Does this sound like you? You spent all weekend mowing, weeding, pruning, and watering. Come Sunday evening, you’re exhausted. That was valuable time you could have spent enjoying your yard rather than providing the upkeep. If that’s the case, consider these 7 suggestions to decrease the time and increase the enjoyment:

1. Grow what you like. If you enjoy the beauty and scent of roses, grow roses. If lilies are your thing, grow lilies. The point here is that if you stick to plants and shrubs that bring you joy, your much less likely to look at gardening as a time-consuming task. That’s exactly what you don’t want.

2. Know the lay of the land. You have to be aware of how your yard is laid out and its different aspects. For example, you don’t want to plant something that requires sufficient water on a hill. Something that needs fertile soil isn’t going to grow where the ground is sandy or rocky. If you plant things incorrectly, they’re not going to grow.

3. Don’t create chores for yourself that you don’t like. If you can’t stand cutting the grass, don’t have a lawn. If trimming and pruning aren’t your bag, don’t plant anything that requires a lot of that. If you do, in fact, have a lawn, hire someone to do your mowing. The last thing you want is to view your gardening as a mindless, time-consuming task. Your plants should bring you happiness, not headaches.

4. Perennials, not annuals. I guess this just stands to reason. When the annuals die, they have to be cleared out. Then you have to replant them again when their time comes around. Stick with the ones you know will remain with you throughout the year. This one tip alone will save you countless hours.

5. Plant things together that require similar tasks. If you do, in fact, plant annuals, place them together so it saves time when you need to clear them out. If you have a number of plants that require more water than others, plant them together as well. If you have plants that grow more quickly and need constant trimming, plant them together. You get the idea. The more time you save with maintenance, the more time you have to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

6. Anything requiring constant trimming and/or needs to be staked should be avoided. If you choose plants that are more natural and are less of a chore to keep up, nature can do the work for you.

7. Use pots whenever possible. This will allow you to add splashes of color throughout the yard. The more obvious benefit is that it allows you to place your plants and flowers exactly where you want. If you get tired of looking at your pansies on the patio table, simply move them.

None of us ever seems to have enough time to do the things we want to do. Maintaining your landscaping doesn’t have to be a time-consuming task that you look to avoid like the plague. These tips will save you that time and allow you to enjoy that very little bit that is necessary to have a beautiful yard.