Best Low-Maintenance Trees for Expressive-Looking Backyards

Five Varieties 

Trees are the #1 landscaping staple there is. A well-maintained backyard can be a sanctuary, a place to relax and unwind. However, only some have the time or expertise to dedicate to high-maintenance landscaping. Thankfully, many low-maintenance tree options can add beauty and character to your backyard without requiring constant care. This article will explore five of the best low-maintenance trees for expressive-looking backyards, focusing on Catalpa, Japanese Maple, Cypress, Crab Apple, and Crepe Myrtles.

Catalpa Trees

Catalpa trees, scientifically known as Catalpa bignonioides, are native to the southeastern United States and are renowned for their large, heart-shaped leaves and distinctive bean-like seed pods. They make a fantastic addition to low-maintenance backyards for several reasons.

  • Minimal Pruning: Catalpa trees typically have an open and spreading canopy that requires minimal pruning. Occasional trimming is needed to remove dead or diseased branches and maintain their shape.
  • Drought Tolerance: Once established, Catalpa trees are relatively drought-tolerant, meaning they won't require constant watering. They do well in various soil types and adapt well to different conditions.
  • Pest Resistance: These trees are known for resisting many common pests and diseases, reducing the need for chemical treatments or constant monitoring.
  • Ornamental Value: Catalpa trees produce stunning clusters of white, trumpet-shaped flowers in the late spring, attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies. Their large leaves provide ample shade during the hot summer, creating a comfortable outdoor space.
  • Low-Maintenance Seed Pods: While the seed pods can be messy when they fall in the autumn, they do not require immediate cleanup, making them relatively hassle-free.

Japanese Maple Trees

Japanese Maple trees, or Acer palmatum, are cherished for their elegant, finely divided leaves and their stunning display of colors throughout the year. These trees are a top choice for low-maintenance backyards for several reasons.

  • Minimal Pruning: Japanese Maples have a slow growth rate and maintain their compact, graceful shape with minimal pruning. It would be best to prune in late winter or early spring to remove dead or crossing branches.
  • Year-Round Beauty: These trees are known for their exquisite foliage, ranging from deep red to vibrant green, depending on the cultivar. In the fall, they put on a spectacular show of fiery colors that can enhance the visual appeal of any backyard.
  • Adaptability: Japanese Maples can thrive in various soil types and light conditions. They become hardy and resilient trees with proper care during the establishment phase.
  • Low Pest Susceptibility: No tree is entirely immune to pests and diseases. However, Japanese Maples are less prone to infestations and illnesses than many other species, reducing the need for chemical treatments.
  • Low Water Requirements: Once established, Japanese Maples have moderate water needs and can tolerate short periods of drought. This reduces the time and effort required for watering.

Cypress Trees

Cypress trees, including varieties like Leyland Cypress (Cupressocyparis leylandii) and Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum), are well-suited for low-maintenance backyards due to their unique features.

  • Fast Growth: Cypress trees are known for their rapid growth, which means they can quickly provide privacy and greenery to your backyard without frequent maintenance.
  • Disease Resistance: Many cypress varieties are naturally resistant to common diseases and pests, which reduces the need for chemical interventions.
  • Drought Tolerance: Once established, cypress trees are relatively drought-tolerant, so you won't have to worry about constant watering during dry spells.
  • Evergreen Beauty: Cypress trees are evergreen, providing year-round beauty and privacy. Their fine-textured foliage adds a touch of elegance to any landscape.
  • Low Maintenance Pruning: While occasional pruning may be necessary to shape the tree or remove dead branches, cypress trees require less maintenance than other fast-growing trees.

Crab Apple Trees

Crab Apple trees (Malus spp.) are known for their charming spring blossoms and ornamental fruit, making them an excellent choice for low-maintenance backyards.

  • Beautiful Spring Blooms: Crab Apple trees burst into a riot of color during the spring, producing fragrant, pink, or white flowers that attract pollinators. Attractive Fruit: After the blooms fade, many crab apple varieties have small, colorful fruit that can add visual interest to your backyard. Birds often relish these fruits.
  • Adaptability: Crab Apple trees can thrive in various soil types and climates, making them suitable for multiple regions.
  • Low Pruning Requirements: While some light pruning may be necessary to shape the tree or remove dead wood, crab apple trees generally only require a little maintenance.
  • Low Pest Susceptibility: While they can be susceptible to certain pests and diseases, crab apple trees are usually hardy and less prone to issues than fruit-bearing trees.

