Summary:

• Lawn care is a time-saving activity because caregivers usually combine it with their busy work.
• Other time- and energy-saving measures include mulch, native vegetation, and ergonomic equipment.
• Caregivers can develop easy-to-maintain, serene outdoor areas with a bit of planning and the help of the community.

Caregivers are invariably the unsung heroes who tend to the medications, appointments, meals, and emotional needs of their loved ones. Time is a very scarce resource to those who provide domiciliary home care services. The possibility of having a yard or a lawn may be a daunting thought. However, studies demonstrate that green outdoor spaces can be of great benefit to both caregivers and recipients, improving their mental health and reducing stress.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that exposure to green spaces correlates with a decrease in depression, anxiety, and fatigue. Even small and well-maintained yards can offer points of peace and connection with nature.

This article presents professional recommendations for low-maintenance lawn care options specifically designed to help caregivers maintain peaceful and reassuring outdoor conditions without requiring time-consuming care activities.

1. Design a Basic Lawn Design:

The rule number one, of course, should be the rules of caregivers. Simplify. A simple plan requires less care than a complicated garden, which may include several flower beds, hedges, or other decorative elements.

Expert Tip:

It is better to have less when taking care of another person. A more basic landscape creation can significantly reduce weekly maintenance, as certified horticulturist Lori Jenkins, a proponent of therapeutic gardens designed with older adults in mind, puts it.

Employ design features such as hardscaping (dark stone paths, gravel beds, or decking) to minimize the amount of lawn and reduce upkeep. An excellent alternative to raised beds with perennial plants is even better.

2. Select low-care grass/ground cover:

The type of ground cover or grass you have can either add twice the amount of work or half the amount. There are also varieties of grass that grow more slowly and are more drought-tolerant, requiring less mowing, watering, and fertilizing.

Best Picks of Occupied Caregivers:

• Zoysia grass: Slow growing, drought-resistant permanent
• Fine fescue: Shade and low input
• Buffalo grass: Suitable in hot climatic regions and has minimal water requirements.

Or be grass-free! Creeping thyme or clover ground cover will give a luscious appearance without the effort.

Things to Know:

According to the University of California’s Master Gardener Program, converting regular grass into ground covers can reduce the time spent on lawn care by up to 70 percent per week.

3. Turn on the Smart Irrigation Automated Watering:

Manual watering may require some time, especially in arid conditions. Investing in automated irrigation systems, which are operated by sprinklers or drip systems, is a smart move.

Your lawn can be watered without requiring constant attention because smart irrigation timers can adjust based on weather and the time of day in your location.

Pro Insight:

Caregivers cannot do hand-watering every day. One of the most important innovations is a drip irrigation system that comes with programmable timers, as mentioned by urban landscaper Mike Nolan, who specializes in low-maintenance yards.

4. Mulch the Pro Way:

The best friend of a caregiver is mulching. It repels weeds, saves water, and leaves your soil healthy — all with less maintenance.

Organic mulch, such as Bark chips, straw, or compost (2-3 inches deep), should be applied around trees, shrubs, and garden beds. It not only reduces the weeding time spent but also provides the yard with a polished appearance.

Stat Check:

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension holds that mulched ground saves 65 percent of weeding time per year.

5. Get a Practice Manageable Lawn Routine:

Sticking to it is better than going hard. Instead of attempting to maintain the entire yard once a month, consider conducting short and regular maintenance tasks, 15-30 minutes, twice a week.

Use smartphone reminders or caretaker planner apps to divide basic duties, such as cutting, inspecting the water sprinkler, or trimming the border.

Quote:

Break up the sessions into small, regular lawn care, as opposed to a tiring revamp, which is what Elena Marks, the founder of Caremethod —a Wellness network —suggests. A light work routine becomes a part of your self-care, rather than a burden.

6. Plant Native and Drought-Tolerant Plants:

Native plants are straightforward to grow. These crops are tailored to the climate conditions, pests, and soil in your region, so they do not require regular watering and pest checks.

Good Low-Care Options are:

• Purple coneflower (Echinacea)
• Yarrow
• Hostas
• Sedum

Contact the extension office or a local nursery in your area and seek advice tailored to your specific location.

E-E-A-T Bonus:

Native planting has the endorsement of the National Wildlife Federation and numerous university agricultural departments as a means of sustainability and conservation.

7. Engage in the use of Ergonomic and Accessible Tools:

The appropriate instruments can be enormous. Choose simple garden tools that are lightweight and prevent backaches and joint pains.

What Every Caregiver Needs:

• No hassle cords or gas-powered mowers (electric).
• Long-handled weeders
• Rocking garden stools
• Watering wands that are lightweight

Expert Quote:

According to the occupational therapist Sandra Li, when it comes to adaptive gardening, good tools are like additional hands. They ease the jobs performed by the person, making them less physically involved and more effective, particularly in the case of caregivers who are managing physical exhaustion.

8. Request and Delegate:

Even parents who take care require care. Consider hiring someone to handle larger lawn tasks.

Options include:

• Contracting the services of a company to cut the lawn regularly or in the season to clean it out
• Seeking the help of neighbors, friends, or volunteers
• Engaging the care recipient in a light, safe gardening job to soothe the person through a therapeutic activity

Stat Highlight:

In a 2022 study conducted by AARP, four out of ten caregivers admitted to seldom or never seeking assistance, despite it benefiting their overall wellness and that of the people they care for.

9. Make Relaxation Zones Find Here:

A yard is not about beauty; it is supposed to provide peace. Work out something easy, such as a little bench, a bird feeder, wind chimes, or a container garden. You do not require your grounds in acres to enjoy the healing effect of nature.

Use pea gravel, mulch, or stepping stones to reduce mowing and maintain clean edges.

Quote:

According to Dr. Ava Henderson, a clinical psychologist specializing in caregiver burnout and stress management, caregivers should enjoy outdoor spaces with a rewarding factor —a place to take short breaks, have a coffee, and relax.

10. Make and Publish Lawn Blogs:

You can share your own experiences in life, as they can be helpful to others and also beneficial to yourself. As Google recommends E-E-A-T, take pictures, write notes, and publish in caregiver forums and lawn care communities.

Insights peer-tested can be of good use to numerous people providing domiciliary home care services. You will even revolutionize others who do similar job descriptions to take even better care of their outside territories.

Bonus Tip: Search for Facebook groups or Reddit discussions related to “low-maintenance lawn care” and “caregiver hacks.”

Summary:

There is no doubt that lawn work, along with caregiving, is a significant challenge. However, when applied with sound tactics, such as planting natives, watering automatically, and keeping the design simple, it is entirely feasible to have a gorgeous garden without exhausting yourself.