Agree with everything greenriverfs said. If it takes me 7 days or even 2 weeks to plant what I used to do in 3 days, I'm fine with that. Don't pick out plants that require constant work and attention. If flowers need deadheading, I pass those by and pick another variety that doesn't. I also set up drip irrigation to all my planters along with a fertilizer tank, so once I get them set up in spring, I spend the rest of the season relaxing, reading and watching them grow and the hummingbirds they bring.
I don't get any weeds in the planters, and very few in the perennial areas, so it's easy enough to just walk around when I notice a weed there and pull it. I've also been sprinkling Preen on the perennial areas, I'm sure that helps keep the weeds down.
