detracts from the plant's overall appearance. Prune selectively to maintain the natural shape and beauty of your plants. Pruning is both an art and a science, but budding Goddesses (pun intended) can master it with a few snips and giggles! So grab those pruning shears and get ready to sculpt your garden into your unique masterpiece.
07: Feed the Soil, Feed Your Soul
Nourish your garden soil with the love and care it deserves. Add compost, aged manure, and other organic goodies to enrich your soil and unleash the full potential of your magnificent and WOW garden oasis. For an extra boost, most perennials would be happy with an all-purpose flower food, or you may want to consider adding a natural, organic fertilizer because there is very little chance of burning your perennial plants. Although not the norm, beware of the fact that there is a selection of perennials that do not like to be fertilized.
The Joy of Low-Maintenance Gardening
Low-maintenance gardening isn't just about saving time and effort – it's about embracing your inner Goddess and connecting with the magic of nature's contributions to a beautiful garden, which are abundant and essential. From the warm embrace of sunlight to the nourishing touch of rainfall, nature provides the foundation upon which garden beauty thrives.
Healthy soil teeming with life, diverse plant species swaying in the breeze, and the gentle hum of pollinators at work—all these elements combine to create a vibrant tapestry of colors, textures, and scents. Natural landscapes, seasonal changes, and the presence of wildlife add depth and richness to the garden experience, while rocks, stones, and other natural elements provide contrast and interest.
Ultimately, a garden surrounded by nature's beauty offers more than just visual appeal—it provides a sanctuary for relaxation, contemplation, and renewal, inviting us to connect with the natural world's rhythms and find solace in its peaceful embrace. It's all about discovering peace, beauty, and joy in life's simplest treasures, from the gentle rustle of leaves as a chipmunk scurries by to the explosion of vibrant colors in the spectacle of blooming flowers.
So, let's embrace our inner Goddesses who revel in the beauty of flowers and hues and let our gardens bloom to the WOW factor. Here's to joyful gardening, where each day brings greener thumbs and brighter smiles.
I am so excited to share my book with you, Transforming Venus. This book is a toolkit and guide with a section with eight chapters on Awakening and Healing the Goddess within, four chapters on Nurturing and Loving the Goddess within, and a section with six chapters on Adventuring with the Goddess within. It is designed as a guidebook that includes exercises and ideas to further support your growth in a myriad of areas in which we Goddesses may need help! Order a copy for yourself or gift one to a loved one here.
So, my fellow Goddess, go forth with these newfound tools, and may your journey be adorned with the warmth of self-love and the glow of confidence to embrace your journey to self-nurture.
Live Bold and Shine Brightly like the Goddess you are!
Love, Positive Paula
Author/Mentor/FEMpreneur/Chief Positivity Officer (CPO) of Wealth of WOW
