If there is one complaint that gardeners all have - it’s that we just don’t have enough time to do everything we want to do. And, as the pace of modern life speeds up, it’s getting more and more difficult to find the hours in the day to care for our pride and joy. Between work, family commitments, and everything in between, who has the hours to spare for pruning, fertilising, and spraying for pests? Not many of us.

All of which is why we need to think about low maintenance garden shrubs. They are the smart way for busy gardeners to enjoy a beautiful, year-round space without becoming overwhelmed with time-consuming daily tasks. In this article, we’ll explore what makes a shrub truly low-maintenance, the many benefits they deliver, and eight key categories of plant for you to consider. We’ll also point you toward a curated range of easy-care shrubs at Direct Plants.

Quick link: Ready to browse a hand-picked selection of low-maintenance shrubs? Visit Direct Plants’ Shrub Collection.

What Makes a Shrub “Low Maintenance”?

Not every shrub that promises “easy care” lives up to the hype. A truly low maintenance shrub shares several characteristics:

Drought Tolerance

Once they are established plants with extensive root systems and tough foliage can withstand dry spells (if we ever get any) with minimal watering. So, instead of needing daily attention, they can battle through occasional spells of neglect.

Pest and Disease Resistance

It’s a fact of nature; some shrubs are simply hardier than others. They are naturally resistant to common pests (aphids, scale, mites) and diseases (mildew, blight, rust). Choose these shrubs and you won’t need to wage a constant battle with your bottle of spray.

Controlled Growth

Fast-growing shrubs are fantastic if you want an instant effect but they can become a real pain. I still shudder about my personal battle with a banana plant that seemed to grow faster than Jack’s beanstalk. Thankfully low-maintenance garden shrubs generally grow at a moderate pace which means you can maintain their shape with only one or two light trims per year.

Evergreen vs. Deciduous

Only one winner here for me. Evergreen shrubs provide all year-round structure and colour, you don’t need to work to keep them looking great. But, although deciduous shrubs can be low-maintenance too, they do drop their leaves in autumn, which means you need to tidy them up every year.

When you combine drought tolerance, disease resistance, steady growth, and evergreen habit, you get shrubs that mostly look after themselves. That’s the hallmark of true low maintenance.

Benefits of Low Maintenance Shrubs

Some of these are self-evident but let’s look at all the great things about low maintenance shrubs.

Time Savings

Less Time on Maintenance: Busy gardeners can reclaim their weekends. Or a good wedge of them anyway. Low-maintenance shrubs sometimes only need only a prune once a year along with occasional watering. This saves you plenty of time and respite from mundane tasks.

Cost Efficiency

Lower Water Bills: Probably marginal but every little helps. Drought-tolerant shrubs cut your watering costs. Fewer sprays, feeds, and replacements mean you save money on fertilisers, pesticides, and plants.

Reliable

Predictable Growth and Blooms: You won’t be left with surprise overgrowth or missing flowers. These shrubs deliver consistent foliage, flowers, or berries each season.

Wildlife Value

Supports Your Garden’s Ecosystem: Many low maintenance shrubs produce nectar, pollen, berries, or seeds. That’ll make your garden very popular with birds, bees, and insects. You can attract wildlife without any effort.

Versatility

So flexible: Whether you need a quick privacy screen, a colourful border, or year-round interest, there’s low maintenance shrubs which will do the job.

Top 8 Categories of Low Maintenance Shrubs

1. Evergreen Screeners

Form and Function: Dense, bushy shrubs with attractive foliage all year round is perfect for privacy barriers or backdrop planting.

12-Months Interest: Evergreen shrubs provide structure and greenery even in winter.

Positioning: Ideal along property lines or behind smaller plants to give depth.

2. Flowering Joy

Form and Function: Upright shrubs with seasonal blooms, often in spikes or clusters, that you don’t need to prune after flowering.

Interest: Draws the eye with bursts of colour without you having to do too much shaping.

Positioning: Great as accents in borders or to frame entrances.

3. Dwarf Shrubs

Form & Function: Naturally compact shrubs which remain under a metre tall and are suitable for pots or narrow beds.

Interest: Offers attractive foliage or small flowers in tight spaces with no risk of overwhelming the border.

Positioning: Perfect for containers on patios or at the front of borders.

4. Grassy-Habit Shrubs

Form and Function: Shrubs with arching, grass-like foliage that move gracefully in the breeze.

Interest: Combines the flair of grasses with the hardiness of shrubs with little need for pruning.

Positioning: Works well in mixed borders or along pathways.

5. Berry-Producing Shrubs

Form & Function: Deciduous or semi-evergreen shrubs that bear decorative berries in autumn and winter.

Interest: Provides a splash of colour even when the blooms are gone. And of course, the birds love them.

Positioning: Use in wildlife corners or as focal points in bland winter landscapes.

6. Scented Shrubs

Form & Function: Shrubs with fragrant flowers that bloom mid-season. Very hardy and resistant to pests and disease.

Interest: Your patio and seating areas will be transformed with the scent from the plants.

Positioning: Apart from the patio, plant near doors, walkways, or windows where their scent can be enjoyed.

