We have prepared a simple cheat sheet for those who want to enjoy nature and recreation in the summer, and not do gardening from morning to night.

1 Make a plot plan

While there is snow in the garden and it is too early to start any work, prepare a plan for future changes. Take a piece of paper and draw a diagram of the garden, observing the proportions and scale. Mark the house, barn, parking space, all technical and functional areas. Try to remember which areas are constantly in the shade, and which are in direct sunlight. Mark the places where it is most comfortable to rest, and the areas where you don’t like something. Discomfort can be caused, for example, by proximity to a neighbor’s plot or an anthill. Focusing on this detailed map, plan the site again or make small changes. Add as many places for outdoor recreation as possible: a picnic area, a dining table, a playground, a swimming pool.

2 Designate green areas

When the plot diagram is ready, start planning green areas. If you need a cottage only for recreation, do not be tempted to make “just a couple” beds for zucchini, tomatoes and cucumbers. A container mini-vegetable garden with fragrant herbs will be enough: they are easy to care for, they look aesthetically pleasing and will delight with fresh greenery all summer. Also think about how to make the site more secluded: for example, you can plant a hedge around the perimeter. All decorative landscaping is optional. Someone likes minimalistic gardens with a manicured lawn and trees, and someone prefers lush flowerbeds with bright flowers.

3 Choose the most unpretentious plants

When choosing plants for a “lazy” garden, focus on those breeds that require a minimum of care and are suitable for novice gardeners. For example, if you really want to make a corner with flowers, pay attention to wild and semi-wild varieties. They take root well on any soil, they do not need to be watered and fertilized often. Among the different types of lawn there are also special compositions of unpretentious grasses that form a thick coating and do not require frequent mowing and watering. 

4 Choose practical furniture and accessories

The next step is the selection of practical and functional filling for different zones. For example, in search of garden furniture, study not only its appearance, but also its functional characteristics: reaction to water, temperature changes, sunlight, the ability to wash covers or hammocks in the washing machine. Then at the end of the season it will be enough to clean everything and put it in the barn, and in the summer you will not have to touch up and additionally process the furniture. This rule also applies to working tools: choose the ones that are easiest to use and that are suitable for working with a specific type of soil or plants.

5 Leave part of the garden in its natural form

Another effective technique is to leave some areas in their original natural form. Do not try to turn the entire territory into an ideal surface with verified flower beds and a smooth lawn. There are already well-established small ecosystems on the site, in which plants perfectly coexist for years. Just put these areas in order: remove plant debris and prune plants as a health measure. Then such natural corners will exist by themselves, and you will not have to take extra care of them.

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