Talk to any garden enthusiast, and they will quickly tell you that you do not have to spend a lot of time or money in order to create and enjoy a beautiful garden. Fortunately, there are many low maintenance plants that can thrive in a variety of different climates, and the best news is that you can make your garden as dramatic looking as you want without having to hire costly landscaping services.
When people think about gardens, one word generally comes to mind: Versailles. Manicured hedges with ornate displays are considered the gold standard in the gardening world, but minimalist designs have branched from the interiors of home and have planted seeds outdoors. This means that when you are looking out at your garden, you should not be making a mental to-do list. Instead, a minimalist garden should encourage you to use your creativity and passion to create a garden that is beautiful and powerful and that does not require you to spend a lot of money or time on maintenance and upkeep.
Decide If a Minimalist Garden is For You
Although you may have been admiring minimalist gardens for a while, the choice to have one will really be dependent on not only the style of your home but also your personality.
So, what does this mean? This means that the interior design and feel of your home should naturally flow to the outside of your home. It should feel and look seamless. So, if your home’s interior screams ‘modern aesthetic’, having a minimalist garden will appear to be a natural extension of your interior living space
You will also need to be realistic about your actual lifestyle instead of the one that you fantasize about. For example, if you have children, pets or an extended family living with you, your garden design will need to take things like irrigation, storage, shade and a sitting area into account. Your garden can still be beautiful, but it should also be comfortable, practical and inviting.
Decide on the Materials You Want to Use
You should choose materials that are durable and that can endure the different elements. These materials should be able to stand on their own two feet in order to create a balanced composition. Some of the materials you will want to consider are:
- Bamboo
- Limestone
- Gravel
- Steel
- Boxwood
Every one of these materials is weather resistant and hardy. They are also texture and color rich. Urban gardens can utilize synthetic grass for a few reasons. One, the grass remains green all year round, and it does not need to be maintained because the grass is made from recycled plastic. Two, synthetic lawns are sustainable, and if they are edged properly, can look very realistic and contemporary.
Choose Your Space
Is there an area of your lawn where you want to plot space for a garden? Your urban backyard can provide the ultimate canvas for a minimalist garden because it will allow you to create a mini oasis and a natural escape within the confines of the big city. You may want to borrow a tradition from Japanese culture. This is to visualize your garden as a smaller version of nature. You can achieve balance by deciding to pair your plants together. Adding moss, evergreens and stones to your garden will make it feel like time has stopped every time you step outside.
Boundaries
Edging is very important when you are creating a minimalist garden. Steel edging has a lot of thickness that can be beneficial when you are ready to separate materials. It can also be used to define the different planting beds in your garden. With a thickness of over a fourth of an inch thick, it will not warp or bend over time.
Seed Planting
One benefit of having a minimalist garden is that you will not have as many plants and flowers to take care of. However, this could also be a disadvantage as well. The plants that you select will need to be able to perform and maintain their structure throughout the entire year. This means that you want to consider ornamental grasses, perennial flowers and deciduous trees. These plants and trees will maintain a presence in your garden, even when they are dormant.
Although many gardeners do not like the look of ‘dead’ plants in their gardens in the winter time, the advantage of living in a climate that has distinct seasons is that you will have the opportunity to see the trees and plants in your garden express their own unique characteristics during every season. If you are someone who prefers to see the greenness in their garden all year, choose pines, laurels, boxwood and bamboo.
Plant Options
By implementing a few techniques, you will be able to easily maintain a garden that looks attractive and vibrant. You can purchase plants that are disease and weather resistant, or you can contact Lake Norman Pest Control for suggestions of plants and flowers you can add to your garden that are resistant to pests like wasps and beetles. You can also reduce the amount of weeding you will need to do by using mulch in your garden.
Even if you live in a rainy climate, drought resistant plants will be able to better withstand a sudden summer drought, (or you forgetting to water them for a week or two). However, if you choose plants that are a little more demanding, you may want to consider installing an automatic irrigation system.
If you want to avoid planting flowers that require a lot of deadheading or support, do not plant annuals that grow flowering perennials and vibrant evergreens. Instead, select shrubs that do not need to be pruned, or those that only need to be cut once a year.
For those who are really looking to create the ultimate minimalist garden, consider replacing your lawn with meadow or gravel. By adding a few simple features to the design, like a pebble fountain or a fish pond, the garden will remain a focal point even in the winter months. This design can even extend to the walkways and floors, as a gorgeous gravel design does not require a lot of upkeep.
What are the Main Elements You Will Need for Your Minimalist Garden?
One element that will really brighten up your garden while requiring minimal upkeep is colorful evergreens. Although many gardeners place a heavy emphasis on perennials and flowering annuals, grasses, herbs and shrubs offer displays that are longer lasting. The added benefit is that many of these shrubs and grasses are just as gorgeous and attractive as perennials.
You will also need to purchase containers that are drought proof. A beautiful row of architectural pieces can have as much of an impact on your garden as several bedding plants that require a lot of maintenance. As previously stated, you can add drought-resistant alpines, herbs and succulents, or you can use automatic irrigation.
Have you ever considered adding a living carpet to your garden? There are many species of plants, flowers, shrubs and herbs that have evolved over time and have adapted and learned how to survive for extended periods of time without access to water. These succulents and alpines are also durable when it comes to pests, and they do not require frequent feeding or pruning.
Having raised beds in your garden will help you take better care of your succulents, alpines, perennials or even a pond. You will be able to work at a height that is comfortable, eliminate the need to bend over for prolonged periods of time, and have areas can be used as seating as well.
To balance everything out, you will also need to include hard landscaping in your garden as well. Clean lines can be created with pavement or natural stone. You can add bricks in your garden to create beautiful and distinct patterns, or you can use a combination of materials like brick, sandstone or cobblestone.
Other Considerations
To complete your minimalist garden, there are a few more additions you will need to consider. A handy storage area will be beneficial for placing tools, toys, soft cushions and furnishings. These items will be out of the way, eliminating clutter, but still within reach.
If there are any wild areas in your garden, do not feel you have to clear the space. You can leave these areas as they are, or they can be converted into meadows in your spare time.
The minimalist theme should be extended to the lighting in your garden as well. There are a wide variety of solar lights that are simple to install and are available in a variety of designs and sizes.
Minimalist gardening has been around for many decades. However, it has only been within the past few years that homeowners have been making this gardening style trendy once again. The extension of the interior and exterior living spaces has been a popular trend, taking clean shapes and raw lines and creating something elegant and luxurious.
Lucy Parks has been working in the fashion industry for six years. A dedicated follower of all things fashion and beauty, she is passionate about new industry developments. Lucy is now a full time freelance fashion writer.
