10 low maintenance trees and shrubs for the garden

If you are in that initial stage where you still have to do your garden or green space, a good idea is to buy some species of trees and shrubs. Perhaps the idea is unattractive to you and it is not for less: they take much longer to develop, require more work at the beginning and can even be more expensive. But it is also true that over time they become ideal because in addition to offering large green areas, they generally require little care.

Therefore, If what you want are low maintenance trees and shrubs, then we are going to present some that will hardly require pruning or watering. But since not all climates are the same, we will tell you what the rusticity of each is so that you know whether or not you can grow them in your garden.

Tree selection

Abedul

If you want trees and shrubs and you don't have a lot of time to spend on garden care, you can plant birch trees, deciduous trees that grow rapidly between 10 and 30 meters in height and without receiving much care. They belong to the genus Betula, and with them you will have a lot of color in the garden because you can find them in various color options, from gray to reddish brown.

Birch trees need to be very exposed to the sun and an acid and humid soil, so if you meet these conditions you will not have major problems. As for the cold, they support up to -18ºC.

Tree of love

A pretty, very low-maintenance deciduous tree is the tree of love, whose scientific name is Cercis siliquastrum. It usually does not exceed 6 meters, although it can reach 15 meters in height. Over time it forms a nice wide, leafy crown, but long before you see it, it will have given you flowers a few times, since it begins to produce them very early.

He likes the sun a lot, and it is not harmed by high temperatures of 35-40ºC (if you have some water). It supports drought somewhat once established, but welcomes regular waterings especially in summer. It resists frosts down to -7ºC.

Amur maple

Another alternative is the Amur maple, a low maintenance tree whose scientific name is Acer tataricum subsp. ginala. Its beauty is unique, with leaves that turn dark green in summer to turn bright red-orange in fall. It grows between 3 and 10 meters in height. In addition to its beautiful appearance, it is a tree that adapts to different terrains although the ideal is to have it in a moist, acidic soil, and with good drainage.

This variety of maple offers plenty of shade and is perfect for any setting. Remember that needs regular watering. Withstands frosts down to -18ºC.

Laurel

The laurel, whose scientific name is Laurus nobilis, it is an evergreen tree that grows between 5 and 10 meters in height. Its straight trunk, with gray bark, and its bluish-green foliage that gives off a very pleasant aroma, make it a very ornamental plant.

Their main enemy is mealybugs, but they can be kept away from the plant if preventive treatments are done during the warm months with an anti-mealybug, or with potassium soap. For the rest, you should know that it resists drought as long as it is established, and frosts down to -4ºC.

Aleppo pine

A pine tree in a garden? Of course, why not? Although yes, that garden must be large. The roots of the pines can reach several meters, so it is very important that it be planted at a minimum distance of ten meters from pipes, paved soils, etc. But otherwise, the Aleppo pine, whose scientific name is propagating through a pine forest (Pinus halepensis)., It is one of the best evergreen trees to have a plot near the sea, or in one where there is little rain.

It reaches 25 meters in height, and its trunk is tortuous. The crown is dense, so it provides plenty of shade. It needs direct sun (it is a heliophilic plant), and not very extreme temperatures (its ideal range is between -12ºC minimum and 40ºC maximum).

Shrub selection

Hell

The aladierno is an evergreen shrub or sapling that can be grown in all temperate or warm gardens with little or no watering. It is a plant that reaches between 2 and 8 meters in height, whose scientific name is Rhamnus alaternus. It has a very pretty bark, gray in color, the young branches being reddish.

Being originally from the Mediterranean region, it is prepared to withstand drought, extreme heat (maximum 45ºC), as well as the eventual torrential rains that occur in this part of the world, especially in this part of the world. late summer. It resists frosts down to -7ºC.

Japanese barberry

If you like those bushes with red fruits that contrast with the green of the leaves then you can think about the barberry, a thorny evergreen shrub that it is native to Asia, and that it belongs to the genus berberis. It is a plant widely used in gardens because it is very attractive while requiring little care..

It grows well exposed to the sun, in dry soils and with high temperatures although it also adapts to the shade and to other types of soils. The only requirement is that it must be pruned regularly. Supports up to -12ºC.

Lavender

Lavender is a subshrub (or bush) that can reach the meter in height. It is a very grateful plant, which I highly recommend if there is usually a plague of mosquitoes in your area since it keeps them away. It belongs to the genus Lavandula, and receives other names such as lavender, lavender or lavender. It is a plant that lives for several years, is about a meter high and blooms in spring and summer.

You should plant it in a sunny exposure, in a soil that drains water well and give it some occasional watering. Supports up to -7ºC.

Olive

If you want a small bush, that you can use as a low hedge, that is the olivilla. Its scientific name is Teucrium fruticans, and grows between 50 centimeters and 2 meters in height. It branches a lot, even from the base, so it tends to be pruned to have it with rounded or square shapes. It blooms in spring.

So that he grows up with health, it must be in a sunny exposition, and in a porous earth that does not get flooded. Withstands drought, as well as frosts down to -5ºC.

Rosebush

To give joy to the garden throughout the year, but especially in spring and summer, they cannot be missing roses. These they are thorny shrubs, which produce very showy and aromatic flowers depending on the variety and / or cultivate, with hardly any effort.

The only care they require are more than two: moderate waterings so that the soil does not dry out completely, and regular pruning which consist of removing the withered flowers when necessary, and reducing the size of their stems at the end of winter. Supports up to -7ºC.

What do you think of these low maintenance trees and shrubs?