Best Low Maintenance Plants
Creating a beautiful garden doesn’t have to mean endless hours of upkeep. For busy gardeners or those who simply prefer a fuss-free outdoor space, choosing low maintenance plants is key. Shrubs and perennials are excellent choices as they offer structure, colour, and seasonal interest without demanding constant attention. Here’s a guide to some of the best low maintenance shrubs and perennials suited to UK gardens.
Low Maintenance Shrubs
Shrubs provide year-round structure and can form the backbone of a garden design. Some hardy, low maintenance varieties thrive with minimal watering and pruning.
1. Hebe
Hebe shrubs are evergreen and perfect for UK gardens due to their tolerance of coastal winds and poor soil. They come in a variety of sizes and colours, often with attractive foliage and summer flowers. Hebe require little pruning beyond removing dead growth and thrive in full sun or partial shade.
2. Boxwood (Buxus)
Boxwood is a classic evergreen shrub known for its neat, compact shape. It’s incredibly low maintenance—just occasional trimming to maintain form and no special soil needs. Boxwood tolerates shade well, making it ideal for borders and hedging.
3. Spiraea
Spiraea shrubs offer vibrant blooms from late spring to summer, with some varieties showing striking autumn foliage. These hardy shrubs grow well in most soil types and only need light pruning after flowering. They’re drought-tolerant once established.
4. Lavender (Lavandula)
Though often treated as a perennial, lavender can grow as a shrub. It’s incredibly low maintenance, loves full sun, and thrives in well-drained soil. Lavender only needs a light trim after flowering to keep it tidy and healthy.
Low Maintenance Perennials
Perennials return year after year, providing colour and texture with minimal effort once established.
1. Sedum (Stonecrop)
Sedum is drought-tolerant and thrives in poor soils, making it perfect for low maintenance gardens. Its succulent leaves store water, and it produces clusters of star-shaped flowers in late summer. Sedum prefers full sun and little watering.
2. Hosta
Ideal for shady spots, hostas have lush, large leaves and produce delicate flowers in summer. They’re hardy and require minimal care—just occasional watering during dry spells and removal of dead leaves.
3. Geranium (Cranesbill)
Hardy geraniums are reliable perennials with long flowering periods and colourful blooms. They tolerate a variety of soil types and light conditions, requiring only deadheading to prolong flowering.
4. Euphorbia
Euphorbias offer interesting architectural shapes and often evergreen foliage. They thrive in well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade, requiring little pruning apart from cutting back old stems in early spring.
Tips for a Low Maintenance Garden
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Mulching: Applying mulch around plants helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and improve soil quality.
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Choosing Native or Well-Adapted Plants: Selecting species that are suited to local conditions reduces watering and feeding needs.
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Grouping Plants with Similar Needs: This makes care routines simpler and more efficient.
By selecting hardy shrubs like hebes and spiraeas and easy-care perennials such as sedums and geraniums, gardeners can enjoy a vibrant, colourful garden with minimal effort. These plants provide year-round interest, reduce the need for watering and pruning, and stand up well to typical British weather, making them perfect for both novice and experienced gardeners looking for a low maintenance outdoor space.
At Thompson's we grow a huge selection of low maintenance plants, all local grown on our very own nurseries. Why not browse through our Essential Plant Mix online to choose the best low maintenance plants, or come and visit us in store for some planting advice.