1. Replace plants with no-maintenance hardscapes<\/span><\/h2> Swap some of your greenscapes for hardscapes. Here’s why: Hardscapes don’t need to be watered, fertilized, weeded, or pruned to look good year-round.
<\/p>
If you aren’t familiar with the term, a hardscape<\/strong> is any man-made feature in your landscape that isn’t a living thing. Examples of hardscapes include:
<\/p> - Patio<\/li>
- Deck<\/li>
- Pathway<\/li>
- Fence<\/li>
- Bench<\/li>
- Wall<\/li>
- Stairs<\/li>
- Pergola<\/li>
- Arbor<\/li>
- Gazebo<\/li>
- Fire pit<\/li><\/ul>
A well-constructed hardscape will last for years and need nothing more than an occasional cleaning<\/strong>, plus staining every few years<\/strong> if it’s made of wood. Compared to the thorough, constant care that grass and other plants need, hardscapes are simple to maintain.
<\/p> The more hardscapes in your landscape, the less work you’ll have to do to keep your yard in prime condition.
<\/p>
Advantages of hardscapes:<\/strong><\/p> - Need cleaning or staining only once a year or even less frequently<\/li>
- Take up space that would otherwise be filled with needy plants<\/li>
- Boost curb appeal and improve property value<\/li>
- Most hardscapes serve a function in addition to looking good <\/li><\/ul>
Approximate cost: <\/strong>Depends on the hardscape type and the material used; $2,000-$4,000 <\/strong>for a paver pathway; $4,000-$11,000 <\/strong>for a deck; $2,000-$6,000 <\/strong>for a patio; $1,000-$6,000 <\/strong>for a fence; prices include professional installation
<\/p> 2. Build your own rain garden<\/span><\/h2> ![\"infographic](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/rsz_rain-garden.png\")
<\/figure><\/div> Did you know Columbus has more rainy days<\/a> than the average U.S. city? Columbus averages 40 inches of rain per year and the U.S. average is 38 inches. All that rain might be bad news for your plans to explore the Metro Parks or take your family to the Columbus Zoo, but it could be good news for your landscape if you build a rain garden.
<\/p> The secret to a rain garden is planting it on a downhill slope or in a depression in the yard. Then, the garden will naturally collect rainwater as it flows, and you’ll hardly ever have to water the plants yourself, if at all.
<\/p>
Rain gardens have other benefits, too. They can reduce flooding on your property and filter pollutants out of stormwater runoff before it finds its way back to natural water sources.
<\/p>
Need guidance on how to build a rain garden? Check out the Central Ohio Rain Garden Initiative<\/a> for local resources and help with plant selection.
<\/p> Advantages of rain gardens:<\/strong><\/p> - Don’t need watering once established<\/li>
- Manage rainwater on your property so you don’t have to worry about flooding<\/li>
- Help keep lakes and rivers clean by reducing water pollution<\/li>
- Provide a habitat for wildlife<\/li>
- Beautify your yard<\/li><\/ul>
Approximate cost: $100-$2,000 <\/strong>to build a rain garden yourself
<\/p> 3. Curate a colorful container garden<\/span><\/h2> Keeping your garden “grounded” creates a lot of problems. Plants in the ground get choked out by weeds, eaten by pests, and develop diseases. By keeping your outdoor plants in pots instead, you eliminate a lot of these problems \u2014 along with the work that goes into preventing and treating them.
<\/p>
Outdoor potted plants, aka container gardens, can be just as lush, bright, and beautiful as those in the ground. The bonus is that container gardens are much easier to take care of, especially if you have a hard time getting on your knees to work in a traditional garden.
<\/p>
Another cool benefit? You can rearrange a container garden at any time. Give your landscape a fresh look every day, every week, every season, or whenever you want! You can even bring potted plants inside in winter so you don’t have to worry about covering them, heating them, or otherwise protecting them from the cold Columbus winter.
