Choose structures, plants, ground-coverings, and systems that will help to reduce watering, weeding, trimming, painting, and mowing. Consider your available time. Determine how much time you spend maintaining your yard at different times of the year. Consider mowing, planting, pruning, weeding, watering, raking, snow shoveling, and other seasonal chores. List your needs.
Various activities require different ground surfaces, structures, or plantings.
Assess your landscape. Make a rough map and list of existing features, such as fences, trees and shrubs, buildings, and paved surfaces. Note problem areas, such as poor views, noise, lack of privacy, steep slopes, or places where plants grow poorly or water accumulates. Choose timesaving systems and surfaces. Choose brick or stone instead of wood surfaces to eliminate painting chores.