Want a lush garden, but don’t have the time to do any actual gardening? Or maybe it’s a balcony brimming with flower-filled pots you’re after, but lack the know-how needed to cultivate them? And then there’s the business of keeping plants alive.
What you need is an easy-to-care-for garden that’s filled with low-maintenance plants that pretty much take care of themselves and can thrive in the UAE climate.
“The first thing is to get clear on is – what does minimal effort mean for you?” says Will Bennett, founder of Wilden Design. “Is it about time, money, or just mental headspace? A garden that’s truly zero-maintenance is usually a dull one [think plastic grass and extensive porcelain tiles]. Instead, I suggest aiming for low-stress – the kind of planting and layout that looks after itself, while not being boring or too sparse.”
While there are ways to minimise the time and attention needed, Bennett warns: “If you want a garden that’s vibrant, alive and humming, then it’s going to require some caring for, like any other living thing that you love. For some, this requires more adjustment than others.”
The best plants and trees for minimum effort
When choosing greenery for your low-maintenance garden, look for species that are native to the UAE for their ability to thrive in arid climates.
When it comes to trees, Prity Bhattacharya, owner of Nirvana Gardening Dubai, suggests neem, albizia, tabebuia, yellow poinciana, millington, golden shower, tulip tree, vitex agnus-castus, also known as the chaste tree, sapota, pomegranate and mulberry.
These options are well-adapted to the local climate, heat and sandy soil, thriving under the sun without risk of scorching and requiring minimal watering.
“Ghaf is always a joy, if you have the space, and is practically care-free,” says Bennett. “For something more lush but exotic, try Pongamia; it’s a great multi-purpose tree, and its shade canopy is hard to beat.”
For plants, Bennett suggests agaves, pachycereus cacti, yucca varieties and the local favourite, caralluma arabica.
“Stick to plants that already thrive in the UAE, because nature does most of the heavy lifting,” he says. “That might mean hardy natives or well-adapted arid plants from regions in Central America, Australia, East Africa and the Mediterranean. For small gardens, try dodonaea viscosa as a hedge or small tree, convolvulus virgatus for its effortless sprawling and hanging foliage and white flowers, or senna italica for its spreading and floating foliage and yellow flowers, which are great for pollinators too.”
Are pots or raised flower beds an easier option?
Many gardens feature raised planters or you can opt for an array of potted plants as opposed to ground-level borders. Having raised beds means you can fill them with high-quality soil and plants can enjoy better drainage.
“If the soil is really bad or if there is no soil area, you can make your own mix and still start gardening,” says Bhattacharya of the benefits of raised beds. “You can also protect any produce you’re growing better from your pets.”
Bennett adds that raised beds can be easier on your back, and that they can also provide better soil control. “Which is a win if you’re dealing with tough ground or want to manage the conditions for sensitive herbs and vegetables,” he adds. “Raised beds are also great for adding height, drama and architecture to a design, so they serve multiple purposes.”
How to plant for easier gardening
Once you have your plants, trees and flowers selected, it’s important not to plant them randomly. When planting young trees, be aware of how big they will grow and how much shade they will eventually provide before deciding what to plant around them, as this will affect access to sunlight.
“Think groups, not scatter-shot,” says Bennett. “Planting in blocks or layers – tall at the back, groundcover up front – means the plants can support each other, shade the soil and reduce weeding and watering. Design tactical gaps in planting wider than two or three metres to allow the gardener to get in there and do their work, and if you’re planting densely along a boundary wall or villa, leave a decent gap so the plants have space to grow.”
The rule is to plant in layers – trees, shrubs, plants, low-growing ground covers and then ground-trailing plants to allow all greenery to get enough light.
“As they grow together, the need to tend to individual plants reduces as plants take care of each other and communicate via roots,” says Bhattacharya. “But one needs to remember to plant compatible ones together. Most gardens eventually require less and less effort once it is settled. It takes at least two years for plants or trees to settle, so from that perspective, one will need to put a little effort into a new garden at the start,” she adds.
Adding interesting touches to your stress-free garden
There are plenty of ways to add interest to your garden, especially when it comes to keeping things low maintenance and low cost. Consider the area you have to work with, along with the height of your garden walls or overall balcony space and take careful measurements before you buy.
“Water plants and water lilies in planters look very pretty,” says Bhattacharya. “Also, rocks, rock gardening or the addition of a small natural-looking water feature all add low-maintenance interest.”
Bennett, meanwhile, suggests climbers, as they can give height and dimension without eating up ground space. “Other simple tricks include using bold pots, contrasting gravel colours and textures, or even a feature bench tucked into planting, so it feels like a hidden spot. Even with low effort you can create those moments that make you smile and want to spend time outdoors.”
