Choosing Low Maintenance Plants for Gardens
Easy care gardening isn’t just about choosing from a list of low maintenance plants. It’s also about understanding your gardening environment and working with it. Plenty of plants grow wild in your area, and they don’t get any maintenance. You just have to figure out what they’re doing right. First of all, good low maintenance plants for gardens are the ones you only have to plant once. Perennials and annuals that self-seed should come back every spring without you having to lift a finger. Just make sure that they’re able to make it through the winter where you live – a warm climate’s perennial is a cooler climate’s annual. In a similar vein, look into plants local to your area. If it grows wild, you know it can survive the winter. You also know that it tolerates your climate’s heat, rainfall, and soil quality. Another thing to think about is the setup of your garden. You probably have some parts that are shadier and some sunnier, maybe some sandier and some loamier. Match your plants to their requirements when you plant them, and you’ll spend less time later making up for it. Similarly, group plants with the same water needs near each other. If all your thirsty plants are in one spot near the hose, you’ll have a much better time watering. To make things even easier on yourself, install a drip irrigation system – it’s actually healthier for the plants and it saves you a lot of work. If you follow these rules, there are a lot of plants you can grow without too much trouble. If you’d like somewhere to start, though, here are some good choices: For sunny spots
Geraniums Peonies Daffodils Butterfly weed
For shady areas
Hostas Ferns Bleeding hearts
