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Daily Living > Do It Easier > In the Garden > Low-Maintenance Gardening
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Low-Maintenance Gardening

Enjoy more leisurely time in your garden by selecting low-maintenance plants.

By Glenda Fauntleroy

While there’s no such thing as a no-maintenance garden you can select plants that require less pruning, picking, and weeding to create a low-maintenance garden. Nick Murphy, owner of Emerald Green Lawn and Landscape in Carmel, Ind., has been a landscaper for more than 14 years and says a low-maintenance garden is quite doable and in high demand among his clients.

Murphy says the following plants will flourish on their own in nearly any type of soil and need very little work.

  • Ground cover: English ivy. It will spread and take care of itself, says Murphy. “The only time you want to trim it back is when it starts to creep on the sidewalk or if you don’t want it to go up your house.”
  • Variegated plants: Hostas. “The only time you have to work on them is if you want to divide them in half to make more.” Lilies also make for great perennials that will spread on their own, says Murphy.
  • Trees or shrubs: Boxwood or yew. “If you’re going for just a green background, you can trim these two trees about once a year and they’ll never get crazy on you.”
  • Flowering plants: Hydrangea. “The only thing you need to do at the end of year is deadhead all the flowers off and they should come up the following year in full bloom.”
  • Drought-resistant plants: Knock Out Roses or lantana. Both plants are disease-resistant, require little pruning and watering once they’re established, and both add a vibrant splash of color – pinks and yellow, orange or purples, respectively – to your garden. The Knock Out Rose is self-cleaning so there’s no need to deadhead.

 

Jean
11 Jul 2010, 18:18
If you don't want to use ivy and you live in a very warm area, Asian jasmine makes a good ground cover. Remember, however, that snakes like to hang out in ground cover.
Nica Baker
07 Jul 2010, 09:18
Here in central Texas, I need something that is drought resistant, and have found that Russian Sage is perfect for here. I trim it back every winter and it blooms all summer until frost. It has delicate lilac blooms that look like lilac clouds.
Trish E
07 Jul 2010, 08:54
I have osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia, somehow gardening seems to relieve the pain, but I find I do have to remind myself to keep it short. I set a timer for 15 - 30 minutes depending on pain level that day so I remember to take a break or quit. If you like your garden to look neat you will want to prune off the dead flower stalks from your daylilies and hostas. Invest in a good pair of ergonomic garden tools, it is well worth the money.
tonie
06 Jul 2010, 17:22
Living in Az, it is hard for me to not be able to grow the things I love like Hydrangeas, it is way too hot here. But I have found a lot of desert plants that are beautiful and require less water. But most of all I love my citrus trees. Not only are they shade but there is nothing to decribe picking a fresh orange or tangerine or lemon off the tree and using it. I also have a nectarine tree. This is it's 5th year and it is looking really good. Lantana is good, I have it and all you have to do it to cut it once in a while. Coastal Honeysuckle is wonderful and will become ground cover if you leave it be.
Fay
06 Jul 2010, 16:54
Daylilies are beautiful and do not require alot of care. The first year they sleep, the 2nd year they creep and the 3rd year they leap. They, like hosta, need dividing every 3-5 years, and deadheading during bloom season, but are very enjoyable to have. Do not confuse the ubiquitous stella de oro with the ones that come in a rainbow of colors with large and sometimes reblooming flowers.
Carolyn Leshinsky
06 Jul 2010, 16:07
Hello,
I enjoy gardening it is difficult in Florida but if you plant the right stuff they will do well.

I have 12 knock out roses and they are fantastic...I also have 3 hibiscus and a couple of Vinca plants which are easy and I have an Oleander and that is easy too and I have a Turnera Buttercup and I love it every morning when I get up I have a new spray of flowers blooming they are yellow ..I also have a Chrysler Imperial rose and another rose that is peach..and I have Confederate Jasmine that are great..a lot of what I have does not require a lot of water....I am a happy gardener and I also take care of my husband who has Alzheimer's so being outside is therapy for me.

Carolyn
Sally
06 Jul 2010, 12:53
please be advised thant English Ivy is a noxious weed and not welcome in any open garden. Here in WA state when we want just a small supply for decorative bouquets we use a pot and carefully discard after use in display. thanks.
Gloria
06 Jul 2010, 11:09
I am so happy to see this article. I have been quite despondent about not being able to garden and feeling quite alone with the issue. I have arthritis and multiple sclerosis so I have to contend with pain, balance issues, and fatigue.

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