Landscaping with Low-Maintenance Plants
For many, the prospect of landscaping fills them with dread as they contemplate the inconveniences
associated with taking care of plants and gardens and trees without spending a great deal of money
to have someone else do it.
There are people who enjoy endlessly working on their landscapes (and this is commendable), and
there are those who wish to take as little trouble, and spend as little money, as possible about
their home’s yard. This is also acceptable. Luckily, for those who want to have a beautifully adorned
home, it is possible to do so with a low-maintenance landscape. By carefully choosing plants that
need little care, it is possible to have a nice-looking property and save time and money in attention
to its upkeep.
The keys are good plant selection and the proper establishment of the plants in their places.
The first thing to do is choose plants that require very little maintenance. For those who dislike
raking leaves or pine needles, trees that frequently shed are not desirable.
Plants like spruce and Alberta pine are moderate growers, and they do not drop leaves
or needles as often as other trees. Avoid fruit-bearing plants that make a mess. Crabapple trees with
resistance to apple scab hold their fruit well (even against birds) and are not prone to summer
defoliation.
Flowers such as rhododendrons, pansies, tulips, and wildflowers do not
need much care. Most bulb flowers (irises, tulips, crocuses, etc.) are fairly self-sufficient,
as they store up nutrients in their bulbs.
Choose perennial flowers that bloom every year rather than annuals that last one season, die, and
then require the purchase of more plants. Shrubs and low bushes (like mugo pine and juniper) are also
hardy varieties that do not require much attention and make very little mess.
When you choose plants, search out quality plants. Find reputable nurseries and suppliers. This saves
money in the long run, as you will not have to buy new plants when the first do not survive their
plantings. Planting is a stressful time for any plant, and if is already weakened by disease,
environmental issues, or pest problems, then it may not recover.
Choose plants that look vigorous and healthy, and check them closely before purchase for things like
pest problems and disease. Some online nurseries, like SpringHillNursery or NatureHills, actually offer
guarantees on their plants: these warranties last anywhere from 6 months to 1 year. Purchase from a
store or nursery that offers these guarantees at no extra cost, and then if you encounter
a problem down the road, your place of purchase will replace the ailing plant for free.
One of the best things that you can do to keep your landscaping costs down and your involvement in
it minimal is to choose plants adapted to the growing conditions in your area. A visit (usually for free)
to the local master gardener will allow you to find out which plants grow best in your area. Keeping up
your landscape is much easier when you are not fighting nature to ensure the survival of your plants.
Choose native plants, or choose plants that are native to a climate similar to the one in which you
live. Ornamental grasses, trees, and shrubs that grow well in your climate and with
the conditions of the soil in your yard make excellent choices for low-maintenance landscaping.
Finally, it is imperative that you follow sound planting practices when you begin your landscaping.
Any initial landscaping will take a certain amount of work, but once you complete the proper installation
of plants on your property, you will find that, if you have chosen wisely, they need very little of your
attention to properly thrive.
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(c)2008 Flowers & Garden.com
The resource for beginning gardeners and flower enthusiasts:
incl. indoor and container gardening, landscaping ideas,
and a lot of flower pictures.
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