Beautiful Low-Maintenance Landscaping Plants for a Worry-Free Landscape

Colorful landscaping is the soul of every landscape or garden. We all want a beautiful lush garden. Though a garden definitely boosts the appeal of a home, it also requires a lot of time. There is nothing like a maintenance-free garden, but choosing low maintenance landscaping plants can cut down the amount of time you spend on maintaining your garden.

Growing low-maintenance plants can reduce the amount of watering and pruning required. So, if you have a busy schedule but still want a lush landscape, you are at the right place. Here is an article about the best plants for low maintenance landscaping to help you create your colorful paradise. 

Best Low Maintenance Landscaping Plants

If you are one of those busy homeowners who do not have a lot of time but want a beautiful garden, then worry not. Get ready to know about the best low maintenance landscaping plants for a beautiful garden. 

Forsythia (Forsythia spp.)

If you love butterflies in your garden, then forsythia is the best low maintenance bushes for you. These beautiful early bloomers bloom yellow flowers that add a colorful touch to your landscape. These ones are easy to grow and do not require a lot of maintenance.  

These fast-growing shrubs grow in an arching form. They are popular for their long branches full of yellow blooms. Forsythia can grow upto 24 inches in a year, and it is best to plant them in early spring. Make sure to provide them with well-draining soil, six hours of sunlight, and moderately moist soil, and they are all set to thrive beautifully. 

Barberry (Berberis vulgaris)

The colorful plant is one of the best deer-resistant plants. It has thorny stems, which help to create an amazing foundation for garden security. Once established properly, this colorful shrub is drought tolerant, which makes it the right pick for people looking for low maintenance landscaping plants. 

Some barberries are not allowed to be grown in some states as they are invasive. Make sure to check with the local extension services before planting it in your low maintenance landscaping. The best time to plant barberry is spring in full or part sun and keep the soil moist or well-drained.  

Peony (Paeonia lactiflora)

It is one of the most beautiful English garden plants for landscaping. Though peonies do not bloom for a long time, they are highly attractive and eye-catching, due to which they are among the best low maintenance landscaping plants. 

Even during the non-blooming season, their foliage makes the garden look profoundly appealing and pretty. Their leaves turn red during fall, making them the best choice for low maintenance landscaping plant ideas. One best thing about peonies is that they are among flowers that bloom all summer, making them ideal for your summer garden. With the right care, these low-maintenance perennials can bloom for decades. 

Smoke Tree (Cotinus coggygria)

Smoke trees are popularly known as smoke bushes as this specimen can either grow as a small tree or a large shrub. It produces a beautiful “smoking” display when it grows, which makes it one of the best low maintenance front yard landscaping plants. Moreover, it also produces clusters of mesmerizing flowers with a fuzzy appearance.

These low-maintenance bushes have reddish-purple leaves that turn scarlet during fall. The airy, smoky, and purple clusters of seeds add to the beauty of this plant. Make sure to plant smoke trees in full sun and in a garden that can drain easily. 

Yew (Taxus spp.)

Yews are among the evergreen shrubs profoundly suitable for low maintenance landscaping ideas. Due to its shape, it is different from other needled shrubs. Moreover, the needles of this plant feel flatish and soft rather than prickly. Yew features dark green foliage, and sometimes it also has black borders. 

Yew are drought-tolerant and are also tolerant to shades, making them a popular choice for entryways and borders. Moreover, they can easily adapt to any type of soil, due to which they are profoundly low maintenance. They thrive in partial to full sun and provide you with beautiful fruits during early autumn. 

Texas Sage (Leucophyllum frutescens)

It is an evergreen shrub belonging to the figwort family. Though it is popularly known as Texas Sage, it is not an actual sage. It grows vibrant purple, lavender, and magenta blooms. These low maintenance front yard landscaping plants may look like they need a lot of care, but that’s not the truth. 

This plant is so amazing that it can easily survive on little water and full sun. All you need to do is water it during times of drought or summer to keep it growing properly. It is also known as desert sage as it can survive with low water. This woody, upright, and perennial shrub make a perfect addition for landscaping in small rock gardens. 

Hawthorn (Crataegus Viridis)

These low maintenance landscaping plants are native to some parts of the US. In fall, their leaves turn from purple to red, and their white spring flowers are replaced by beautiful orange-red fruits, which may stay on the tree in winter. 

All you need to grow these amazing plants are full sun and well-drained soil. It can easily tolerate urban pollution, drought, and light shades, making it an ideal choice to include in low maintenance front yard landscaping ideas. Hathorn is among the best small trees for landscaping. Its beautiful white flowers have a mesmerizing fragrance and are armed by various large thorns. Trust me; this plant will add an amazing appeal to your garden during autumn. 

Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis)

If you are looking for something that adds color and movement to your landscape, the feather reed grass is the perfect pick for you. It has reddish-brown beautiful, feathery stalks which turn into mesmerizing golden-brown in fall. 

