A beautifully landscaped yard is relaxing and hiring out the entire process can make landscaping a breeze. But sometimes the expense of a professional crew just isn’t in the cards. Read on for our creative, cheap, and inexpensive landscaping ideas to spruce up the front yard and backyard without blowing your budget!
1. Add an Easy Stepping Stone Path
What’s an easy way to add style to your landscaping and lead people through your backyard oasis at the same time? Stepping stones!
There are many options for these backyard and garden paths. Flagstones, sandstones, pavers, and concrete squares from home improvement stores are all common choices. The stones can be set in dirt, sod, or in a bordered area of pea gravel for great drainage.
Any kind of pathway works to give people a place to walk without leaving unsightly high-traffic trails in the grass. But the great thing about stepping stones is that you can save money by doing it yourself. The stones are inexpensive to buy and don’t require much DIY experience to install compared to other hardscape solutions. Talk about cheap landscaping for the win!
2. Plant Perennials for the Long Game
Instead of spending your time and money on annuals, investing in flowering perennials is one of the best ideas for inexpensive landscaping. These types of trees, shrubs, and plants bloom beautifully year after year. This not only makes them enticingly low-maintenance but also means you save money in the long run.
Imagine a front yard that doesn’t require planting new flowers each year, but still delivers on curb appeal. That’s what you get with beautiful perennial landscaping.
3. Use Less Expensive Small Trees and Plants
Small trees and plants are typically far less expensive to purchase than their larger counterparts. Additionally, small trees require less digging to prepare the soil and are easier to transport to the site.
Planting trees requires patience. After all, you’ll have to wait for the tree to mature, of course. But it might surprise you how fast those trees will grow and add value to your property. A little bit of cheap landscaping now can have significant returns in the future.
4. Go for the Height Advantage
Homes with large lots tend to sell at a premium, and even avid gardeners often reduce expense by compromising on lot size. What if you have a small space? Or no yard at all? A vertical garden can be the perfect solution.
Search popular websites like Pinterest to find instructions for everything from DIY succulent walls to trellis herb gardens. It’s amazing how much can be grown in a small space. Some people are even growing little vegetable gardens on their apartment balconies!
5. Add Color for More Impact with Less Material
Gardening isn’t the only way to add color to an outdoor retreat. Patio furniture and other elements for outdoor entertaining can really elevate the look of a space. Unfortunately, they can also really elevate the bill.
However, with a bit of savvy design knowledge, you can create more impact with less material. Choose pops of accent color to create interest and unity in your patio space. You might be surprised to discover that less really is more and inexpensive landscaping and patio furniture doesn’t have to look cheap.
6. Plant Herbs and Edibles
Everyone has to spend money on food, right? Why not save money in the future by investing in vegetables, herbs, and fruit-providing plants? The right plants can add lush foliage to your flower beds as well as healthy, delicious food for your table.
Growing your own food isn’t as challenging as you might think, and a productive plant is a cheap investment. An easy way to start is with a few raised garden beds. Tomatoes and strawberries are always popular choices.
7. Utilize Cheap Ground Covers
To keep things low-maintenance and low cost, choose cheap ground covers like gravel or mulch. Neither is very expensive, and installation simply requires a few hours of time, a shovel, and a sturdy wheelbarrow. Maintenance for these materials is minimal, especially with a layer of landscape fabric.
For ground covering plants, perennials are the top choice again. They come back year after year, and, with a little care, some varieties can be dug up and divided. That’s more plants without spending a dime.
8. Choose Low-Maintenance Plants
Once the initial work is out of the way, it’s nice to be able to sit back and enjoy the greenery without spending all your time tending it. This is another great reason why you should choose low-maintenance plants like hardy perennials.
You’ll not only save a lot of money by not having to rebuy annuals each year, but it also takes less time and effort to tend them, making them excellent for cheap and inexpensive landscaping. Slow growing perennials are also low-maintenance because these types of plants require minimal pruning.
Evergreen shrubs and trees are another option and have the added advantage of looking great year round. Nurseries and big box stores usually have multiple size options, and smaller ones will be budget friendly for those looking for cheap landscaping ideas.
9. Consider Second-Hand Materials
They say that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. There are often great, inexpensive finds at yard sales and thrift shops. But sometimes a great item to repurpose is already gathering dust in the garage. You can save money by refurbishing second-hand materials or unused things that you may already have lying around your house.
For example, check out all the ideas for repurposing an old tire. You can make flower pots, hanging planters, and even an ottoman for your patio. Once covered with material and a cushion, no one will ever know it’s made from a tire.
For stylish outdoor entertaining on the cheap, get second-hand patio furniture. You can spray paint it all to match for an easy (and affordable) way to update your outdoor space!
10. Light It Up
Finally, after you’ve done all this hard work, you want to be able to see your yard, even after dark. Solar lights, string lights, and low voltage outdoor lighting are inexpensive ways to add interest and increase the usable hours of both your backyard and front yard. They also add a touch of ambiance, which makes your space that much more enjoyable!
A fire pit is another DIY project that provides a patio makeover with minimal effort. It’s a favorite backyard landscaping idea because they double as entertaining space and a landscape focal point. The size can also be scaled down for small backyards.
Maybe The Vision is Bigger Than This List?
Sometimes, yards need a tune up, and the average homeowner can use inexpensive DIY tips to tackle the problem. Other times, a yard needs an overhaul- the irrigation system is broken, there are drainage problems, a dangerous tree is present, or perhaps a steep slope makes it impossible to try the ideas above.
Atlanta Turf & Tree is happy to assist, and our landscaping services experts are here to help. We are a Georgia-based company specializing in lawn care and landscaping tailored to the unique opportunities and challenges of the greater Atlanta area. We have over 35 years of combined experience in the industry, and we combine that expertise with a deep appreciation for landscaping as art.
