Maintenance Free

Garden Clippings for May 2, 2026

“I want a zero-maintenance garden.”

Landscape architects and garden designers do not want to hear these words from their clients. The response we return with will go something like “there is no such thing as a zero-maintenance garden. But we can design a garden that is low on maintenance.”

We start with dwarf plants. Most flowering shrubs such as Weigela, Viburnum, Spirea and Lilac will need to be pruned annually or biennially to keep their shape in check. Ditto for many evergreens such as varieties of Boxwood, Yew, Juniper and Cedar.

Dwarf conifers are the best bet for slow growth and low maintenance. In my backyard, I have a landscaped area near the shed that I want to keep squeaky clean with no attention required. The garden is home to 16 dwarf conifers, and after 6 years I have only a few that might be ready from light pruning.

If bending over to pick up weeds is an issue, mulch is the answer. Wood based organic mulch will keep most weeds at bay, with only a few peeking through. But organic mulch slowly deteriorates and will need to be replenished every few years. And wood mulch might float with a downpour and may blow away in severe winds.

Using natural stone or coloured stone aggregate mulch to cover the soil is the best way to achieve a near zero-maintenance garden. Apply the stone mulch over a good quality permeable weed barrier and weeds will have no chance.

It would be rare for me to recommend an entire landscape garden to be covered in stone mulch, but I might suggest a small area as a highlight. Stone as mulch over weed barrier fabric is hardly environmentally friendly, and ecology purists would shudder at the thought. Roots need oxygen and weed barrier membrane inhibits air exchange.

Folks with gardens covered in stone mulch will discover that in 5 to 7 years the stone and fabric should be lifted and reinstalled because in time, dust, grass clippings and debris particles will accumulate over the fabric, giving opportunity for airborne weed seeds to sprout.

Those looking to reduce the need for garden upkeep should consider reducing the varieties of plants in the garden. It is easier to care for 10 plants of all the same type than a mixture of plant varieties.

Choose your plants with care, and place like plants in groupings of 3 or 5. Determine the plants’ growth rate and eventual size before planting in the landscape. In the perennial garden, use obedient plants such as Hostas, Daylilys and Coral Bells rather than aggressive plants that spread too quickly.