The Absolute Best (and Easiest) Plants to Grow Indoors This Fall

1. Boxwood Hedges

Perfectly sculpted boxwood hedges offer privacy and give a sense of poshness to a garden. However, maintaining them requires frequent pruning, they're prone to pests like boxwood blight, and trimming services can add up quickly. Instead, look for low-maintenance hedges like viburnum, common box, and cherry laurel.

2. Koi Ponds

A serene koi pond with a water feature requires constant upkeep — regular water testing, filtration maintenance, and fish care (including specialized diets, temp control, and vet care!).

3. Rose Gardens

Traditional rose gardens are lovely when maintained properly but they require constant attention. They need proper pruning, fertilizing, pest control, and are prone to disease. Roses are highly susceptible to black spot, powdery mildew, and aphids, making them a pretty demanding plant. I gave up my roses for drought-tolerant plants and olive trees in my California garden.

4. Cobblestone or Brick Pathways

Over time, moss and weeds grow between the stones and brick, creating slippery surfaces and requiring frequent cleaning. Frost heaving and settling can create uneven surfaces here too, which can be costly to repair. Gravel and mulch are low-budget options that can still look great and don't require a lot of upkeep in the garden.

5. Topiaries

Shaping plants into whimsical topiaries is not for the faint of heart — or wallet. These sculpted plants demand expert trimming, precise watering, and protection from harsh weather. Hiring a professional topiarist can be an ongoing and expensive commitment for more elaborate topiaries, like animal shapes and other artistic sculpting.

6. Traditional Fountains

A grand fountain can be the focal point of a traditional backyard, but keeping it in pristine condition requires frequent cleaning, water treatment, and pump maintenance. Algae buildup, clogged filters, and winter freezing can all lead to costly repairs and upkeep.

7. Ornate Ironwork

Iron is prone to rust, meaning you'll need to endure frequent sanding, priming, and repainting to keep them looking polished and pristine, which can get tiresome over time.

8. Massive Lawns

I replaced an uncomfortable, and frankly ugly, rock lawn with a small grass lawn for my kiddo and dog to enjoy and my water bill quadrupled! A sprawling, perfectly green lawn is a major water guzzler. Keeping it lush requires constant mowing, fertilizing, aeration, and irrigation. Consider more mulch and gravel than grass.

9. Gazebos or Pergolas

Maintaining wooden structures like gazebos means regular staining, sealing, and repairs to prevent weather-related wear and tear. If made from natural wood, they’re especially vulnerable to rot, termites, and warping. Look for more weather-resistant protection or plant more shade trees.

10. Plastic Edging

Plastic and gardens don't make an ideal match. Plastic edging may seem like a quick fix, but it's often frustrating to install, prone to shifting over time, and can lead to weed crossover and untidy borders. While affordable upfront, its short lifespan makes it a poor long-term investment. Opt for sustainable alternatives that not only last but also prevent microplastics from contaminating your soil.

1. Layer Your Plants

You can sketch out a plan based on your usable space and how you hope to use it. Place taller trees and shrubs toward the back, medium-sized plants in the middle, and low-growing flowers or ground cover like clover, creeping thyme, or moss to create a full, lush look.

2. Grow Climbing Plants

Cover trellises and fences with climbing plants like jasmine or Bougainvillea, whatever suits your climate, to maximize green space and add visual interest to your front yard.

3. Plant Flowering Shrubs

Plant shrubs like hydrangeas, azaleas, or camellias that provide seasonal changes, like greenery in the cooler months and bursts of color come spring.

4. Choose a Variety of Textures and Colors

You'll want to mix different plant textures to add visual interest and depth to your landscaping. Some of the grasses, ground cover, flowers, and trees I used included White Fountain Grass, Lamb's Ear, Icelandic poppies, Bougainvillea (the peach variety), olive and lemon trees for my Northern California yard. My color palette was focused on the green and citrus color families. Talk to your local gardening store about plants that work best in your area and find ones that you love.

5. Use Evergreen Plants for Structure

Planting evergreens like boxwood or juniper will help you maintain a lush appearance even during colder months while providing a structured framework for seasonal plants.

6. Plant Native and Drought-Resistant Plants

If you live in a drought-prone climate, look for plants that require minimal water and maintenance, such as succulents, lavender, or ornamental grasses.

7. Install Curved Garden Beds

If you have the space for it, design your landscaping with gently curved flower beds instead of straight lines to create a more organic look.

8. Grow Wildflowers

You won't regret converting a section of your yard into a wildflower meadow to attract pollinators and have pretty bouquets at full bloom. My daughter and I wanted to attract ladybugs and butterflies and chose our plants accordingly.

