Is your backyard more of a wilderness than a wonderland? Whether you’ve just bought a new place or need to give your current backyard a boost, it can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to garden improvements. You could always hire a professional landscape company like TruGreen, or you can do it yourself.
The good news is there are many ways you can bring color and structure to your garden without spending a fortune. With our three beginner-friendly DIY tips, you can make some simple changes that will turn your backyard from bland to beautiful.
Read on to find out how you can spruce up your backyard on a budget.
1. Create An Upcycled Herb Garden
Planting vegetables is a great way to make full use of your backyard. But if you don’t have much space, or you weren’t blessed with green fingers, this can be a frustrating and costly project.
Starting an upcycled herb garden will add interest to your backyard and provide you with free fresh herbs. If you’re worried that your herbs will lure in local animals, you may want to set up your own fence using deerfencing.com.
To start, ask around your neighborhood for some old wooden crates and turn them on their sides. Stack the crates on top of each other, and you now have an upcycled garden shelving unit!
You can buy herb seed packets for a couple of dollars. Plant these up in whatever pots you can find (using the bottom of an old milk carton works fine) and arrange on your shelves.
2. Add A Seating Area
Patio furniture sets can cost thousands of dollars. But you don’t need to pay premium prices to get beautiful results – all you need is an old chair, a few supplies, and some elbow grease.
If you can find existing garden furniture in a thrift store that needs some TLC, that’s ideal. However, you could also use old interior chairs. Then all you’ll need are some tins of waterproof primer and paint. The exact type will depend on the material of your furniture, so ask your local DIY store what they’d recommend.
Looking for an even cheaper option? Once again, wooden crates or pallets are a DIYer’s best friend. Simply upturn your crates, sand them to get rid of any splinters, and paint them with your waterproof paint. Top these with outdoor cushions and hang garden fairy lights on your fence for a comfy seating area that will look great all year.
3. Choose High-Impact Plants
If the thought of tackling your flowerbeds is too much, don’t worry – there’s a much easier way to add color to your backyard. A few well-chosen pots will create impact without creating a lot of extra work.
To start, you’ll need an assortment of different plant pots. Earthenware pots don’t have to be expensive, but if you’re looking for an even cheaper option, plastic pots are a great alternative. In fact, they’re often better for your plants. Earthenware becomes very hot in the sun, which can stop water from draining through your soil.
Next, choose your favorite perennial flowers. Perennials pop up every year, so you won’t need to repotted as often. Some low-maintenance options include:
- Hostas
- Shasta daisies
- Alliums
- Hydrangeas
Make sure your pots are big enough to allow your chosen plants to grow. Then, arrange your pots by your new seating area to create a gorgeous corner for lazy mornings and late nights.
Bottom Line
Want to add style to your backyard on a budget? Put your gloves on and prepare for a lot of work! Once you get started and you apply these three tips as your work, you’ll give your garden a much-needed facelift.