By Jessica Carlson

Otter Tail County Master Gardener

Many of us feel that a beautiful yard and garden demand more time than we can spare, especially with work, family, and daily responsibilities pulling us in every direction. It’s natural to wonder if gardening is something that must wait for “someday.” Even with a busy schedule, you can enjoy a welcoming, thriving landscape without hours of daily effort. Your dream garden can grow right alongside real life, and it starts with shifting how you approach those small tasks. For years, I had let minor chores slip, only to find myself tackling them all at once, on the hottest, most exhausting day of the week. When I realized that procrastinating these little jobs turned pleasant gardening into overwhelming labor, I knew something had to change. So, I began making gardening fit naturally into my routine: tackling one small area at a time and carving out a few minutes here and there, instead of waiting for a big block of time. Whether it is a quick walk around the yard in the morning or spending five minutes deadheading flowers in the evening, these manageable habits have made my time in the garden far more enjoyable and relaxing. With just a few new routines, you can nurture your yard and your well-being without sacrificing your busy life. 

Pick a small area to tend this week and use spare moments for gardening, it can make a noticeable impact without adding stress. Let tasks like mulching or pruning fit naturally into your schedule for a more enjoyable, less overwhelming experience.

Different garden types benefit from these habits: perennial beds need little work once established, vegetable gardens stay manageable with organized planting and mulch, while containers offer quick, flexible care. Designing your garden around your time makes upkeep easier.

Short daily check-ins, such as morning walks or evening spot-treatments, help you track plant health and keep up with simple tasks, preventing bigger issues and building a deeper connection with your landscape.

I have been inspired by the book The 5-Minute Gardener by Nicole Johnsey Burke. Her theory focuses on the idea that gardening does not have to happen in large blocks of time to be meaningful. Instead, small, consistent actions, done whenever time allows, build lasting results. That mindset pairs naturally with a flexible approach to gardening, where progress is measured in steady care rather than long, exhausting sessions.

Smart design choices can make gardening less demanding and more enjoyable. One helpful approach is xeriscaping, which approaches landscaping in ways that reduce the need for watering. You can do this by grouping plants with similar water needs, picking drought-tolerant options like native prairie grasses (such as little bluestem and switchgrass) or hardy perennials like sedum, and adding plenty of mulch to hold in moisture. These steps conserve water and cut back on chores. The University of Minnesota Extension suggests choosing plants that are well-adapted to our climate, which makes your garden stronger and less work overall. When you match your plant choices to your local conditions, you’re setting yourself up for success and more free time to enjoy your yard. 

Technology is also making it easier to care for your yard and garden without constant attention. Smart irrigation systems and timers for your drip irrigation can be controlled from your smartphone, letting you adjust watering schedules whether you’re at home or away. Many systems use soil moisture sensors, simple devices that measure how wet the soil is and only water when plants need it. That means you do not have to guess, and you won’t waste water or time. These tools help you grow healthier plants, save resources, and fit gardening into a busy schedule. Even routine lawn care can be simplified with a few easy changes. For example, letting your grass grow a bit taller—around three inches—and leaving the clippings on the lawn helps the soil stay moist and keeps weeds in check, just as the University of Minnesota Extension recommends. If you want to save even more time, consider a robotic lawn mower. It quietly trims your lawn in short bursts, keeping things neat without adding extra work to your week. 

In the end, successful gardening isn’t about finding more time, it’s about making the most of the time you already have. 

For more information pertaining to your yard and garden please visit 

www.extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden