10 Cheap and Easy Ways to Improve Your Garden

Published: October 25, 2020

Do you want to give your garden a makeover without having to spend a lot of money? Try these affordable upgrade suggestions that will make a big difference to the appearance of your garden. Be creative and tailor these ideas to fit your personality and lifestyle.

1. Pots and containers

Placing different pots with plants around the backyard is one of the easiest ways to bring color, height, and artistic touch to your garden. Small containers can be moved easily until you find a perfect spot for it but be careful with the big ones since they may be hard to move and maneuver. Make sure that the container is big enough for the root system and well-drained.

Terracotta pot with hydrangea and poison ivy in front of a white wall.

2. DIY outdoor furniture

Wooden pallets are very cheap and need just a little stain and sandpaper to make them look good. Stack them in a way that works for your patio and make them cozy with cushions and blankets.

A hand painting a piece of wooden outdoor furniture with white paint.

3. Mulch and pebbles

Adding mulch and pebbles to planting beds will visually enhance planting areas and keep the solid moisture longer while preventing weeds.

Various succulents on top of pebbled ground.

4. Vegetable garden

Instead of just perceiving the garden as a visual aspect of your property, try to make the space as useful as possible. Invest a little time and money in creating your own vegetable raised beds. Growing your own food is amazing for both physical and mental health.

Raised wooden vegetable beds with green plants.

5. Lightning

Since many of us are busy during the daytime it is nice to have an outdoor place that can be used for relaxing in the evening. Place cheap or solar lights around the areas that you will use the most and accentuate certain plants with lights to bring their beauty during the night time.

A strap of tiny lightbulbs and lanterns placed above the outdoor seating area.

6. Repurpose old objects

Find a new purpose for old objects that are just lying around your house, garage, or shed. Old tires, bottles, teapots, and cups can be used as containers. Picture frames, ladders, and shelves with a creative hand can be turned into vertical gardens. Place old sculpture, bicycle, or stumps in a planting bed to accentuate the area and make it unique and personal.

Rustic blue tricycle placed in a lavender garden.

7. Landscape edging

Separating planting areas from grass lowers the maintenance and looks polished. Simple garden designs and straight lines are easier to achieve which also saves the materials and prevents unnecessary mistakes. If you have any old glass bottles, stones, or bricks you may use them as landscape edging.

8. Paving

Hardscaping is often one of the most expensive parts of the garden construction so try to find some alternatives that are good looking but budget-friendly like stone looking concrete and gravel pathways.

Permeable paving path in a garden with perennial flowers.

9. Grow from seed

Buying seeds is way cheaper than buying mature plants. You just need to have patience and time to grow plants. Also, you can buy perennials that can be divided one year after planting such as yarrow, bugleweed, daylily, and lilyturf.

10. Hire a professional landscape designer

At first, this may sound like an unnecessary investment but it will save you a lot of money in the long term. Professionals will plan your garden in a way that it will be easier to maintain and construct. At least consider having a consultation with a professional landscape architect to check if your ideas are the best solution for your garden.

Pebbled entryway surrounded by plants and pink ornamental tree.

Design by Marko Pandurovic