<\/p>
Advantages of container gardens:<\/strong><\/p> - No more weeding <\/li>
- Less susceptible to pests and plant diseases than traditional gardens<\/li>
- You don’t have to get on the ground to take care of them <\/li>
- No winter protection needed because they are portable<\/li>
- Great for beginner gardeners<\/li><\/ul>
Approximate cost: $20-$50 <\/strong>per plant
<\/p> 4. Get rid of grass; go with ground cover instead<\/span><\/h2> ![\"red](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/rsz_6148686468_37f3774493_c.jpg\")
Andrea Pokrzywinski | Flickr<\/a> | CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> Don’t be fooled: Just because Columbus’s cool-season grasses<\/a> go dormant in summer doesn’t mean you can stop taking care of them for half the year. To look good, grass needs weekly watering and mowing, fertilizing at least once a year, pest and disease management, and the list goes on. <\/p> Your grass is probably the neediest part of your landscape.
<\/p>
Get rid of the grass, and you get rid of a good chunk of your yard work to-do list. Instead, you can plant a low-maintenance ground cover. <\/p>
Ground covers are plants that grow low to the ground and spread horizontally, forming a semblance of a traditional lawn. Ground covers are still living plants, so you will have to maintain them a little, but they definitely take a lot less work than turfgrass.
<\/p>
When it comes to choosing a ground cover, you have plenty of options depending on the look you’re going for, your soil type, and the light conditions in your yard. According to the Toledo Lucas County Public Library<\/a>, some of the best ground covers for Ohio lawns are:
<\/p> - Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia<\/em>)<\/li>
- Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)<\/em> <\/li>
- Goldenstar (Chrysogonum virginianum)<\/em><\/li><\/ul>
Advantages of ground covers:<\/strong><\/p> - No more lawn mowing<\/li>
- Need less water than traditional lawns<\/li>
- Suppress weeds<\/li>
- Retain moisture in the soil<\/li>
- Less susceptible to pests and diseases than traditional lawns<\/li><\/ul>
Approximate cost: $3-$13 <\/strong>per square foot of ground to cover
<\/p> 5. Mulch your plant beds<\/span><\/h2> Mulching is probably the cheapest and easiest thing you can do to cut down the time you spend working in your yard. Spread a layer of mulch in flower beds, under hedges, around trees, and anywhere else you are growing plants.
<\/p>
The No. 1 purpose of mulch is to suppress weeds, and if you mulch properly, you can say goodbye to most weeding. Mulch also insulates plants’ roots to keep them cool and help them retain moisture. That means you don’t have to water plant beds with mulch as often as plant beds without mulch.
<\/p>
If you choose an organic mulch<\/strong> such as bark chips <\/strong>or pine straw<\/strong>, it will eventually break down into the soil, which is a good thing, but that also means you’ll have to add new mulch every growing season. <\/p> For even less maintenance, you can use an inorganic mulch<\/strong>, such as pea gravel <\/strong>or rubber mulch,<\/strong> that will last for several years.
<\/p> Advantages of mulch:<\/strong><\/p> - Prevents weeds<\/li>
- Keeps plants hydrated longer<\/li>
- Protects plants against cold temperatures<\/li>
- Adds nutrients to the soil<\/li>
- Helps prevent erosion<\/li>
- Makes plant beds look better in general<\/li><\/ul>
Approximate cost: <\/strong>Depends on the size of the area you need to mulch and the type of mulch; about $20-$70 <\/strong>per cubic yard
<\/p> 6. Fill your landscape with native plants<\/span><\/h2> ![\"native](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/rsz_33003121493_31f60cd150_c.jpg\")
Lauren Kallmeyer | Flickr<\/a> | CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> Love the look of a yard that’s bursting with plant life, but don’t have the energy to keep all those plants alive? Native plants could be a good solution for you. Any of Ohio’s hundreds of native plants<\/a> will be much easier to maintain than non-natives.
<\/p> What makes native plants so low-maintenance? It’s simple: Plants that grow naturally in Ohio can stay alive almost entirely on their own. From growing in the wild, these plants have adapted to thrive amid the area’s climate, rainfall, and weeds<\/strong>. They’ve also developed ways to repel local pests and diseases <\/strong>without any help from you.
