• Creating boundaries makes an area automatically easier to maintain. If you want a grassy lawn area, box it off into a neat square or rectangle shape. That way it won’t spread and take over.
• To add colour, put plants in containers. These are easier than fussy borders which need a lot of weeding. To eliminate unsightly sprouts or weeds, cover the soil with a layer of gravel to create a membrane you can water the plants through.
• Slate flooring or wooden decking is easier to maintain than a lawn, and can be hosed down easily when it gets dirty.
• For small gardens, plant a climbing flower like a honeysuckle, rose or clematis in a container and let it climb up a trellis.