3 Tips for a low maintenance garden

by Terese Ferrara DRE#01949191 02/23/2025

Whether you’re a gardening beginner or just want more weekends free from plant chores, there are plenty of ways to create a low maintenance garden. By choosing the right plants and using the right tools, you can have a lush and beautiful garden with less effort.

Try these tips for creating a low maintenance garden of your own:

Lose the lawn

One of the best ways to begin your low maintenance gardening practice is to get rid of your lawn. Lawn maintenance takes a tremendous amount of time and resources you could spend on other things.

If you don’t want to lose the lush greenery, there are plenty of sustainable lawn alternatives you can plant for the same effect and zero effort. Some of the best low maintenance ground cover options include clover, moss and the flowering creeping charlie.

Pick perennials

Perennial plants are an excellent choice for low maintenance gardening. Perennials only need to be planted once and will return every year on their own with limited maintenance.

Some of the best flowering perennials for easy gardening include Shasta daisy, coneflower, perennial geranium and catmint. For a non-flowering perennial, try planting hosta and ornamental grasses. Native plants will also be easy to care for, as they naturally adapt to your local climate.

Mulch for moisture retention

Watering your garden is definitely a time-consuming chore, but it doesn’t have to be. One of the best ways to reduce the time and effort spent in your garden is to protect soil moisture with mulch.

By adding a hefty layer of natural mulch, you’ll help the soil hold on to the moisture from your last watering session. This leads to happier plants, more leisure time and less water waste. Mulch will also help suppress weeds and keep pests away, removing two more gardening chores from your list.

It’s possible to have a beautiful garden without spending all your spare time caring for it. With these low maintenance gardening tips, you can truly have it all.

About the Author
Author

Terese Ferrara DRE#01949191

Terese Ferrara is a long-time resident of the Bay Area and has been a partner with the Goss | Ferrara Real Estate Team. She and her husband raised their two daughters in San Jose, where she successfully continues to build her real estate career. 

After earning a bachelor’s degree from San Jose State University, she went on to teach in the San Jose Unified School District for 9 years. Transitioning to real estate was a logical choice, utilizing her patient demeanor to educate all levels of buyers and sellers. Knowledge and experience demonstrate her vested interest in delivering the highest level of care and professionalism to every client. She consistently strives to exceed her client’s expectations throughout the entire real estate transaction and remains a trusted advisor long after each close. 

As a board member on KW Bay Area Estates’ Associate Leadership Council (ALC), she aids in support of culture and professional development strategies for over 180 associates. Terese is also a Director for the Santa Clara County Association of Realtors Foundation, which supports community service initiatives in Silicon Valley. 

Terese is the consummate real estate professional dedicated to providing unparalleled service to her clients through ongoing training and education, keeping her on top of the dynamic market and latest real estate trends. Her high-touch approach coupled with honesty and integrity support her commitment to her client’s real estate needs.