Backyard Landscaping Ideas on a Budget
Maintaining a backyard can be time-consuming, but more importantly, it’s also money-consuming, right? Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be. If you’re ready to invest more time, then you’ll get to spend less money. It’s that simple.
Most people strive to make a backyard where their families can relax and enjoy themselves. For those with an almost unlimited budget, that’s not a problem, but it can be challenging for those working on a tight budget. If you’re in the second group, like most people, then you’ll appreciate these backyard landscaping ideas listed below.
Shop smart
Yeah, we really need to talk about the money first. After all, you’re trying to save it, right? You need to become a smart shopper. Gardening tools are expensive, and buying them in autumn or late summer is much smarter than buying them during spring. Buy your winter coats in May and buy gardening hardware in August.
You might also consider becoming a coupon clipper. If saving money is a priority, check all newspapers for coupons daily and see if there are any discounts offered.
Consider signing up for newsletters from hardware stores, too. Most of the time they’ll not be particularly useful to you, but sometimes a company needs to make price reductions, and you can take advantage of that.
Pick your plants carefully
Not all plants are the same. Some plants are invasive, some are beautiful, some bad-smelling (Dragon Lily, we’re looking at you), and some stay alive just for a week or two.
Don’t pick your flowers just by looking at them. Inform yourself about them and learn how to take care of them. You can spend thousands of dollars on beautiful flowers or you can spend just a hundred, it’s your choice.
Experienced gardeners love talking about plants, and they can be a valuable resource of information. Don’t be afraid to ask; it’s not a shame not knowing something. Here are some durable and low-maintenance plants that you might consider planting in your backyard:
- Lavenders
- Caladium
- Maiden Grass
- Daylily
- Bloody Cranesbill
Add boulders
If you live in an area with lots of rocks, don’t even think about purchasing rocks. Collect the rocks around your house or at the construction sites. Putting expensive rocks in the backyard might seem like a good idea, but it’s not.
Pricey rocks won’t make your backyard look great just because they’re pricey. Stones native to your surroundings will look much more natural in your yard than anything else.
As with everything, don’t overdo it. Don’t put huge rocks and don’t put lots of them. Your backyard should be green.
Fire pit
Having a beautiful outdoor kitchen is marvelous, but it’s completely unnecessary. You don’t want to spend your days in front of a stove, don’t you? Consider building a fire pit and put some chairs around it. During the cold nights, you and your family will be able to sit outdoors and share stories, and that’s much more rewarding than having an outdoor kitchen, right?
You can make a fire pit from the things you already have or from the things you can find at construction sites. Build a fire pit right in the middle of your backyard to prevent any fire-related accidents.
Create shade
There’s nothing quite like sitting in a cool garden and sipping lemonade in the shade. A retractable awning is a good idea if you have money to spare, but if you’re working on a budget, you might consider putting some umbrellas and sails in your backyard. A simple sail can stay out all year long depending on weather conditions, and outdoor fabric gives a sense of luxury and softness.
Shade sails are not expensive, but if you want to get the best price, often check websites of the companies that make them, such as Malibu Shade, and you might find a discount every now and then.
Lighting
String lights are all you need to create a relaxing and serene atmosphere in your backyard. Well, string lights and an extension cord. String lights are inexpensive, and you can find them at most home improvement stores, and they come in different colors, too. If you like experimenting, buy them in bulk and let your imagination do the rest.
Save money wherever you can by using old items. Don’t throw away old kitchen chairs and tables – put them in the backyard. You can also save money by taking advantage of free gardening classes. Those classes will teach you all the necessary skills you need. Learn something new every day, reuse old items, and make your backyard look great!