A low-maintenance garden means more time to relax, and less time chasing weeds or hauling out the pruning shears. With the right plants and a few smart choices, it's easy to create a space that looks great all season long—without needing constant attention. From easy-care shrubs to simple design tips and time-saving tricks, it's all about letting your garden thrive with less effort.
25 Low-Maintenance Shrubs for Effortless Beauty
Looking to simplify your landscape without sacrificing style? These 25 low-maintenance shrubs are the ultimate garden workhorses—offering year-round structure, color, and texture with little demand on your time. Highlights include standout selections like Winecraft Gold® smokebush (pictured), perfect for adding golden flair to mixed borders or foundation plantings. Whether you're refreshing a tired bed or planning a brand new space, these shrubs practically care for themselves.
Looking for something a little smaller? Check out these 25 low-maintenance perennials to add to your garden.
Design Smarter, Garden Easier:
Low-Maintenance Garden Ideas
Who says a gorgeous garden has to be high-maintenance? With a few smart choices—like resilient plants, better soil prep, and mulch that works overtime—you can enjoy a beautiful, easy-care landscape all season long. Think fewer weeds, less watering, and more time to actually enjoy your garden. These practical tips will help you cut back on the chores and still grow something stunning.
Pictured: Plants such as lady’s mantle, lamb’s ears, and self-sowing poppies soften the pathway edges of this meadow garden. Designers: Jay Withgott and Susan Masta. Photo: Janet Loughrey.
Skip the Shears: 6 Shrubs That Don't Need Pruning
Yes, it is possible to have a tidy, well-shaped garden without ever picking up the pruners. These six no-prune shrubs naturally maintain their form—no heavy shearing or yearly trimming required. Ideal for borders, foundations, or anywhere you want beauty without the maintenance.
Pictured: Double Play® Gold spirea. Photo by: Proven Winners.
8 Tips for a Low-Maintenance Garden
Need a little low-maintenance inspiration you can see in action? Heather from @heatherhereshegrows shares eight simple, practical tips in this video—covering everything from plant placement to mulch, as well as making native plant choices. It’s the kind of advice you’ll want to jot down and try this weekend—real ideas that make gardening easier.
14 Indoor Plants for Bright Spaces
Is it getting too hot to garden outside? Bring the garden indoors with a wide variety of houseplants. See our list of 14 houseplants that like it bright, and get care tips to keep them looking their best.
Remember, even though these plants like bright light, they need to be protected from intense summer sun. As the seasons progress and the sun moves, keep an eye on the amount of light coming directly through your windows, as too much can scorch your plant's leaves. Move your plants farther away from the window or use a sheer shade or curtain to diffuse the light. Photos by: Proven Winners.
New Plant of the Week:
Stay Classy® Purple Leaf Sand Cherry
Purple leaf sand cherry just got a major upgrade. Meet Stay Classy® (Prunus × cistena)—a new and improved take on a longtime landscape favorite. This compact beauty keeps all the bold, dark foliage you love but skips the overgrown, black-hole look. Topping out at just 3–4 feet tall and 4 feet wide, it fits beautifully into foundation plantings, mixed borders, or anywhere you want low-maintenance color and structure. Pretty spring flowers are a bonus, but it’s the season-long foliage that really shines.
One of my favorite time-savers is to stash a few colorful Dollar Tree buckets and garden snips around the yard—under a bench, behind a pot, tucked out of sight. That way, if I spot a weed or a spent bloom while I’m out enjoying the garden, I can do a quick tidy-up and just toss it in the nearest bucket. Then on a garden work day, I just gather everything up. What's your favorite time or labor saver in the garden?
Happy gardening!
—Linda
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