7. Architectural Foliage

Form & Function: Bold, large-leaf shrubs with attractive shapes (spires, fans, rosettes).

Interest: Creates impact without the need for flowers; leaf colour often remains for months.

Positioning: Excellent as stand-alone specimens or in minimal planting schemes.

8. Mixed-Foliage

Form & Function: Combining shrubs with contrasting leaf shapes and colours to add depth to the border.

Interest: Loads of different textures—variegated, glossy, matte—it’s never dull.

Positioning: Works in borders, containers, or as underplanting for taller specimens.

So, there you go. Plenty of different types of low maintenance shrubs to choose from. Mixing them up will add layers of beauty while keeping your workload low.

Choosing the Right Shrubs for Your Garden

We won’t go into specific plants here but when it comes to choosing the best shrubs for your garden consider the following:

Garden Conditions

Light Levels: Is your garden a sun trap or one that has lots of shadow and shade? Whether you’re planting in full sun or partial shade there are plenty of shrubs to choose from.

Soil Type: Null and void if you’re planting in pots but if you’re planting into the ground is your soil clay, loam, or sand? If the soil in your garden isn’t the best, can you improve it by fertilising or would be better to plant in containers?

Moisture: Not really something we have to worry too much about but drought resistant plants are always easier to care for.

Space and Scale

Mature Dimensions: No matter how big, or small, your garden is to make sure you check the expected height and spread of your shrubs so you can plant while avoiding future overcrowding.

Container vs. Ground: We’ve already mentioned when it may be better to plant in containers but the likelihood is that we will all have a mix of ground planted and potted plants in the garden. Some shrubs are more suited to pots than others but generally you can grow most shrubs in a pot on the patio.

Colour and Form

Evergreens: The backbone of any planting scheme. If you choose one or two structural evergreens, you’ll have colour and form all year round.

Seasonal Stars: We all want splashes of colour in the garden. By adding some heavy flowering varieties you’ll enjoy dazzling seasonal highlights.

Texture Mix: You can soften or sharpen your borders with grasses or those shrubs which are more architectural.

Planting Tips

● Without wishing to teach granny to suck eggs there are a few simple ways you can ensure you give your new shrubs the best start to their life in your garden.

● When planting in the border dig a hole twice the width of the root ball and backfill with existing soil augmented with a handful of compost.

● Space your shrubs according to their mature spread, not their current pot size. It’s nice to see plants packed together but planting in the border is different to cramming as much as possible into a hanging basket.

● Water well after planting and apply a layer of mulch to suppress weeds.

Basic Care

Watering

Keep newly planted shrubs moist without drowning them until your plants are well established (6–12 months), then water sparingly.

Pruning

A light going over once or twice a year, either after flowering or in late winter, is usually all that’s needed.

Feeding

Most low-maintenance shrubs thrive without any extra feeding. But a granular feed in early spring and a refresh of mulch will be all you need.

Avoid over-feeding or over-watering your plants. Doing so can cause unwanted growth or root issues. Other than that, let your shrubs do their thing!

Design Ideas

This isn’t Garden Rescue and many of us just have a vague idea of what we’re going to plant and where. But with a little thought you can make your garden even better by thinking a little about design and how to plant your shrubs.

Rhythmic Repetition

Plant the same shrub in groups of three or five. This is surprisingly effective and will really make your garden border pop.

Layered Heights

Not rocket science but put shorter growing shrubs at the front and higher growing architectural plants at the back to create depth.

Evergreen Anchors and Seasonal Stars

Use a hardy evergreen shrub as a backdrop with one or two flowering or berry-producing shrubs for interest.

Container Combinations

Place dwarf shrubs in pots alongside small grasses or perennials for an eye-catching patio display.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even easy-care low maintenance shrubs can sometimes be a challenge. Here’s how to handle the few issues you might come across:

Overwatering

Yellowing leaves and soggy soil can indicate too much water. If your plants are in pots make sure there is sufficient drainage. If in the ground don’t water until the soil has dried out.

Pest Watch

Occasionally aphids or scale insects can invade your shrubs. A quick spray of insecticidal soap or a blast of water usually gets rid of them. If not, use a more heavy-duty spray.

Size Drift

If a shrub grows beyond its intended space, prune selectively to reduce height or divide it (for clump-forming types).

Leaf Drop (Deciduous Types)

Shouldn’t be a surprise and it's no biggie but expect autumn leaf fall—simply rake or mow over lightly.

By spotting issues early, you can address them in just minutes, keeping your shrubs healthy and your workload light.

Next Steps

Low maintenance garden shrubs are great for those of us who want to a beautiful outdoor space without the burden of constant upkeep. From evergreen screeners to compact accents, the eight categories we’ve covered deliver time savings, cost efficiency, reliable performance, and wildlife value, all wrapped up in attractive forms and foliage.

Ready to transform your garden with minimal effort? Explore a curated range of low-maintenance shrubs at Direct Plants: For more inspiration on how garden shrubs can revolutionise your outdoor space, don’t miss our pillar guide:

Garden Shrubs Will Transform Your Outdoor Space

With the right shrubs in your garden, you’ll enjoy year-round colour, structure, and wildlife activity—what more could you want. Happy gardening!