Is there such a thing as a low-maintenance and attractive garden?

The term 'low-maintenance gardening' has been kicking about since the 1970s. But people’s perception of what that means varies wildly. To some it’s concrete slabs and gravel with not a green leaf in sight.

To others it’s lawn and shrubs or geotextile cloaked with gravel and topped with pots. In essence it’s about having an outdoor space that requires minimal input while looking consistently smart. But the question really is: is there such a thing as a low-maintenance garden that is also attractive? To answer this it is worth considering the relative input required to maintain different types and styles of garden and planting.



In terms of plants, the highest maintenance groups are climbers, formal hedges, lawns, roses, perennials and annuals. They will all require multiple interventions each year including pruning, cutting, feeding, deadheading and tying in. Turf in particular requires weekly maintenance nine months of the year, making it – despite some people’s protestations – very high maintenance.

Contrasting with turf and high-maintenance plants are the low-maintenance options including conifers, grasses, heathers and evergreen shrubs. These, particularly the conifers and heathers, require virtually no maintenance at all. But are they attractive? People in the 1970s certainly thought so, but that low-maintenance look has fallen from favour.

So, is there a planting palette that’s both low-maintenance and beautiful? Lots of people opt for the gravel-with-scat.