1Plant Sun Lovers in the Sun
Jacky Parker Photography//Getty ImagesAnd vice versa. You’ve heard it before: Choose the right plant for the right place, Cervoni says. Always read the plant tag or description before buying a plant so you give it the conditions it needs to thrive. Shade lovers will fry in the hot sun. If you try to cheat, you’re just dooming a plant to struggle so that it looks bad and may eventually die (which is a waste of money!).
Related: 32 Gorgeous Plants That Can Survive and Thrive in the Sun
2Go With Evergreens
Bespalyi//Getty ImagesGorgeous evergreens come in every shade from teal to chartreuse. Opt for dwarf varieties if you're short on space, and stick with those that keep their natural rounded or conical shape without needing pruning for the most low-maintenance options.
Related: How to Grow and Care for Emerald Green Arborvitae
3Dress Up Your Front Door
Linda Raymond//Getty ImagesYour front door is a focal point, so boost its curb appeal with simple containers filled with easy-care annuals you can change with the seasons if you want. Think pansies for spring, geraniums or begonias for summer, and mums for fall, or use a potted evergreen for year-round interest.
Related: 32 Front Door Plants for a Show-stopping Entrance
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4Invest in Flowering Trees
PETER HAYNES//Getty ImagesGet the most bang for your buck: A flowering tree accents your landscape but doesn’t require tons of upkeep or pruning, if you choose well. Two of Cervoni’s favorites include Kousa dogwood, which is more disease resistant than native dogwood, and redbud trees (seen here), which have gorgeous spring flowers that don’t leave a big mess when they drop.
Related: The Prettiest Pink Flowering Trees for Your Yard
5Raise Your Flower Beds
David Papazian//Getty Images 6Opt for Durable Materials
RiverNorthPhotography//Getty ImagesChoose long-lasting materials for projects such as fencing or decks, Cervoni says. Hardwoods such as Brazilian ipe and domestic black locust or composite materials for decking boards and vinyl or hardwood for fencing will outlast inexpensive pressure-treated pine.
Related: 10 Cheap Fence Ideas Designers Actually Love
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7Plant Ornamental Grasses
Jacky Parker Photography//Getty ImagesOrnamental grasses are particularly appealing because they’re hardy, deer resistant, and incredible looking when they’re blowing in the wind, Cervoni says. Carex and hachnechloa are beautiful options to add texture and interest.
Related: The 10 Best Ornamental Grass Types
8Add Shrub Roses to Beds and Borders
Alison Rose//Getty ImagesDo you love roses? Then stick with hardy shrub rose types such as Knockouts. They’re self-cleaning (meaning they drop their spent blooms without needing pruning) and are more disease resistant. They also bloom nonstop from spring to frost. Great choices include the brand-new Orange Glow Knockout, with luminous orange flowers, or the Pink Double-Knockout, with hot pink double flowers.
Related: The 3 Types of Roses Every Garden Needs
9Plant Spring-Flowering Bulbs
Jacky Parker Photography//Getty ImagesPlant them once and enjoy them for years! Spring-flowering bulbs must be planted in the fall to bloom the following spring. The most reliable performers include daffodils, hyacinths, and muscari. Tulips are lovely but don’t bloom well in subsequent years, so they’re considered annuals and must be replanted every fall.
Related: 10 Best Bulbs to Plant in the Fall
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10Fill Window Boxes
Grace Cary//Getty ImagesWindow boxes provide color without having to invest in landscape plantings. You also can change up plantings by the season, say, if you want spring-flowering bulbs or autumn mums. Invest in self-watering containers so you’ll need to water only every week or so instead of daily.
Related: 10 Self-Watering Planters to Make Gardening Easier
11Incorporate Perennials
Fasil Tiru / 500px//Getty ImagesPerennials come back year after year, so they’re an amazing long-term investment, Cervoni says. Some of her favorites for full sun include catmint and coreopsis. For part sun, go with heuchera (aka coral bells) and dicentra.
Related: How to Grow Colorful Coral Bell Plants
12Substitute Ground Cover for Lawn
Photos by R A Kearton//Getty Images Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
13Opt for Succulents
Karl Tapales//Getty ImagesDrought-tolerant, low-care succulents, such as sedum, make a pretty groundcover, or you can plant them in pots for a fun display that won’t need to be watered frequently. Make sure they’re hardy to your USDA zone so you can leave them outdoors all winter.
Related: 10 Types of Succulents You Need to Know
14Try a Container Garden
Kim Sayer//Getty ImagesNo landscape beds in your front yard? Add a series of tiered pots to provide plenty of color and beauty all season long. From spring to fall, choose seasonal flowers. In the winter, you can fill them with greenery.
Related: 20 Best Flower Pots to Show Off Your Green Thumb
15Plan Ahead for Fall Color
emer1940//Getty ImagesDesign your garden for fall too. Ornamental trees such as Japanese maple offer splashes of color but don’t require a ton of raking since they’re typically quite small. “There’s a size and variety that will appeal to everyone,” Cervoni says. Read the plant tag so you know what kind you’re buying, paying attention to mature size and width so you don’t plant too close to your house, which could cause maintenance headaches in the future.
Related: Planting These Trees Can Increase Your Home’s Value
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16Stick to Drought-Tolerant Plants
cstar55//Getty ImagesCut back on how often you need to water by choosing plants that can stand up to heat and drought once they’re established. Cervoni likes perennials such as Russian sage and lavender, which have beautiful color and bloom for weeks on end. They’re also pollinator friendly and deer resistant.
Related: How to Grow English Lavender Plants
17Design for All Four Seasons
Jasenka Arbanas//Getty ImagesPlenty of low-maintenance plants can enhance your front yard landscape throughout the year, even during the long, dark winter months. Plant evergreens for year-round color, perennials such as hellebores that bloom in late winter to early spring, and shrubs such as red twig dogwood or winterberry that show off beautifully against the snow or faded landscape.
Related: 17 Winters Flowers Thrive During the Coldest Months of the Year
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