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Are you enjoying summer as much as I am? I am so happy to finally be able to sit in my backyard and enjoy our beautiful low maintenance plants in our Perennial garden this summer! When we first moved in, our backyard was basically dirt and a few roses. Now it is coming together nicely with some low maintenance flowers that will return each year.
If you are just planning your garden or are worried about killing the flowers you buy, I have some good news for you! There are some plants that are hard to kill. These plants will do nicely in your yard whether or not you have a green thumb.
I have picked some of my favorite low maintenance perennials that have done well for me throughout the years. I am notorious for neglecting the garden by the end of summer, so these survivors are tried and true.
The Best Low Maintenance Plants for Shade
If you have a shady area in your backyard, these are the best low maintenance plants that you can plant and forget about. These no kill perennials should return bigger and better every year.
1. Hosta
Hostas are a virtually maintenance-free plant. Simply plant them in a shady spot with some organic soil and forget about them. Hosta’s are not picky and will grow in many types of soil. They are also forgiving if you forget to water them. They return each year with or without your care.
Case and point: The Hosta pictured above has been growing in clay off the side of our deck for three year now.
2. Bleeding Heart
Bleeding Hearts are an excellent choice if you have a shady area in your garden. These plants are virtually maintenance free after you plant them and will bloom in the early spring. They require no fertilizing and only a little bit of water if you get less than an inch a week in the summer months.
3. Lungwort
Lungwort may have an ugly name, but they are really beautiful plants. They have gorgeous leaves with white spots and pretty blue and pink flowers. (I am also loving my Spiderwort) Once established, Lungworts need little extra care. You only need to water them in times of drought and they only need light fertilizer once a year.
4. Creeping Jenny
Creeping Jenny is a really easy to grow spreading ground cover. It will do well in both the sun and shade and is not picky about soil quality. Creeping Jenny is a fast spreader and can be invasive so make sure you really like it and are prepared for a quick spreading plant before planting it.
5. Ajuga
Ajuga (Bugle-weed) is another fast spreading ground cover that can take over an area. The leaves are evergreen and in the spring they have blue or purple flowers. One way to contain your Ajuga is with edging. Ajuga does well in lots of different soils and while it does best in the shade, it can be grown in the sun as well. You don’t have to worry about watering your Ajuga unless it gets really dry. It usually just takes care of itself.
Low Maintenance Plants for the sun
Once you plant these perennials in a sunny location, these low maintenance plants will thrive even if you give them a little neglect.
6. Creeping Phlox
Creeping Phlox is a great choice for any type of soil or in hard to grow in areas. This beautiful spreading flowering ground cover doesn’t need a lot of water and is very forgiving. It is great to grow over rocks and has a beautiful cascading flower look to it.
7. Catnip
I am sure you are familiar with Catnips’ effect over cats. Catnip is also extremely easy to grow. Once established, it will start to spread and take over. Catnip or Catmint likes full sun. It has many uses including being used in essential oils and as a deterrent for aphids and squash bugs.
8. Salvia
Salvia is a great choice for a low maintenance perennial that has long blooms and will grow and mature to be a beautiful addition to your low maintenance garden. Salvias like the sun but may tolerate a part shade environment as well.
9. Daffodils
Daffodils are a great choice for a low maintenance garden. They are not picky about their soils and will do well in full sun to part shade. Daffodils are deer and rodent resistant and do not require any special care to return year after year.
Most Daffodils do best as a fall planted bulb. Simply plant them right before the first frost and forget about them!
10. Coreopsis
Coreopsis is a great choice for a low maintenance flower. The Coreopsis flower has a long bloom cycle and will add a lot of color to your garden. The yellow flowers almost look like daisies.
Coreopsis require little care. There is no need to fertilize them and they do well without a set watering schedule. They will also return year after year, making your garden maintenance free.
11. Peppermint
Peppermint is another easy to grow plant that will return each year and slowly take over. It is great to use in tea and all kinds of recipes. Mint likes full sun to part sun. Just remember to water it when it gets dry and you are good to go.
12. Black Eyed Susan
Black Eyed Susan’s bloom from late may until fall. They will reseed themselves each year and are deer resistant. These flowers love sun. They may try to spread into other neighboring flowers, so make sure to give them plenty of space.
13. Coneflower: The Perfect Low Maintenance Plant
Coneflowers (Echinacea) are long blooming and attractive to birds and butterflies. They don’t require much care to return year after year. Simply give them sun and a little water and you will be good to go. These are great for repelling deer, so no worries there.
14. Creeping Sedum
Creeping Sedum is a great choice for a set it and forget it groundcover. If you have a dry, sunny location, Creeping Sedum will do great. Once they are planted, your Sedum will spread. This plant looks great on its own, and even better when it flowers. This is one easy and worth while plant to add to your low maintenance garden.
15. Virginia Creeper
The Virginia Creeper is a very powerful hard to kill plant. It can be considered invasive, so make sure you really like it before adding it to your landscaping. It is green with five leaves and has small spidery flowers that turn into black berries. These berries are poisonous for humans, so don’t eat them. They are good for birds though.
This plant is an aggressive spreader and will climb fences, tree and walls. It will grow up the side of a house. If you try to remove it from the building, it will leave small discs behind. In the fall, the leaves will turn bright red.
16. Day Lily
Daylilies are a great non fussy plant that can be grown in full sun to part shade. Daylilies are very adaptable to where you plant them and once they are established, they are drought tolerant. This makes them a great addition to your maintenance free garden.
Conclusion
I hope this list inspires you to go out there and add some no fuss flowers to your garden. I promise, no matter what your skill level, there is a plant in here for everybody.
If you are looking for more gardening ideas, check out these flowers that will give you blooms all summer long and how to start seeds indoors. If you would like more easy DIY crafts and gardening tips, subscribe to our email.
What’s your favorite low maintenance flower? Let us know in the comments.
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