
POOLS, SPAS & PATIOS ARTICLE: 2021 - LOW MAINTENANCE BACKYARDS
Low Maintenance Backyards
Ideas to achieve a visually appealing outdoor space that requires little upkeep
One of the most common requests of homeowners is for a backyard that is low maintenance; a rather subjective term, which requires further discussion to understand their goals. For some, the priority is to reduce or eliminate the shorter-term repetitive Tasks such as weekly mowing, weeding, and watering. Others are willing to include items in their construction budget that will benefit them in the long term. Perhaps puttering in a perennial border is something you enjoy? When designing a backyard, it is a good idea to establish a realistic picture of how much time you have at the outset, what maintenance tasks you enjoy doing, your budget for someone to do these jobs for you, or if you would like to invest into alternative design items that will help you lower backyard upkeep. There are many low-maintenance ideas you can consider when planning your landscape design.
1. TO LAWN OR NOT TO LAWN
For some homeowners, a lush green lawn freshly striped from recent mowing is a source of pride. For others, it is a weekly errand they can live without. This, of course, is a personal preference and circles back to your goals regarding maintenance--one person's chore is another individual's meditation time. For many people, a lawn is a must-have, regardless of their maintenance preferences. Natural lawns are generally one of the lower-cost items to initially install and offer a place for kids and pets to play, provide overflow from patios and other areas for gatherings, and act as negative visual space in the garden layout. If you plan to spend only a few years in the house, you may not realize enough return on investment (RO1) for more elaborate options. That said, a few maintenance tips apply to all lawns. Install only on flat or gentle slopes Lawns on slopes are difficult to keep irrigated, do not function well as play spaces, and are more difficult-even dangerous -to mow. You should avoid the following: having any obstacles to trim around, using natural turf in odd, narrow spaces, and putting grass right up to buildings where the rain, shadow, and sun will make it difficult to grow. Put down enough good quality soil during construction Failure of a lawn can often be traced to insufficient loam for nutrients and water retention, A good rule of thumb is to use at least 150 mm (6 in.) of soil during construction. Use some form of edging to reduce or eliminate string trimming 'There are many low-maintenance options including metal, plastic, or poured-in-place decorative concrete borders you can consider for edging to reduce the need for string trimming. Keep edges with straight or gently flowing lines Keeping edges with straight or gently flowing lines makes mowing easier and esthetically pleasing. In the case of concrete curbing borders, this can also add a sophisticated look to your lawn as it is considered an upscale feature.
Consider an underground automatic irrigation system An underground automatic irrigation system will save you time and aggravation dragging hoses around, offer more consistent and controlled results, and reduce water bills in the long run.

2. THE RIGHT PLANT IN THE RIGHT PLACE
The right plant in the right place' is a popular expression
used in landscape design. Hiring a professional landscape
designer can be beneficial as they have vast knowledge
about plants and will be able to guide you with making the
appropriate choices for your garden. If you do not wish
to spend hours maintaining your backyard, you should
select plants that will fit the space at maturity, be generally
free from pest and disease problems, and not demand too
much work, such as staking, pruning, or a finicky watering
routine. Xeriscaping, for example, is a landscaping method
that involves grouping plants according to site conditions
and water needs. The technique may require using
drought-tolerant plants, but in a damper spot, it may mean
moisture-loving plants. The objective is not to fight natural
forces and choose plants that, if left to their own devices,
will do fine. That said, unless you want a very natural-
looking garden, all plants benefit from extra water in a hot
spell. While woody plants will require annual pruning,
herbaceous perennials need some cleanup in the fall or
spring to tidy up dead foliage. Compost and fertilizer can
help overall plant health, but with most low-maintenance
vegetation, it may be needed only once per growing season.
Some popular options appropriate across Canada (except
the far north) include:
• Favourite tree: Spring Snow flowering crabapple
(Malus ». 'Spring Snow')
This variety of flowering crabapple produces light-pink
buds in the spring followed by a profusion of white
blossoms, turning the whole tree white. It has a tidy oval
form, with green leaves turning gold in the fall. What sets
this tree apart from many other flowering crabapples is it
produces no fruit.
• Favourite evergreen: Globe spruce (Pica pungens 'Globosa)
This tidy evergreen has a compact, dense form that
naturally forms into a globe shape. The needles are silver
blue and, once established, it requires little care. An
annual task that keeps it even tighter and allows it to
grow in a shape of your choice is to pinch back the new
grown in early summer when it is still soft, a process
known as 'candling! This procedure does not take long
and is a small maintenance task given the overall trouble-
free nature of the plant.
