6 Low Maintenance Trees
Trees can add immeasurably to your landscaping. They may bring color, fruits, or beautiful fall foliage. Some trees attract certain animals and insects, like butterflies and bees. But the last thing you need in your yard is a picky plant that needs constant attention. Luckily, there are plenty of low-maintenance trees that are beautiful and don’t need a lot of work. You can basically plant them and enjoy them, which is the perfect landscaping scenario.
How Does Your Landscaping Grow?
Before you start planting trees, get a working idea of which USDA hardiness zone you’re in and what your soil is like. Dig a few tiny holes in various areas of your yard on a dry day. Is the soil moist, rich, sandy, or rocky? Get a sense of what the soil is like in various areas of your yard. You should also observe your yard throughout the day for several days in a row. Note the areas of your yard that get mostly full sunlight, which areas get partial shade, and what the lighting is like in areas of your yard where you might want to plant some trees.
Low Maintenance Trees
Everyone wants beautiful landscaping and lots of curb appeal. But no one wants to be out in the yard all the time pruning and pulling and working. There are several trees that look beautiful and also require very little care, so you can enjoy them without working too hard for them.
Crepe Myrtle
Check out crepe myrtle trees on Amazon.
The crepe myrtle is popular in southern climates. It grows in USDA hardiness zones 6 through 10. The flowers grow in white, pink, purple or red shades. Give this tree full sunlight with well-drained soil and it will look beautiful through the summer. The crepe myrtle can grow up to 30 feet tall.
Dwarf Alberta Spruce
Dwarf Alberta Spruces on Amazon
A hardy evergreen, the Dwarf Alberta Spruce grows in USA hardiness zones 3 to 6. It grows up to 13 feet tall. It naturally grows into a pyramid shape without the need for pruning. You don't want it to be close to a road, however. Plant it well within your yard because this tree does not tolerate salt spray well. Plant it in full sunlight. This tree grows well in a variety of soil types.
Prairifire Crabapple
Prarifire Crabapples on Amazon
The Prairifire Crabapple grows in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 8, which is most of the U.S. This tree blooms with pink flowers in the spring, making it an excellent and pretty addition to any yard. Purple fruits appear in the fall and winter. This tree looks beautiful most of the year. Give this tree a spot with full sunlight and some room to grow. It will get up to 20 feet tall and wide.
Red Buckeye
The red buckeye blossoms with dazzling red flowers. Hummingbirds and butterflies are attracted to the lovely flowers. Give this tree full sunlight to partial shade with well-drained soil. This tree grows up to 15 feet high with a canopy spread almost as wide. This tree grows in USDA hardiness zones 4 to 8.
Royal Star Magnolia
Royal Star Magnolias on Amazon
Growing in hardiness zones 4 through 9, the royal star magnolia grows to be 15 feet tall and just as wide. Magnolias have a reputation for being hard to manage, but the royal star magnolia is more heat- and cold-tolerant than its cousins. It blooms with big, white flowers in the spring and then develops rich green leaves.
Weeping Cherry
If you're looking for a statement tree, you've found it in the weeping cherry. This tree blossoms with flowers everywhere in shades of pink and white. Plant these trees in full sunlight to partial shade. It grows well in multiple soil types and reaches up to 8 feet tall. The spreader, however, is dazzling, In time, the weeping cherry can grow as wide as 40 feet. It doesn't need pruning unless areas of the tree become damaged.
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