The key to a beautiful, yet low-maintenance garden is to select reliable plants that will thrive without needing much from you. This extra-easy sun-loving garden plan features tough flowering perennials like daylily, catmint, and coneflower, which are about as low-maintenance as you can get. These plants will fill your garden with color for months and demand only a little water in dry weather and occasional weeding.
Plants for Creating the Extra-Easy Sun-Loving Garden Plan
Situate this garden plan in a full-sun spot, and you'll soon be enjoying a colorful landscape without having to fuss over every flower.
- 3 Blazing star (Liatris 'Kobold'): Zones 4-9
- 3 Purple coneflower (Echinacea 'Magnus'): Zones 3-9
- 3 Yarrow (Achillea 'Cerise Queen'): Zones 3-9
- 3 Catmint (Nepeta 'Walker's Low'): Zones 4-8
- 3 Tickseed (Coreopsis 'Moonbeam'): Zones 3-8
- 3 Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Stella d'Oro'): Zones 3-10
- 3 Stonecrop (Sedum 'Autumn Fire'): Zones 4-9
- 3 Bellflower (Campanula 'Pearl Deep Blue'): Zones 4-7
If you aren't able to find the exact cultivars listed above, swap in others that offer similar colors, shapes, and sizes.
Some plants can become overly aggressive in certain climates so always check which species are considered invasive in your area before planting. For example, yarrow is invasive in many areas('Cerise Queen' is considered one of the least problematic cultivars), so consider replacing it with a compact Joe Pye weed such as 'Baby Joe' that offers purplish pink flowers that attract pollinators.
Download the Free Extra-Easy Sun-Loving Garden Plan
This printable garden plan includes an illustrated version of the planted garden, a detailed diagram of the layout, and a list of plants for the garden as shown. Plus you'll find instructions and helpful tips for installing the garden.
Tips for Planting Your New Garden
Preparation is the key to creating a garden that will offer a lifetime of pleasure. Before you start plant shopping, review all garden plan materials. Then, ask yourself the following questions:
Do I have a suitable spot for this plan?
The layout diagram shows the rough dimensions for the plan. In general, you can enlarge or reduce the size of the garden by adding or eliminating plants, although the character of the garden may change if you alter the size dramatically.
Do I have the right growing conditions?
Check the plant list to see if the plan will do best in sun, part shade, or full shade. Be sure that the plants are suited to your USDA Hardiness Zone.
Do I need to amend my soil?
Most plants thrive in moist, but well-drained soil. If you have soil with lots of sand or clay, amend it liberally with lots of organic matter, such as compost. You may also want to do a soil test to see if you need to adjust the soil pH or add fertilizer before planting.