Whether you are new to gardening or are someone who does not have a lot of time to spend growing and caring for your plants. We bring you some most easy-to-grow and low-maintenance outdoor plants for you to grow in your garden.
These plants are not only easy to grow but also add vibrant diversity and beauty to your outdoor garden. So here are 7 low-maintenance outdoor plants to make your garden more attractive –
Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Echinacea also known as coneflowers is one of the most easiest and low-maintenance outdoor plants. These plants are a great addition to your outdoor garden. This plant thrives on poor soil, unlike many other outdoor plants.
Coneflowers are drought-tolerant and do not require much fertilizers either. Their beautiful blooms last for months and come in a variety of colors. The only thing you need to keep in my mind while growing coneflowers is to plant them in a place with full sun and prune them in late summer to encourage the growth of new blooms.
How to grow Coneflowers?
- Water regularly during the first growing season. Once established they are drought-tolerant.
- They thrive best in full sun.
- Plant them in any well-moist soil.
- Remove old flowers to encourage the growth of new ones.
Impatiens (Impatiens walleriana)
Impatiens are annual flowering plants that grow best in partial sunlight. These flowers come in vibrant colors such as red, pink, orange, and white. These low-maintenance outdoor plants are a perfect choice to fill up space under any tree or in flower beds in your outdoor garden.
They need no special requirements. Just make sure you plant them in a shade and wait for the danger of frost to pass before planting. They also grow best in moist soil. Impatiens are used in hanging baskets because of their trailing habits and prolific blooming.
How to grow Impatiens?
- Deadhead fading flowers.
- Plant them in well-moist and slightly acidic soil.
- They do well in partial or full shade.
- They require consistent moisture.
Daffodils (Narcissus spp.)
Daffodils are the ideal choice as a spring bulb plant because of their ability to keep pests away from them. The vibrant blooms of daffodils add a rich pop of color to your outdoor gardens.
These low-maintenance outdoor plants are virtually pest-free, drought-tolerant, and require no fertilizers or extensive care. Just make sure to plant daffodils in full sun and use well-draining soil, however, they can survive in any soil type.
Daffodils are great for naturalizing, if you have large open spaces they can be left undisturbed to multiply and spread over time.
How to grow Daffodils?
- Choose a well-draining soil and a location with partial or full sun.
- Water regularly during the active growing season.
- Prune faded flowers but let the foliage die naturally.
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
Pothos, generally considered indoor plants, are also a great choice for outdoor gardens. They can be grown in hanging baskets or pots to display their beautiful trailing vines. These low-maintenance outdoor plants have great adaptability, they can tolerate a lot of conditions such as – varying light conditions, soil types, and temperature fluctuations.
Pothos are great for ground cover in your garden because of their trailing vines, they are climbing plants and can climb vertically and spread horizontally which helps them to spread greenery in most outdoor structures. Just make sure you don’t grow them in extremely cold areas as they are not frost-tolerant.
How to grow Pothos?
- Prefers bright and direct sunlight and a well-draining potting mix.
- Water them when the top one inch feels dry. Water again only when the soil feels dry.
- Prune the plant to control its size and shape as needed.
Peppermint (Mentha × Piperita)
Peppermint is another low-maintenance outdoor plant. It is famous for its aromatic scent and is used as an edible plant in many food items such as mojitos, salad dressings, and smoothies.
Peppermint is resilient, an aggressive grower, drought tolerant, and immune to many pests and disease problems. However peppermint does require consistently moist soil, it can survive short periods of dryness without any major damage.
How to grow Peppermint?
- Keep the soil moist by consistently watering.
- Plant it in well-draining soil in partial or full sun.
- Harvest the leaves regularly to use them in food items. It also serves as pruning.
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Black-Eyed Susans are perennial flowers that thrive in sunny locations. This large and vibrantly-colored flower adds an attractive appearance to outdoor gardens and they are pollinator-friendly plants which can also bring butterflies to your garden.
Black-eyed Susan is known for its ability to naturalize and self-seed. The mature flowers produce seeds that allow the growth of new plants the following season. These low-maintenance outdoor plants are generally drought-tolerant but require consistent watering during the first growing season. Black-eyed Susan can also survive in cold conditions.
How to grow Black-eyed Susan?
- Use a place with full to partial shade.
- Water regularly during dry spells.
- Prune regularly and stop self-seeding if required to stop it from spreading.
Ribbon Grass (Phalaris arundinacea)
As the name suggests ribbon grass is a perennial grass that is known for its long and elastic-like leaves that can spread out and cover landscaping beds. Its lush foliage forms attractive arching clumps which creates an appealing visual in outdoor gardens.
This low-maintenance outdoor plant is known for its adaptability, it requires minimal water and can survive droughts, it is also pest resistant and well in moist soil and partial shades. Just occasional pruning is required to encourage fresh growth.
How to grow Ribbon Grass?
- Use a location with full sun to partial shade.
- Water regularly but avoid overwatering.
- Use well-draining soil.
- Prune regularly to control its spread.
Some Tips for Better Plant Care:
- Keep a regular check on outdoor plants to note any physical damage by winds or by wild animals.
- Regular pruning of these outdoor plants keeps them from overspreading and ensures healthy and new growth.
- Though most of these are drought-tolerant they still need sufficient moisture in the initial growing stages.
- As a beginner don’t hesitate to seek help if you face any problems in outdoor gardening.
- For tips on indoor plants check out our blog on indoor gardening.
Conclusion
These are some of the most common low-maintenance outdoor plants that you can grow easily. Just remember that even though these plants require relatively less maintenance, a regular check on them for various problems is suggested for healthy and greener growth.
Try to give some time to your outdoor garden to ensure its growth. If as a beginner you face any problems while growing outdoor plants you can always rely on various apps or tools such as the Plantora app. This app helps you get information about plant care, diseases, and types. It is a free, easy-to-use, and very helpful app for your gardening journey.
Raghav is a talented content writer with a passion to create informative and interesting articles. With a degree in English Literature, Raghav possesses an inquisitive mind and a thirst for learning. Raghav is a fact enthusiast who loves to unearth fascinating facts from a wide range of subjects. He firmly believes that learning is a lifelong journey and he is constantly seeking opportunities to increase his knowledge and discover new facts. So make sure to check out Raghav’s work for a wonderful reading.
