Creating a nice garden often seems like an overwhelming task because of the time and effort it takes. While gardening can be time-consuming, it doesn’t have to be – and the thoughtful selection of some well appointed low-maintenance plants can make your plot perfect in very short order.
It’s wonderful to get all the benefits of an easy backyard oasis with less effort, whether you’re looking to fill a large space or make more of a compact one. Choosing low-maintenance green plants, flowers and perennials can still provide multi-season interest in a variety of conditions. Here are eight plants that are low maintenance, lovely and reliable, guaranteeing gardening that is so much easier.
Choosing the Best Low-Maintenance Plants
Perennials are ideal for growing low-maintenance plants outdoors. Picking hard-to-kill perennials means you are guaranteed plants that come back every year, plus they’re also cost effective. When choosing perennials, consider the conditions they need, like sunlight, average temperatures and soil type. Also think about colors, flowers and foliage types, and getting a good mix of visual interest throughout the seasons.
A mix of flowering low-maintenance perennials, shrubs, groundcovers and foliage plants will provide a beautiful garden with minimum effort required. Some of the best low-maintenance plants outdoors for year-round interest include yucca, ornamental grasses, agaves and evergreen shrubs like holly. Choosing low-maintenance shrubs and perennials is also ideal for older adults with limited mobility. Here are some ideas to get you started with your low-maintenance plantings.
1. Oakleaf Hydrangea
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This type of hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) is a flowering shrub and a North American native. As a native, it’s well adapted to conditions here, so it’s relatively easy to care for oakleaf hydrangeas and they are easy to grow. Oakleaf hydrangea plants are hardy in USDA zones 5-9. They also tolerate some shade and don’t need fertilizer or heavy pruning.
2. Lavender
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From English to French to Spanish lavender, every type of this fragrant herb (Lavendula spp.) is easy to grow. Ideal for the warmer zones of USDA 8 through 11, lavender needs full sun and soil that drains well. It’s best to water it as it establishes roots, but after that it will rarely need any watering. Which types of lavender you choose, they also don’t need fertilizer or pruning.
3. Hostas
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Hostas (Hosta spp.) are the ultimate low-maintenance perennials for shady areas of the garden. You can grow hostas in zones 3 through 8 as reliable perennials that come back year after year. They come in a variety of sizes, from groundcovers to large specimens, and don’t need much care once established. There are many shades on the spectrum to consider, from deep bluish-green to bright chartreuse.
4. Sedum
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Also known as stonecrop (Sedum spp.), sedum species are versatile and appropriate for USDA zones 3-9. Along with winter hardiness, sedum tolerates drought and high heat in summer. While there are many types of sedum, most are slightly fleshy succulents with large clusters of tiny flowers. Some are groundcovers, while others grow a couple feet tall.
5. Coreopsis
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Also known as star or downy tickseed (Coreopsis pubescens), this pretty perennial produces showy yellow flowers in summer. It’s easy to grow coreopsis even in poor, rocky or sandy soils. It tolerates heat and both drought and humidity. Growing in compact mounds, you can extend flowering by deadheading, but it isn’t necessary. Enjoy coreopsis in USDA zones 5- 9.
6. Bleeding Heart
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Bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis) is an easy perennial that grows like a small shrub and is appropriate for USDA zones 2 through 8. This is a great choice if you have deer, as they won’t eat it. It’s also good for shady areas of the garden. Bleeding heart is named for its pretty hanging, heart-shaped flowers. Although these plants do need moist soil, bleeding heart care is otherwise very straightforward and minimal.
7. Hens and Chicks
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This is a fun succulent to grow and it is also very easy to cultivate. Use hens and chicks (Sempervivum tectorum) in areas with rocky soil, where it thrives. It makes a striking ground cover or addition to a rock garden. You can even grow hens and chicks in crevices between rocks. You won’t need to water your hens and chicks much, and they will easily spread and readily fill in empty spaces.
8. Ornamental Grasses
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There are many options for creating sensational borders with ornamental grasses, most of which are very low maintenance. For the easiest to grow, choose a type of grass native to your area and appropriate for your hardiness zone. If you choose the right grass, it will provide year-round visual interest without much effort. Stipa and muhlenbergia are a couple of examples guaranteed to add easy focal dynamics.
Beloved of birds, this dramatic ornamental grass from Green Promise Farms has compact blue foliage that bursts forth with shimmering clouds of pink flowers in late summer that hold their own well into the fall.
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