We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
How to never lift a green finger
A beautiful garden is great, but for some, the thought of putting tonnes of work into maintaining one is less so.
Not everyone views pottering around in the garden and burying their hands in the soil as the ultimate form of therapy (though we do recommend) – but that doesn't mean they can't own a green space that has it all.
'Creating a garden that looks great doesn't have to mean spending hours on upkeep,' says plant expert Nick Wood from GardeningExpress. And in fact, countless hardy plants thrive with minimal attention and irregular water schedules – and no, we're not just talking about cacti here.
Looking for plants with low effort and high reward? Below, Nick shares diverse planting inspiration for those who like their garden pretty and their time firmly spent on the patio.
Shrubs like weigela (pictured) or viburnum demand practically no attention and quietly thrive on their own.
'Once they're settled in, they pretty much look after themselves – just a light prune every now and then – and they’ll reward you with lush greenery and beautiful blooms,' says Nick.
Flowers like peonies (pictured) and lavender will give you amazing colour and fragrance without any of the hard work.
'Both are very easy to grow, love the sunshine and smell amazing, too. Peonies are particularly hardy and can be left alone over the winter months, and lavender also does well in similar conditions. Just make sure to choose a hardy variety, like lavandula angustifolia, if you plan to leave it outdoors year-round,' says Nick
And if you fancy growing your own fruit with minimal effort, a plum tree wouldn't go amiss.
'Plum trees are an easy win. Pop them in a sunny spot with well-drained soil and they’ll pretty much take care of themselves – just a bit of water during dry spells and you’re good to go,' says Nick.
10 perennials you shouldn’t plant together
Why now is the best time to prune wisteria
How to protect your plants from frost
5 flowers to plant in January
