Making your garden look great can cost a lot of money, but it doesn't always. If you're looking to transform your garden on a budget, don't feel restricted as there are plenty of ways to make significant improvements without breaking the bank.
Gardens are ever-changing landscapes, seasonal plantings and design projects that inspire garden trends and new stylistic trends. But sometimes even the smallest job can seem impossible, especially with the increase in production and material costs.
But fear not, just as you can make your home look expensive on a shoestring budget, there are plenty of brilliant inexpensive garden ideas for beautifying outdoor spaces.
Our expert tips and tricks for transforming your garden without buying lots of new plants and expensive landscaping materials.
Whether it's cleaning your garden for free or developing planting plans by propagating from cuttings, here are our top tips for improving your garden on a budget.
1. Make a thorough cleaning and laying
The best place to start renovating any space, indoors or out, is to take the time to make sure it's clean and tidy. Using the same principles as when cleaning the house, remove unnecessary clutter to make the space look smoother and neater.
Cleaning your patio tiles or deep cleaning your deck is a simple yet effective way to start transforming your outdoor space. Mow, water and fertilize your lawn to keep it looking good, especially if grass is the main feature of your garden.
2. Increase coverage with evergreens.
When investing in new plants for your yard, be sure to maximize their impact by investing the majority of your budget in trees. Unlike dead summer flowers, they will continue to grow with your garden throughout the season.
"There are hardy evergreen shrubs that can be purchased small, grow quickly, and can be pruned to any size or shape," says Marlene Lento, landscape designer with more than 25 years of experience and founder of Marlene Lento Design Studio. .
“These include Prunus Lusitanica (Portuguese Laurel), Elaeagnus Compacta and Pittosporums. The repetition of evergreen shrubs of the same type in several areas of the garden creates a harmonious image and serves as a background for perennials and onion bushes all year round.
3. Take cuttings from a reliable source
To change the planting pattern, you may not have enough money to buy a lot of new plants because plants can be very expensive, but in this case cuttings can save the day.
Cuttings are very easy to start and take a while to grow, making them a very affordable way to introduce plants to your space without spending a lot of money on plants.
"My best tip for improving your garden on a budget is to talk to your gardening neighbors," advises horticultural designer Eliza Gray. “Anyone who has been gardening for more than two years will have many 'spare' plants in the form of self-sowing annuals, hardy perennials or plants that just aren't suitable for their garden. The added benefit of being your neighbor's plant is that you know they will thrive in your garden's climate."
“Be warned,” says Eliza, “free-ranging plants are often very hardy and require loving control. Causes in my garden include Crocosmia, Loosetrife and Echinops Ritro - great for bees but a bit dangerous."
4. Close the borders
If you're planting on a budget and want to improve the overall look of your garden, try maximizing coverage to further your efforts by adding foliage to your space.
"This is why vertical frames make up a large part of the viewing area when looking at a garden, especially if it's small," says Marlene.
“Evergreen vines such as Trachelospermum make a sunny wall, while common ivy is unsurpassed for shady areas. The latter are freely and easily propagated by taking cuttings from any ivy and placing them in the soil, where they will grow and grow. or less hardy species, and while they all require pruning, ivy is otherwise low maintenance.
5. Embrace a splash of color
Who needs plants to change the garden in your picture? If you want to make a style statement, check out the latest interior paint trends.
"Instead of painting your fence a dull, solid brown or grey, add brighter colors around the fence or even paint some elements to look like works of art," says paint and interiors expert Sarah Lloyd. Valspar. Paint. "Hot pink or vibrant magenta, named Pantone's color of the year 2023, will look great in the garden."
You can repaint railings and railings or refresh your outdoor metal garden furniture with metallic paint in a vibrant color, such as Valspar Passion Peony.
"It's important to pay attention to the type of paint you use on your exterior," says Sarah. "Ideal for walls or concrete, stone paint stains easily and cracks when exposed to the elements compared to conventional emulsions."
