Low-maintenance bushes and shrubs are the unsung heroes of the gardening world, offering vibrant beauty with minimal effort. They are best utilized in beds, borders, entrances, and foundation plantings, providing structure and year-round interest. Their drought tolerance, pest resistance, and adaptability to various soil types mean they can flourish in many environments, from sunny to partially shaded areas.​

Many varieties of trees, shrubs, and perennials can be considered low-maintenance, and even some annuals that you can just plant and enjoy. Once established, they need little watering and fertilizer and only a bit of yearly pruning to keep them in shape. 

In this article, we'll tell you how to choose the right low-maintenance plants for your property, some popular shrubs, bushes, fruits, and herbs, how to plant them, and how to continue their care from year to year. 

The Benefits of Low-Maintenance Bushes and Shrubs

Imagine the beds, borders, entrances, and foundations on your property flourishing with gorgeous, easy-to-grow bushes and shrubs. You will love these plants' ability to grow and bloom reliably year after year, enhancing the beauty of your garden. As a bonus, their pollinator-friendly flowers and bird-friendly branching and foliage contribute to community sustainability. 

Choosing the Right Low-Maintenance Bushes and Shrubs

Before you choose your plants, you'll need to assess your property's size, amount of sun and shade, type of soil, and water requirements. It's essential to match your property's environment to the plants' requirements for best results. 

Size of Your Property

The size of your garden or landscape is key to determining the size of the plants you grow there. A small property will need small, narrow, or low-growing plants to maintain a proportional design and avoid looking crowded or overwhelmed. Likewise, you can grow various-sized plants in a large property with ample open space.

Sun or Shade

Knowing the pattern of sun or shade in your yard is an essential factor in picking out the right plants. Many low-maintenance plants are sun-worshippers and need at least six hours of sun every day, but others prefer partial shade or only morning sun with afternoon shade. Take an inventory of the areas of sun and shade on your property for possible planting sites. 

Soil Type

Most low-maintenance plants are adaptable to various soil types if they are well-draining, although some plants have more specific requirements. If the soil is sandy or compacted clay or needs to be more acidic or alkaline, you can easily correct it with amendments such as Earl May Structure and Earl May Organic Planting Mix.

Water Requirements

One advantage of low-maintenance plants is that they are drought-tolerant once they have developed robust root systems and are established in their growth. With the appropriate sunlight and well-draining soil, these plants will grow with less demand for water than other plant types. Keep in mind frequent watering at the time of planting and while establishing, and during extended periods of drought is still critical. 

A word of caution, though—most plants do not like soggy, poorly draining soil or standing water and will not thrive in them.

Popular Low-Maintenance Bushes and Shrubs

These six bushes and shrubs are winners for their overall beauty, hardiness, adaptability, and ease of care. They come in various sizes and bloom colors, so you can choose the right plant to grace your yard.

1. Boxwood

Boxwood is a dark green, fine-textured evergreen shrub perfect as an individual accent plant or for borders and foundation plantings. It takes well to pruning, too, and can be clipped into hedges, formal knot gardens, and topiary as it has been for centuries. Boxwood varieties come in many sizes, from compact mounds to upright conical shrubs. They grow slowly and thrive in sun to partial shade in USDA zones 4 to 9.

2. Butterfly Bush

This graceful 6' × 4' shrub boasts fragrant pink or purple flower spikes at the ends of its arching branches. It is an excellent choice for a colorful accent bush or pollinator garden. Butterfly Bush grows quickly and needs full sun to flower and attract butterflies from mid-summer to fall. It is hardy in USDA zones 5-10. Dwarf varieties are available for smaller spaces.

3. Hydrangea

Familiar white, pink, or blue, puffy flower clusters and large leaves adorn hydrangeas, the landscape shrubs beloved from coast to coast. There are four popular species—Big Leaf, Panicle, Smooth, and Oak Leaf—each with its own characteristics. They are all fast-growing, come in a range of sizes from petite to large (4'-8' × 4'-6'), and bloom in the sun or partial shade from summer to fall. Hydrangeas are hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9.

