Low Maintenance Landscaping Ideas

Last Updated on December 19, 2023

Since I’m always looking for faster, easier ways to do everything, when it comes to curb appeal, I’m all for low maintenance landscaping. I want a yard I don’t have to spend hours each week grooming.

Jump to:

• Minimal Maintenance Mulch
• Evergreens
• Tolerant, Easy to Maintain Trees
• Low Maintenance Shrubs
• Add Hardscaping
• Choose the Right Flowers and Foliage
• Consider Artificial Grass
• More Low Maintenance Ideas
• More Ideas for Easy Yard Care

If you happen to have a green thumb and love to spend time outdoors planting, trimming, and nurturing plants, really enjoy yard work, or if you need expert tips on how to revive your lawn, this post is not for you.

These landscape ideas are for those of us who love the polished look of beautiful walkways and decorative flower beds. We just don’t want to devote our lives to maintaining our outdoor living space.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a beautiful yard? The only problem is that you don’t have a lot of time or energy to invest in the upkeep.

The good news is you don’t have to. There are so many low maintenance options for landscape design that will give your home gorgeous curb appeal without breaking your back.

Minimal Maintenance Mulch

Mulch is an excellent way to keep weeds at bay and prevent erosion. And some, like cedar bark, are great at repelling insects too.

Unfortunately, traditional mulch requires regular replacement which takes a lot of time, hard work, and money.

Save yourself the annual hassle by using an alternative that stands the test of time. Clean out your garden beds and put down a weed barrier, then fill it with one of these options:

Rubber Mulch

There are a few reasons why rubber mulch is best. First of all, it’s a great way to recycle. Second, it’s safe for pets. Lastly, it lasts for years.

With regular mulch, you’ll have to replace it each year. Talk about a waste of money.

Gravel

Like rubber mulch, gravel is a great low maintenance alternative to traditional mulch since it won’t need to be replaced very often. And there are so many varieties!

You have dozens of options when it comes to color, size, shape, and texture. River rock and polished pebbles are popular choices, but head to your local landscaping materials center to see all your options.

This is as close to no maintenance landscaping as you can get. 

Ground Cover

Trees and bushes are popular for landscaping because they create big visual appeal. The trick is to choose ones that don’t require hours of trimming, pruning, and special treatment.

Simply planting some evergreens around your home can give your curb appeal an instant boost. Plus you get the added bonus of having trees to decorate during the holidays.

Evergreens

Evergreens are a wonderful investment. With evergreens, your home can look beautiful, even in the dead of winter. Evergreens can be expensive but are well worth the money.

Tolerant, Easy to Maintain Trees

For added dimension and a more diverse look, there are other trees that are super easy to maintain. For example, the silver birch has a beautiful white bark and grows well in a variety of conditions.

If you like flowering trees, opt for Magnolia (which also has beautiful, shiny leaves) or Crape Myrtle.

Low Maintenance Shrubs

Low maintenance shrubs are an excellent option for those who want to add beauty to their landscaping without the need for constant attention. These types of shrubs require minimal pruning, watering, and fertilization. 

Some popular low maintenance shrubs include boxwood, juniper, and yew. Boxwood is a great choice for hedges and borders, while juniper is ideal for ground cover and erosion control. 

Yew is a versatile shrub that can be used as a specimen plant or in a mixed border. Other low maintenance shrubs include viburnum, spirea, and barberry. These shrubs are also resistant to pests and diseases, making them an even better option for those who want a hassle-free landscape. 

Add Hardscaping

Do you hate mowing? Then why not turn part of your yard into a patio? A large section of hardscaping can make it so much easier to get your weekly mowing done.

You can use concrete, asphalt, brick, pavers, or even stones. This will be a hefty investment, but it will save you so much work in the future.

Consider creating a rock garden. By incorporating different sizes, shapes, and color, these can have as much visual appeal as a traditional flower bed.

Choose the Right Flowers and Foliage

Nothing enhances curb appeal like colorful, beautiful flowers. Plus, they often attract butterflies and bees to make your yard or garden even more interesting.

There are also several low maintenance plants that work well in landscaping. Succulents, for instance, are a good option as they require minimal watering and can thrive in various soil types.

Plant ornamental grasses if you want to add a low maintenance option that has beautiful texture and movement to a garden or yard. Just make sure to consider the climate and sun exposure so you can choose plants that will thrive in your specific environment. Stick with native plants, if you can.

If your yard has a lot of shade, or even just partial shade, there are low maintenance shade plants that will provide stunning foliage, unique flowers, and vibrant colors. 

Pick Perennials for True Low Maintenance

Perennials are great because you plant them once and get to enjoy them for years afterward. These are the anchor of low maintenance flower beds.

Some perennials require coddling to keep them coming back year after year. Others don’t need any help at all. Great examples include:

• Tulips
• Daffodils
• Peonies
• Petunias
• Begonias

Do your research and find the best low maintenance perennials for your region.

Integrate Annuals with Intention

While annuals only last a season, you have many more to choose from if you go this route. Plus, most won’t need special care during the season so once you’ve planted them, you can leave them alone.

Some excellent annuals for your garden that require minimal effort are:

• Zinnias
• Marigolds
• Pansies
• Snapdragons
• Geraniums

Consider Artificial Grass

Last, but not least, don’t be afraid to consider artificial grass . Artificial turf has come a long, long way. Most people can’t tell the difference in an expensive turf and real grass.

Best of all, it’s very low maintenance. Just hose it off every now and then and you’re good to go.

This is a great option for pet owners who hate brown spots. The urine will flow through the turf and other messes are easier to pick up from artificial turf. 

Hose it down once a day and you’re done. Lawn maintenance doesn’t get any easier than this!

More Low Maintenance Ideas

Above I’ve shared some of my favorite easy landscaping ideas for you lawn and garden. If you’re looking for even more ideas, consider going the natural route. Install a good landscaping border and fill the space with wild flowers or ground cover flowers or other native plants.

You don’t have to invest a lot of time and energy to make your yard gorgeous. There are so many front and back yard landscaping ideas that don’t involve a ton of time and effort to maintain but still provide you with a beautiful lawn.

Best of all, after the initial work and investment, you’re pretty much free to spend your time doing the things you love. Does it get any better than that?

More Ideas for Easy Yard Care

If you love having a beautiful yard, but also have other things you like to spend your time and energy on, search the entire library of low maintenance landscaping tips:

• Best Low-Maintenance Bushes for Your Oudoor Landscape
• Evergreen Low Maintenance Plants
• Fast Growing Low Maintenance Hedge Plants
• Low Maintenance Evergreen Climbing Plants
• Low Maintenance Evergreen Plants for Pots
• Low Maintenance Evergreen Shrubs
• Low Maintenance Landscaping Ideas
• Low Maintenance Perennials
• Low Maintenance Trees
• Must-Have Low Maintenance Shade Plants