Curb appeal plays a big role in how your home is perceived, whether you’re hoping to impress visitors, charm potential buyers, or simply enjoy pulling into your driveway each day.

But maintaining a lush, manicured yard can be time-consuming and expensive, especially if gardening isn’t your passion. Fortunately, there are plenty of low-maintenance landscaping solutions that still deliver high-impact results. If you’re ready to simplify your yard work without sacrificing style, these smart and sustainable ideas can help you create an exterior that looks great with minimal effort.

Utilize plants that thrive in your region

The best way to reduce maintenance in your yard is to work with nature, not against it. Choosing native plants, or even just those that are well suited to your local climate, means less watering, fertilizing, and care. These plants have already adapted to the typical weather patterns and soil conditions in your area, making them more resistant to drought, pests, and disease.

If you’re not sure where to start, talk to an expert at your local garden center. In general, coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, and sedum succulents are hardy in many temperate climates, while agave and salvia thrive in dry or desert conditions. Shadier yards might benefit from shade-loving perennials like ferns and hostas. Not only do these plants save time and effort, but they also support pollinators and boost your yard’s ecological health.

Consider shrinking your lawn

Grass may seem like a simple landscaping solution, but traditional lawns require extensive maintenance to stay green and healthy. Mowing, watering, and fertilizing can quickly add up in both time and cost. Reducing the size of your lawn, even just a small portion, can free up time while making your yard more visually dynamic.

One effective approach is to replace part of the lawn with mulched planting beds filled with drought-tolerant perennials and low-growing shrubs. Decorative gravel, stone walkways, or even a flagstone patio can also help break up large areas of turf while adding structure and style to your yard. If you’re looking for something green without the mowing, ground-cover plants like creeping thyme or clover are great alternatives that need far less attention.

Use hardscaping to define and simplify

Hardscaping, such as stone pathways, patios, and garden walls, is an excellent way to add long-term visual interest with little to no upkeep. Unlike plants, these features don’t require water or trimming, and they help define the layout of your yard so that it feels organized and intentional. For instance, a well-placed walkway can guide visitors from the driveway to your front door, while a low stone wall or raised bed adds texture and delineates different areas. Edging made of stone or brick around flower beds or trees can also keep mulch tidy and prevent grass from creeping in.

Add evergreens for year-round color

Many plants go dormant in the fall and winter, leaving your yard looking bare until spring. To maintain curb appeal all year long, consider incorporating evergreens into your landscape. Boxwoods, junipers, and dwarf spruces all provide lush greenery regardless of the season, and they generally require very little pruning to stay neat.

Evergreens work beautifully as foundation plantings around the base of your home or in symmetrical arrangements flanking your front door. You can also plant them in containers for a flexible and tidy option that enhances your entryway. Their consistent color and shape offer a timeless look that keeps your yard looking cared for, even in the offseason.

Don’t overlook the power of mulch

This is one of the simplest and most effective tools for keeping your landscape low-maintenance. A thick layer of mulch around trees, shrubs, and garden beds helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and give your yard a clean, finished look. Organic mulch, such as shredded bark or wood chips, also breaks down over time, improving your soil’s health. You’ll need to refresh the mulch once or twice a year to keep it looking fresh and functioning properly, but compared to weeding and watering, that’s a small time investment with a big payoff.

And if you’re thinking about putting your home on the market, remember that curb appeal is one of the first things buyers notice. A well-kept, low-maintenance yard can still make a strong first impression, and it may even help your home sell faster. Talk to a real estate agent to learn which exterior updates will offer the best return for your local market.