Due to busy work and daily life, more and more people are choosing low-maintenance plants. These plants not only offer long-lasting aesthetic appeal but also generally require less frequent watering, pruning, and fertilizing.
Additionally, they are cost-effective, helping to reduce water and fertilizer expenses, and they simplify garden management, making it easy for even those without gardening experience to maintain their outdoor spaces.
Types of Low-Maintenance Plants
a. Perennial Plants
Perennial plants regrow each year, reducing the need for frequent plant replacements or garden redesigns. They typically have strong environmental adaptability, requiring less frequent fertilization and watering, and possess robust self-repair capabilities to effectively withstand seasonal changes and minor damage.
Aesthetically, perennials offer rich beauty throughout the seasons, with spring blooms, summer greenery, and autumn and winter fruit or leaf color changes. Their extended flowering periods provide lasting visual appeal, while the diversity in flower shapes, colors, and leaf forms adds depth and interest to the garden.
Here are some common perennial plants：
- Red Maple: The red maple tree is renowned for its delicate red flowers in spring and vibrant red foliage in autumn, while also offering excellent cold tolerance.
- Amelanchier Arborea: Known for its vibrant spring flowers and striking red fruit in the fall, this perennial tree provides both long-lasting ornamental value and ecological benefits.
b. Ground Cover Plants
Ground cover plants are adaptable to various environmental conditions, thriving even in drought or poor soils. They grow densely, effectively suppressing weed growth and reducing maintenance needs. Once established, most ground cover plants need only minimal pruning, which further reduces routine maintenance.
Here are some common ground cover plants:
- Sedum: It is drought-tolerant and shade-tolerant, suits various light conditions, and is very low-maintenance, requiring only occasional watering.
- Creeping Thyme: Tolerant of drought and low-growing, making it perfect for walkways or garden borders, with tiny purple flowers.
- Hedera Helix: Highly adaptable, thriving in both shady and sunny conditions, and commonly used for covering walls and ground.
c. Flowers
Some flowers become low-maintenance varieties because they have strong resistance to common pests and diseases, reducing the need for chemical treatments. Additionally, they exhibit excellent drought tolerance, thriving under water-scarce conditions. Moreover, their long or prolonged flowering periods help maintain garden aesthetics, further lowering maintenance costs.
Here are some common low-maintenance flowers:
- Chamomile: Chamomile is a drought-tolerant herb with small, beautiful flowers. It has significant ornamental and medicinal value.
- Black-Eyed Susan: It is drought-tolerant, highly adaptable, and has low soil requirements, needing minimal fertilization or pruning.
- Daylily: Daylily is highly drought-tolerant, adaptable to various soil conditions, and features large, beautiful blooms with a long flowering period.
d. Potted Plants
Some potted plants grow slowly, requiring less frequent pruning or soil changes. Additionally, they thrive in low-light conditions with strong shade tolerance, and have lower water and pest control needs, which reduces the frequency of watering and use of chemical treatments.
Here are some common low-maintenance potted plants:
- Succulents: such as Echeveria and Haworthia, are very drought-tolerant and low-maintenance, making them ideal for container planting.
- ZZ Plant: It is a shade-tolerant and highly drought-resistant plant, requiring infrequent watering and minimal light.
- Boston Fern: It is well-suited for shady environments and grows slowly, making it ideal for placing in a semi-shaded backyard area to add greenery.
Maintenance tips
Low-maintenance plants typically share some common care practices that help minimize costs while keeping the plants healthy and attractive. Here are some general maintenance methods for these plants:
- Choosing Suitable Soil: Select soil that is suitable for plant growth by adding organic matter or using improved soil mixes, which reduces the need for ongoing soil maintenance.
- Using Slow-Release Fertilizers: Employ slow-release fertilizers to decrease the frequency of fertilization, ensuring that plants receive a steady supply of nutrients while reducing the overall need for fertilizers.
- Appropriate Watering: Use water-saving methods such as drip irrigation or watering systems based on the plant’s needs and environmental conditions to avoid overwatering. Additionally, installing a rainwater collection system can utilize natural precipitation and reduce reliance on manual watering.
- Pest and Disease Control: Regularly inspect plants for pests and diseases and implement appropriate organic or low-toxicity control measures to minimize reliance on chemical treatments.
- Regular Pruning: Perform necessary pruning to remove dead or diseased parts and maintain the plant’s healthy shape. The need for pruning can be modified according to the type of plant and its growing conditions.
Overall, low-maintenance plants not only effectively reduce the time and cost of garden upkeep but also enhance the aesthetic appeal and functionality of landscapes, making them an economical and ideal choice for gardening and landscape design.
If you’re a plant enthusiast but don’t want gardening to become a burden, low-maintenance plants are definitely your best choice! These plants are like the “superheroes” of gardening, delivering stunning beauty and vibrant colors with minimal care and resources. They not only let you enjoy the pleasures of planting but also ensure your garden always looks lively and fresh.