<\/p> Here is a sampling of Ohio native plants:
<\/p>
- Native flowers: <\/strong>Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis<\/em>), Canada lily (Lilium canadense)<\/em>, fringed gentian (Gentianopsis crinita) <\/em><\/li>
- Native shrubs<\/strong>: Red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia)<\/em>, mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia)<\/em>, spicebush (Lindera benzoin)<\/em><\/li>
- Native trees:<\/strong> Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)<\/em>, elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)<\/em>, hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)<\/em><\/li><\/ul>
Advantages of native plants:<\/strong><\/p> - Need less watering than non-natives<\/li>
- Don’t need fertilizers, pesticides, or weed killers<\/li>
- Natural habitat for wildlife<\/li>
- Won’t die in winter<\/li><\/ul>
Approximate cost: $650-$3,000 <\/strong>per flower bed (with professional installation); $25-$3,000 <\/strong>to plant a new tree or shrub, all depending on the size and type of plant
<\/p> 7. Add water-saving succulents<\/span><\/h2> In recent years, succulents have become all the rage for indoor and outdoor plant enthusiasts who don’t have time to worry about a watering schedule. Here’s why: Succulents store water in their thick leaves, so they need watering very rarely. All succulents need to thrive is a whole lot of sunshine.
<\/p>
Outdoor succulents in Columbus are even more low-maintenance than the norm because the area receives adequate rainfall. That rain will provide succulents in your yard with more than enough water to survive, and you likely won’t have to water these plants.
<\/p>
There is one potential hurdle to overcome when growing succulents in Columbus: freezing winters. Because these plants are native to hot, dry places like Arizona and Southern California, many species aren’t hardy enough to survive in Ohio’s USDA hardiness zone 6a<\/a>.
<\/p> Ohio State University<\/a> recommends these cold-hardy succulents for your northern landscape:
<\/p> - Hens and chicks (Sempervivum spp.)<\/em><\/li>
- Stonecrop (Sedum spp.)<\/em><\/li>
- Ice plant (Delosperma spp.)<\/em><\/li>
- Jupiter’s beard (Jovibarba heuffelii)<\/em><\/li><\/ul>
Advantages of succulents:<\/strong><\/p> - Rarely (if ever) need watering<\/li>
- Not much need to clean up after or prune succulents<\/li><\/ul>
Approximate cost: $3-$25 <\/strong>per plant; cost based on the species and size of the succulent<\/p> 8. Plant perennials, not annuals<\/span><\/h2> ![\"bluish-purple](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/rsz_51216663793_b135a9c5e2_c.jpg\")
Ruth Hartnup | Flickr<\/a> | CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> Do you get tired of planting new flowers every spring after the old ones die in winter? Perennials can bring an end to that cycle. Use perennials in your flower garden instead of annuals, and you’ll have a beautiful landscape for years to come.
<\/p>
The great thing about perennials is that they live through winter and bloom again the next year, over and over, all on their own. There’s really no good reason to plant annuals since perennial plants come in a wide variety of sizes, colors, and flower shapes.
<\/p>
Some native Ohio perennials<\/a> include:
<\/p> - Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta<\/em>) <\/li>
- Blue wild indigo (Baptisia australis<\/em>) <\/li>
- Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa)<\/em><\/li><\/ul>
Advantages of perennials:<\/strong><\/p> - Re-bloom every year without help from you<\/li>
- Plants have a strong root system<\/li>
- Huge variety of perennial plants available<\/li><\/ul>
Approximate cost: <\/strong>Anywhere from $650-$3,000 <\/strong>for a new flower garden installed by a professional landscaper<\/a>
<\/p> 9. Kiss fall cleanup goodbye with evergreens<\/span><\/h2> Unlike deciduous trees and bushes, evergreens maintain their leaves all year long. If you fill your landscape with evergreens, you won’t have a sea of leaves to rake up every fall. You also won’t have to look at an empty landscape of barren trees through winter, since evergreens always stay green (that’s where they get their name).
<\/p>
What are the best evergreens for a Columbus landscape? Search through the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s Trees of Ohio Field Guide<\/a>. According to the field guide, some evergreens that do well in Ohio include Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens<\/em>)<\/strong>, eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana)<\/em><\/strong>, <\/em>and eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)<\/em><\/strong>.
