I’ve always believed that gardening should be a joy, not a chore. A lush, well-tended garden is a testament to the beauty and wonders of nature, but let’s be honest—maintaining one isn’t always a walk in the park!
We’ve all faced those days: the sun beating down mercilessly, weeds springing up in every corner, and pesky pests feasting on our precious plants. It’s enough to make even the most passionate gardener feel overwhelmed.
Being a busy mom and wife is a full-time job by itself. Add trying to start our journey to homesteading with a garden full of fruits and veggies, and things can get overwhelming really quickly! But gardening is my happy place – it’s where I slow down and connect with the simpler things in life.
I know there are plenty of us who love the idea of growing our own food but just don’t have hours to spend in the garden every day.
So, I’ve put together a list of super simple gardening hacks. These tips have helped me a lot, and they don’t need a ton of time or effort. Let’s get into it and make our gardening lives a bit easier and our harvests a bit bigger!
13 Lazy Gardening Hacks for Busy Lives
- Automate Your Watering System
Installing an automated watering system is one of the best lazy gardening tips and hacks out there. An automated watering system will save you time and energy by ensuring that your plants are watered on a regular basis without having to manually water them yourself.
You can even set up a timer or use sensors to make sure your plants get the right amount of water at the right time. I even explored this option when I wrote here about soaker hoses in container gardens.
- Use Mulch
Using mulch is another great way to make gardening easier and more efficient. Mulch helps to retain moisture in the soil, meaning that you won’t have to water as often. It also helps to suppress weeds, so you won’t have to spend as much time weeding your garden. I love singing the praises of mulch even in potted plants.
- Plant Drought-Resistant Varieties
If you live in an area with low rainfall, it’s a good idea to plant drought-resistant varieties of plants in your garden. These varieties are designed to survive with limited amounts of water and will help ensure that your garden stays healthy even during periods of low rainfall.
Here in Texas, we don’t live in the wettest place and it gets extremely hot here. I have a lot of Texas container gardening tips if you’re interested.
- Invest in Self-Watering Containers
Self-watering containers are a great way to save time and energy when it comes to watering your plants. These containers have built-in reservoirs that slowly release water into the soil, meaning that you don’t have to worry about manually refilling them every day or two.
Plus, they’re usually relatively inexpensive, so they won’t break the bank!
- Group Plants Together
Grouping similar plants together is another great way to reduce the amount of work needed for gardening maintenance. By grouping plants together according to their needs (e.g., sun exposure, soil type), you can ensure that all of your plants get what they need without having to constantly adjust each individual plant’s requirements separately.
This is called companion planting and yes you can do this with container gardening as well.
- Install Raised Beds
Raised beds are an excellent option for lazy gardeners because they require less effort when it comes time for planting and weeding than traditional gardens do—all you need is a shovel!
Additionally, raised beds help improve drainage and keep weeds from taking over your garden since they create a physical barrier between the soil and any potential intruders like weeds or pests.
Now please keep in mind if you plan on growing a lot of things and having many raised beds you will have to buy enough soil to keep them filled.
And depending on the size and material, they can get pricey.
So while this can save physical labor oftentimes, the material cost can add up. Gotta weigh your pros and cons here also with the personal plans and vision you have for your garden.
- Reuse Coffee Grounds
This has to be one of my favorite lazy gardening hacks. I’ll admit I am a coffee addict and drink at least two cups of coffee per day. Instead of throwing out the used grounds, I save them to use in my garden.
Coffee grounds act as a natural fertilizer, enriching the soil with essential nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, and magnesium. This means you don’t have to spend extra time and effort looking for and applying synthetic fertilizers. Helpful if you are growing edibles like strawberries.
Additionally, coffee grounds help deter pests like slugs, snails, and ants naturally. By just sprinkling the used grounds around your plants, you save time on pest control methods, letting you enjoy a healthier garden without the additional workload.
Plus, it’s an eco-friendly way to recycle something that would otherwise go to waste.