Crepe Myrtles

Crepe Myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica) are beloved for their vibrant summer blooms and attractive bark, and they are an excellent choice for low-maintenance backyards.

  • Long Blooming Season: Crepe Myrtles produce showy, crepe-paper-like flowers in a range of colors from late spring through summer, adding a burst of color to your backyard.
  • Exfoliating Bark: These trees also feature attractive, exfoliating bark that provides year-round visual interest.
  • Drought Tolerance: Once established, Crepe Myrtles are drought-tolerant, requiring minimal watering.
  • Resilience: Crepe Myrtles are generally hardy and less susceptible to pests and disease. Their resistance reduces the need for chemical treatments.
  • Low Pruning Needs: While occasional pruning may be required to maintain their shape and encourage blooming, Crepe Myrtles only demand a little care.

Creating an expressive and visually appealing backyard can be something other than a high-maintenance endeavor. By choosing low-maintenance trees like Catalpa trees, Japanese Maple trees, Cypress trees, Crab Apple trees, and Crepe Myrtles, you can enjoy the beauty of nature without the constant upkeep. These trees offer a variety of colors, shapes, and textures, which can enhance the aesthetic appeal of your backyard while allowing you to relax more and enjoy your outdoor space. With proper care during their establishment phase, these trees can thrive with minimal effort, making them the perfect choice for busy homeowners who still want a beautiful and expressive backyard retreat.

Catalpa Tree - TN Nursery

Catalpa Tree

The Catalpa Tree is a deciduous hardwood known for its large, heart-shaped leaves, showy clusters of white, trumpet-shaped flowers, and long, bean-like seed pods. It is also known for its unique appearance, ease of care, and environmental benefits. A Catalpa Tree is a deciduous family member, which means it's similar to oak or other tall and thick types. Growing this product has many benefits, such as helping stabilize soil and preventing erosion caused by excess moisture. This tree also has beneficial properties. Near the middle of summer, it has worms on it, which are highly sought after as fishing bait. They attract fish much more than most lures and are a highly credible attractant to bass and blue gill fish. Catalpa Tree Reaches 60 Feet Tall This natural product can grow up to 60 feet in height, making it one of the taller types you can place in a given landscape. It can produce showy white or yellow flowers and branches up to 12 feet around. They develop a fruit akin to an acorn that will drop during the late summer months. Another key benefit is that it can rapidly grow and replenish its leaves. This is beneficial as it will likely become a habitat for birds, caterpillars, and other creatures that might use it to hide from predators or start a colony. The ability to quickly replenish its leaves is a crucial defense against getting sick, as it can be vulnerable to various insects that try to eat or otherwise use them. The sphinx moth caterpillar is often used for bait and tends to be among the species that feed primarily on the leaves. Therefore, you can use this natural resource to help with your fishing and make your property look good. However, it's important to carefully watch for signs of an infestation and take corrective measures to avoid losing a valuable resource. The Catalpa Tree Flowers Have a Pleasant Aroma This natural resource on your property can help cleanse the outdoor air. This is partially because it can absorb carbon dioxide and other pollutants. The flowers also create a favorable fragrance that you and your neighbors will enjoy for as long as they are on your property. The Catalpa Tree has delicate pinkish-white blossoms. The fruit emerges in the form of an elongated cylindrical pod. Because of its cigar-shaped fruit, it is also called a cigar. The Size Of The Catalpa Tree They can reach 60 feet high and 40 feet wide and live for 60 years or more. They grow rapidly at first, but the growth spurt levels out as they get older. They have a rounded crown and spreading branches, giving the overall effect of a dense business. They are highly adaptable and will happily grow almost anywhere. The fruit they produce is 8 to 15 inches long and turns brown as it matures. The seeds are released when the pods break open in fall and winter. They typically produce white, bell-shaped blossoms with ruffled and fringed edges. They bloom in early spring. The pods that contain the fruit seeds have a few white strands of hair at each end. They take between five and seven years before they begin to display flowers and seed pods every year. On the other hand, produce blossoms and seed pods during the first two years of maturity. The pods are typically a few centimeters wide and up to 30 centimeters long, with the flat seeds inside. The pods may remain attached over the winter, but the seeds mature in autumn. They display large and distinctive leaves. The foliage is 12 inches long and seven inches wide. The leaves are heart—or oval-shaped. The broad leaves can reach one foot in length. The leaves shed annually turn bright yellow in fall and then black as winter approaches. Afterthe catalpa tree dries out, the wood is solid and highly rot-resistant. It's an excellent wood for furniture and fencing. The fibers that emerge from the fruit are commonly used to make rope. The native tree species has a solid and extensive root system that can prevent soil erosion.