<\/p> Advantages of evergreens:<\/strong><\/p> - Don’t shed all their leaves every fall, making a mess of your yard <\/li>
- Keep your landscape green and full year-round<\/li><\/ul>
Approximate cost: <\/strong>Typical costs range from about $25 <\/strong>for a small shrub up to $3,000 <\/strong>for a large mature tree
<\/p> 10. Learn to xeriscape<\/span><\/h2> ![\"xeriscape](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/rsz_14929011953_aa0bc6b8f7_c.jpg\")
Tom Hilton | Flickr<\/a> | CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> Xeriscaping is a common landscaping practice for drought-prone states. At the most basic level, a xeriscape is a landscape designed to use as little water as possible. <\/p>
You might think xeriscaping is unnecessary in Columbus, but as climate change gets more severe, drought conditions in Ohio<\/a> are possible. Not to mention, the more water-wise your yard is, the less maintenance it will need.
<\/p> Xeriscapes include elements like:
<\/p>
- Native drought-tolerant plants<\/li>
- Succulents in containers<\/li>
- Gravel beds<\/li>
- Rock gardens<\/li>
- Limited turfgrass<\/li><\/ul>
According to the Garden Club of Ohio<\/a>, the best way to xeriscape your yard is one incremental step at a time. You don’t have to remodel the whole landscape right away. <\/p> Maybe this year you install a small gravel bed, then next year you replace a portion of your lawn with a low-maintenance ground cover. Before you know it, you’ll have a trendy landscape that you barely have to water.
<\/p>
Advantages of xeriscaping:<\/strong><\/p> - Needs little to no watering<\/li>
- Fewer problems with pests and plant diseases than a traditional lawn<\/li>
- Overall low maintenance<\/li>
- Provides natural beauty<\/li><\/ul>
Approximate cost: <\/strong>Depends on whether you xeriscape for yourself or hire a professional; overall cost can range from $3,000-$30,000 <\/strong>for a whole new xeriscape
<\/p> 11. Install artificial turf<\/span><\/h2> What could be more low-maintenance than artificial turf? You don’t have to water it, mow it, weed it, or apply pesticides. You just install it and clean it.
<\/p>
Artificial turf is an especially smart choice for people with children or pets. The rugrats can play in the yard all they want without killing the grass.
<\/p>
Advantages of artificial turf:<\/strong><\/p> - No maintenance required<\/li>
- Child- and pet-friendly<\/li>
- Can find artificial turf made to look like any type of grass you want<\/li>
- Your lawn looks great year-round<\/li><\/ul>
Approximate cost: $5-$19 per square foot<\/strong>, including professional installation
<\/p> Why low-maintenance landscaping?<\/h2>
You might feel a little overwhelmed at the thought of implementing some or all of these low-maintenance landscaping ideas, but don’t worry. Most of these low-maintenance landscaping ideas for Columbus are easy to put into action, and they’ll definitely pay off in the long run.
<\/p>
By incorporating even a few of our low-maintenance landscaping ideas in your yard, you’ll reduce your water usage, saving on monthly water bills for years to come. <\/p>
More importantly, you’ll save yourself a whole lot of time. Low-maintenance landscaping lets you get out of the yard and get back to doing what you love \u2014 without sacrificing your yard’s curb appeal.
<\/p>
To make lawn and landscape care easy, hire a lawn care pro in Columbus<\/a> to mow your grass and add native plants or create your rain garden for you. <\/strong><\/p> Main Photo Credit: Jay@MorphoLA | Flickr<\/a> | CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Why spend your weekends toiling in the yard when you could spend them cheering for the Buckeyes or strolling through […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":3390,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cdn.lawnlove.com\/images\/low+maintenance+landscaping-Columbus+hero.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"Aerial shot of a backyard with hardscape and xeriscape design","footnotes":""},"categories":[219],"tags":[420],"class_list":["post-3376","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ohio","tag-lawn-care-columbus-oh"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cdn.lawnlove.com\/images\/low+maintenance+landscaping-Columbus+hero.jpg?w=1200&fit=1200,900&ssl=1","author_info":{"display_name":"Jordan Ardoin","author_link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/author\/jordan-ardoin\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3376","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/33"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3376"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3376\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3390"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3376"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3376"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3376"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/p>
<\/p>
- Patio<\/li>
- Deck<\/li>
- Pathway<\/li>
- Fence<\/li>
- Bench<\/li>
- Wall<\/li>
- Stairs<\/li>
- Pergola<\/li>
- Arbor<\/li>
- Gazebo<\/li>
- Fire pit<\/li><\/ul>
A well-constructed hardscape will last for years and need nothing more than an occasional cleaning<\/strong>, plus staining every few years<\/strong> if it’s made of wood. Compared to the thorough, constant care that grass and other plants need, hardscapes are simple to maintain.
