Low maintenance garden


Shrubs in general tend to be less maintenance than perennials for many

of the reasons,no need for deadheading, dividing, staking, cutting back

or cleaning up seasonally and typically require less watering once

established due to wider, more extensive root systems. But to decrease

maintenance even further, select those shrubs which are recognized as

being fully hardy and well suited to climate and growing conditions,

drought tolerant (once established), disease and pest resistant and not

requiring excessive pruning to maintain health or size.
Check with local extension office for their recommendations and visit

some of better local retail nurseries in season for ideas. Ideally

would want to include some broadleafed evergreen shrubs and/or dwarf

conifers as well to provide winter interest and textural variation.

And I wouldn’t necessarily want to eliminate ALL herbaceous perennials

- some are quite a bit less maintenance than others. A mixed border

that includes a variety of shrubs, perennials, grasses, groundcovers

and even a few small trees generally will provide year long interest

and color with relatively low maintenance.















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