KEEP DOWN WEEDS BY REGULARLY MOWING LAWN AND CLOSE BORDER PLANTING

As I have a permanent balance problem which makes every day life challenging, it would be an even bigger problem if I had to keep bending down to weed all the time, so I avoid weeds by regular mowing of the lawn (not too short or long) which makes the grass grow more densely.  I grow the plants in my borders quite close together, shoulder to shoulder, but not so that they are on top of each other and have no space.  This way I save myself a lot of work.  I promise you, I rarely see weeds as they generally cannot find room for their seeds.  I keep a sharp eye out for those sneaky ones that occasionally get in and somehow manage to blend in. 

Weed free lawn - not perfect, but not bad

Perennials like company, all happy together they collectively

keep water evaporation down and keep out weeds

Below are a group of plants waiting for a place of their own.  At the moment they are bunched together while I consider the best place for them.  Sadly, wind has knocked off a great number of the apples off the apple tree.  I don't think that I am very successful with fruit trees.  I lost the lovely cherry tree to a bacterial disease and the apple tree isn't looking all that promising.  Close to the apple tree is Buddleia Davidii Nanho Blue which seems happy in its tub, for now, and is busy forming flower buds.  Behind that is the Japanese Maple, Acer palmatum 'Katsura'.  That was badly damaged by black aphids in spring which attacked the soft new growth.  It was so bad that I cut off the damaged growth.  Oh, the joys (trials and tribulations) of gardening!  At the front left of the image is Acer palmatum 'Phoenix' which has survived disease and things like vine weevil larvae, so far.  The other tubs contain herbs: lemon balm, lemon verbena, apple mint, rosemary.  And finally, lewisia in a shallow terracotta pot.