“I want my yard to look good, but I don’t want to sacrifice my weekends working at it! I want to enjoy my yard, not be its slave. And I don’t want it to be boring! What should I plant?”
Here are 10 Low Maintenance Shrubs that will have your yard looking great, with little effort from you:
- Spirea: Spirea come in a number of varieties that typically remain on the small side for shrubs. It has delicate leaves and a carefree look when unpruned. Choose the variety that has the colors you want—the flowers vary from white to pink—and tops out at a size you are comfortable with.
- Knock Out Roses: A rose? Low-maintenance? This one is! The reblooming shrubs get to be about 4 feet tall and wide and in zones 6 and higher, they often have flowers into December. They are disease resistant, rebloom without pruning, and are pest resistant as well. They come in many colors now also.
- Hydrangeas: Hydrangeas need very little pruning, and the oakleaf varieties have more colors choices than the traditional ones. This shrub can become as wide as 8 feet and as much as 6 feet tall, but there are dwarf varieties. The foliage is large and interesting, while the flowers are suitable for cutting and drying.
- Redtwig dogwood (‘Elegantissima’): The red stems provide winter interest and the variegated leaves provide interest the rest of the year. Grows up to 10 feet tall and wide, but can be pruned back in early spring.
- Viburnum: Viburnum comes in many varieties—some flower, some do not. This hardy shrub has deep green leaves.
- Japanese skimmias: Japanese skimmias are prized for their evergreen foliage. Both male and female produce flowers, but only females produce berries. Requiring very little or no pruning, they grow to about 6 feet tall and wide.
- Wintercreeper: The ‘Emerald Gaiety’ variety has variegated leaves, with a lovely pink edge in winter. It only grows around 3 feet tall, but as much as 5 feet wide. It’s fantastic in front of taller plants, and takes full sun to partial shade.
- Weigela: Weigela blooms spring through fall and has attractive foliage as well. You can find more compact varieties of this graceful shrub.
- Purple smoke bushes: Will grow up to 15 feet tall and wide and require one hard pruning in spring after the leaves are out. They have a very upright growth habit, and the flowers are amazing, as is the fall foliage.
- Blue star juniper: Its blue needles stand out in your landscape, especially when the cooler weather brings out a silvery touch. With a maximum height of 16 inches, this super slow grower requires almost no pruning, and can take full sun to part shade.
Formal, sheared or shaped shrubs require more maintenance to keep their shape. Allow your shrubs to follow their natural shape (without allowing them to become unkempt. There are many other low maintenance shrubs, but 10 listed above will get you started so you can have a beautiful yard but still have time to get outside and enjoy it!
Located in Summerfield, NC Southern Exposure Landscape Management specializes in the design, installation, and maintenance of residential and commercial projects throughout the Greensboro Triad Area (High Point, Jamestown, Burlington, Reidsville, Oak Ridge, Brown Summit, Summerfield). We are the premier Greensboro mulch installer. With over 20 years in business, Southern Exposure has the experience and knowledge to create beautiful garden features and flower beds in the landscape. Southern Exposure is the leading landscape management firm in Greensboro, NC. See why our clients choose us. Contact us today by web (online form) or phone (336.451.4969)