4. Lilac

Panicles of sweetly fragrant flowers in an array of colors among heart-shaped leaves have graced yards and gardens for centuries. Lilacs are considered large shrubs or small trees, many grow to mature sizes of 8'-10' × 8'-10', while newer compact types grow around 4-6’ tall and wide. All grow at a moderate rate in full sun in USDA zones 2 to 9.

5. Spirea

Spirea is a fast-growing bush with either an upright or cascading habit, 2'-5' × 3'-4', that can enhance a variety of landscape designs. Its dense pink or white flowers bloom in late spring in sun or partial shade, and it is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9.

6. Viburnum

Viburnums are rapid growing shrubs that range in size depending on the variety, from 4'-10' × 4'-10'. They boast clusters of light pink or white flowers in spring, followed by colorful fruit. Most varieties prefer full sun, but some grow best in partial shade. They are hardy in USDA zones 2 to 10. 

Browse Earl May’s top choices for high-quality shrubs online and visit your local Earl May for availability.

Additional Low-Maintenance Options: Fruits and Herbs

Turn your property into an edible paradise with low-maintenance fruits and herbs for a home orchard and kitchen garden. You'll enjoy fresh, healthy produce and the satisfaction of having grown it yourself. 

Fruits

Our excellent selection of fruit trees, berry fruits, and small fruits are low-maintenance choices for your garden that you will love. We offer several varieties of semi-dwarf apple, apricot, cherry, peach, pear, and plum trees. We also offer blackberry, blueberry, grape, raspberry, rhubarb, and strawberry plants to round out your harvest. Once established, these delicious fruits require minimal care. Browse Earl May’s Small Fruits & Berries online.

Herbs

Elevate your cooking to a new standard with fresh rather than store-bought herbs. Plant your herb garden with our seeds for fresh herbs or our started plants in small pots bursting with flavor. Pre-potted herb gardens are great for quick and easy use, while herb seeds are available for those who enjoy the satisfaction of growing their own from start to finish. We offer many types but our most popular are basil, cat grass, catnip, chives, cilantro, dill, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, and thyme. These easy-to-grow herbs will thrive in a kitchen or vegetable garden, flower beds, containers, or indoors on a window sill. Most will also act as pest repellents when planted among your flowers or vegetables. 

Planting and Care Tips for Low-Maintenance Bushes and Shrubs

These beautiful plants are a joy and only need minimal attention once established. Here is a general planting guide for your low-maintenance bushes and shrubs and some tips for ongoing care. 

Planting

• Water the root ball when your plant arrives if you can't plant it immediately.  
• When you're ready to plant, dig a hole as deep as the roots and 1.5 times their diameter.
• Remove the plant from the pot, and loosen the soil.
• Set the plant in the hole so that the top of the root ball is about even with the soil.
• Turn the plant around so that its best side is facing out. 
• Fill the space around the root ball with equal parts of existing soil, earl may organic planting mix, earl may Structure. 
• Press the soil around the base of the shrub to steady it in the ground.
• Lay 1"-2" of mulch on top of the root zone except for a few inches around the trunk to prevent mold from forming. 
• Water it slowly with diluted Plant Start so the entire root ball is soaked, and then water it regularly during the first growing season.

Care Tips

Once your plants have become established in your garden, your main task will be maintenance pruning to remove dead branches and shape the bushes to an appropriate size. For blooming plants, pruning should be done after flowering but before the plant begins to bud for the next year's growth. Consult your local Earl May Garden Center professional for more information.

Fertilizing monthly during the spring and summer gives the plants a healthy boost. Use an all-purpose, balanced fertilizer, like Nutri-Gro, half the strength of the package instructions to prevent fertilizer burn.  

Check your plant for signs of garden pests and diseases and treat with insecticidal soap, Neem oil, or another appropriate preparation. We offer a wide array of disease and pests supplies.

Conclusion

With careful planning to match the right plants to your property's environment, these bushes and shrubs will provide you with a beautiful, low-maintenance landscape that you can enjoy for years to come. 

For recommendations on low-maintenance bushes and shrubs specific to your area, consult your local Earl May Garden Center. Happy planting!

Did you know? Earl May has landscape and planting services available. If you’re planning on planting, find out everything you need to know about how to plant trees, shrubs, perennials, and more.