If you’re looking to revamp your garden and make it an even better space to spend time in when the weather is good and you need a break from the confines of the indoors, you could be forgiven for thinking that you’ll need to spend a fortune on doing so. But that really is not the case. It is perfectly possible to create the garden of your dreams on a modest budget, and here are a few things that will help you with that:
Declutter and de-weed
The first step to transforming your garden is making it presentable, which means getting rid of any weeds that might have sprung up, as well as disposing of any junk you may be keeping there (some of it may be useful in your garden transformation so be sure to read on before you do that). Once you have a blank slate to work with, it’s much easier to envision the dorts of things you could do to make your garden look better, many of which you will find below.
Plant from seed
Planting herbs, flowers and even bushes from seed is a great way to save money. Seed packets cost just pennies and then all you need is a little elbow grease to dig and plant them, Sure, you’ll have to wait a little while, but eventually, they will grow into beautiful aromatic herbaceous borders, pretty flower patches and brilliant privacy bushes that make your garden look amazing on a tight budget.
Shape the lawn
Something that’s really cheap, but which can make your garden look extra expensive is shaping your lawn, by which I mean cutting youtube lawn into a circle, spiral or even the shape of a horse if you feel like it. It will give your garden that great landscaped look without it costing you a fortune. Then, all you need to do is keep on top of the mowing, and your garden will always look great.
If your lawn is a little bald, you’ll want to sprinkle it with seeds and give them a chance to bed in and grow a little before you do this. That way, your lawn will look as luscious as it does interestingly shaped by your very own hands.
Install decking
Okay, so decking isn’t exactly the cheapest of things to install, but nor is it exactly expensive — as a quick look at Armstrong Supplies will show you — especially if you can lay it yourself. Then, once it is down, all it takes is an annual treatment for it to remain looking good for years; which means that it really does add value for money in the garden. If you’re the kind of person who loves low-maintenance and usually uses the garden to entertain friends, then adding a deck will be one of the smartest things you ever do because not only will it cover parts of the garden you’d otherwise have to maintain, but it will also provide a comfy place to put your furniture.
Paint the fence and shed
You’ll be shocked at how much difference painting your fence and the shed can make to the look of your garden. Most of us don’t exactly give our sheds and fences as much TLC as they deserve, which means they can quickly become weather-beaten and a little scruffy looking. By simply applying a fresh lick of paint, they can be completely transformed. This effect can be even better if you use an unusual colour of paint, such as lavender or mint green, instead of the usual browns and greys. So think about the colours you love most, and which go well in the garden, and use them.
Upcycle old pallets
If you don’t have any old pallets of your own hanging around the garden, hit up your local supermarket or greengrocer and ask them if they have any to spare. Why? Because they’re free, and with a little tweaking, they can make an excellent addition to the garden. For example, you can paint them and top with cushions to make a low-cost bench or you can turn them into upright plant stands that show off some of your finest specimens against the wall. Pallets are a budget gardener’s best friend.
Create a vegetable patch
Vegetable patches are great because all they cost you is a bag of compost and a few seeds. Once they start to grow, they’ll fill your garden with greenery, and your belly with goodness. What’s not to love?
Give your old couch some TLC
These days, it’s really easy to find old couches for sale very cheap, or sometimes even free, heck, you might even have one of your own that you don’t know what to do with. So why not take it and transform it into a beautiful outdoor seat? How? Simply buy some pretty floral fabric and reupholster the couch with it. Then, use a waterproofing spray to ensure that it is safe from the elements. If you want, you could even use a few pieces of wood and awesome waterproof fabric to create a canopy to go over the couch and further protect it, as well as giving you and your friends a shady place to sit.
Upcycle containers
From jam jars to paint cans, there are a variety of pots that we use in everyday life that can be cleaned up and redecorated. Why not use some of them as garden plant pots? Simply paint them your favourite shade of lavender or terracotta, add a little compost and plant some pretty flowers or herbs. Place them around the patio or lining the driveway for a colour pop that will cost you almost nothing at all.
Repurpose an old bicycle
If you have an old vintage bicycle lying around, as many of us do, and it has a basket, a really cool way to add a feature to your garden is to stand that bicycle against the wall and fill the basket with flowers. It will give your garden a simple retro touch that everyone will love. You can do the same with old wheelbarrows, wicker baskets and well pretty much anything that has a space for planting, so you can create a feature that’s totally unique to you.
Jet wash the patio
Most hardware shops and garden centres now offer jet wash rentals, which is good news if you are looking to transform your garden on a budget. Simply rent the machine for an hour or so and use it to clean up patio slabs, stone pathways, and anything else that you think could benefit from a good hard blast of water. Do this at least once a year, and your garden will always look well tended to.
Try your hand at topiary
Buying topiary or having a gardener come in and create it can be expensive, but if you are even slightly artistic, you can probably create some interesting shapes out of your hedges yourself. Take it slow, use hand shears instead of an electronic strimmer, and make a drawing of the shape you are looking to create, and chances are it will go better than you expect. Should anything go wrong, well it will grow back soon enough.
Install a water feature
A lot of people think that garden water features are expensive, and although some of them can be, that does not have to be the case. In fact, installing a water feature can be as simple as digging a hole of the right size and shape, and installing a tarp and water pump, which any good DIYer can do themselves in a few hours. Even easier is to use a reclaimed bathtub or sink, which you can submerge in the ground and fill with a pump for a quirky water feature that will certainly get your guests talking.
Solar lanterns
Good gardens require decent lighting so that they can be enjoyed day and night. If you were on a budget, solar lights are ideal because you don’t need to spend any money on electricity for them, and you can buy a string for as little as £10 online. Hang them between trees, fence posts or bushes and they will twinkle away proudly as soon as the sun goes down. Candles and battery-powered fairy lights work similarly well if you prefer.
Macrame hanging baskets
Buy a length of twine and use one of the many YouTube videos to teach yourself how to create your own macrame hanging plant and flower pots. Not only will this be cheaper than buying ready-made hanging baskets, but you’ll learn a new skill, and your finished products will give your garden a cuter more folksy look, which will stand out from the crowd.
As you can see, it is perfectly possible to transform your garden on a budget, you just need to be willing to put the time and effort into doing so, but it will be worth it when you have a garden that not only looks great but which is also the most unique on your street.
