Low maintenance landscape plants are those that require minimal attention and upkeep once they are planted. These plants can help turn a dull and boring landscape into a lush and vibrant one with very little effort. In this article, we will go through the top 10 low maintenance landscape plants and discuss their benefits for homeowners.
What are Low Maintenance Plants?
Low maintenance plants are those that require very little effort to maintain once they have been planted. These plants are often drought tolerant, require little or no fertilizer, and are pest and disease resistant. They are also very hardy, meaning they can survive in a variety of climates and soils.
Benefits of Low Maintenance Plants
Low maintenance plants are ideal for busy homeowners who don’t have the time or energy to spend on a traditional garden. They also help conserve water and can reduce your energy consumption as they require little or no fertilizers or pesticides, which can be costly. Low maintenance plants can also add color, texture, and life to your landscape, making it more inviting and enjoyable.
#1: Japanese Maple
Description
The Japanese maple is a deciduous tree that can grow to be up to 15-20 feet tall. Its leaves are lacy and delicate and they come in shades of green, red, and purple. It can tolerate full sun or partial shade and is quite hardy.
Caring for a Japanese Maple
Caring for a Japanese maple is relatively easy. It does best in moist, well-drained soil and should be watered regularly. It should also be fertilized in the spring and pruned in the winter. The tree does not require much maintenance after it is established.
#2: Chaste Tree
Description
The chaste tree is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 15 feet tall. Its leaves are compound and its flowers are small and lavender in color. The chaste tree is a very hardy plant and can tolerate a variety of climates.
Caring for a Chaste Tree
Caring for a chaste tree is relatively easy. It does best in full sun and should be watered regularly. It should also be fertilized in the spring and pruned in the winter. The tree does not require much maintenance once it is established.
#3: Japanese Barberry
Description
The Japanese barberry is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 6 feet tall. Its leaves are small and spiny and its flowers are yellow in color. The Japanese barberry is a very hardy plant and can tolerate a variety of climates.
Caring for a Japanese Barberry
Caring for a Japanese barberry is relatively easy. It does best in full sun and should be watered regularly. It should also be fertilized in the spring and pruned in the winter. The shrub does not require much maintenance once it is established.
#4: Boxwood
Description
The boxwood is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 8 feet tall. Its leaves are small and glossy and its flowers are small and yellow in color. The boxwood is a very hardy plant and can tolerate a variety of climates.
Caring for a Boxwood
Caring for a boxwood is relatively easy. It does best in full sun and should be watered regularly. It should also be fertilized in the spring and pruned in the winter. The shrub does not require much maintenance once it is established.
#5: Trumpet Honeysuckle
Description
The trumpet honeysuckle is a deciduous vine that can grow up to 10 feet tall. Its leaves are oval and its flowers are trumpet-shaped and red or orange in color. The trumpet honeysuckle is a very hardy plant and can tolerate a variety of climates.
Caring for a Trumpet Honeysuckle
Caring for a trumpet honeysuckle is relatively easy. It does best in full sun or partial shade and should be watered regularly. It should also be fertilized in the spring and pruned in the winter. The vine does not require much maintenance once it is established.
#6: Clematis
Description
The clematis is a deciduous vine that can grow up to 15 feet tall. Its leaves are oval and its flowers are bright and colorful in shades of purple, pink, and white. The clematis is a very hardy plant and can tolerate a variety of climates.
Caring for a Clematis
Caring for a clematis is relatively easy. It does best in full sun and should be watered regularly. It should also be fertilized in the spring and pruned in the winter. The vine does not require much maintenance once it is established.
#7: Sweet Woodruff
Description
The sweet woodruff is a low-growing, evergreen ground cover that can spread up to 2 feet wide. Its leaves are small and delicate and its flowers are small and white in color. The sweet woodruff is a very hardy plant and can tolerate a variety of climates.
Caring for Sweet Woodruff
Caring for sweet woodruff is relatively easy. It does best in partial shade and should be watered regularly. It should also be fertilized in the spring and pruned in the winter. The ground cover does not require much maintenance once it is established.
#8: Creeping Phlox
Description
The creeping phlox is a low-growing, evergreen ground cover that can spread up to 2 feet wide. Its leaves are small and delicate and its flowers are small and colorful in shades of purple, pink, and white. The creeping phlox is a very hardy plant and can tolerate a variety of climates.
Caring for Creeping Phlox
Caring for creeping phlox is relatively easy. It does best in full sun or partial shade and should be watered regularly. It should also be fertilized in the spring and pruned in the winter. The ground cover does not require much maintenance once it is established.
#9: Daylily
Description
The daylily is a perennial that can grow up to 2 feet tall. Its leaves are long and thin and its flowers are large and colorful in shades of yellow, orange, and red. The daylily is a very hardy plant and can tolerate a variety of climates.
Caring for a Daylily
Caring for a daylily is relatively easy. It does best in full sun and should be watered regularly. It should also be fertilized in the spring and pruned in the winter. The perennial does not require much maintenance once it is established.
#10: Black-Eyed Susan
Description
The black-eyed Susan is a perennial that can grow up to 3 feet tall. Its leaves are long and narrow and its flowers are yellow in color with a black center. The black-eyed Susan is a very hardy plant and can tolerate a variety of climates.
Caring for a Black-Eyed Susan
Caring for a black-eyed Susan is relatively easy. It does best in full sun and should be watered regularly. It should also be fertilized in the spring and pruned in the winter. The perennial does not require much maintenance once it is established.
Benefits of Low Maintenance Landscape Plants
Low maintenance landscape plants offer many benefits for busy homeowners. They are hardy and require little or no maintenance, which saves time and money. They can also add color, texture, and life to a dull landscape and help conserve water and energy.
Final Thoughts
Low maintenance landscape plants can help turn a dull and boring landscape into a lush and vibrant one with very little effort. With the right plants, you can have a beautiful and inviting landscape without having to spend a lot of time and money caring for it.
References:
Gardening Know How. (n.d.). Low Maintenance Landscape Plants. Retrieved from https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/landscaping/low-maintenance-landscape-plants.htm
University of Maryland Extension. (n.d.). Landscape Plants. Retrieved from https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/landscape-plants
