13 Of Our Best Time-saving Gardening Tips

When selecting plants for the garden, I always keep an eye out for labels that say “drought-tolerant,” “hardy,” “pest-resistant,” and “disease-resistant.”

These tough plants are a gardener's best friend, as they can thrive in challenging conditions with minimal effort.

By choosing these resilient varieties, you can enjoy a beautiful garden without spending all your time tending to it.

Grouping plants based on their soil and water needs is a game-changer in the garden.

By doing this, you can easily provide each group with the specific care they require.

Then set up an automated watering system that ensures each group receives the right amount of water. You'll save time and effort while keeping the garden thriving.

Using an informal garden design is a great way to save time and effort while still enjoying a beautiful outdoor space.

Unlike formal gardens that demand constant attention to maintain their pristine look, informal designs (like cottage gardens) are much more forgiving.

You can plant densely, which not only gives a lush, full appearance but also leaves less room for pesky weeds to pop up.

Which means less weeding and more time to relax and enjoy your garden.

While annuals provide long-lasting color in the garden, planting flats of them each year can be both time-consuming and costly.

Instead, I find that opting for long-blooming perennials offers a similar aesthetic without the annual hassle.

By creating a thoughtful plan that includes plants with varying bloom times, it's possible to enjoy vibrant colors throughout the season.

The best part? These perennials only need to be planted once, saving both time and money in the long run.

Every day, I make it a point to wander through my garden with a trusty pair of pruners in hand, snipping away spent blooms as I go.

This simple daily ritual not only encourages more re-blooms but also keeps unruly plants from going to seed.

Plus, it offers the perfect opportunity to savor a few peaceful moments in the beauty of the garden.

When setting up planters, I like to choose ones that are at least 18 inches in diameter and 12 inches deep.

Smaller pots dry out rapidly in the heat, often demanding watering twice a day to maintain their appearance.

And the larger space also gives the plants more room to grow, so you usually end up with a fuller display.

Investing in automated watering is a game-changer for anyone looking to save time and keep their plants healthy.

By setting up a watering system on a timer for both your garden and containers, you can ensure your plants get the hydration they need without the daily watering hassle.

It does take a bit of effort to lay out all the hoses initially, but once that's done, you can forget about watering altogether.

One of the best ways to save time in the garden is by covering the soil to prevent weeds from taking over.

This can be easily achieved by under-planting shrubs with ground-cover plants, which not only keeps weeds at bay but also adds a lush layer of greenery.

Or spread a 2″ to 3″ layer of mulch which also helps to keep the moisture in.

When tackling the persistent problem of weeds, timing can make all the difference.

Pulling weeds from dry soil often results in snapping off the tops while leaving the roots firmly in place. Which means they’ll inevitably return, demanding more of your time and effort.

However, when the soil is wet, you'll have a much better chance that the weed can be removed roots and all.

Using a trusty weeding tool will make the job even easier.

In the garden, there are some tasks that can be skipped without causing much harm (like dividing plants or pruning).

However, allowing weeds to flower and go to seed is not one of them.

A single weed can rapidly multiply into hundreds, creating a much bigger problem.

That's why I make it a priority to pull them out before they have the chance to bloom and set seed.

Attracting birds and beneficial insects is a smart (and inexpensive) way to keep your garden healthy and thriving.

Birds and insects like ladybugs are great at keeping pests in check, which means less work for you.

To make your garden a hot spot for these helpful creatures, plant pollen- and nectar-rich plants like coriander, dill, and yarrow. These plants will draw in the good bugs.

Adding bird baths, feeders and bushes will make your yard more appealing to birds.