<\/p>The more hardscapes in your landscape, the less work you’ll have to do to keep your yard in prime condition.
<\/p>Advantages of hardscapes:<\/strong><\/p>
- Need cleaning or staining only once a year or even less frequently<\/li>
- Take up space that would otherwise be filled with needy plants<\/li>
- Boost curb appeal and improve property value<\/li>
- Most hardscapes serve a function in addition to looking good <\/li><\/ul>
Approximate cost: <\/strong>Depends on the hardscape type and the material used; $2,000-$4,000 <\/strong>for a paver pathway; $4,000-$11,000 <\/strong>for a deck; $2,000-$6,000 <\/strong>for a patio; $1,000-$6,000 <\/strong>for a fence; prices include professional installation
<\/p>2. Build your own rain garden<\/span><\/h2>
<\/figure><\/div> Did you know Columbus has more rainy days<\/a> than the average U.S. city? Columbus averages 40 inches of rain per year and the U.S. average is 38 inches. All that rain might be bad news for your plans to explore the Metro Parks or take your family to the Columbus Zoo, but it could be good news for your landscape if you build a rain garden.
<\/p>The secret to a rain garden is planting it on a downhill slope or in a depression in the yard. Then, the garden will naturally collect rainwater as it flows, and you’ll hardly ever have to water the plants yourself, if at all.
<\/p>Rain gardens have other benefits, too. They can reduce flooding on your property and filter pollutants out of stormwater runoff before it finds its way back to natural water sources.
<\/p>Need guidance on how to build a rain garden? Check out the Central Ohio Rain Garden Initiative<\/a> for local resources and help with plant selection.
<\/p>Advantages of rain gardens:<\/strong><\/p>
- Don’t need watering once established<\/li>
- Manage rainwater on your property so you don’t have to worry about flooding<\/li>
- Help keep lakes and rivers clean by reducing water pollution<\/li>
- Provide a habitat for wildlife<\/li>
- Beautify your yard<\/li><\/ul>
Approximate cost: $100-$2,000 <\/strong>to build a rain garden yourself
<\/p>3. Curate a colorful container garden<\/span><\/h2>
Keeping your garden “grounded” creates a lot of problems. Plants in the ground get choked out by weeds, eaten by pests, and develop diseases. By keeping your outdoor plants in pots instead, you eliminate a lot of these problems \u2014 along with the work that goes into preventing and treating them.
<\/p>Outdoor potted plants, aka container gardens, can be just as lush, bright, and beautiful as those in the ground. The bonus is that container gardens are much easier to take care of, especially if you have a hard time getting on your knees to work in a traditional garden.
<\/p>Another cool benefit? You can rearrange a container garden at any time. Give your landscape a fresh look every day, every week, every season, or whenever you want! You can even bring potted plants inside in winter so you don’t have to worry about covering them, heating them, or otherwise protecting them from the cold Columbus winter.
<\/p>Advantages of container gardens:<\/strong><\/p>
- No more weeding <\/li>
- Less susceptible to pests and plant diseases than traditional gardens<\/li>
- You don’t have to get on the ground to take care of them <\/li>
- No winter protection needed because they are portable<\/li>
- Great for beginner gardeners<\/li><\/ul>
Approximate cost: $20-$50 <\/strong>per plant
<\/p>4. Get rid of grass; go with ground cover instead<\/span><\/h2>
Andrea Pokrzywinski | Flickr<\/a> | CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> Don’t be fooled: Just because Columbus’s cool-season grasses<\/a> go dormant in summer doesn’t mean you can stop taking care of them for half the year. To look good, grass needs weekly watering and mowing, fertilizing at least once a year, pest and disease management, and the list goes on. <\/p>
Your grass is probably the neediest part of your landscape.