9. Plants Edibles (No, Not That Kind)

Mix herbs, fruit-bearing plants, and veggies into your landscape for a sustainable and functional front yard that feeds your soul and your belly!

10. Plant Shade Trees

Deciduous trees can provide shade, improve air quality, and reduce your home's energy costs by keeping it cooler in the summer.

11. Add Porch Plants

Along the lines of layering your plants, porch plants hung from above, such as ferns, petunias, or ivy, add charm, texture, and a touch of nature to your outdoor space.

12. Create a Focal Point

Design around a statement piece such as a reading nook (in the case of my space), a bird bath, a sculptural tree like a Japanese maple, or for a more traditional look, a flower-filled urn, surrounded by lush plantings to draw the eye and anchor the design.

13. Use Pots to Cover Concrete

Not blessed with a bed full of soil? No problem. Use potted plants to create an inviting, welcoming look to your front yard or steps.

14. Add a Pop of Color

Painting your door a bright color to contrast with all the lush greenery can really make your landscaping pop and your home exterior look strikingly good.

1. Adolescence

In this Netflix show, 13-year-old Jamie Miller is arrested when a girl at his school winds up dead. But the most shocking part for a lot of viewers? Each episode is done in one shot.

Adolescence stars Owen Cooper, Stephen Graham, Ashley Walters, and Erin Doherty.

2. ​The Residence

Coming in at number 2 is The Residence, which is a wacky whodunnit that takes place during a White House state dinner. Viewers are saying it gave them the same thrill as Knives Out, which is a VERY high recommendation in my book.

The Residence stars Uzo Aduba, Randall Park, Giancarlo Esposito, Edwina Findley, Molly Griggs, Jason Lee, Ken Marino, Al Mitchell, Dan Perrault, Bronson Pinchot, Julieth Restrepo, Mel Rodriguez, Susan Kelechi Watson, Isiah Whitlock Jr., and Mary Wiseman.

3. ​Million Dollar Secret

Top Netflix show Million Dollar Secret is a reality competition that brings 12 strangers to a lakeside estate. One of the 12 will receive $1 million upon arrival, and they get to keep it as long as no one discovers who's got the cash.

Million Dollar Secret is hosted by Peter Serafinowicz.

4. ​Harlan Coben's Caught

Harlan Coben's Caught follows Ema Garay, an Argentinian journalist that exposes criminals who get away with their crimes. And her newfound friendship with Leo Mercer gets upended when he becomes the prime suspect in her latest investigation.

Harlan Coben's Caught stars Soledad Villamil, Juan Minujín, and Alberto Ammann.

5. ​Gold & Greed: The Hunt For Fenn's Treasure

This docuseries revolves around a treasure supposedly hidden in the mountains outside of Santa Fe — and the poem that holds the key to their location. And one community of treasure hunters are determined to find the truth.

Gold & Greed: The Hunt For Fenn's Treasure is a top Netflix show right now.

6. ​Survival of the Thickest season 2

Survival of the Thickest season 2 is finally here — and it's already a top Netflix show! Mavis is juggling her life, her styling business, and her new singleness, and she's doing it with the people she loves.

Survival of the Thickest stars Michelle Buteau, Tone Bell, and Christine Horn.

7. ​Chelsea Handler: The Feeling

Chelsea Handler is exploring it all in this Netflix comedy special: unusual encounters, her first adventures in business, and even her own birth.

Chelsea Handler: The Feeling is hosted by Chelsea Handler.

8. ​Temptation Island

Four couples are walking onto an island in this top Netflix show, and a group of singles awaits them. How many couples are going to walk back out? You'll have to watch and see.

The original Temptation Island couples include Alexa and Lino, Shanté and Brion, Tyler and Tayler, and Ashley and Grant.

9. ​Weak Hero

Intelligent Yeon Shi-eun is much more than just a student. And thanks to his mind and his tools, he's able to fight against the violence closing in around him.

Weak Hero stars Park Ji-hoon, Choi Hyun-wook, and Hong Kyung.

10. Running Point

It's not too late to watch this Netflix show, which follows Isla on her journey as the new President of the Los Angeles Waves basketball team. It's funny! It's heartfelt! It's worth a watch!

Running Point stars Kate Hudson, Brenda Song, Drew Tarver, Scott MacArthur, Fabrizio Guido, Toby Sandeman, Chet Hanks, Max Greenfield, Keyla Monterroso Mejia, Roberto Sanchez, Uche Agada, and Dane DiLiegro.