If you’re looking for a beautiful yet low-maintenance plant for your front yard, then you might want to try low-growing shrubs. These types of plants require less pruning than more popular shrubs, don’t crowd the front yard, and have a high curb appeal. Low-maintenance shrubs are available in a wide range of shapes and sizes, including evergreen and deciduous varieties.
Hydrangeas
When choosing hydrangeas for the front of the house, you need to think about the soil. Hydrangeas are hardy in zones 3 to 8 and can be planted in full sun to part shade. They can be planted in a hole that is at least two times the size of the root ball. If the soil is poor, it is recommended to amend it with compost. Hydrangeas are drought-tolerant once established, so they can withstand a few years of summer drought.
If you have limited space, try a low-growing shrub such as a hydrangea. These shrubs are very easy to grow, and come in a variety of sizes and colors. They are great for small gardens, balconies, and containers. Tractor Supply has an extensive variety of hydrangeas for sale. If you don’t know where to start your purchase, check out Proven Winners’ guide to growing panicle hydrangeas.
Hydrangeas have a very low-maintenance habit, making them a great choice for the front of the house. They grow to four to six feet, with flowers between six and eight inches wide. They can tolerate a wide range of soil pH, and require just two or three times a week watering. They can be grown in pots or the ground. They can be trimmed to the desired height and shape, and will bloom at any time of the year.
Boxwoods
If you’re looking for a low growing plant for your home’s landscaping, consider boxwoods. They provide a formal look to your landscape and are easy to maintain. The Winter Gem boxwood is an excellent choice for the front of your house. This shrub grows to about three feet in height and needs little care. Its lustrous foliage is attractive year-round and grows to an even height when properly pruned.
The Boxwood is low-maintenance, evergreen shrubs that thrive in partial shade or bright light. While their leaves may turn red or yellow in direct sun, they keep their shape well during trimming. The type of soil your boxwood grows in does not matter, as long as it drains well. Boxwoods do not require a lot of fertilizer, but they do benefit from burlap wraps and mulch.
Other low-maintenance shrubs include the boxwood and the rhododendron. Boxwoods are the most popular choice for front yards because of their uniform foliage, white flowers, and spiky branches. Rhododendrons, on the other hand, have irregular foliage and dramatic flowers. With hundreds of varieties to choose from, you’re sure to find a low-maintenance plant that will enhance your yard.
Hydrangea ‘Fire Chief’
‘Fire Chief’ is the most renowned variety of this low-growing shrub. The plant has an attractive, four-season bloom. It does best when planted near small evergreens. Its compact, mounding habit means it can be planted in partial or full sun. ‘Fire Chief’ also tolerates additional soil. If you want an attractive shrub for the front of your home, consider planting it near your house.
Despite its name, ‘Fire Chief’ is a low-growing shrub with a strong fragrance. It’s a good choice for mass plantings below vase-shaped plants. It blends well with ‘Red Diamond’ Midsize Loropetalum, which has burgundy foliage. Evergreen Stella(tm) Daylily accents the hints of gold in this plant.
This low-growing shrub is also a versatile choice for low-maintenance landscaping. With its dramatic floor and low-maintenance nature, Fire Chief Arborvitae can be used in a variety of ways. You can create a dramatic hedge or low-growing plant with a single plant. It does not require frequent pruning or other maintenance. Unlike many other shrubs, this one is low-maintenance and does not require pruning.
If you’re looking for a beautiful, low-maintenance foundation plant, Fire Chief Thuja will make a stunning addition to your yard. Its soft, feathery foliage is golden in spring. Fire Chief Thuja grows slowly and requires no pruning. It will fit well in any space and thrive in both cold and southern climates. This is a great choice for homeowners with small yards and patios.
Anglo-Japanese yew
Anglo-Japanese yech has long been prized as a beautiful, low-maintenance tree. The plant is hardy and can tolerate many different types of soil. It prefers a neutral to slightly alkaline soil pH, but will tolerate a little bit of heavy clay. It should receive a moderate amount of water and should only need occasional irrigation. Although yews are tolerant of a moderate amount of water, a little too much can result in root rot. For this reason, it is best to fertilize yew trees only once per year.
When young, Anglo-Japanese yech is tightly packed with needle-like foliage, which gradually spreads outward. This low-growing, drought-resistant shrub thrives in zones 4-7. Its white bell-shaped flowers are a striking contrast to the dark green foliage. And it is even more beautiful when bare, in the winter. And if you’re not sure about yews, try the Cavatine Dwarf.
Another popular evergreen shrub is the Hicks yew, a low-growing, upright columnar tree that will grow up to ten feet tall and two feet wide. It is suitable for shady locations and grows well in shade or full sun. If you’re planting a large yew for the front of your house, make sure it is well-drained and not too moist.
Golden Globe Arborvitae
If you’re looking for a plant that’s not only attractive but also low-maintenance, Golden Globe Arborvitae is the ideal choice. This evergreen shrub has dense, compact foliage with yellow-green hues and is ideal for low-maintenance hedges. It tolerates air pollution, black walnut trees, and high humidity. The plant is hardy and can grow up to 30 years.
Thuja occidentalis ‘Fire Chief’ is a dwarf form that grows to only 15 to 18 feet. Its foliage is soft green and turns deep red in the fall. It’s an excellent choice for low-maintenance landscaping and doesn’t require pruning. This arborvitae is a low-maintenance choice and tolerates a variety of soil types. However, it does not grow well in drought.
Another arborvitae variety is the Emerald Green. This species can grow up to six feet tall and has a compact, rounded habit. The foliage is golden yellow in the growing season and deepens to a rich bronze in the winter. This plant requires regular watering and thrives in light shade or partial shade. Moreover, this shrub is a good choice for the front of the house or a border.
The size of the shrub you choose should be appropriate for your climate. Choose one that can withstand winters in the USDA hardiness zone. Also, be sure to read the tag and description. Also, make sure to double check the mature size of the plant so you don’t end up with a maintenance nightmare! You can even plant more than one of these low-growing shrubs for the front of house!
Ligustrum
For an attractive hedge or accent plant, consider planting Sunshine Ligustrum. Sunshine Ligustrum grows in full sun but is not tolerant of shade. It is a short guy with bright yellow foliage. In a warm climate, it is usually pruned back to its original size at the first sign of winter. Ligustrums benefit from occasional fertilizing, but they do not require regular shearing.
Sunshine Ligustrum ‘Sunshine’ is a hardy evergreen shrub with yellow foliage and no flowers. It grows three to six feet tall and spreads two to five feet. Ligustrum plants grow to be about three to six feet tall and are well-suited to smaller gardens. These shrubs require little maintenance and do not grow too tall. They can be grown in containers.
Azaleas and Gardenias are excellent choices for front gardens. While they do not need much sunlight, they provide color to the landscape. Azaleas and Gardenias also add color to the landscape through flowering. For those who love fragrant fragrances, there are dwarf varieties of gardenia that are beautiful, colorful, and fragrant. There are several varieties of azalea, which range in height from white to purple and orange.
Curled leaf privet is one of the best-known Ligustrum plants for the front of the house. It is an easy-to-grow shrub that tolerates full sun or part shade. It is hardy, growing in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 6A through 10B. Privets can be pruned to a more compact shape if they are growing in containers.