8 Garden Layouts That Are a Pain to Keep Up With

Some garden ideas seem smart on paper, but once you’re in the thick of watering, weeding, and harvesting, they turn into a headache. If you want to enjoy your garden instead of constantly fighting it, skip these layouts.

Beds You Can’t Reach Into

If you can’t reach the middle without stepping in it, it’s a bad setup. Raised beds that are too wide or have no path down the middle make every chore harder.

You end up stretching too far, stepping where you shouldn’t, and squishing your soil. Keep things within arm’s reach—it’ll save your back and your plants.

Little Circles or Curved Rows

Those Pinterest-worthy spiral gardens look cool, but they’re a pain to weed and water. Tight curves make it harder to move around with a hose or wheelbarrow.

They also tend to grow uneven since the sun hits each side differently. It might be pretty in spring, but it won’t be fun by midsummer.

Too Many Beds Scattered Around

A bed here, a box there—it adds up fast. The more spread out your layout, the more time you’ll waste walking tools, hoses, and compost from one spot to another.

Grouped beds are easier to water and keep clean. Scatter them too far and they’ll start feeling more like a chore list than a garden.

Fancy Borders That Fall Apart

Brick or rock edging might look sharp for a minute, but if it’s not locked in well, it shifts and collects weeds. You’ll spend more time fixing your borders than caring for the plants.

Unless it’s built solid, skip the fancy trim and stick with something simple and functional.

Beds Far From a Hose

If you have to drag a hose across the yard every time you water, those plants are going to suffer. Distance matters.

When you’re designing your space, plan with water access in mind. You’ll be way more likely to keep it alive if watering doesn’t feel like a marathon.

Beds in Deep Shade

It doesn’t matter how nice the bed looks—if it’s buried in shade, most vegetables won’t thrive. You’ll end up with leggy, weak plants and wasted time.

Stick to sunny spots for your main garden. Leave the shady corners for hostas or mulch.

Raised Beds Without Drainage

Stacking wood or metal looks neat, but if your raised beds don’t drain well, you’ll get puddles and rotting roots.

Make sure there’s a solid base and enough depth for water to move through. Otherwise, you’ll be starting over after a heavy rain.

One Big Bed With No Paths

A huge garden bed with no way to walk through it sounds efficient—until you need to weed or harvest the middle.

Without paths, you end up stepping where you shouldn’t. Break big areas into smaller sections with space to move around. Your knees will thank you.

*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.