8 Low-Maintenance Trees to Upgrade Your Yard

cypress trees — Photo:
Grace Cary/Getty Images

Trees can help to beautify your home and create the right curb appeal. Depending on their location, trees can also provide shade from the sun’s rays, and even serve to create privacy from your neighbors.

But maintaining a tree—that’s another story. Not everyone is prepared for the level of care that a tree may initially require. Before selecting the right trees for your yard, you need to understand different tree types, their benefits, and their care requirements, explains Lori Johnson, president of The Grounds Guys, a Neighborly company providing lawn care and landscaping services.

“Trees are classified into two primary categories: deciduous—trees that lose their leaves—and coniferous—which have cone-bearing seeds,” she explains. “Deciduous trees are also known as hardwoods, and most coniferous trees are evergreens.”

If you're looking for a low-maintenance tree, Johnson recommends looking at evergreens since they have a consistent appearance throughout the year and don’t shed their leaves, eliminating leaf litter in the fall/spring. On the other hand, some of the most beautiful trees happen to be deciduous, so you have to decide what's right for you and your yard.

Here are eight low maintenance trees that can upgrade your landscaping and your overall curb appeal.

01 of 08

Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)

If you live in a hot climate with plenty of sun, the crape myrtle is versatile enough to be a small tree or a shrub. This deciduous tree bears pink petals that resemble crepe paper, hence the name. It can grow up to 25 feet tall.

02 of 08

Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia)

jacaranda tree — Simon McGill/Getty Images

Another good tree for warmer climates is the jacaranda, which thrives in the sun. This drought-resistant tree produces lavender blossoms and is quite popular in southern California, Florida, and Texas, where it can grow up to 50 feet in height.

03 of 08

Japanese Flowering Cherry (Prunus serrulata)

If you’ve ever been to Washington D.C. in the spring for the National Cherry Blossom Festival, you know how spectacular Japanese flowering cherry trees are. This deciduous tree can grow up to 25 feet in height, and produces pink and white flowers.

04 of 08

Silver Birch (Betula pendula)

The silver birch is a deciduous tree that can grow up to 40 feet tall. The tree has distinctive white bark and green triangular leaves that are yellow and brown in the fall. It does better in cooler conditions, as opposed to high humidity environments.

05 of 08

Olive Tree (Olea europaea)

olive tree branches — Antonio Garcia Recena/Getty Images

With silvery leaves and white flowers, the olive tree does well in hot, dry areas. It’s also drought tolerant and can be an ornamental tree or a fruit tree. Olive trees can reach 30 feet in height.

06 of 08

Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)

Known for producing large, fragrant flowers, the magnolia tree can grow up to 80 feet in height. It can tolerate a high level of moisture, and does well in central and southeastern states.

07 of 08

Northern Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)

If you have a large backyard, the Northern sugar maple tree can grow up to 75 feet tall. It’s such a popular tree that New York, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin have all claimed it as their state tree. It produces shade in the summer, and the leaves turn yellow, red, and orange to signal the arrival of the fall season.

08 of 08

False Cypress (Chamaecyparis)

There are many types of cypress trees but the false cypress tree in particular is a great option because it's drought tolerant and can handle full sun to partial shade. The tree can grow up to 90 feet tall, and is often used to provide privacy from neighbors.

More to Consider

Choosing the right tree(s) for your yard is based on more than just personal preferences and compatibility with your area of the country. According to Rick Martineau, senior training specialist of tree professional products, safety, and advocacy at Husqvarna, you should consider other factors as well. For example, if there’s a chance the tree will grow so tall that it presents overhead hazards (for example, with buildings, or utilities), he recommends getting a dwarf species to reduce the need for unnecessary pruning.

Also, consider if there will be hazards below or near the crown of the tree, like the driveway, walkway, sidewalk, or other buildings. “The concern here is falling hazards from limbs, fruit, nuts that can cause impact, or slip, trip and fall hazards as well,” Martineau says. He explains that nuts and crab apples provide unstable footing, fruit trees encourage insects and can also stain driveways, vehicles, and walkways—so always keep the tree’s location in mind.

“Consider tree species that tend to be or are more xerophytic, so less water is required," Martineau advises. "Drought tolerant trees can be a big plus in your tree selection.” We included several drought tolerant options above for this reason.

Lastly, reach out to your local county extension effice plant nursery or arborist. Martineau says these are great resources to get helpful advice when selecting a tree for your area.

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