Make sure to plant this amazing ornamental grass in light shade in hot summer climates and in full sun in the colder climates. Moreover, it needs rich, moist soil to thrive beautifully. There are other ornamental grasses, also like Mexican feather grass, which is also highly suitable as a low maintenance landscaping plant. The shimmering gold pinnacles of this grass are perfect for adding an appealing touch to your landscape. 

Juniper (Juniperus)

If you live in dry climates and are looking for drought-resistant plants for landscaping, then juniper is the best choice. These are easy-to-maintain shrubs making them amazing picks for low maintenance landscaping plants. Juniper is best to add good vibrations to your landscape. They are evergreen with beautiful yellow-green foliage, which picks bronze-orange tones in winter and fall. It is best to grow them in well-drained, average soil. Make sure to grow them in early spring and also prune them if needed. 

Juniper comes in a wide range of sizes and shapes. Moreover, the beautiful colors of this plant are perfect for adding a colorful touch to your landscape. These are low growing, and with time they hug the ground making them the right pick for landscaping. 

Dianthus (Dianthus caryophyllus)

This one is a low-growing plant that grows fragrant flowers. These flowers resemble small carnations. One best thing about Dianthus is that they come in a wide range of colors so that you can grow them in borders and groundcovers. You can find Dianthus as short-lived biennials, perennials, and annuals. 

All you need to do is grow Dianthus in well-drained, loose soil and in part to full sun. They are drought-tolerant and can also tolerate heat for short periods. Most Dianthus is also known as pinks, and you can plant them in spring. Trust me; if you want something colorful, Dianthus is a perfect pick for your garden. 

Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)

When it comes to the best low maintenance landscaping plants, Hydrangea is always on the list due to its beautiful blue flowers. Some flowers bloom on old and new growth, while some bloom only on the old ones. Moreover, these plants need to be immediately in need after flowering. 

Deers love this plant, so make sure to grow deer-resistant plants around it. Plant hydrangea in moist and well-drained soil loaded with organic matter. Moreover, plant in full sun to part sun. A place with afternoon shade and the morning sun is the best for it in the hot summer regions. Fertilise the plant in early summer or spring to make sure it thrives adequately. 

Gold Sedge (Carex elata)

You can grow gold sedges as groundcovers in your garden. These low maintenance landscaping plants are best for people with busy life schedules. They are a perfect pic for woodland gardens and water gardens. Moreover, they can also help to control erosions.

These plants grow in slightly acidic and loamy soil in part to full sun. If you want the bright yellow color, then put them in full sun. Moreover, keep the soil well-drained but moist. For better growth, it is better to prune them in spring.  

Hardy Geranium (Geranium bohemicum)

Popularly known as cranesbill geraniums, these plants are spreading perennials. It is better to grow them as ground covers. If you have a rock garden, then you can grow this one as borders. These low maintenance landscaping plants grow white, pink, blue, and other colored flowers from spring through summer. 

Among the different varieties of this plant, Rozanne is the best. It can grow upto 20-24 inches tall wide, and 12-18 inches high, making it right to include in your low maintenance front yard landscaping ideas. 

Most hardy geraniums grow in well-drained, moist, and organically rich soil. Make sure to grow them in part shade to sun. In case the flowering slows down, you can cut back the plant flights for more blooms. Moreover, remove moldy or wet leaves when the growing season ends and let the healthy foliage stay to allow winter insulation. 

Thornless Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos)

It is a fast-growing, low maintenance landscaping plant that offers dappled shade. One best plants in this family are Shademaster. It has beautiful green foliage, which grows bright yellow-green in fall. The small leaves of this plant break apart when they fall; therefore, it is not necessary to rake. 

You can plant this tree in the sun, and the best thing about this plant is that it can adapt to any well-drained soil. Once it is established properly, it can even tolerate drought, making it the right pick for dry climate areas. Honey locust is susceptible to different types of insect pests, including gall midges, webworms, and spider mites. 

You can treat the pests with organic sprays, and they are less likely to cause any harm to your garden. Make sure to use organic weed control methods in your garden for a beautiful and healthy landscape. 

Liriope (Liriope muscari)

When it comes to low maintenance landscaping plants for ground cover, it is always a good idea to use liriope. This clumping ground cover has grass-like foliage, and it features blue-violet flowers in summer. The best among these are Big Blues. They stay evergreen and beautiful in mild winter climates. Moreover, they are best to use as ground cover or border, especially in areas with hard-to-mow slopes. 

Make sure to plant liriope in part shade to full and infertile soil that is properly drained. One amazing feature of this plant is that it is drought-tolerant. So, once established, you do not have to worry a lot about it. Moreover, rabbits and deers tend to leave this plant alone which makes it an ideal choice. 

Final Words

If a busy life schedule is keeping you from getting a lush green landscape, then low maintenance landscaping plants are right for you. These plants add a colorful touch to your garden. Moreover, once established, you do not have to worry a lot about them. Tell us about your favorite landscape plants by dropping a comment.