--- title: "9 Sneaky Ways to Put Your Garden on Autopilot" description: "Love a verdant garden, but don't want to spend your days watering and weeding? Here's how to get major curb appeal without breaking a sweat." date: "2023-05-15" modified: "2026-05-14" authors: - name: "Jennifer Noonan" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.bobvila.com/authors/jennifer-noonan.md" url: "https://www.bobvila.com/articles/garden-on-autopilot/" categories: - "Lawn & Garden" tags: - "gardening" - "News" --- # 9 Sneaky Ways to Put Your Garden on Autopilot ![Back view of senior man with white hat sitting on garden chair and by the table in garden.]() *Photo: Svetlana Verbitskaya via Adobe Stock* Some people love gardens but hate gardening, and we get totally it. We know some plant lovers who find weeding, feeding, and watering meditative, and others who find nothing zen about pest eradication and not being able to scrub the dirt out from under their fingernails. Here’s our cheat sheet for you “wake me when it’s time to harvest” folks. Here are the secrets to getting a blooming, verdant patch without busting your hump. ## 1. Hook up a water timer. ![Close-up large display of water timer at community garden with two hoses connected to the timer.]() *Photo: Trong Nguyen Photo via Adobe Stock* Schedule your lawn or garden watering using a [hose timer](), a gadget that attaches to your hose bib. It works in the same way that smart timers indoors work: You program it to turn off and on at preset times; many models even have a rain delay setting that allows you to skip waterings when the weather is inclement. These gadgets start at about $30, but pricier models allow you to control the settings via an app on your smartphone. ## 2. Mix moisture-retaining amendments into your soil. ![can you reuse potting soil perlite being poured into pot]() *Photo: iStock Photo: istockphoto.com* For plants that do require regular watering, add a moisture-retaining amendment like [vermiculite or perlite]() to the soil before you plant seeds and seedlings. This simple step will help tender plants go longer between waterings without wilting in the heat. ## 3. Set up a drip irrigation system. ![Drip irrigation around flowers]() *Photo: iStock* *Photo: istockphoto.com* There are a few different types of [drip irrigation systems](), including sprinklers and misters, but the one that’s probably most useful for those with a big patch of ground (or a bunch of raised beds) to water is the kind with thin, perforated tubing that you can lay on top of your raised bed’s soil. Water slowly seeps through the holes to deliver ample moisture to your plants. Couple a drip irrigation system like the [Raindrip Drip Watering Vegetable Garden Kit]() with a hose timer, and your watering routine will pretty much do its own thing. ## 4. Spread some mulch. ![Shovel against wheelbarrow full of mulch]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* [Mulching garden beds]() retains moisture and prevents weed growth, and will allow you to spend less time watering and weeding and more time relaxing. Buy [bags of mulch]() at the local home center or big-box store, pick some up from your municipality or, for larger yards or gardens, order [mulch by the yard]() from the garden center. ## 5. Select "self-cleaning" flower varieties. ![A glass greenhouse sits at the back of a yard, lots of different kinds of flowers in a rainbow of colors blooming all around it.]() *Photo: Shelli Jensen via Adobe Stock* You’ve heard of self-cleaning ovens, but self-cleaning plants? These varieties boast blooms that naturally fade and fall off, meaning there's no need to deadhead or prune withered flowers. Varieties of [geranium](), [begonia](), columbine, and [baptisia]() are just a few examples of flowers that will always look fresh, without you having to pull out your pruning shears. ## 6. "Plant" some watering globes. ![English ivy with watering globe, a device for watering house plants during vacations.]() *Photo: darkhriss via Adobe Stock* Potted plants dry out more quickly than those that live in the ground, making everyday watering for those with patio plants a fact of life. Watering globes, like these [Besti self-watering globes](), can give you a respite from your watering duties. These clever gadgets slowly deliver water to container plants for up to 2 weeks. Frugal gardeners can make their own [automatic plant waterers]() by repurposing a soda or wine bottle. ## 7. Roll out a weed barrier. ![A person laying black weed fabric using galvanized steel pegs and a mallet. ]() *Photo: Svetlana Verbitskaya via Adobe Stock* By laying down sheets of newspaper or [landscape fabric]() before mulching your garden, you can drastically reduce the number of weeds that poke through your beds. Newspaper will eventually break down into the soil, so you'll need to replace it as it decomposes to keep weeds at bay. Fabric is a longer-lasting, though more expensive, option. ## 8. Opt for drought-tolerant plants. ![Black eyed susan flowers]() *Photo: iStock* *Photo: istockphoto.com* If you want to be able to neglect your landscaping during busy summer days, choose your plants carefully. Check each plant's water requirements before you buy to ensure you're establishing a garden you can sustain. [Drought-tolerant plants]() don’t really need to be watered much once they’re put in the ground, so they’re easier and cheaper to maintain in the long run. Some of our favorite options include [black-eyed Susan](), hollyhock, and [sedum](). ## 9. Choose slow-growing shrubs. ![Different types of green shrubs including boxwoods in front of a red-brick house. ]() *Photo: prystai via Adobe Stock* The secret to keeping your [front yard shrubs]() looking tidy without constant attention: Slow-growing shrubs require less frequent [pruning]() than faster-growing varieties do. Not only are these shrubs less work to maintain, but you can enjoy them for years without worrying that they’ll outgrow your garden. ## Author A confessed DIY junkie, Jennifer Noonan writes about home improvement, gardening, and all things do-it-yourself. The recipient of degrees in International Relations and Library & Information Science from Syracuse University, Noonan has worked in media and related fields for over 15 years, including her time at [MTV Networks](), where she served as Manager of Digital Programming at [Nickelodeon](). Today, Noonan lives in Delaware with her husband and daughters, where she is ardently teaching the next generation how to use power tools. ### Author social links [LinkedIn]()