The Best Plants to Grow for a Low-Maintenance Garden

Even gardening newbies can enjoy beautiful outdoor spaces with these low-maintenance plants. They’re easy to grow, tolerant of heat and drought, and offer gorgeous flowers and foliage.

Panicle hydrangeas (PeeGee types) tolerate heat and humidity, spout lilac-like blooms all summer, and look lovely with a light pruning in spring.

Spotted laurel

Spotted laurel is a dense evergreen shrub that grows well in the shade. It is a member of the Garryaceae (silk tassel) family and is native to East Asia and Japan. The plant has variegated leaves and is suitable for all-round use in the garden. It is drought-tolerant and will survive in most soil conditions. It also provides shelter for wildlife and attracts pollinators. It can be grown as a border or used to provide a backdrop for other plants.

It can be planted in most light levels, from full sun to partial shade. It can be grown in damp to dry soil, but it is best to amend the soil with plenty of well-rotted compost before planting. It is a slow-growing shrub, increasing in height and spread at about 20cm per year.

The plant is easy to maintain and requires little pruning. It is also hardy and resistant to many diseases. It is a good choice for people who do not want to spend time caring for the garden. The only problem is that the plant can be stressed by cold and wet weather. This can cause it to develop moist blackened areas on the leaf and shoot tips. However, this is not a serious issue and there is no need to apply pesticides.

Besides being low maintenance, spotted laurel is a great ground cover for bare areas of the garden. Its beautiful green foliage adds color to the yard throughout the year, and it is a good substitute for weeds. It is an ideal choice for low-maintenance gardens, as it requires minimal care and can be easily propagated by division or seed.

Another excellent plant for a low-maintenance garden is the blue false indigo (Baptisia australis). This wildflower blooms in early summer and provides pollen for queen bumblebees, attracting bees to the garden. It is also a legume, which means it returns nitrogen to the soil. The flowers are a lovely addition to any flower garden, and they also make excellent cut flowers for bouquets. Another low-maintenance flower is the lilyturf (Lycoris radiata). This perennial plant is easy to grow and provides rich colors for the backyard.

Marigolds

Marigolds are some of the most versatile flowers to grow in your garden. These multitaskers aren’t just pretty faces: they also provide many benefits for other plants and the soil. They attract pollinators, ward off pests, and more.

Plant marigolds in sunny areas of your vegetable garden to deter harmful insects, including aphids, thrips, and snails. They’re also great companions for beans, squash, and potatoes because they help to repel nematodes. They’re also known to protect the leaves and stems of your vegetables, keeping them healthy.

In addition to protecting the leaves of your crops, marigolds can also improve the health of your soil. They’re a great source of nitrogen, which helps to increase the fertility of your garden. They’re also rich in phosphorus, which promotes healthy root growth. They’re easy to grow and thrive in a variety of climates, but they prefer full sun.

Another benefit of marigolds is that they attract pollinators, which will help your other plants thrive. They’re also a good choice for your vegetable garden because they can withstand frost. They’re especially useful for tomatoes because they can help prevent leaf diseases, and their scent helps to keep away tomato hornworms.

Marigolds also produce a chemical that kills the microscopic soil parasite nematodes. You can use them in your compost pile or vermiculture bin to prevent nematode populations from growing out of control. They’re one of the most important plants in your organic garden because they can help you avoid using chemical sprays.

While marigolds can be grown in a wide range of climates, they’re best planted outdoors in a warm area with full sunlight. They’re also drought-tolerant and will survive in poor conditions. To ensure that your marigolds bloom all season, water them sparingly and allow the soil to dry out between each watering. It’s also a good idea to deadhead spent flowers to encourage new growth.

If you’re looking for a companion plant to help with your vegetable garden, try Yarrow (Achillea millefolium). It’s easy to grow and provides natural pest control by repelling aphids, mites, and flies. It’s a good companion for cabbage, broccoli, and other leafy greens. It also helps with pollination and adds color to the garden.

Monkey grass

If you’re looking for a low-maintenance ground cover, look no further than monkey grass. This easy-to-find plant is tolerant of most conditions, and many varieties feature showy flowers that will add interest to your garden. This plant is also a good choice for edging along paved areas or as an understory planting underneath shade trees and shrubs. In addition to being low maintenance, this plant is also a great habitat for wildlife. However, you should avoid aggressive forms of monkey grass that can be invasive. In those cases, you may need to use Roundup or other non-selective herbicides to kill the weed and prevent it from returning.

Monkey grass, also known as liriope or lilyturf, is a hardy, evergreen perennial. It is a vigorous spreader, but it can be controlled by using a mulch to suppress its growth. This plant is well suited for sunny to partly shady sites with well-draining soil and average moisture. It can tolerate heat, humidity, and drought. It requires mowing once per year and can be propagated by digging up clumps and dividing them.

Liriope spicata produces dark green foliage and blooms with white, pink, or purple flowers from summer to fall. The flowers are followed by pea-sized berries that attract birds. This plant is not toxic to pets or children and is pest-resistant.

Another option for low-maintenance ground cover according to Tots Family is a black-leafed mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus). While it’s not native to the US, this plant has been in cultivation for centuries and grows well in full sun or light shade. It’s not as aggressive a spreader as liriope, and it has a more delicate appearance. It’s a great alternative to sedges or heuchera.

When selecting plants for your garden, it’s important to follow the “right plant-right place” principle. Planting sun-loving plants in the shade can cause them to grow leggy and weaker, increasing their vulnerability to diseases. Also, planting shade-loving plants in the sun can lead to overgrowth and require more pruning to manage size and shape. Instead, choose plants that thrive in the environment you’re creating.

Texas ranger

If you want a garden that practically takes care of itself, consider planting drought-tolerant plants. These plants conserve water and can help you save money on your water bill. They also provide color and texture to your landscape without requiring much maintenance. Here are some great options to try:

The song of India is a low-maintenance perennial with distinctive green leaves that stay vibrant year-round. This plant is easy to grow and does not need any special care or fertilizer. The song of india prefers full sun and well-draining soil. It will thrive in many conditions, including drought-prone ones. You can use a wide variety of gardening tools to water this plant, but it is best to use filtered water to avoid adding harmful particles to the soil.

Another great option for a low-maintenance garden is the Texas ranger (Leucophyllum frutescens). Also known as fairy duster, this shrub has a silvery foliage and beautiful purple flowers that attract pollinators. This versatile plant is a great choice for arid zones, and it thrives in sandy or loamy soil that is well-drained.

While the Texan Ranger is tough, it does not tolerate cold weather very well. In order to protect this plant during the winter, you should cover it with a layer of mulch. This will help to keep the roots warm and prevent damage from freezing temperatures.

In addition, you should prune your Texas ranger regularly to promote healthy growth. This is especially important if you have young or transplanted Texas rangers. This will also help to keep the plant looking tidier and neater.

The Texan Ranger is also an excellent ground cover for dry areas of the garden. It spreads to fill bare spots and can even cascade over walls and other structures. It is also an ideal choice for rock gardens, where it can create a colorful backdrop for other plants.

For those who are new to gardening, the best way to care for a Texas ranger is to plant it in a sunny location with well-draining soil. The plant will need a minimum of seven hours of sunlight, but it can adapt to some shade as well. When it comes to watering, you should water your Texas ranger based on soil moisture rather than using a predetermined schedule. In general, you should water your plant when the top few inches of soil have dried out completely.