<\/p>Get rid of the grass, and you get rid of a good chunk of your yard work to-do list. Instead, you can plant a low-maintenance ground cover. <\/p>
Ground covers are plants that grow low to the ground and spread horizontally, forming a semblance of a traditional lawn. Ground covers are still living plants, so you will have to maintain them a little, but they definitely take a lot less work than turfgrass.
<\/p>When it comes to choosing a ground cover, you have plenty of options depending on the look you’re going for, your soil type, and the light conditions in your yard. According to the Toledo Lucas County Public Library<\/a>, some of the best ground covers for Ohio lawns are:
<\/p>- Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia<\/em>)<\/li>
- Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)<\/em> <\/li>
- Goldenstar (Chrysogonum virginianum)<\/em><\/li><\/ul>
Advantages of ground covers:<\/strong><\/p>
- No more lawn mowing<\/li>
- Need less water than traditional lawns<\/li>
- Suppress weeds<\/li>
- Retain moisture in the soil<\/li>
- Less susceptible to pests and diseases than traditional lawns<\/li><\/ul>
Approximate cost: $3-$13 <\/strong>per square foot of ground to cover
<\/p>5. Mulch your plant beds<\/span><\/h2>
Mulching is probably the cheapest and easiest thing you can do to cut down the time you spend working in your yard. Spread a layer of mulch in flower beds, under hedges, around trees, and anywhere else you are growing plants.
<\/p>The No. 1 purpose of mulch is to suppress weeds, and if you mulch properly, you can say goodbye to most weeding. Mulch also insulates plants’ roots to keep them cool and help them retain moisture. That means you don’t have to water plant beds with mulch as often as plant beds without mulch.
<\/p>If you choose an organic mulch<\/strong> such as bark chips <\/strong>or pine straw<\/strong>, it will eventually break down into the soil, which is a good thing, but that also means you’ll have to add new mulch every growing season. <\/p>
For even less maintenance, you can use an inorganic mulch<\/strong>, such as pea gravel <\/strong>or rubber mulch,<\/strong> that will last for several years.
<\/p>Advantages of mulch:<\/strong><\/p>
- Prevents weeds<\/li>
- Keeps plants hydrated longer<\/li>
- Protects plants against cold temperatures<\/li>
- Adds nutrients to the soil<\/li>
- Helps prevent erosion<\/li>
- Makes plant beds look better in general<\/li><\/ul>
Approximate cost: <\/strong>Depends on the size of the area you need to mulch and the type of mulch; about $20-$70 <\/strong>per cubic yard
<\/p>6. Fill your landscape with native plants<\/span><\/h2>
Lauren Kallmeyer | Flickr<\/a> | CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> Love the look of a yard that’s bursting with plant life, but don’t have the energy to keep all those plants alive? Native plants could be a good solution for you. Any of Ohio’s hundreds of native plants<\/a> will be much easier to maintain than non-natives.
<\/p>What makes native plants so low-maintenance? It’s simple: Plants that grow naturally in Ohio can stay alive almost entirely on their own. From growing in the wild, these plants have adapted to thrive amid the area’s climate, rainfall, and weeds<\/strong>. They’ve also developed ways to repel local pests and diseases <\/strong>without any help from you.
<\/p>Here is a sampling of Ohio native plants:
<\/p>- Native flowers: <\/strong>Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis<\/em>), Canada lily (Lilium canadense)<\/em>, fringed gentian (Gentianopsis crinita) <\/em><\/li>
- Native shrubs<\/strong>: Red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia)<\/em>, mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia)<\/em>, spicebush (Lindera benzoin)<\/em><\/li>
- Native trees:<\/strong> Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)<\/em>, elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)<\/em>, hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)<\/em><\/li><\/ul>
Advantages of native plants:<\/strong><\/p>
- Need less watering than non-natives<\/li>
- Don’t need fertilizers, pesticides, or weed killers<\/li>
- Natural habitat for wildlife<\/li>
- Won’t die in winter<\/li><\/ul>
Approximate cost: $650-$3,000 <\/strong>per flower bed (with professional installation); $25-$3,000 <\/strong>to plant a new tree or shrub, all depending on the size and type of plant
<\/p>7. Add water-saving succulents<\/span><\/h2>
In recent years, succulents have become all the rage for indoor and outdoor plant enthusiasts who don’t have time to worry about a watering schedule. Here’s why: Succulents store water in their thick leaves, so they need watering very rarely. All succulents need to thrive is a whole lot of sunshine.
