Why work harder than you have to? You will enjoy your garden more if you do not always have to water, spray, fertilize and prune it.

An easier summer is on the horizon, all you need to do is plant a low-maintenance landscape and you will reap the rewards of reduced maintenance for years to come. Low-maintenance landscapes require less care. Not only does this make it easy on you, but it can be better for the environment because of less use of pesticides and fertilizers.

Here are some recommended low-maintenance ornamentals with their preference as to exposure (sun or shade). The list was compiled by Will Corley, University of Georgia Extension horticulturist:

Annuals: annual hibiscus, ageratum, dwarf snapdragon, begonia (sun or shade), gaillardia, gomphrena, impatiens (shade), melampodium, nierembergia, pentas, portulaca, vinca and zinnia (wild species).

Perennials: astilbe (shade), chrysogonum (shade), coreopsis, dianthus, purple coneflower, dwarf joe pye, gaillardia, daylily, hosta (shade), liatris, lythrum, perovskia, physostegia, plumbago, rudbeckia, salvia, sedum, goldenrod, Stokes’ aster and verbena.

Ornamental grasses: annual fountain grass, crimson fountain grass, upland sea oats, dwarf pampas, miscanthus, dwarf fountain grass, purple dwarf fountain grass, muhly grass and switch grass.

Wildflowers: Select special mixes for (1) partial shade, (2) landscape color, (3) southeast region, (4) natives, or (5) specialty uses — wildlife, butterfly, etc.

Keep in mind that less work does not mean no work will be involved. Ground covers are often considered low maintenance, however, they all require some maintenance, such as weeding, pruning or fertilization to look their best.

How and where you plant also helps reduce maintenance. Match the plant with the site. Only grow plants that are adapted to this area. Be very careful in selecting plants. Just because a plant grows quickly is not a reason to buy it. It may die just as quickly.

Some plants are prone to problems. Red tips often get leaf-spot and variegated euonymus is prone to mildew. Silver maples have weak limbs while white pines live for many years and then suddenly die. Each of these plants can be replaced by a more hardy or disease resistant plant, thereby reducing maintenance later on.

Prepare the site before planting. Poor site preparation kills many shrubs and affects the growth of many more. What is the best way to know if you need to make any changes to your soil? Get a soil test! You can do this through the Extension Office, so call or swing by in person if you would like to learn more about how to do this.

Once you know if you need to make any changes to your soil, you can then work the soil thoroughly prior to planting. Install the plants no deeper that they originally grew. Water well after planting even if the soil is already moist. This settles the soil around the roots.

Fall or winter is the best planting time. Planting at this time gives the plant more time to become established before the hot, dry days of summer. Spring is the second best planting time. Unless you want to water constantly, avoid planting in the summer.

One way to design and plant a simple landscape is by not using too many types of plants. Use just a few main types of plants with a few specimen or accent plants added. Do not install too many plants. Many yards are over-planted. Curved beds are attractive but they are harder to mow. Make bed lines straight as possible for an easy-to-mow lawn.

You should also choose shrubs that will grow to the desired height in five to eight years. Do not put a 10- to 15-foot shrub where you only want a 5-foot shrub. You will eventually get tired of pruning.

For example, it is far better to plant dwarf, or semi-dwarf varieties of crape myrtle, which grow to desired mature heights than to continue fighting with a more vigorous, larger cultivars planted in a too-small space.

When planting shrubs, do not crowd them by spacing them too close together. When installing plants near your house, make sure to leave space so the tree doesn’t grow through your window when it gets mature. Contact us for information on spacing.

You can also make your life easier by selecting trees that create very little litter. With trees that do litter badly (like magnolias) leave the lower limbs unpruned to hide the litter that has fallen to the ground. Use as few trees as possible in the lawn. You do not want to mow around them and they will shade out your turfs. Group trees together and put them into beds which will be easier to mow around.

Use mowing strips of wood, brick, etc. to keep grass out of beds and to make mowing easier. Mulch beds and use a non-selective herbicide like Round Up, Finale or others to keep grass and weeds out of beds.

Be very careful to keep herbicides off desirable plants. Never spray if it is windy outside, the drift will end up getting on your landscape plants, too. One way to see where your spay goes is to mix some indicator spray with your herbicide. It will help you see where you’ve already sprayed and alert you if you accidentally hit a desirable plant.

Bottom line, low-maintenance landscapes are easier and cheaper to maintain. At the same time, they add beauty and value to your home.

For more information from the University of Georgia on these or other gardening principles, call your local Liberty County Extension Office at 912-876-2133 in Hinesville.