8 . Start Composting
Speaking of not going to waste, composting is one of the most efficient ways for lazy gardeners to add nutrients back into their soil without having to buy expensive fertilizers or other products from the store—all you need is some kitchen scraps!
Compost provides essential nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus which can help promote healthy plant growth while also improving overall soil quality over time due to its ability to increase organic matter content in the soil
9 . Plant Perennials
Perennial plants are an excellent choice for lazy gardeners since they come back year after year without needing much effort from you!
This means that once planted, these hardy plants will require little maintenance aside from occasional pruning throughout their lifetime—making them perfect for those who don’t want too much upkeep in their gardens
10 . Use Fertilizers Sparingly
Using less fertilizer is a brilliant lazy gardening hack because it simplifies your gardening routine and leans into nature’s inherent wisdom.
Over-fertilizing not only becomes a repetitive, time-consuming task but it can also lead to overgrowth, requiring additional pruning and maintenance.
It may also make plants more susceptible to diseases and pests, which means more effort is spent on plant protection and care.
When you use less fertilizer, you allow plants to thrive at their natural pace, reducing the need for constant attention and adjustment.
It encourages stronger, more resilient plant growth, as plants are more likely to develop robust root systems that seek out nutrients from the soil, making them more self-sufficient and less reliant on constant care.
11 . Choose Low Maintenance Plants Whenever Possible
One easy way for lazy gardeners to reduce their workload is by choosing low maintenance plants whenever possible—think succulents instead of roses!
Low-maintenance varieties typically require less pruning, watering, fertilizing, etc., so if you’re looking for a no fuss option then this might be just what you need.
Here are some examples of low-maintenance fruits and veggies that you might consider for your garden:
Vegetables:
- Leafy Greens like Spinach and Kale: These are simple to grow and can be harvested multiple times throughout their growth cycle.
- Radishes: Radishes grow quickly and don’t require a lot of care. They are also less susceptible to pests.
- Green Beans: They are quite resistant to pests and diseases and yield a generous harvest.
- Zucchini: Zucchini plants are robust and produce a significant amount of vegetables.
- Cherry Tomatoes: These are easier to grow compared to larger tomato varieties and are perfect for a beginner gardener.
Fruits:
- Blackberries and Raspberries: Once established, they require little care besides some pruning and can provide abundant harvests.
- Figs: Fig trees are quite resilient, requiring less maintenance and care once they are established.
- Strawberries: Especially when grown in containers or hanging baskets, strawberries can be quite easy to manage.
- Apples: Choose a disease-resistant variety, and you’ll find apple trees quite straightforward to care for.
- Grapes: Grapevines, once established, are relatively easy to maintain and can produce fruit for many years.
12 . Utilize Vertical Gardening
Vertical gardening is a fantastic lazy gardening hack because it maximizes the use of space, allowing you to grow more in a limited area.
Growing upwards means you have less ground area to manage, water, and weed, making the gardening process less labor-intensive.
Vertical gardening improves air circulation around plants, which can help prevent fungal diseases, reducing the amount of care and attention plants need.
It also brings plants closer to eye level, making it easier to spot and manage pests or diseases early on, without having to bend down or crouch often.
13 . Take Advantage Of Technology
Technology has revolutionized many aspects of our lives including gardening!
Some gardening apps offer reminders and schedules for watering, fertilizing, and other garden care activities, ensuring that you don’t miss out on essential tasks, even in a busy routine.
This means less stress trying to remember everything and more likelihood of thriving plants with consistent care.
I am a big fan of the Planta app, but there are many others. Check out the app store on your phone or device. And yes I give my plants names!
Is Lazy Gardening For You?
Lazy gardening is all about working smarter and not harder. By implementing some of the hacks mentioned above, you can enjoy a beautiful garden with minimal effort.
From using coffee grounds as a natural fertilizer to taking advantage of technology through gardening apps, there are plenty of ways to simplify your gardening routine and still achieve great results.
So don’t let the fear of hard work stop you from starting your own garden. Try out these lazy gardening hacks and start enjoying the benefits of a green thumb with less effort!