20 Cheap Landscaping Ideas To Improve Your Yard

Want to upgrade your garden without breaking the bank? We are here for you.

Beautiful landscaping may seem expensive, but an eye-catching garden can also be inexpensive. 

We have compiled a list of 20 cheap landscaping ideas with affordable products and do-it-yourself ways to affordably renovate and update your garden. 

Even if you are new to landscaping, DIY landscaping can be a fun and easy project. These easy landscaping ideas are perfect for anyone who doesn’t want to break the bank or just loves to work on outdoor projects.

Cheap Landscaping Ideas To Improve Your Yard

These 20 inexpensive landscaping ideas will inspire you.

So don’t raid your savings account, grab your sun hat, slip on those gardening boots and start improving the look of your garden.

Add A Walkway

Cobblestones or cobblestones make great, inexpensive sidewalks. They draw attention to the areas of the garden you want to show off and invite your visitors to explore. 

Pathways also prevent people from walking on the grass and give a sense of direction from one part of the garden to another. Trim your stones with soft moss or plants and you have a stylish and affordable walkway. 

Pavers and steps typically range from $1 to $15 each and can be purchased at your local hardware store.

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Save With Perennials

Plant perennials that will return with color each growing season. This saves you money and gardening time by not having to buy and plant new annuals every year.

Examples of perennials include tulips, asters, hostas, lilies, hydrangeas, lavender, and echinacea. While perennials may have a higher initial cost than annuals, perennials save you more greenery in the long run. 

Sprinkle Some Mulch

Mulch is just what you need to make your flower beds stand out. It adds textured ground cover to your flower beds and helps keep out those pesky weeds that keep stealing the show. 

Mulch also helps retain moisture, and organic mulch can return nutrients to the soil to improve plant health. This inexpensive landscaping project will not only help your plants grow but also turn your flowers into a stunning attraction.

You can find free mulch (wood chips, grass clippings, leaves, compost, pine needles, and straw) in your neighborhood. Or you can buy your mulch. 

Mulch for an average-sized yard (500 square feet) costs about $175, with most homeowners spending between $100 and $300. But for a budget-friendly landscaping idea, nothing beats free.

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Plant Flowers Around Your Mailbox

Nobody can miss your driveway if you surround your mailbox with a flower bed or a small trellis with climbing plants such as hydrangeas or roses.

A perennial from a nursery typically costs between $10 and $30. 

Plant a Young Tree 

If you want to take care of your greenery, plant a small young tree and you will see your tree add value to your home when it comes time to sell.

Seedlings, strategically placed, can grow into giant trees that can help reduce home energy bills. Deciduous trees can provide your home with enough shade to reduce air conditioning costs, while evergreen trees can reduce heating bills by blocking cold winter winds. 

Planting a small or medium-sized tree can cost anywhere from $100 to $200, while a large tree can cost thousands.

Elevate Your Garden Bed

A raised garden keeps pesky weeds out, prevents soil compaction, provides excellent drainage, and protects your plants from pests. Raised flower or vegetable beds also add a pleasing aesthetic value to your garden.

A raised bed can be made from many materials, such as wood, cinder blocks, or brick. 

Wheelbarrow Flower Planters 

Turn old barrels, tubs, pianos, or wheelbarrows into an eye-catching, plant-filled focal point. You get an A+ in recycling and you probably have a unique creation in your garden. 

However, don’t turn an old toilet into a flower box. It doesn’t get you the attention you want from friends, family, and neighbors. Since you’re building a flower bed with an item you already have, all you have to do is buy flowers, which can cost anywhere from $10 to $30 per plant.

Landscape with Fairy Lights

Outdoor fairy lights can transform your entire garden into an enchanted space after sunset. 

Hang glowing fairy lights around your backyard dining room and you’ll have both a gorgeous nightscape and a delicious meal. Outdoor fairy lights can range from $15 to $50. Or, head to a dollar store, outlet stores like Big Lots or Ollie’s, or even your grocery store’s seasonal aisle for cheaper prices on outdoor string lights. 

Hang Some Balcony Boxes On The Flower Box

Install flower boxes to add instant charm and color to your front yard while hiding any wear and tear. Planter boxes are simple, and beautiful, and can be a great DIY landscaping project. 

Flower boxes also give you an extraordinary view of your favorite flower from the inside. A flower box is the perfect DIY project if you have lumber, screws, and brackets laying around in the garage. 

Otherwise, an 8-foot piece of lumber can cost anywhere from $5 to $20. Keep in mind that plants typically cost between $10 and $30 apiece. If you prefer to buy a flower box rather than build one, flower boxes range from $15 to $100 depending on style and quality. 

Use Borders To Create Some Order

If you’re looking to design gardens on a budget, sometimes it’s best to upgrade what you already have to save money. 

Consider refreshing your trees, shrubs, and flower beds with some edging. The edging helps hold the mulch in place, prevents erosion, and highlights your landscape. 

Edge materials include stone, concrete, brick, wood, and metal. , logs, and recyclable items. Installing curbs or borders can cost anywhere from $70 to $1,700. But to keep that piggy bank on the shelf, spare stones on your lawn or extra wood from the tool shed can be great materials for edging your flower bed.