• Favourite sun-loving perennial: Stella de Oro day lily
(Hemerocallis «. 'Stella D'Oro')
The green foliage of this perennial is tidy and looks great
even when out of bloom, which is not long, because
this plant will bloom almost all season long with cheery
yellow flowers. Each blossom only lasts a day, hence the
common name 'day lily. A minor upkeep task--that is not
necessary but will increase blooms--is to periodically
remove the small ovary that forms after the flower is
spent. These can be pinched off just with your fingers
as you walk around with a drink in the other hand.
Removing the ovary keeps the plant concentrated on
putting energy into blooms rather than seed. There are
hundreds of varieties of day lily, but it is hard to beat
Stella de Oro in a low-maintenance garden.
• Favourite shade-tolerant perennial: Heartleaf Bergenia
(Bergenia cordifolia)
This plant is among the most bulletproof of perennials
and is appropriate for the front of the border. It is not
fussy about sun or shade and will tolerate both dry and
damp conditions. In the spring, it shoots up a 450-mm
(18-in.) flower stalk of pink flowers. Fall weather turns the
green leaves to burgundy, and they persist through the
winter and green up again in the spring. Removing the
spent flowers and tatty leaves is all this perennial needs to
thrive and look great throughout the year.
• Favourite ornamental grass: Karl Forster Feather Reed
Grass (Calamagrostis acutiflora)
This hardy ornamental grass, with a height of 150
mm (6 in.), starts growing early in the season, quickly
establishing a base of bright green leaves. Vertical, blonde
sterile seedheads follow and can be left up in the fall and
through the winter for seasonal interest. Cutting them
down in early spring when the snow melts is the only
maintenance these grasses require. These plants are a
good fit for contemporary themed gardens and can even
be used where a measure of privacy is desired and, once
established, require little supplemental watering.
3. ENJOY YOUR DECK
Eliminating maintenance such as painting and staining
of outdoor features is high on the wish list for a low-
maintenance lawn, especially your deck. Some options
you can consider include:
Western Red Cedar
This is a grad choice as it is naturally resistant to decay and
can be allowed to weather to a natural silvery grey colout.
Cedar is a versatile construction material and can be used
for fences, screens, sheds, raised beds, and other lawn
features for a unified, low-maintenance appearance.
Composite decking
Composite decking is now available in a variety of colours
and textures. It also comes with comprehensive warranties
and requires little maintenance, aside from occasional
cleaning. As with all decks, proper construction of the
footings and framing will ensure it lasts a long time. More
products are entering the market that are made from
composite materials, which include options for privacy
screens and fences, so look for these products when you
are choosing materials for your garden.
Powder-coated aluminum railing systems
Regardless of what decking material you choose, using
powder-coated aluminum railing systems is a good option
for your deck.

4. COVER THE GROUND
No conversation about a low-maintenance lawn is complete without a discussion about mulch. There are many benefits of adding this protective covering to your garden, almost all of which apply to lowering overall care. Mulch retains moisture in the soil, thereby reducing irrigation. It also covers any exposed earth, making it harder for weeds to Brow as many weed seeds require light to germinate. The two most common categories of mulch are organic and inorganic. Organic mulch, like wood or bark chips, will Need to be refreshed every few years as it slowly breaks down and becomes soil. For this reason, you should never Use landscape fabric under organic mulch, Inorganic mulch, like rock, aggregates over a landscape fabric and is more permanent in the landscape, but it requires diligence to keep free of debris. If fallen leaves or fruits are allowed to decompose in the aggregate, it will turn to soil, and eventually offer a place for weeds to grow. On the whole, these maintenance tasks are negligible compared to the many benefits of mulch.
5. USE TECHNOLOGY
There are a few items of interest where some newer
technology can come to your aid. This includes:
Wi-Fi irrigation controllers
Wi-Fi irrigation controllers can be paired with smartphones,
giving you the freedom to customize your programming
from anywhere. This is not going to reduce a lot of
maintenance time, but it will save you money by being able
to defer irrigation easily after a rain shower and, depending
on where your controller is, a trip to the garden or garage
to make those changes.
Robotic lawn mowers
Automated devices have reached a point where they can
perform several functions. We have had them in our homes
in the form of vacuum cleaners for a while now, so we can
appreciate how reliable they can be. Aside from alleviating
you from the task of weekly mowing, they also do their job
by trimming a little at a time throughout the week so your
lawn always has that just-mowed look.
Smartphones
Apps that help you diagnose problems or learn new things
abound, but the best and most readily available device is
your smartphone camera. You can use it to document your
garden on a regular basis, including specific things like a
potential disease or insect problems, so when it comes time
to engage someone for help, you have that information on
hand. The trick to staying on top of problems is regular
observation, and it is also fun to look back and see how
your garden develops over time. This can be key when
identifying ways to lower maintenance as you observe
what is working and what is not.
