Low Maintenance Garden Designs for Scottish Gardens

The Scottish landscape and climate is unique, and it can be challenging for gardeners. Fortunately, planting native species can make for a low-maintenance garden, because these beautiful plants are well suited to Scotland. By following a few helpful tips, you can create a colourful, low-maintenance, biodiverse garden that will have the added environmental benefit of promoting local plant species, many of which have been in decline since the 1970s. Scotland has such beautiful native trees and plants that having the garden of your dreams does not even require much work on your part. 

Creating Your Garden Plan

There are a few different options for creating a garden that requires very little maintenance. Beyond using native plants to promote biodiversity and reduce maintenance needs, think about the kind of look you want your garden to have. If you can embrace some wildness and imperfection, it is easy to create a low-maintenance garden. This doesn’t mean that it cannot be done if you prefer things tidy, but you will need a slightly different approach. Consider these options: 

• Do away with the lawn. A broad stretch of grass is not necessary for a beautiful Scottish garden, and doing away with it can greatly reduce your maintenance. You can replace it with low-maintenance ground cover like creeping thyme or clover, to eliminate the need for constant mowing or weeding. You can also reduce your grassy areas by installing wooden decking, broad gravel walkways, large beds, or big borders.
• Choose the right plants for your particular lot. Think about your garden, its soil, drainage, and sunlight. If your yard is boggy, look for thirsty plants like bog myrtle or heather, and if it is dry and sunny, pick something like lavender. Work with a garden designer, or talk to a local expert, to find the right plants for the conditions in your garden. Clematis, climbing hydrangea, and ivy are all good options for a lush, low maintenance look.
• Consider containers. Container gardens are good for a tidy, low maintenance look, especially if you have limited space. Note: larger pots are easier to maintain than smaller ones. Smaller pots need more watering, so group plants together in big containers or raised planters.
• Keep things simple. Fewer species in larger numbers will be easier to maintain than a wide variety of plants with different needs. Hardy shrubs are good for anchoring your garden, and evergreens like sedges and hellebores will look beautiful all year. Groundcover plants are also good, because they are tough and tend to keep weeds in check. Try to limit deciduous plants, which lose their leaves seasonally, for less mess to clean up in your garden.
• Think about the year-round look. Choosing different foliage textures and colours, and plants that look best at different times of year, will mean that your garden will look good, no matter the season. Add interest by placing glossy leaves next to textured grasses and putting in bedding plants that you can change seasonally to add colour.
• Pick award winners. The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is an independent certification from the RHS that can save you time and energy when planning your garden. Covering everything from shrubs and trees to flowers to fruits and vegetables, this scheme lets you know which plants are likely to do well in your garden.
• Make your life easier with mulch. Putting mulches like gravel or bark chippings around your plants can help reduce the number of weeds you will need to pull, and will also help retain moisture and improve soil health. Additionally, a layer of mulch will create a valuable habitat for garden creatures, lichens, and small plants.
• Go wild. A garden doesn’t have to be tidy to be beautiful. A garden with some wildness won’t show the occasional weed or fallen leaves like a perfectly manicured garden would do, and that is part of what makes it so low maintenance. What’s more, a natural, unfettered garden all benefit the local wildlife, as well. Learn to embrace imperfection, and let the quirks of your garden work for you. Scotland has such beautiful wildflowers, it’s easy to incorporate them into your low-maintenance garden for vibrant colour and biodiversity. 

Low Maintenance Plants that Thrive in Scottish Gardens

When choosing plants for your garden, look for varieties that are easy to care for and resilient. Plants that need little pruning, watering, or other maintenance will simplify your gardening, and when you choose hardy local varieties, you will need fewer pesticides and fertilisers. Additionally, low-maintenance, native plants are often naturally drought-tolerant and pest-resistant, so you won’t need chemical treatments and excessive watering. Some beautiful, low maintenance plants for Scottish gardens include: 

• Lily of the Valley
• Hydrangea
• Lavender
• Nandina
• Bottle Brush
• Geranium
• Verbena
• Hibiscus
• Viburnum
• Japanese Maple
• Phlox
• Salvia
• Delphinium
• Foxglove
• Thistle
• Primrose
• Lilies
• Hyacinth
• Wild Orchids
• Crocus
• Cherry Trees

Trust North Hill Gardens for Expert Garden Design

Whenever you need help with your garden, whether you want to completely transform it or you just need seasonal help with maintenance, trust North Hill Gardens to bring out its full potential. Our mission is to create beautiful, sustainable, and functional gardens, and we believe that every garden can be an exquisite, tranquil sanctuary that brings joy and inspiration to the world. Our team of enthusiastic, skilled garden designers, landscapers, and horticulture experts has been serving communities in the UK for many years. Rooted and grounded in our community, we are well-versed in finding the right native plants for each garden and helping our clients create a beautiful, biodiverse environment with thriving plants and beneficial wildlife. We work closely with our clients and strive to tailor each project to match their unique vision, in a way that is both creative and practical. Whatever you envision, our goal is to use our wealth of knowledge and passion for gardening to help bring it to life in your garden. Whether you are seeking landscaping, garden design, or maintenance, contact us to find out how our experienced team can help.