4: Garden Maintenance Without the Overwhelm: Simple shifts to reduce work and make space for joy

If you’ve ever found yourself dreading garden maintenance or wondering why it’s starting to feel like a burden, you’re not alone. In this episode, I’m talking about what happens when we shift the way we think about maintenance and why it doesn’t have to feel like a never-ending to-do list.

Instead of aiming for perfection or pretending you’ll suddenly have hours every weekend, I want to help you build a garden that works with your life as it is now. We’ll talk about setting a maintenance budget, how to limit high-maintenance plants, and why focusing your energy in just a few high-impact areas can free you up to enjoy the rest. With a few smart swaps and honest expectations, you really can reduce the overwhelm and still love what you see outside your window.

In this episode, I cover:

• How to shift your mindset around garden maintenance so it feels less like a chore
• What a maintenance budget really means and how to plan your garden around the time you actually have
• Smart plant choices and placement strategies that help reduce ongoing upkeep
• How to prioritize high-impact or high-traffic areas for the most impactful use of your time
• The role of editing in garden design and why removing what’s not working creates more ease
• Why only 10 percent of your plants should be high-maintenance divas, and smart swaps to hold a space with less work

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Until next time, I hope you find something in your garden to truly relish.