Plant these 11 easy-care trees and spend less time looking after them

Choose a low-maintenance tree for your garden and you can add height, structure, shape and interest in one easy step.

Although there are lots of great options available, there are also some trees that are best avoided if you're after a low-maintenance option. Some trees might have invasive root systems which can interfere with building foundations, or perhaps they shed messy berries or nuts which require frequent clearing up if your garden is small or paved. Alternatively, the tree could be an extremely fast grower which requires regular or even professional trimming, which can be expensive.

With this in mind, our recommendations are for tolerant, easy-care trees which will grow in a variety of soils, light conditions and climates. They are guaranteed to offer shelter, shade, privacy and a haven for wildlife which should last a lifetime. Here are our favourite picks for your low-maintenance garden.

1. Eucryphia nymansensis

Also known as the ‘brush bush,’ this tree offers year-round interest with evergreen foliage and large, scented cup-shaped white flowers in late summer to autumn.

Grow it in partial shade or full sun in a sheltered spot. It is a good choice for larger low-maintenance gardens, reaching an ultimate height of 12-15m. It will look after itself once it’s established, and only really requires a light trim in late winter.

2. Silver birch

The pure white bark of the birch tree is pretty in any season, but it comes into its own in the winter months, when it lights up the garden at the dullest time of the year. Better still, "these trees are bullet proof," says the experts at Form Plants. They recommend the multi-stemmed variety, such as Betula utilis jacquemontii ‘Snow Queen.’

Silver birch will grow in sun or semi-shade in most types of well-drained soil. Once established, these trees need minimal care, and will withstand harsh winters.

For small gardens, try a single-stem variety but always double check the ultimate height and spread before purchasing.

3. Ornamental Cherry

Cherry trees are an asset to any garden design idea. They are prized for their stunning spring blossom in a confetti of pink or white and some varieties are scented. There is plenty of choice in many sizes.

A compact low-maintenance tree is the weeping Prunus yedoensis (available from Thompson & Morgan) which reaches 3m tall in 10 years. A small but stunning choice is Cherry ‘Pink Shell’ which has pastel pink flowers turning to white in April. Slightly larger, Prunus Incisa ‘The Bride’ is covered with single white flowers with a blushed centre from March to April. It grows to about 4m.

Ornamental cherry trees like full sun with moist, well-drained garden soil types. They can also be a good tree for growing in pots.

4. Cornus

Not to be confused with cornus shrubs, cornus or dogwood trees are prized for their pretty flowers and ornamental berries. They will thrive in sun or part shade in all soil types and are a familiar sight in many UK gardens.

For a mass of white flowers, go for Cornus kousa chinensis ‘Schmetterling’. For pink flowers, try ‘Cherokee Daybreak’ with oval variegated leaves, or ‘Variegata.’

5. Amelanchier 

This tree, also known as shadbush and June serviceberry, is often recommended by garden designers as one of the best low-maintenance trees – and for very good reason.

In late April to May, it has clusters of incredibly pretty white star-shaped flowers on soft copper-coloured foliage, instantly lighting up a spring garden. It is a slim tree, making it a suitable tree for a smaller garden or even a courtyard garden.

Amelanchier Lamarkii ‘Ballerina', available from Thompson & Morgan, grows no taller or wider than 4-5m. Though they look delicate, these hardy trees will cope with damp conditions and most soil types, although they do prefer clay or sandy soil.

6. Chinese Redbud

Here is a small tree which punches above its weight, with dense clusters of rosy pink blossom in late spring before the large heart-shaped leaves appear.

Try Cercis chinensis ‘Avondale’ (available from Gardening Express) for a compact tree, which would make a pretty focal point in a small garden. It won’t grow taller than 4m. It flowers in March/April. If space is really tight, it can be kept small with regular pruning.

It thrives in most soils, and is reasonably drought tolerant, once established. For the optimum number of flowers, plant in an open, sunny position with plenty of light.

7. Crab Apple

With a froth of the prettiest blossom in spring, these trees are a rich source of nectar and pollen for insects, and they add appeal to any eco-friendly garden. There are many different varieties and the heights vary, so check carefully before buying.

Smaller ones include malus ‘Butterball’ (from Thompson & Morgan) and malus ‘Wisley Crab’ which can reach about 4m. A larger variety, growing up to 8m is malus ‘Royalty' (from Crocus) or go for malus x Zumi ‘Golden Hornet’ (from Gardening Express), which bears masses of tiny yellow fruits.

Plant these in full sun, in moist but not wet soil, then there is very little maintenance needed. In winter, simply remove any damaged branches, or ones that cross over each other.

8. Acer

Acers, or maples as they are also known, do need a little more care than some of the other low-maintenance trees on our list, but if they are planted in the ground, rather than in a pot, then they are a laid back and joyful addition to the garden, offering fireworks of autumn colour with their beautifully shaped leaves.

