Who doesn’t dream of a perfectly manicured garden with lush greenery and vibrant flowers lining her walkways — but between work, family, and life’s never-ending to-do list, who has time for constant upkeep?
But there’s good news. You don’t need to spend hours weeding, watering and pruning to have a stunning, polished landscape.
By choosing the right plants, you can create a breathtaking low-maintenance garden border that looks effortlessly elegant all year long. Let’s explore the best plants to transform your garden into a showstopper — without the extra work!
A classic evergreen shrub found in yards throughout Massachusetts, boxwoods provide structure in a landscape, as well as year-round interest. Planting them in border edges and walkways is a simple way to create a polished look in your garden design without intensive effort. Boxwoods do require periodic pruning, but otherwise are easygoing.
If you want a splash of color without the hassle, daylilies are your new best friend. These perennials have bright, cheerful blooms from late spring to early summer. They grow best in full sun and are adaptable to different soil types. With their graceful, arching foliage and cheerful flowers, daylilies bring instant charm to your garden with almost zero effort.
For a drought-tolerant beauty that never quits, sedum is the perfect border plant. A favorite of pollinators, this resilient flower thrives in tough conditions, offering a carpet of pink or yellow flowers, depending on the variety. It’s a fantastic filler for border edges and walkways, adding both texture and structure to your landscape. It needs little more than sunshine to flourish, making it a low-maintenance dream come true for homeowners.
Whether you love the look of a cottage garden or a more sleek landscape, lavender adds a timeless charm while requiring little watering or maintenance. The stunning purple flowers of this low-growing plant brings a touch of elegance to any garden border. Lavender should be planted in sunny areas and well-drained soil.
Imagine a lush, flowering carpet that thrives with no effort — creeping thyme makes that dream a reality. It blooms with gorgeous blue, white or pink flowers, and looks especially beautiful as ground cover at the edges of garden borders or along walkways. Once established, it requires little more than occasional trimming — and as an added bonus, it helps suppress weeds, too.
To make the most of your low-maintenance plants, start with smart layering. Evergreens like boxwood, arborvitae and cypresses offer structure that serves as an anchor in your landscape and add year-round visual interest.
Experiment with plant heights, with low-growing plants like creeping thyme in the front, mixed with medium-height perennials and tall ornamental grasses in back.
To further minimize maintenance requirements, you should focus on native plants that grow well in Massachusetts, as well as drought-tolerant plants that will stay lush without constant watering.
And to ensure you have that “wow” factor in every season, choose plants with different bloom times and textures for year-round color.
You’ll find that with the right mix of border plants, you can enjoy a magazine-worthy landscape without breaking a sweat.
Whether it’s the structured charm of boxwood, the carefree blooms of daylilies, or the lush, spreading beauty of creeping thyme, these low-maintenance plants will keep your landscape looking fresh and fabulous all year long.
With a little planning now, your garden will stay gorgeous all year with minimal effort. So, why spend your weekends battling weeds when you can sit back, relax, and let your garden do the work for you?
To learn more about designing a custom landscape for your home, download our free ebook, Personalized Landscape Design: Why You Should Leave It to the Professionals. If you're ready to get started on your new landscape project, or simply want to learn more about the process, you can contact our team here to schedule a free consultation. We'd love to talk to you!