What to Do When Your Outdoor Spaces Are Too High Maintenance

For businesses, outdoor spaces should enhance your property without becoming a source of stress or excessive costs. Yet, many commercial landscapes can spiral into a high-maintenance headache, draining time, resources, and energy. If you find yourself struggling to keep up with your landscaping demands, don’t worry—there are solutions to simplify your outdoor spaces without sacrificing their appeal.

Here’s how you can take control of high-maintenance landscaping and make it work smarter for your business:

1. Assess the Problem Areas

Before making changes, identify the elements of your outdoor space that are consuming the most time and resources.

• Are large lawns requiring constant mowing and watering?

• Are certain plants struggling in the local climate?

• Do pathways or borders need frequent repairs or upkeep?

Solution: Create a list of problem areas and prioritize changes that will have the greatest impact on reducing maintenance.

2. Switch to Low-Maintenance Plants

One of the quickest ways to simplify landscaping is to replace high-maintenance plants with drought-tolerant, easy-care alternatives. Native Australian plants like Kangaroo Paw, Lomandra, and Coastal Rosemary are not only hardy but also visually striking.

Tip: Group plants with similar water and sunlight needs to make irrigation simpler and more efficient.

3. Reduce Lawn Areas

Large expanses of grass often require significant watering, fertilizing, and mowing. Consider replacing some lawn areas with alternatives like:

• Gravel, mulch, or pebbles.

• Native ground covers like Flax Lily.

• Paved pathways or seating areas.

Pro Tip: If you want to keep some grass, choose low-maintenance varieties like buffalo grass that thrive in Australian climates.

4. Invest in Efficient Irrigation

High-maintenance landscapes often stem from inefficient watering systems. Installing a drip irrigation system can significantly reduce water usage while ensuring your plants stay healthy.

Quick Win: Add timers or smart controls to automate watering schedules and eliminate the guesswork.

5. Simplify Garden Bed Designs

Elaborate garden designs with intricate layouts can require excessive maintenance. Instead, opt for simple, clean lines and organized groupings of plants to create a polished yet low-effort look.

Tip: Use timber edging or bluestone borders for a neat, professional appearance that requires minimal upkeep.

6. Mulch Your Way to Simplicity

Mulch is a game-changer for high-maintenance spaces. It reduces weed growth, helps soil retain moisture, and gives garden beds a tidy, finished look—all while cutting down on the time you spend weeding and watering.

7. Incorporate Hardscaping

Adding hardscaping elements like pathways, retaining walls, or patios can dramatically reduce maintenance needs. These features are durable, long-lasting, and add structure to your outdoor space.

Design Idea: Use materials like bluestone or timber that complement native landscaping for a cohesive, professional look.

8. Schedule Regular Maintenance

Sometimes, all it takes to manage high-maintenance landscaping is a reliable maintenance plan. Partnering with a trusted landscaping service ensures your property stays tidy and professional without requiring your constant attention.

Why It Matters: Regular maintenance prevents small issues, like overgrown plants or broken irrigation, from turning into bigger, costlier problems.

The Benefits of Simplifying Your Landscaping

When you reduce the maintenance demands of your outdoor spaces, you’ll:

• Save time and resources.

• Cut down on water and energy costs.

• Create a professional, inviting space for customers and employees.

Simplify with Kotyra

At Kotyra Gardenscapes, we specialize in transforming high-maintenance landscapes into low-effort, professional spaces that work smarter for your business. From native plants to efficient irrigation and clean, functional designs, we’ll help you create outdoor spaces that reflect your values without the stress.

Contact us today to learn how we can simplify your landscaping and save you time and effort. 🌿