Low‑Upkeep Plants: Top Picks for Busy Gardeners

Short on time but still want a garden that looks great? Here’s a handy list of plants that require minimal care but deliver maximum impact year after year.

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Easy-to-Grow Shrubs

Hebe – These evergreen beauties are hardy, low-maintenance, and happy in sun or partial shade. Once settled in, they need very little watering and only light pruning to stay tidy.

Boxwood (Buxus) – A classic choice for structure in the garden. They thrive in a variety of conditions and only need an annual trim to keep their shape.

Spiraea – A tough, flowering shrub that puts on a colourful show in summer. It’s drought-tolerant once established and only needs a light prune after flowering.

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Hardy Perennials That Return Every Year

Lavender – Well-loved for its calming scent and resilience, lavender loves sunny spots with good drainage. Trim it after flowering to keep it neat.

Sedum (Stonecrop) – Ideal for dry, low-nutrient soils. Sedums are succulents with fleshy leaves and late-season blooms. Great in borders or pots and very little fuss.

Hostas – Perfect for shady spots, hostas bring bold foliage and require just the occasional drink and cleanup of old leaves.

Hardy Geraniums (Cranesbills) – Long-flowering and great for ground cover. These perennials spread nicely and need just a bit of deadheading to keep blooming.

Euphorbia – Known for their striking shapes and resilience, euphorbias are drought-tolerant and low maintenance. Simply cut back old stems in spring.

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Smart Extras to Consider

Daylily (Hemerocallis) – These produce vibrant flowers and are virtually pest-free. Once they’re settled, they’ll return reliably each year.

Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susans) – These cheerful, daisy-like flowers attract pollinators and need little more than the occasional deadhead to prolong their display.

Heuchera (Coral Bells) – Great for colour and texture, Heucheras come in various shades and can tolerate dry spells with minimal attention.

Catmint (Nepeta) – A long-flowering favourite with soft grey-green foliage and purple blooms. Give it a quick trim after the first flush for more flowers.

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Simple Gardening Tips

• Mulch generously – Add a layer of bark or compost to keep weeds down, lock in moisture, and improve your soil.

• Group plants by needs – Place sun-lovers together and moisture-lovers in the same areas. It makes watering and care much easier.

• Use native or well-adapted plants – They’re more likely to thrive with little input, and often resist pests naturally.

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Wrapping It Up

You don’t need to spend hours in the garden to enjoy one. By choosing resilient plants like lavender, sedum, geraniums, and hostas, and following a few smart planting practices, you can have a lush, low-maintenance garden that thrives with minimal fuss.