Want to Spend your weekends lounging in your backyard instead of endlessly battling weeds and watering thirsty plants? Elite Landscape Solutions understands the desire for a beautiful yard that doesn’t demand all of your free time. That’s why we’ve constructed this guide to help homeowners find the best low-maintenance landscaping options for Wichita homes.
Why Low-Maintenance Landscaping is a Smart Choice
- Save Time: Spend weekends enjoying your yard, not working in it.
- Save Money: Reduce water bills, fertilizer costs and the need for constant replacements.
- Environmental Benefits: Support local ecosystems, conserve water and reduce chemical use.
The typical homeowner spends on average anywhere between 2 – 5 hours a week on lawn care alone. Investing in low-maintenance landscaping choices saves time and effort and allows you to enjoy your yard, rather than working in it. Additionally, a well designed landscape and native plants can save homeowners hundreds of dollars a year by conserving water, fertilizer and replacement plants. Yet, one of the largest benefits of low maintenance landscaping is the environmental impact. Native plants, and perennials in particular, help support local biodiversity, use less water and reduce chemical usage from fertilizers and herbicides.
The Power of Native Plants for Wichita
What are native plants?
Native plants are species that have naturally developed and evolved in a specific region over thousands of years without human intervention. These species are often drought-tolerant plants and have had thousands of years to adapt to local weather, soil and wildlife conditions. As a result, native plants are low-maintenance, requiring less water, fertilizers and pesticides. Overall, native plants also tend to attract more native wildlife such as pollinators and local birds.
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- Purple Coneflower
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- Black Eyed Susan
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- Wild Bergamot
Non-Native Plants That Thrive in Wichita
Contrary to popular belief, not all non-native plants are high maintenance. Many non-native plants have been bred for specific traits like drought tolerance, disease resistance or particular growth habits. While these plants are not native to Kansas, they still add visual appeal and are a great low-maintenance plant option for your landscape.
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- Daylily
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- Lilac
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- Ornamental Grass
Design Tips for a Low-Maintenance Landscape
The key to low-maintenance lawn care is a well-designed landscape. Start with the right plant in the right place and consider sunflight, soil and mature plant size. Keep in mind the mature size of trees and shrubs and how much ground they cover fully grown. Additionally, grouping plants for visual appeal not only adds to the style but makes maintenance easier by cutting down on weeding and watering. Mulch is another great addition. A nice layer of mulch works wonders when suppressing weeds, retains moisture and adds a polished look to your landscape.
Another aspect to consider is hardscaping or the addition of patios, walkways and retaining walls. Hardscaping helps reduce planting areas and adds to your outdoor living space
Why a Landscape Designer is Worth the Investment
Landscape designers create custom tailored plans that fit your needs all while maintaining your style and budget. Landscapers also have extensive knowledge of a wide range of plants and where to use them, helping you avoid costly mistakes. Most importantly, professional landscaping can save you time and even increase your home’s resale value by as much as 15% to 20%. Elite Landscape Solutions offers professional landscape design in Wichita, contact us today for a free consultation and get back to enjoying your weekends without the hassle of lawn care.