<\/p>Outdoor succulents in Columbus are even more low-maintenance than the norm because the area receives adequate rainfall. That rain will provide succulents in your yard with more than enough water to survive, and you likely won’t have to water these plants.
<\/p>There is one potential hurdle to overcome when growing succulents in Columbus: freezing winters. Because these plants are native to hot, dry places like Arizona and Southern California, many species aren’t hardy enough to survive in Ohio’s USDA hardiness zone 6a<\/a>.
<\/p>Ohio State University<\/a> recommends these cold-hardy succulents for your northern landscape:
<\/p>- Hens and chicks (Sempervivum spp.)<\/em><\/li>
- Stonecrop (Sedum spp.)<\/em><\/li>
- Ice plant (Delosperma spp.)<\/em><\/li>
- Jupiter’s beard (Jovibarba heuffelii)<\/em><\/li><\/ul>
Advantages of succulents:<\/strong><\/p>
- Rarely (if ever) need watering<\/li>
- Not much need to clean up after or prune succulents<\/li><\/ul>
Approximate cost: $3-$25 <\/strong>per plant; cost based on the species and size of the succulent<\/p>
8. Plant perennials, not annuals<\/span><\/h2>
Ruth Hartnup | Flickr<\/a> | CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> Do you get tired of planting new flowers every spring after the old ones die in winter? Perennials can bring an end to that cycle. Use perennials in your flower garden instead of annuals, and you’ll have a beautiful landscape for years to come.
<\/p>The great thing about perennials is that they live through winter and bloom again the next year, over and over, all on their own. There’s really no good reason to plant annuals since perennial plants come in a wide variety of sizes, colors, and flower shapes.
<\/p>Some native Ohio perennials<\/a> include:
<\/p>- Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta<\/em>) <\/li>
- Blue wild indigo (Baptisia australis<\/em>) <\/li>
- Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa)<\/em><\/li><\/ul>
Advantages of perennials:<\/strong><\/p>
- Re-bloom every year without help from you<\/li>
- Plants have a strong root system<\/li>
- Huge variety of perennial plants available<\/li><\/ul>
Approximate cost: <\/strong>Anywhere from $650-$3,000 <\/strong>for a new flower garden installed by a professional landscaper<\/a>
<\/p>9. Kiss fall cleanup goodbye with evergreens<\/span><\/h2>
Unlike deciduous trees and bushes, evergreens maintain their leaves all year long. If you fill your landscape with evergreens, you won’t have a sea of leaves to rake up every fall. You also won’t have to look at an empty landscape of barren trees through winter, since evergreens always stay green (that’s where they get their name).
<\/p>What are the best evergreens for a Columbus landscape? Search through the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s Trees of Ohio Field Guide<\/a>. According to the field guide, some evergreens that do well in Ohio include Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens<\/em>)<\/strong>, eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana)<\/em><\/strong>, <\/em>and eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)<\/em><\/strong>.
<\/p>Advantages of evergreens:<\/strong><\/p>
- Don’t shed all their leaves every fall, making a mess of your yard <\/li>
- Keep your landscape green and full year-round<\/li><\/ul>
Approximate cost: <\/strong>Typical costs range from about $25 <\/strong>for a small shrub up to $3,000 <\/strong>for a large mature tree
<\/p>10. Learn to xeriscape<\/span><\/h2>
Tom Hilton | Flickr<\/a> | CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> Xeriscaping is a common landscaping practice for drought-prone states. At the most basic level, a xeriscape is a landscape designed to use as little water as possible. <\/p>
You might think xeriscaping is unnecessary in Columbus, but as climate change gets more severe, drought conditions in Ohio<\/a> are possible. Not to mention, the more water-wise your yard is, the less maintenance it will need.
