Low-Maintenance Garden Hacks for Busy New Yorkers
A Sproutwell garden in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn utilizes planters filled with easy to care for perennial herbs and pollinator plants. Residents of the building take turns caring for the plants, which is another amazing way to reduce the gardening time for one person!
Living in a fast-paced city like New York doesn’t leave much time for gardening, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a thriving, edible garden! Even if your schedule is packed, these simple, low-maintenance garden hacks will help you grow fresh herbs, veggies, and fruits with minimal effort.
Start Small with Containers
Strawberries can also be easy to grow if you have a rooftop or balcony with access to full sun.
Container gardening is perfect for busy New Yorkers with limited space and time. Whether it's a windowsill, balcony, or rooftop, containers let you control the environment better, making it easier to manage pests and watering needs. Herbs like basil, mint, and thyme thrive in small pots and don’t need constant attention. Use self-watering containers to reduce the time you spend watering, and opt for soil blends designed to retain moisture, reducing the frequency of watering even more.
Choose Low-Maintenance Edible Plants
Certain plants require less care than others, making them ideal for time-strapped gardeners. If you have limited time, these plants are very low-maintenance and fairly foolproof:
Lettuce and greens: Fast-growing and low-maintenance, leafy greens like arugula and spinach can be harvested regularly.
Radishes: These are quick to grow and virtually foolproof, perfect for adding a crunch to your salads.
Scallions and chives: Once planted, they keep producing—just snip the tops as needed.
Opt for Perennials
Perennial plants are your garden's best friend because they come back year after year with little intervention. Chives, oregano, and sage are great perennial herbs that thrive in pots or small garden spaces and don’t need to be replanted every season.
Mulch for Moisture and Weed Control
This is a photo I took of a bag of mulch I was delivery to a client's house. A word to the wise, gardening stores often only sell mulch in 2 cubic foot bags which can be difficult to carry up apartment steps alone. Make sure you have some help!
Mulching is a lifesaver for the busy gardener. A layer of organic mulch (like shredded leaves or straw) helps keep the soil moist and reduces weeds. This means less watering and fewer interruptions from pesky weeds that steal nutrients from your plants. Apply mulch around the base of your plants once they’re established to keep maintenance at a minimum.
Set Up a Drip Irrigation System
Installing a drip irrigation system might sound fancy, but it’s a great hack to save time and water. These systems deliver water directly to the plant roots, minimizing waste and ensuring your plants stay hydrated even if you forget. In small urban gardens, you can use simple drip kits connected to a timer, which means you can set it and forget it!
Harvest Efficiently
Rather than waiting for your plants to fully mature, practice ‘cut-and-come-again harvesting’ with greens like spinach, arugula, and lettuce. Simply snip the outer leaves when you need them, and let the plant continue to grow.
add plants for Pollinators
A thriving garden needs pollinators, and adding low-maintenance flowers like lavender or calendula not only brings pollinators like bees and butterflies but also adds beauty without the fuss.
Plant in Cycles
Stagger your planting times so you always have something growing without overwhelming yourself with too many plants at once. This means harvesting and planting small amounts throughout the year, making gardening feel less like a chore and more like a rewarding habit.