I create plantings that can be allowed to grow without too much need for control, full of variety and interest through the seasons whilst still reading as legible gardens. By making the right plant selections and combinations and allowing room for plants to grow it is possible to design out many potential and common maintenance problems and greatly reduce the time required to keep the landscape looking great.

To ensure an easy-care landscape, weeds are removed and eradicated before any plants are installed. If lawn is adjacent to planting areas I install lawn edging to define and contain spreading grass. Mulch is installed to the correct depth after planting to smother any annual weed seed that is sure to be present in the soil. A couple of seasons after planting the ground is mostly covered by plants, which is the most effective mulch. Irrigation needs are greatly reduced in my plantings, and drip irrigation is an especially effective way of putting the water where it needs to be without creating a haven for weeds.

The low maintenance landscapes I specialize in making do need some seasonal gardening to help them realize their full potential. Most perennial plants and grasses are cut to the ground every year, usually at the end of winter since many of them perform fairly well through winter. This schedule also helps improve biodiversity, the dormant plants continue to provide food and habitat for birds and insects. I prefer to allow most shrubs and trees to grow naturally. I do the seasonal maintenance work on many of the gardens I have made, so that this simple process is done correctly at the right times.