Low Maintenance Garden Ideas for North East Homes

A low maintenance garden does not have to be a sea of grey slabs. With the right materials and a clear layout, you can have a space that looks good all year and copes with North East wind and rain, without taking up every weekend.

In this article

1. Start with a porcelain patio
2. Resin paths instead of gravel
3. Keep, shrink or replace the lawn
4. Raised beds and easy planting
5. Low-fuss boundaries
6. Common questions

Striped lawn, curved resin path and porcelain patio.

Start with a porcelain patio

Porcelain is one of the easiest surfaces to live with. It resists stains, moss and fading, and a brush and a wash is usually all it needs. Large-format slabs also mean fewer joints for weeds.

Grey porcelain patio with steps up to artificial lawn

Cream porcelain patio with a split-face raised planter

Resin paths instead of gravel

Loose gravel looks good for a while but ends up on the lawn and gathers leaves. A resin-bound path gives the same natural stone look, drains well and stays neat.

Keep, shrink or replace the lawn

• Shrink it: a smaller lawn with crisp block or steel edging is quicker to mow and easier to keep tidy.
• Replace it: quality artificial grass stays green all year and suits shady or heavily used areas.
• Edge it: a mowing strip along borders means no more trimming by hand.

Resin path alongside an artificial lawn.

Raised beds and easy planting

Raised beds bring planting up to a comfortable height and keep soil in place. Fill them with hardy evergreen shrubs and grasses that suit our climate, and use a membrane with slate or bark to keep weeds down.

Curved beds with slate chippings and specimen planting.

Low-fuss boundaries

Fencing on concrete posts and gravel boards will not rot at ground level, and slatted screens can hide bins and storage neatly. Pressure-treated timber only needs an occasional coat of stain to keep its colour.

Common questions

Is a low maintenance garden expensive?

It depends on the size and materials. Many people phase the work, starting with the patio and paths and adding planting later.

Will artificial grass look fake?

Modern artificial grass looks far more natural than older products, especially with a mix of blade colours and proper edging.

Can you design the whole garden?

Yes. We plan and build complete gardens, from patios and paths to lawns, fencing and planting.

Want an easier garden?

We will visit, talk through how you use your garden and design a layout that is easy to look after.

Get a free quoteSee garden makeovers