What are the best low-maintenance landscaping plants?
Native plants suited to your region are the lowest-maintenance choice, alongside tough shrubs like juniper and panicle hydrangea and perennials like daylilies, coneflowers, and sedum.
Help center
Frequently asked questions
Everything people ask before designing their space, grouped by topic. Pick a question to see the full answer.
Gardens Design costs & hiring How to do landscaping on a budget?
The best way to landscape on a budget is to phase the work over two or three seasons and supply the labor yourself, which can cut costs in half.
Gardens What are the best plants for outdoor pots?
For sunny spots, lantana, geraniums, petunias, and ornamental grasses lead the list; in shade, go with coleus, ferns, begonias, and hostas.
Design costs & hiring How to estimate landscaping costs?
Estimate landscaping costs by measuring your yard's square footage and applying typical per-square-foot rates for the level of work you want.
Design costs & hiring Is landscaping a good ROI?
Yes, basic landscaping is one of the better home improvements for ROI, typically recovering 100 percent or more of its cost at resale.
For landscapers When is the best time to hire a landscaper?
Contact landscapers in late winter, January through March, to get on the schedule for spring; fall and winter often bring better pricing and faster starts.
Design costs & hiring What is a $50,000 landscape budget?
A $50,000 landscape budget buys a full-yard renovation: professional design, major hardscaping, irrigation, lighting, and mature plantings.
Gardens When is the best time to plant perennials?
Spring and early fall are both good times to plant perennials; a useful rule is to plant fall bloomers in spring and spring bloomers in fall.
Design costs & hiring Why is landscape design so expensive?
Landscape design is expensive because you are paying for a professional's time: site analysis, scaled drawings, plant lists, and revisions.
Design costs & hiring How much does it cost to have a garden designer?
Having a garden designer typically costs $1,500 to $5,000 in the US for a full design, or $50 to $150 per hour for smaller consultations.
Gardens When is the best time to plant shrubs?
Early fall is the best time to plant shrubs in most regions, about six weeks before the first hard frost, with early spring a close second.
Design costs & hiring What is a typical designer fee?
A typical landscape designer fee in 2026 is $50 to $150 per hour, or $800 to $3,000 for a complete design plan on an average residential yard.
See your yard reimagined
Upload one photo and see your yard finished, in seconds. Compare real styles on your own space, then build the one you love. No designer, no software.