Regular price From $39.99
Regular price Sale price From $39.99
Unit price  per 
Bald Cypress Tree - TN Nursery

Bald Cypress Tree

The Bald Cypress tree has leathery, fern-like foliage that turns a stunning reddish-brown in the fall before dropping; they add a touch of grace to any landscape. They are magnificent deciduous conifers with many pleasing attributes incorporated into landscaping designs. Native to the southeastern United States, these are highly adaptable, making them an excellent choice for various environments. Here are some of the critical reasons why these are a perfect addition to any landscaping project: Why Choose a Bald Cypress Tree The tall Bald Cypress tree is calm and peaceful, making it one of the most popular trees to grow in residential landscapes. With its feathery needle-like leaves and knobby (knees), the Bald Cypress Tree, aka the swamp cypress, looks nothing less than a living sculpture when planted in your yard. Native to southern North America, this tree is commonly found in wet and swampy areas from the Gulf Coast to the Atlantic Coastal Plain. One of the most interesting facts about the swamp cypress tree is that with each season, it changes colors. When you buy a bald cypress tree in spring and summer, you will notice light to dark green leaves with a whitish undercarriage that is soothing to the eye and adds lush greenery to the yard. In the fall, the tree is wrapped around tan, cinnamon, and orangish-red leaves before dropping them to the ground during the same season. Even in the winter, the tree does not stop being the center of attention with its bare branches and rough bark, adding undefined beauty and texture to your garden. Features of Bald Cypress Tree The Bald Cypress Tree features distinctive feathery foliage that turns into a reddish-brown bark when the tree is “bald” during the winter. Ideally, this fast-growing tree can gain one or two feet yearly and grow up to 60 to 70 feet in height. In many cases, the tree can even reach 100 feet in height, depending on the growing conditions. The Bald Cypress Tree Loves Shade The tree thrives remarkably well in partially shaded, entire sunlight areas with poorly drained and wet muck. While other trees refuse to grow in wetland environments, the swampy cypress thrives, making them best for damp and swampy areas. In addition to getting a bald cypress tree for sale from TN Nursery, you can also check out our top 3 best sellers, including Redwood Tree, River Birch Tree, and Swamp Rose Mallow as they also thrive in wet and moist environments.

Regular price From $29.99
Regular price Sale price From $29.99
Unit price  per 
Red Rooster Crepe Myrtle - TN Nursery

Red Rooster Crepe Myrtle

Red Rooster Crepe Myrtle has clusters of rose flowers that provide a burst of shade to the landscape and draw pollinators such as butterflies and bees, promoting a healthy ecosystem. As the seasons change, the plant's foliage transitions from green to shades of orange and rose, adding further visual interest. This Crepe Myrtle is a distinctive, deciduous tree that is often easy to identify thanks to its individualized and captivating aesthetics. While they are available in a variety of flower colors, the crimson blooms stand apart with stunning flair. The tree thrives in areas ranging from the Arizona desert to the coastal Atlantic states from Florida to Massachusetts. Why should you consider planting this tree in your yard? Bring Pollinators In With The Red Rooster Crepe Myrtle It emits fragrant tree sap. This sap, as well as the blooms, draws bees and roughly 30 other insect species to your yard. These beneficial insects act as pollinators for the other plants in your garden. In addition, beautiful birds are drawn to both the tree and the insects that are attracted to it, making the tree a vital part of a healthy ecosystem on your property. While they attract insects, these are generally beneficial insects that feed on other pests. By drawing these useful insects to your yard, you can dramatically and naturally reduce the number of unwanted and harmful bugs that otherwise may thrive in the space.  the High Of The Red Rooster Crepe Myrtle They are trees that generally have multiple trunks that fan outward. While there are different varieties of these trees that grow to different heights, they generally reach 10 to 20 feet tall with wide branch coverage that spans 15 feet. The trees grow up to three feet each year, making them well-suited for bolstering privacy. While the trees look lovely standing in the middle of a yard, many people choose to grow them along a fence line to take advantage of their foliage. The Unique Bark of The Red Rooster Crepe Myrtle Red Crepe Myrtle has smooth bark that is usually pinkish-gray. The green leaves are typically small and oval-shaped, and they turn gorgeous shades of orange and yellow in the fall before falling off for the winter. The petals have a crimped look that makes the flowers look full. The yellow centers stand beautifully apart from the crimson petals.

Regular price From $34.99
Regular price Sale price From $34.99
Unit price  per