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Plant shrubs and flowers that require little to no maintenance to perform well. |
Ask any landscape designer what they hear most from clients, and it's something along this line, "...and it needs to be low-maintenance." A post off a garden center's website titled "The Truth about Low-Maintenance Yards" nails it on the head when they state low maintenance yards really don't exist. It depends on how you define low maintenance, as most homeowners realize some care will need to be given, and should be willing to give 1-2 hours a week to yard work. Follow a few steps to keep maintenance down to a minimum.
Plant the right plant for the spot. Consider the plant's mature size, soil and light requirements. If you plant a Techny arborvitae in a 6 foot deep bed next to the house, you will constantly be trimming it. Plant a willow in a hot, dry location, and you'll need to water it regularly during dry spells. Select the right plant for the site.
Plant tried and true plants with a proven track record. There are lists and books available of plants that require little to no care, like Perennial All-Stars: The 150 Best Perennials for Great-Looking, Trouble-Free Gardens. To avoid having the same "low-maintenance" plants as your neighbors, differentiate your landscape by planting one or two unique, but perhaps more maintenance ornamental trees, shrubs or evergreens.
Mow grass taller and don't bag it. You'll water less with taller grass due to cooler temperatures at the root zone. Taller, thicker grass can also crowd out weed seeds requiring less herbicide applications. Leave the lawn clippings behind which will supply your yard with phosphorus.
Follow a maintenance calendar and stay on top of maintenance. As the old saying goes, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Pull weeds early. Immature weeds are a lot easier to pull then more established ones. Pound down vinyl edging that has heaved in the spring when the soil is moist instead of replacing gnarled edging from mowing. Trim and prune trees and shrubs annually for structural and health reasons.
Living things require a little attention and love. While plastic flowers are an alternative for pots and window boxes if you can't reliably water, consider this, even plastic flowers need an occasional cleaning. | 