6. ARTIFICIAL TURF: HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO
Compared to natural grass, artificial turf removes tasks such as watering, mowing, and fertilizing from your maintenance list. The latest technology is making artificial turf even more realistic in appearance so you are not compromising on esthetics. Artificial grass can also be used in spaces where natural turf is not a great fit such as a dog run, side yard, or a challenging area like a shady or exceptionally hot area. Aside from occasional cleanup of debris, artificial turf requires little upkeep.

7. ADVANCEMENTS IN HARDSCAPE
Paving stones have been around for a long time and are a great addition to any low-maintenance garden. A common challenge in the past was weeds and ants exploiting the joints between the pavers, but polymeric sand products have reduced the problem and significantly increased the hardscaping appeal. These jointing mixtures have been available for more than two decades and keep improving as manufacturers explore new technologies. Further advancements in paver construction technology are making them even more low maintenance with upgraded product lines now featuring denser concrete mixes and surface treatments, making them less absorbent. This results in a more stain-resistant paver that can withstand the effects of freeze-thaw cycles over their lifetime. If a new patio space is something you are considering, a little research on some of these new features could help you achieve your goals.
8. THE 'WOW' FACTOR
One of the perceived downfalls of a backyard that requires little care is that it is boring, lacks colour, and is devoid of the wow factor? One of the ways you can create a visually appealing garden is by introducing some special features such as: Containers with brightly coloured annuals and tropical textures These are a good addition to offset the clean lines and simple finishes of a low-maintenance landscape. They can be used as focal points in the lawn and grouped where they are visible from inside the home and the main outdoor entertaining area. These planters require little upkeep, but you must consider the following:
• Bigger is better, both from a visual standpoint, but also so
they have more soil mass, thereby reducing the frequency
use out of space in the evening. Consider the addition of a
of irrigation. Of course, the scale of the container or
gas fireplace or firepit as a gathering place. Using gas rather
grouping must be taken into account for the composition
than traditional methods means no mess or fuss with
of the whole space.
firewood, and the instant on-and-off nature makes these
features convenient to use. Constructed out of stone or
•Installing drip tube irrigation is a good idea so the
concrete with long-lasting burners, these structures require
containers will look their best even when you are away.
minimal care and will last for years to come.
• Some planter designs are 'self-watering' via reservoirs and
are worth looking into.
*Plant choices that do not require much care and have
similar water and light requirements will be the most
trouble-free. Thankfully the choices available are
almost endless.
Water features require some care but, with the right design, they can be quite low maintenance and provide a lot of Value to the garden. Pondless features using a recirculating pump offer the sound and motion of water in the garden but have much lower maintenance requirements. Orasional cleaning and winterization is all that is needed, side from adding water periodically due to evaporation. If whave invested in an irrigation system, consider adding aline to the water feature with either an automated of Ranual top-up valve so you do not need to drag out à hose when it is time to add more water.
9. ADD SOME HEAT
Apart from the desire for low maintenance, more people de choosing to invest in their homes as retreats and outdoor living spaces. Part of the reason is getting more use out of space in the evening. Consider the addition of a of irrigation. Of course, the scale of the container or gas fireplace or firepit as a gathering place. Using gas rather grouping must be taken into account for the composition than traditional methods means no mess or fuss with of the whole space. firewood, and the instant on-and-off nature makes these features convenient to use. Constructed out of stone or •Installing drip tube irrigation is a good idea so the concrete with long-lasting burners, these structures require containers will look their best even when you are away. minimal care and will last for years to come.
10. ENLIST SOME PROFESSIONALS
Most of us do not change our own oil or do our own taxes Do not be afraid, even if you are doing your own maintenance for the most part, to enlist the services of a professional to help you with your lawn. A landscape designer or consultant can get you off to a great start if you are starting a new project with a comprehensive plan for the whole space. If you are making changes to an existing area, they can help you lower maintenance requirements by identifying alternative opportunities such as different plants or other minor changes. A good arborist can help maintain your trees, an often- overlooked part of the landscape but definitely one of the most important features when selling the house. Rather than trying to formulate your own lawn-fertilizing program, find a company in your area that provides a service that suits your style. Many of these services will not only help you manage your time, but also give you advice that will save you money and frustration in the long term.
Clayton Ditzler is a certified landscape designer (CLD) with The Landscape Artist Inc, in Calgary, Alta, and has been designing residential landscapes since 1989. He can be reached via email at clayton@landartist.com or by visiting www.landartist.com
Originally published in Pools, Spas & Patios - 2021 Annual Issue.