Grow an Edible Garden

An edible garden can lower your grocery bill because you eat what you grow instead of buying those fruits and veggies at the store. While maintaining a profitable garden can take time and energy, with a good harvest you will reap the rewards. 

You can buy your garden seeds for as little as $2 a pack. Setup costs vary depending on the size of the garden, whether you choose to install a fence, and whether you choose to build a raised bed. 

Remember that while you may have to pay upfront to set up your garden, it will pay for itself once you grow your fruit. and vegetables.

• Tip: How To Get Rid Of Voles In Your Yard And Garden [2022]

Add Texture With Beach Pebbles

You’ll love your pebble garden when you see how much it can do and how little it costs. Fill in the cracks between the slabs with these pebbles (or gravel) to add a little charm to your stone path.

Put down some furnishing fabric and some pretty pebbles and your rock garden will take on a whole new look. You can also use small pebbles to create a fancy garden path. 

Just remember to grab some rand to hold those bricks in place. Beach pebbles are about $1 per pound.

Showcase Your Landscape With An Outdoor Dining Room

Outdoor dining rooms are the best. After all, you eat with all of your favorite people, and there’s no price to put that into words. So have a great meal, share a few laughs and enjoy the view. 

You can buy  patio furniture sets with a table and chairs for as little as $150-$200

Surround Your Rock Garden

A rock garden, also known as a rock garden or alpine garden, accents various rocks, boulders, and pebbles. Small, large, gray, or brown, your rock garden will highlight many shapes, sizes, and color palettes.

Rock gardens help to diversify your garden and create an attractive contrast to the vegetation. These gardens are drought tolerant and require little maintenance, so you won’t have to spend a lot of money on their maintenance. 

Rockscape projects cost an average of $600 to $700. Homeowners can pay anywhere from $460 to $1,000 to purchase and install rocks, stones, and boulders. But there are plenty of ways to find free rocks for your rock garden without having to write that check.

Large rocks on farms and construction sites are often a nuisance. Consider asking a farmer or builder if they have any rocks they would like to dispose of. 

You might come home with a giant new rock. Your little rock garden is also a great way to collect a few of your favorites.

Cooling Off In An Above-Ground Pool

Men in swimming trunks floating on a swimming pool relaxing in an above-ground pool one will probably use the pool afterward for children to grow up. For a short-term solution that will protect your budget and keep you and the kids happy, consider installing an above-ground pool.

Although you may need the checkbook for this, an above-ground pool won’t cost you as much as an inground pool and is great fun all year round. 

In-ground pools generally cost between $20,000 and $65,000. An above-ground pool is much cheaper, typically ranging from $730 to $4,200 depending on your budget and the quality of the pool you are purchasing. 

Unlike in-ground pools, which can last for decades, with proper maintenance, an above-ground pool can last from seven to 15 years.

Grow With A Vertical Garden

If you’re working on a budget and a small backyard, consider a vertical garden. Pick veggies, save on veggies, and grow a green thumb with this inexpensive landscape design. 

These small gardens help save space and create a fun and creative DIY project. Plants that are great for vertical gardens include hostas, succulents, ferns, bromeliads, onions, garlic, tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. 

The Cost will vary depending on the design of your DIY vertical garden and whether you already have the materials. in your garage or tool shed. You will also need to purchase the plants or seeds for your vertical garden.

A Simple Park Bench

A simple park bench can turn your yard into a space for thoughtful thought and quiet moments. Enjoy afternoon tea with a friend or sit alone and meditate amidst the beauty of your yard.

Don’t forget to decorate your new favorite spot with cushions, planters, or steps. An affordable bench can cost anywhere from $100 to $200.

Light The Way With Outdoor Flashlights

The attractiveness of your lawn doesn’t have to fade when the sun goes down. Install some lamps around the patio and you’ll add charm instantly. 

You can use lamps to illuminate your outdoor areas, around the dining room, or your reading bench. Lamps can also help you find a safe way, such as your front door or your garden, and at the same time give you a feeling of security.

Lamps are usually sold in packages. A pack of six or ten bulbs can range from $20 to $100.

Birdbath

A bird bath can be a beautiful focal point while also inviting nature’s guests into your garden. Enjoy watching the birds flush their feathers and listen to their beautiful songs. 

You don’t have to spend a lot of time installing or maintaining this landscape element to appreciate the beauty it will add to your lawn. An inexpensive bird bath typically costs $30 to $50.

Reuse Old Watering Cans

Before you throw away those old watering cans, save them for your garden. You can make beautiful planters and add an inviting aesthetic to your lawn. 

Fill them with flowers and then place them on your porch steps or in the garden. Your tidy watering cans will look beautiful and you will be glad you managed to recycle them.

Flowers will be your only purchase here, ranging from $10 to $30 per plant. Your old showerhead shouldn’t cost you a penny.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still, need more answers? Explore the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) here.

Final Thoughts

Without proper planning, DIY projects can result in costly mistakes that bring in more money than if you hired a pro. Many landscapers market themselves as cheap and are happy to help you break the bank. 

You may find that working with a professional landscaper takes the stress out of your landscaping project and leaves you with a result you couldn’t achieve.