5 lazy gardening tips that do the hard work for you, according to experts

Learn how to water your plants without even getting out of bed.

As a gardener, there’s no greater feeling than watching the plants in your yard grow and even thrive. At the same time, heading out to tend to your garden in the blazing sun isn’t always a walk in the park. 

While the word “lazy” often carries a negative connotation, it can actually be a good thing when it comes to gardening. It’s all about working smarter, not harder, and allowing yourself to take advantage of all the resources, tools, and knowledge at your disposal. 

If you consider yourself a “lazy gardener”—or someone who is always looking for the most clever way to get the job done—these tips are for you. Read on for expert-approved gardening methods that allow you to do the least work possible (while still reaping all the benefits of a flourishing backyard garden).

Meet Our Expert

• Lindsey Chastain, expert gardener and founder of The Waddle and Cluck, a homesteading blog

01 of 05

More Mulch

When in doubt, more mulch is always a good idea. Not only does mulching decrease how often you need to water and weed your garden; it also improves soil health, and consequently, the well-being of your garden. 

“Mulching is the lazy gardener’s best friend. It’s also really good for your plants,” says Lindsey Chastain, expert gardener and founder of The Waddle and Cluck. “Mulching helps your plants to retain moisture, which means you have to water less often. It also helps keep weeds down, so less weeding. Mulch provides nutrients to the soil as it breaks down. Plus, a thick layer over bare soil in the winter helps keep your soil healthy and gives the beneficial bugs a place to overwinter so they’re ready to help your plants in the spring.”

You don’t even have to run to the store for mulch—you can make it in your own backyard. 

“The easiest time to make mulch is in the fall. Collect all the dried leaves, put them in a large barrel or heavy-duty trash can and use your weedeater to chop it all up,” says Chastain.

02 of 05

Invest in a Soaker Hose

Make sure all your plants are watered low and slow (just how they want to be) with a soaker hose. These flexible, porous hoses water your garden through the many holes littered along its entire length, which means less manual watering for you. 

“Soaker hoses are a must if you want to be lazy. Add a timer to be extra lazy,” says Chastain. “Lay the soaker hoses along the garden bed close to the base of your plants. Set a timer for right at sunrise. That’s the best time to water plants, especially in the hot summer. The slower delivery means all the water will soak into the soil. With the timer, you don’t even have to get out of bed to water your plants.”

03 of 05

Weed Once a Week

If there’s one chore every gardener dislikes, it’s weeding. The continuous bending, kneeling, and pulling can become physically exhausting, especially if you’re taking care of a larger garden. To avoid long, strenuous weeding sessions, Chastain recommends weeding once a week and taking advantage of convenient gardening tools. 

“Weeding is the chore that breaks my back the most,” says Chastain. “There are tons of products out there today where you don’t have to spend hours bent over pulling weeds—you can stand because of the long handles. If you have the chance, lay down a weed barrier in your beds before planting.”

04 of 05

Check Your Planting Zone

There are certain aspects of gardening that are completely out of your control, one being your planting zone (or USDA Plant Hardiness Zone). A planting zone is a geographic region based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature. It allows gardeners in each specific region to determine which perennials are most likely to thrive within the given area. 

“Don’t fight your growing zone,” says Chastain. “Look up your growing zone before planting anything. As you decide on plants, make sure they will work in your zone.”

05 of 05

Walk Your Garden

As simple as it may seem, taking a leisurely stroll through your garden at least once a week is one of the easiest ways to successfully maintain your growing plants.

“Get ahead of potential issues before they become a headache,” says Chastain. “Walk your garden every week. Check for pests and problems. The earlier you catch a problem like pests, mold, under- or overwatering, the easier it will be to fix those issues.”

Read the original article on Real Simple