6. Look for less expensive landscaping materials.
Major landscaping can be one of the most expensive things to do when it comes to carpet design, just like choosing the best flooring for your interior is an investment. But there are plenty of ways to transform your land without breaking the bank by getting creative with the materials.
Building walkways with stones or shells is a great way to provide solid protection without the expense of tiles and grout. But it's also a fairly simple job that saves labor costs. You should invest in several layers of landscape fabric to prevent weeds from sprouting because weeding your yard is enough work without worrying about your garden paths.
7. Fill borders and beds with alternative materials
Reduce your plant, soil and fertilizer costs by filling beds and borders with alternative materials. Rocks, shale, gravel, and other natural materials can be purchased inexpensively at your local garden center to provide adequate coverage and beautify your flower beds. You can plant more than you can, safe in the knowledge that your flower beds and borders will always be attractive with decorative stones.
Placing gravel and rocks in the soil is also a great way to prevent weeds from growing and prevent animals from using your beautiful barrier as a litter box.
8. Multiply your harvest with bountiful tubers
When it comes to growing on a budget, bulbs are a smart choice. "Not only do bulbs start the garden year with some much-needed color, but they can be an inexpensive way to add interest if the bulbs you select are suitable for naturalization, meaning they will increase in number each year," says Marlene.
“Some bulbs, such as onions, even provide an attractive second season thanks to their seed heads. Other bulbs that grow every year are crocodilians, snowdrops, daffodils and some types of tulips.
"As for summer and fall flowers, rudbeckia, asters and creeping bluebells, to name a few, will happily multiply," says Marlene. “Although annuals should make up the smallest proportion of plants in your garden, selecting and allowing annuals that like to take care of themselves is another way to get free plants. Try sedge, aquilegia, calendula, foxglove and milkweed. lunar acid, green and yellow.
9. Get creative with potted plants
Enhance your plants by choosing potted plants that can be moved around to fill key areas. When you're barbecuing, you can group the dishes closer to the patio where you'll be eating. You can then move it elsewhere to fill any sparse spaces.
Indoor plants can really light up a room not only with their flowers, but also with the cast iron itself. "Experiment with different pots containing shrubs, herbs and even trees," says Mike Head, an interior designer at Atlas Ceramics, which specializes in floor coverings.
“It will make your outdoor space more welcoming with some color, and it's inexpensive. It is not necessary to take them all outside, a basket hanging in front of the house or several pots with flowers will do.
10. Raise pots and planters
Another easy way to garden on a budget, with your line of sight in mind, is to use vertical space to elevate the entire planting scheme by hanging a few simple planters around the edges of the open space.
From hanging baskets to planters, adding flowers and greenery is a great way to transform your space. The good news is that you don't have to wait for the plants to sprout, as both plants are seasonal annuals, so you can prepare them a day in advance to enjoy right away.
In addition, decorating the windows with colorful plants is also a great way to enjoy the garden from the inside with the view from the outside.
11. Add a floor mat
An effective way to easily transform is to add a rug to your garden. As with home furniture, there will of course be expensive options, but there are also cheaper models that are stylish and fit any budget.
Not only are outdoor rugs great for adding color and pattern to the outdoors, but they're also a fantastic way to cover a patio or deck that needs a refresh. Remember to clean your outdoor rugs to keep them looking their best every time.
12. Combination of raised beds with your own hands
Raised beds and borders are the perfect way to give your garden a more modest look. They also help hold it in place, giving your yard more structure, which is an important tip for small gardens. To save money, look for large scraps of lumber or railroad ties to build a bed in style.
"Tall frames are a great way to add depth and texture," says Mike. "Combining a continuous path from your patio to the rest of your garden with raised borders will bring it all together."
13. Maintain a lush lawn
Most lawns are the centerpiece of any yard, which means that keeping them clean is essential to improving the overall appearance of the space.
Avoiding common lawn care mistakes is important to keeping your lawn healthy. Watering your lawn at the best time of day, aerating your lawn and mowing frequently are simple maintenance tasks that will keep your lawn green and beautiful while brightening up your garden.
