I’ve been called ‘low maintenance’, and I take it as a compliment.

Ian Green
Jun 25
2 min read

Updated: Jul 27

Why ease doesn’t have to mean boring in garden design

Let’s be honest, the phrase “low maintenance” has been getting a bad rep. People tend to say it like it’s a design cop-out, or worse, an aesthetic compromise.

But take it from me, some of the cleverest gardens I’ve designed have been low maintenance by design… and proudly so.

*Why ease doesn’t have to mean boring in garden design- Ian Green*

First, let’s be clear on what “low maintenance” is not:

It’s not:

• Boring slabs of gravel

• Fake lawns and a raised bed for good measure

• One lonely box ball surrounded by bark chippings

• A soulless space that never grows, changes or feels alive

That’s not low maintenance… that’s no imagination.

What low maintenance really means (when it’s done well)

It means design that’s thoughtful and intentional, built to be lived in, not laboured over.

• It means structure that does the heavy lifting, so the garden holds together even when nothing’s in bloom.

• It means planting that looks after itself, with seasonal shifts and slow rewards.

• It means materials that weather well, drainage that just works, and spaces that make sense from day one.

And it means you don’t have to spend every weekend “doing the garden.” You get to enjoy it instead.

So, what does that look like?

One of my favourite recent projects was for a client who loved being outdoors, but hated fuss.

They didn’t want a showpiece or a jungle, they wanted a place to sit, to unwind, to feel at ease, something that wouldn’t fall apart if they missed a season.

We focused on soft structure: evergreen planting in calm tones, layered texture, hard materials that age well, and enough seasonal interest to feel alive, but never demanding.

They now spend more time in the garden than they ever did before. And not because there’s work to do… because it feels good to be in.