In urban and suburban living today, family and social obligations, civic duties, and other commitments all make heavy demands upon your time. However, those whose hobby is gardening will have much more time because it will be willing time.
You, as an individual or as a family, must decide just how much willing time you will have for maintenance.

One of the commonest errors in planning and planting is forgetting future maintenance. But, excessive time-consuming maintenance can be avoided by careful planning.
Difficult Task of Edging
A difficult task for all of us is edging. In laying out his garden areas, vegetable beds, and shrub borders, the average homeowner is apt to forget this problem.
The amount of edging necessary can be reduced by unifying plant beds and materials and not scattering them throughout the yard.
Think of the area as a whole—give it form; have it work for you, not against you.
Use of Mowing Strip
Another method to reduce edging is the use of a mowing strip or paved edging.
Mowing strips may be used along the house foundation, the base of fences or baffles, and as garden edgings. Concrete strips, paving blocks, bluestone, or brick are used.
Along with the house, such paving serves two purposes—it reduces erosion from dripping eaves and eliminates clipping grass where the mower cannot reach.
Mowing strips should be at least 6″ inches wide and of smooth material laid flush with the lawn so the mower may run with one wheel on the strip.
If not placed flush, it will defeat its purpose by adding another edge to the trim. Where a shrub or vine is desired, interrupt the paving to allow for a plant pocket 12″ to 18″ inches wide.
Paved edges along with the garden also serve a dual purpose. In addition to mowing strips, plants can fall forward without smothering and killing the grass.
Garden edging should be at least 12″ wide to allow room for plants to spread onto the paving. A strip is a pleasing design element even when the gardens are bare in winter.
Good Design and Proper Selection of Materials
Good design and proper selection of materials are important factors in easy maintenance.
Plan the service, play, and general lounging areas carefully. In choosing the flooring material for these sections, think first about how much wear each will receive.
Don’t struggle year after year to grow grass in heavy traffic areas. Pave these sections. Concentrated play and concentrated lounging will wear away the best turf.
Small, pocket-sized areas generally unrelated to the main lawn are best filled with ground covers.
Evergreen ground covers require the least care over the seasons, but if the area needs color, combine flowering tulips, narcissus, or summer lilies followed later by masses of annuals. Such a planting is more easily maintained than a small patch of grass.
Requires Amount of Care
Plants vary greatly in the amount of care they require. This is true not only of the varieties selected but of the spot chosen for each.
The style of your design and the locale you live in will be governing factors. Don’t destroy a good design with a poor selection of plant material.
Before purchasing trees and shrubs, learn their growth habits and characteristics. Your nurseryman is trained to know his plant material. He can advise you and suggest varieties that will meet your needs.
At the nursery, you can see the plants you have selected in their present size and how they will look in five or ten years.
Do not use fast, vigorous growers like Forsythia in a tight corner. Keeping them in shape will require heavy pruning more than once a season.
Use something more compact and slower growing than privet for your hedge if you do not have the time to keep it trimmed to the proper height and width.
Shade trees near a garden area should be light and airy, allowing sunlight and moisture to filter through the leaves.
Root Growth
Root growth in nearby garden areas is also a factor—avoid shallow and heavy rooting trees. Otherwise, constant watering and feeding will be required to keep the garden growing.
Background shrubs should not be rampant growers or heavy feeders. Where large shrubs are needed for screening, keep plants far enough away to avoid invading roots and over-shadowing.
Areas under shrubs may be planted with ground covers to avoid weeding—this is a great time saver.
Requires Less Maintenance
A well-fed garden requires less maintenance than one which is sparsely planted and ill-fed. The lush growth of plants will keep down weeds.
Choose plants that are reliably hardy in your locality, and plant them in environments that favor them.
Select plants that are disease-resistant and insect-free to avoid spending a great deal of time spraying.
These are a few ways to cut down on maintenance time. Plan and plant— then relax and enjoy your garden.
44659 by Mary F. Bunting