Top 5 Low-Maintenance Plants for Michigan Gardens

Looking to add beauty to your garden without hours of upkeep? Whether you’re new to gardening or simply prefer a relaxed approach, these five low-maintenance plants thrive in Michigan gardens and require minimal fuss.

1. Lavender

Lavender is drought-tolerant, smells amazing, and brings in the bees. It thrives in sunny spots with well-drained soil and needs very little watering once established.

2. Geranium (Cranesbill)

Hardy geraniums are a great ground cover and bloom reliably year after year. Just give them a trim after flowering and they’ll reward you with another flush of colour.

3. Heuchera

With colourful foliage in shades of purple, bronze, and lime green, Heuchera adds interest all year round. It’s ideal for borders or containers and doesn’t need much more than the occasional tidy-up.

4. Hosta

Perfect for shady gardens, Hostas are known for their lush, leafy growth. They’re low maintenance — just watch out for slugs (a sprinkling of organic slug deterrent will help).

5. Box (Buxus)

Box hedges and topiary bring structure to your garden. Once shaped, they grow slowly and only need pruning a couple of times a year.

Tip: Pair these plants with mulch to suppress weeds and retain moisture — even less work for you!