Key facilities
Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
Premier League-standard football pitch
400m Olympic running track
NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
600-seat auditorium
Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
Specialist robotics and science laboratories
AR and VR-enabled learning centres
Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pocketsSpecs
Price, base: Dhs850,000
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 591bhp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.3L / 100km
The biog
Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
Favourite dish: Grilled fish
Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed’s visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
The specs
Engine: 0.8-litre four cylinder
Power: 70bhp
Torque: 66Nm
Transmission: four-speed manual
Price: $1,075 new in 1967, now valued at $40,000
On sale: Models from 1966 to 1970
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pocketsWho was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund “prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind”.
Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
FIXTURES
Thursday
Dibba v Al Dhafra, Fujairah Stadium (5pm)
Al Wahda v Hatta, Al Nahyan Stadium (8pm)
Friday
Al Nasr v Ajman, Zabeel Stadium (5pm)
Al Jazria v Al Wasl, Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium (8pm)
Saturday
Emirates v Al Ain, Emirates Club Stadium (5pm)
Sharjah v Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, Sharjah Stadium (8pm)
First-round leaderbaord
-5 C Conners (Can)
-3 B Koepka (US), K Bradley (US), V Hovland (Nor), A Wise (US), S Horsfield (Eng), C Davis (Aus);
-2 C Morikawa (US), M Laird (Sco), C Tringale (US)
Selected others: -1 P Casey (Eng), R Fowler (US), T Hatton (Eng)
Level B DeChambeau (US), J Rose (Eng)
1 L Westwood (Eng), J Spieth (US)
3 R McIlroy (NI)
4 D Johnson (US)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Company%20profile
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UAE SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Ali Khaseif, Fahad Al Dhanhani, Mohammed Al Shamsi, Adel Al Hosani
Defenders: Bandar Al Ahbabi, Shaheen Abdulrahman, Walid Abbas, Mahmoud Khamis, Mohammed Barghash, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Hassan Al Mahrami, Yousef Jaber, Salem Rashid, Mohammed Al Attas, Alhassan Saleh
Midfielders: Ali Salmeen, Abdullah Ramadan, Abdullah Al Naqbi, Majed Hassan, Yahya Nader, Ahmed Barman, Abdullah Hamad, Khalfan Mubarak, Khalil Al Hammadi, Tahnoun Al Zaabi, Harib Abdallah, Mohammed Jumah, Yahya Al Ghassani
Forwards: Fabio De Lima, Caio Canedo, Ali Saleh, Ali Mabkhout, Sebastian Tagliabue, Zayed Al Ameri
The Vines – In Miracle Land
Two stars
The biog
Hobby: Playing piano and drawing patterns
Best book: Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins
Food of choice: Sushi
Favourite colour: Orange
The Year Earth Changed
Directed by:Tom Beard
Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough
Stars: 4
Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
About Takalam
Date started: early 2020
Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech and wellness
Number of staff: 4
Funding to date: Bootstrapped
Pharaoh’s curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
The biog
Name: Fareed Lafta
Age: 40
From: Baghdad, Iraq
Mission: Promote world peace
Favourite poet: Al Mutanabbi
Role models: His parents
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
Directed by: Shaka King
Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Lakeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons
Four stars
Living in…
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Results
6.30pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah – Group 2 (PA) $36,000 (Dirt) 1,600m, Winner: RB Money To Burn, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Turf) 2,410m, Winner: Star Safari, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
7.40pm: Meydan Trophy – Conditions (TB) $50,000 (T) 1,900m, Winner: Secret Protector, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
8.15pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 – Group 2 (TB) $293,000 (D) 1,900m, Winner: Salute The Soldier, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
8.50pm: Al Rashidiya – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m, Winner: Zakouski, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (T) 1,000m, Winner: Motafaawit, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson
Left Bank: Art, Passion and Rebirth of Paris 1940-1950
Agnes Poirer, Bloomsbury
Qosty Byogaani
Starring: Hani Razmzi, Maya Nasir and Hassan Hosny
Four stars
Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,000mm, Winners: Mumayaza, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m, Winners: Sharkh, Pat Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi
6pm: The President’s Cup Prep – Conditions (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 2,200m, Winner: Somoud, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh90,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: Harrab, Ryan Curatolo, Jean de Roualle
7pm: Abu Dhabi Equestrian Gold Cup – Prestige (PA) Dh125,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: Hameem, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7.30pm: Al Ruwais – Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 1,200m, Winner: AF Alwajel, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
8pm: Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m, Winner: Nibras Passion, Bernardo Pinheiro, Ismail Mohammed
Abu Dhabi World Pro 2019 remaining schedule:
Wednesday April 24: Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, 11am-6pm
Thursday April 25: Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, 11am-5pm
Friday April 26: Finals, 3-6pm
Saturday April 27: Awards ceremony, 4pm and 8pm
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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