<\/p>Xeriscapes include elements like:
<\/p>- Native drought-tolerant plants<\/li>
- Succulents in containers<\/li>
- Gravel beds<\/li>
- Rock gardens<\/li>
- Limited turfgrass<\/li><\/ul>
According to the Garden Club of Ohio<\/a>, the best way to xeriscape your yard is one incremental step at a time. You don’t have to remodel the whole landscape right away. <\/p>
Maybe this year you install a small gravel bed, then next year you replace a portion of your lawn with a low-maintenance ground cover. Before you know it, you’ll have a trendy landscape that you barely have to water.
<\/p>Advantages of xeriscaping:<\/strong><\/p>
- Needs little to no watering<\/li>
- Fewer problems with pests and plant diseases than a traditional lawn<\/li>
- Overall low maintenance<\/li>
- Provides natural beauty<\/li><\/ul>
Approximate cost: <\/strong>Depends on whether you xeriscape for yourself or hire a professional; overall cost can range from $3,000-$30,000 <\/strong>for a whole new xeriscape
<\/p>11. Install artificial turf<\/span><\/h2>
What could be more low-maintenance than artificial turf? You don’t have to water it, mow it, weed it, or apply pesticides. You just install it and clean it.
<\/p>Artificial turf is an especially smart choice for people with children or pets. The rugrats can play in the yard all they want without killing the grass.
<\/p>Advantages of artificial turf:<\/strong><\/p>
- No maintenance required<\/li>
- Child- and pet-friendly<\/li>
- Can find artificial turf made to look like any type of grass you want<\/li>
- Your lawn looks great year-round<\/li><\/ul>
Approximate cost: $5-$19 per square foot<\/strong>, including professional installation
<\/p>Why low-maintenance landscaping?<\/h2>
You might feel a little overwhelmed at the thought of implementing some or all of these low-maintenance landscaping ideas, but don’t worry. Most of these low-maintenance landscaping ideas for Columbus are easy to put into action, and they’ll definitely pay off in the long run.
<\/p>By incorporating even a few of our low-maintenance landscaping ideas in your yard, you’ll reduce your water usage, saving on monthly water bills for years to come. <\/p>
More importantly, you’ll save yourself a whole lot of time. Low-maintenance landscaping lets you get out of the yard and get back to doing what you love \u2014 without sacrificing your yard’s curb appeal.
<\/p>To make lawn and landscape care easy, hire a lawn care pro in Columbus<\/a> to mow your grass and add native plants or create your rain garden for you. <\/strong><\/p>
Main Photo Credit: Jay@MorphoLA | Flickr<\/a> | CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Why spend your weekends toiling in the yard when you could spend them cheering for the Buckeyes or strolling through […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":3390,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cdn.lawnlove.com\/images\/low+maintenance+landscaping-Columbus+hero.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"Aerial shot of a backyard with hardscape and xeriscape design","footnotes":""},"categories":[219],"tags":[420],"class_list":["post-3376","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ohio","tag-lawn-care-columbus-oh"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cdn.lawnlove.com\/images\/low+maintenance+landscaping-Columbus+hero.jpg?w=1200&fit=1200,900&ssl=1","author_info":{"display_name":"Jordan Ardoin","author_link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/author\/jordan-ardoin\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3376","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/33"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3376"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3376\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3390"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3376"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3376"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3376"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- Blue wild indigo (Baptisia australis<\/em>) <\/li>
- Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta<\/em>) <\/li>
- Stonecrop (Sedum spp.)<\/em><\/li>
- Hens and chicks (Sempervivum spp.)<\/em><\/li>
- Native shrubs<\/strong>: Red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia)<\/em>, mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia)<\/em>, spicebush (Lindera benzoin)<\/em><\/li>
- Native flowers: <\/strong>Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis<\/em>), Canada lily (Lilium canadense)<\/em>, fringed gentian (Gentianopsis crinita) <\/em><\/li>
- Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)<\/em> <\/li>
- Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia<\/em>)<\/li>