15 Great Garden Ideas for Your Outdoor Space
You can still achieve great results without breaking the bank...
Looking for some cheap garden ideas? It's easier than you think to give your garden a budget-friendly makeover. We've listed some quick fixes to help you save cash whilst making your outdoor space look fantastic, which in turn will enable you to spend more time enjoying your outdoor sanctuary.
Whether it's painting an old shelf, getting clever with how and what you plant, or re-purposing old items, take a look at how you can save money without scrimping on style. So, are you ready to give your garden a new lease of life? Try these easy garden ideas on a budget, perfect for patio areas or gardens of any size.
1. SHAPE UP
One of the easiest and cheapest ways to transform your garden is to cut the lawn into a clearly defined shape – something like a circle, a square or an oblong. Mark it out with string and use a spade (try this Stainless Digging Spade by Spear & Jackson) to cut away the excess grass. It's not a difficult job and should only take an afternoon.
2. GROW FROM SEED
Without a doubt, the cheapest way to get a thriving garden is to sow seeds. Whether it's flower seeds or vegetable seeds, remember to check the seed packet size, as some contain far more seed than you’d be able to sow in a year in the average garden. You can find seeds at garden centers and online.
3. GET PLANTING
A cost effective way to fill flowerbeds with great looking plants is to buy perennials that you can divide. This may sound like advanced level gardening but really it isn't. It will work with clump forming perennials such as geums, astrantia, and hardy geraniums.
Simply tip the plant out of its pot and pull it apart into two or three bits, each with some stalks and root. Dig a hole and plant each part in your flowerbed. Next year when they've grown and spread, you can dig them up and pull them apart again to gain even more plants.
You'll get a wonderful display in a couple of years for very little cash. Six geranium plants are usually enough to get going in an average sized garden.
4. PAINT EFFECT
You'll be surprised by how much paint can transform an old fence and provide a striking backdrop for greenery and jewel-colored plants.
And the color you should opt for? Black.
"The depth this color gives is magical for garden designers; paint a fence black and it disappears, a shed becomes less of an eyesore and that old bench suddenly becomes a chic focal point," says Chelsea Flower Show garden designer Andrew Duff.
Don't forget, you can give your plant pots a new lease of life by painting them too.
5. USE CONTAINERS
Container gardening is a really easy way to get your garden looking beautiful with blooming flowers, and it's especially ideal for patios and balconies. Remember, containers can restrict root growth, so you need to ensure an even water supply and good drainage, and choose the right compost.
6. RE-USE OLD FURNITURE
Upcycle, upcycle, upcycle! You can give old and tired furniture in your home a new lease of life in the garden. Old sinks and dressing tables can be turned into quirky planters, while pallets can be used as planters, bug hotels, or compost bins.
7. OUTDOOR RUG
As extensions of our homes, our outdoor spaces are becoming 'rooms', and so there's a need to bring that cozy feeling into the garden. An easy way to do this is to invest in outdoor rugs. Inject some personality into your space with a pop of color or bold pattern. Then all you'll need is a bistro set and some outdoor cushions to complete the look.
8. HANGING BASKETS
Want instant color in your garden? A really easy and inexpensive way to do this is to plant some hanging baskets, with plants such as fuchsias, verbena or petunias, or you can even grow vegetables like tomatoes.
9. BRIGHT LIGHTS
Outdoor fairy lights can be bought online all year round and they're a quick, simple, and cheap way to bring a pretty glow to a patio and beyond. You can arrange them through tree or shrub branches, attach them to fences and furniture, or suspend them from canes stuck into the ground. They can be run from a plug inside the house, so you don't need an electrician.
10. ALLOTMENT PATCH
You can embrace the Grow Your Own trend, even in the smallest of spaces. Corner off a section of your garden, prepare the soil, and plant some vegetables. Not only will it be a great addition to your garden, but you’ll have your own supply of tasty vegetables that will save you money in the long run too.
The RHS says chillies remain the number one choice owing to their ease of growing, color, and varieties, with names such as ‘Etna’ and ‘Meek and Mild’. Beans, peas, chickpeas, lentils, soya, and other legumes are also a staple of the vegetable plot, overtaking more traditional choices such as parsnips and calabrese.
11. TREE LOVE
Considering their size and longevity, trees are very inexpensive and just a few will make a difference to the look of a garden. Try small trees like June berry, Amelanchier lamarckii, an ornamental cherry like Prunus × incam 'Okamé', or a crab apple. Three should be plenty for an average-sized garden.
12. FEED BIRDS
Welcome wildlife to your garden by installing a bird feeder, bird bath or bird house. More birds attracted to your outdoor space will also mean more chances of listening to the sound of birds singing, which is great for your wellbeing. In fact, research shows that listening to the sound of birds can help lower stress and fatigue, as well as helping to combat anxiety.
Looking for an even cheaper way? Wash out old tin cans (from soup and baked beans), then paint, fill with bird seed, and hang in the garden for your own homemade bird feeder.
13. DIY POND
Another great way to attract wildlife to your garden is with a pond – and it won't cost much at all. Simply collect pebbles and stones, dig a hole in the garden, protect the bottom with a pond liner and hide it using the pebbles and rocks. Then fill with water to create a pond.
14. REUSE PLASTIC BOTTLES
Plastic water bottles take an average of 1,000 years to biodegrade, so avoid throwing them away altogether and reuse them. They're ideal for the garden as they make great alternative planters. Just cut open one side, fill with compost and plant seedlings, then hang with heavy duty string.
15. GRAVEL PATHS
When it comes to paths and patios, gravel is a much more affordable surface than paving. To lay it in place; mark out the area, then scrape away loose soil or grass, pin down a permeable membrane to stop the weeds coming through and spread the gravel over it. Aim for a depth of 2.5 cm. You can choose a pale gravel, like Honey Stone, to contrast with your lawn and planting. A large bag will cover around 20 square meters.
*This article appeared on HouseBeautiful.com on May 14, 2020 and was produced BY THE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL TEAM.