"Maples in the ground will look after themselves," advises expert grower Neil Kenney, author of An Illustrated Guide to Japanese Maples (available on Amazon). "They have a surface root system, so in dry weather, they will need watering and mulching (to retain moisture)."

These slow-growers will never overwhelm the garden, meaning they are a great one to include in a low-maintenance garden border. There are many varieties to choose from – try A.palmatum ‘Bloodgood’, which has leaves that will turn from dark red to a searing crimson in autumn.

9. Olive

If you live in a reasonably warm region, trees don’t get much easier to look after than an elegant olive. They are slow growing with attractive silvery, sage-coloured foliage which is evergreen.

There are a few essential care tips. If you are growing an olive tree in a garden planter, it will need watering weekly in hot dry periods in summer, and it’s a good idea to give it a feed in spring with a granular fertiliser.

If temperatures drop to below -12˚C for long periods, the olive tree will need to be over-wintered inside. But in sheltered gardens, when it’s likely to drop below -10˚C, throwing a horticultural fleece coat over the tree should be enough to keep it from frost damage. This garden fleece frost protection from Amazon is suitable for a wide range of plants.

10. Crape Myrtle

Also known as lagerstroemia, this showstopping, low-maintenance tree delivers year-round interest with gorgeous crinkly edged flowers in white, purple or violet in summer, followed by yellow, gold and orange foliage in autumn and then pretty peeling grey/orange bark in the winter months.

It will need planting in a sunny spot, and requires regular watering until it has bedded in. Certain varieties cope better than others with cold weather. The ‘Indiya Charms’ collection offer hardier varieties, but when a harsh frost is forecast, it is still a good idea to pop over a horticultural fleece. There’s no pruning needed, just plant and let it grow.

Lagerstroemia 'Pink Velour', available from Thompson & Morgan, has long-lasting flowers but will need a sunny, sheltered spot to do its best.

11. Magnolia

Perfect for a sheltered spot, these are easy-going, low-maintenance trees, provided they are planted in the right place and in suitable soil. Magnolias can be evergreen or deciduous trees, and there are many varieties to choose from, but they all have stunning, large tulip-shaped or starry flowers which create a focal point.

If your garden has fertile, well-drained clay or acidic soil and it’s not situated in a frost pocket, the magnolia is a brilliant choice (frost will discolour the blossom). They need a very light trim in mid-summer to early autumn, just enough to remove any dead or diseased branches, and benefit from a mulch in spring.

Magnolia 'Susan' (available from Crocus) is a good option for smaller gardens as it will only reach an eventual height of around four metres.

FAQs

How do I choose the right low maintenance tree for my garden? 

Trees are an investment, so it’s important to pick one that’s going to thrive as part of your garden landscaping plans. "A specialist tree supplier or nursery will give you all the information you need," say the experts at Form Plants. "You may be able to book a site visit, so they can assess the soil in your garden before advising you on what to plant."

If this is not possible, when you go tree shopping, take along some photos of your garden showing the proposed site for your tree, including the distance from your house. It can also worth doing this if you're shopping for other plants such as low-maintenance evergreen shrubs too, as it will help your supplier advise on the right option for your space.

How can I help a low-maintenance tree to establish strong roots? 

"People can be put off by the idea of planting trees, but the majority are low maintenance if you look after the roots," say Form Plants. "This is straightforward to do. Before you buy or plant a tree, take time to prepare the soil, digging in some organic matter and doing everything you can to enhance what’s already there."

Organic matter means bought or homemade compost or well-rotted manure. This helps to improve soil structure which leads to healthier plants.

On poor soil, a sprinkle of mycorrhizal fungi (available at Amazon) will also help the tree to establish strong, healthy roots.

Do I need to water a low-maintenance tree? 

Yes, young or newly planted trees should be watered every couple of weeks for about two years after planting. Freshly planted trees have not yet developed a strong root system, so they cannot store much water, which is why they need a regular dose. This is particularly important if you're planting a bare root tree too.

Try to water early or late in the day, so the liquid does not evaporate. Use a garden hose or a bucket, and if the tree is in a pot, go slowly, so that the water soaks in thoroughly, rather than running off.

According to the Tree Council even mature trees should be watered three times a month from April to September. Its advice says: "Concentrate on watering under the canopy of the tree as this is likely to be where the roots are."

If you have never planted a tree before, the prospect of growing such a large and relatively expensive plant can be daunting. In reality, trees are often easier to look after and less needy than some of their smaller plant counterparts.

So long as the ground is prepared before planting, and a suitable variety is chosen for the growing conditions, the most that some trees will demand from you is some water and an occasional trim in the winter.

Looking for other ways to add interest to your garden? Our guide to the best trees with berries has lots more options for creating seasonal interest in your plot.