Designing a Low-Maintenance Landscape in Minneapolis

As we get older, our lives get busier: with work, with families, and with hobbies. For some people, gardening and landscaping is a good stress-reliever, getting rid of the stress of the day. For others, it creates just one more headache. Or maybe we’ve hit an age where we’re simply not as mobile as we once were. Or maybe you simply don’t have much of a green thumb, but still want to have a beautiful yard. Whatever the case, KG Landscape is here to help create low-maintenance landscape designs that fit your life.

Hardscaping

 One option to create less work for yourself in the long run is to look into designing a patio for your yard.  A well designed paver patio space will reduce the amount of lawn that needs to be mowed and maintained, and has the benefit of adding outdoor entertaining space.

Pro-tip:  Add potted plants to your patio space! If you contain your planting to pots, you don’t need to worry about maintaining flower beds and weeds through Minnesota’s changing seasons. Potted plants have the additional benefit of being mobile. If you’re entertaining or simply want to change things up, you can rearrange plants and flowers to your heart’s content.  You can also design and adjust the planting to the changing seasons; use evergreen trunks and pieces during winter or mums and colorful leaves in the fall. 

Use Easy Low Maintenance Plants

Select tough d rought-resistant perennials if you don’t want to water your gardens every day or replace plants every spring. In Minnesota, some good options are:
  • ornamental grasses like "Karl forester' grass
  • daylilies
  • sedum
  • catmint
  • allium
  • hostas
  • ferns

Of course, you can’t go wrong with evergreens. Not only are they low-maintenance, but they’ll give your yard a splash of color in the deepest winter.  Generally speaking, evergreen shrubs are slow growing, which means less trimming. Our favorites are:
  • Yews
  • Arborvitaes
  • Barberry
  • Boxwoods
  • Junipers
  • Spruce
  • Pine

Rock Gardens

Creating a rock garden is another great way to create a low-maintenance space. Rock gardens have the benefit of not needing to be redone every couple years like mulch.  Once rock is installed, it doesn't require top dressing.  You’ll need to keep on top of the weeds initially, but after your plants become established, that will become less of an issue. Perennials can fill in the areas covered by soil instead of rocks, and will require little upkeep. Ground cover plants are especially good for rock gardens, as they’ll grow to fill the space. Easy ground cover plants include:  

Taller perennials, including some of the easy-to-care-for ones above, are lovely additions to rock gardens, giving them a pop of color.

Other Tips

Love the ideas for a low-maintenance yard but aren’t sure where to get started? We would be happy to help create the yard of your dreams. Give us a call today at (763) 568-7251 or send us a message through our quote system.  

Ready to Start on Your Next Project?

Call us at (763) 568-7251 or visit our quote page.

By Kent . November 13, 2025
Fixing a neglected St. Louis Park lawn? Learn what can be salvaged with rehab and when it’s better to start over for a healthier yard.
By Kent . November 8, 2025
New build flooding your Minnetonka yard? Learn why construction redirects water and how to fix drainage issues before they damage your property.
By Kent . November 7, 2025
Turn your sloped Minnetonka yard into a safe play space with grading, terracing, and drainage fixes that create level, kid-friendly areas.
By Kent . November 7, 2025
Learn when to spray weeds after seeding your Blaine lawn so you don’t damage new grass. Timing matters for strong germination and effective weed control.
By Kent . November 4, 2025
Compare seasonal vs. per-storm snow removal for Blaine businesses. Learn costs, reliability, liability risks, and which contract protects your property.
By Kent . November 3, 2025
Fix drainage problems in your older St. Louis Park home with solutions for soggy yards, poor grading, failing drains, and outdated systems.
By Kent . November 1, 2025
Learn how snow removal companies protect your Golden Valley landscape with proper plowing, de-icing methods, and techniques that prevent damage.
example of sloped property drainage
By Kent . November 1, 2025
Your Maple Grove drainage system failed? Learn the real causes of soggy yards, slow drainage, and hidden downspout issues—and what’s fixable vs. what’s not.
By Kent . October 31, 2025
Neighbor’s water flooding your Edina yard? Learn your options, your rights, and how to stop runoff before it damages your lawn or foundation.
By Kent . October 29, 2025
Learn the 5 signs your St. Paul retaining wall needs repair or full replacement—and how to spot early warning issues before failure.