Enhance Your Backyard with Our Budget-Friendly Landscape Ideas

Want to improve your backyard without spending a fortune? You’re covered. Use our 11 DIY landscape ideas to finish this project on a budget.

1. Mulch alternatives

Mulch is expensive and requires time to install. These mulch alternatives can be used to beautify your backyard at a fractional cost.

Low-cost mulch alternatives:

• Grass Clippings: The next time you mow the grass, rake them up and spread them on your flower beds.
• Leaves Shredded leaf mulch is a cheap alternative to traditional mulch that provides nutrients for your plants.
• Pin Needles: The pine needles can be used as a low-maintenance alternative to mulch. They are lightweight and easy for you to spread.
• Compost – Use your compost bin for landscaping. Be careful not to pile it on too thickly, as this can damage your plants by heating them up.
• Newspaper After you have read the Sunday newspaper, let your plants peek. Cover the soil with about five newspaper pages, then water lightly.
• While stone mulch may not be suitable for every plant, if it is used correctly, the cost of weeding and maintaining your garden will decrease. Steve Boehme, of GoodSeed Farm Landscapes says that it is important to select the right place for your stone mulch.

2. Tires Can Be Recycled to Make New Tires

Tires are heavy and difficult to dispose of. Many waste haulers will not accept them. Why not use them in your garden?

Michelle Bull, Lakin Tire says that recycled tires are cheap and easy to locate. She says that you can pick them up for a few bucks at your local recycling facility, but many people will give away their old tires. Here are some budget landscaping ideas that use tires:

How to landscape with recycled tires

• For a rustic, durable patio ottoman, cover with outdoor pillow casings or rope.
• Create decorative planters by stacking and staggering tires.
• Fill one half of the planter with soil, and then attach it to a fence or wall.
• Create a garden pond by using a tire for the base.
• Give your children a place to have fun with a tire climber.

3. Get Vertical with Your Gardening

Vertical gardens are an excellent place to begin if you’re looking to add some color to a small space.

Vertical gardening is simply using vertical space for plants. Vertical gardens are an excellent place to begin if you want small backyard landscaping ideas that don’t cost a lot. They are not only a great way to maximize your limited space but can also be very inexpensive, especially if they’re made from recycled material like old plastic bottles.

DIY Vertical Garden Ideas

• Create a rustic vertical garden on your front porch using a wooden ladder and terracotta pots.
• Use old paint cans to grow herbs vertically. Fill them with soil, and then hang them.
• Repurpose an old picture frame into a vertical garden of succulents.
• Use an old shoe organizer to create a mobile vertical garden.

4. Add a Splash of Color

It only takes a splash or two of color to make your backyard stand out.

You can paint metal and wood chairs to give them a new look or even planters for a modern garden. Reuse leftover paint to save more money on your budget backyard landscaping project.

Add a splash of color with flowers or foliage on your deck, patio, entryway, or in a planter bed.

5. Plant a Functional Gardens

You can save money on groceries by growing vegetables and herbs in your backyard. You can transform your backyard with the help of terracotta pots and the right placement into a beautiful, functional space.

6. Choose Natural Perennial Groundcovers

Tired of weeding your lawn? Choose dense, spreading perennial groundcovers instead of weed killers. These are excellent grass alternatives that can be used in landscaping.

Sickler, of ConsumerSafety.org, says that weed killers are both expensive and dangerous to your health. Sickler says that the harsh chemicals in Roundup are harmful to pets and have been linked with cancer. Sickler says that weed killers can be bad for your health, but they are also expensive. They cost over $20 per container.

These cheap groundcovers are low-maintenance and beautiful.

Natural Perennial Ground Covers at Discount Prices

• Creeping periwinkle $1.07 each
• Walk on-Me Thyme $3.99 per plant
• Moss Phlox – $4.59 per plant
• Violets and Pansies- Seeds range between $0.95 and $2.95
• Early snow Glories are $2.40 each

7. How to Build an Outdoor Fire Pit

S’mores are a great way to get the whole family together. You don’t have to hire a contractor – you can build your campfire station with a quick trip to a home improvement store. You can use rocks left over from other projects to build a fire pit.

Here are some ways you can make your firepit without spending too much:

Fire Pit Ideas for a Budget

• Concrete Retaining Wall Blocks — about $1.25 / block, $50 total.
• Cinder Block Caps – about $1.50 for each block, a total cost of $40
• Concrete Fire Bowl — about $3 per bag of concrete; $56 for the total.
• Fire ring for dirt floor — free if you use natural stones from woods that you own

8. Plant a tree

Planting a tree can be one of the simplest and least expensive ideas for backyard landscaping. You only need a tree, a few tools for digging, and some mulch. You’ll also save more money if you place the trees in the correct places.

9. Use Affordable Lighting

Budget-friendly outdoor string lights can be a great addition to any backyard. They can transform any patio into an inviting summer retreat. White Twinkle Lights are around $6 per strand. For a modern look, you could go for a strand of Clear Globe Lights which is about $9. Globe light strands, while slightly more expensive than twinkle lights and with easily replaceable bulbs, are more durable. Use these ideas to get creative when it comes to your backyard lighting.

Cheap Backyard Lighting Ideas

• Wrap the strands around outdoor columns to create columns.
• Use an eyebolt and an insulated cord to attach lights to a branch.
• Create Texas Lamp Posts with wood posts, whiskey barrel planters, and a bit of concrete.
• Use rope lighting to edge your flowerbeds so that you can still see your blooms at night.
• Wrap your trees with lights to create a glowing, charming backyard oasis.

10. Improve Your Fence

You’re not happy with the way your fence looks. There are many ways to make your fence more visually appealing, whether it is wooden or chain-link. These budget landscaping ideas will help you beautify your fence. This is especially true if your fence encompasses the entire backyard.

How to upgrade your chain link fence

• Paint the wall. You’ll be surprised at how effective a fresh coat of paint can be. Choose a color to match the rest of your home.
• Cover your fence with an awning. Measure the fabric and drape it on your chain-link fence. Be sure that the fabric can withstand all the elements.
• Cover your fence with vines. It may take some time for the vines to cover the entire fence but the end result is worth the wait.

How to upgrade your wooden fence

• Hanging baskets are a great way to add color and beauty to your fence. There are never enough flowers. You only need an “S-hook” and a hanging basket to add color (and beauty!) to your fence.
• Add decorative caps to your fence posts. Replace the cast iron balls on top of fence posts with a pointed cap or a cast iron ball. You can create a whimsical appearance by adding a solar light or a fake bird to the top of one or more posts.
• Use a sprayer to apply a stain or a roll-on stain. The wood won’t look drastically different, but even a small amount can make a big difference!

11. Purchase (or build) low-cost Seating

You’ll want to relax and enjoy your beautiful backyard after you’ve finished beautifying it. You don’t have to rush to the furniture store. You can find used pieces online, or create outdoor seating at home.

Cheap Outdoor Seating Ideas

• For used patio furniture, search Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. Be sure to check the “Free Stuff’ sections frequently and move fast – great items will sell quickly.
• Do not limit your search only to outdoor furniture. You can transform indoor barstools or chairs into patio seating with a waterproof sealant.
• You can’t find anything that you like? Build your own cinderblock and lumber bench.
• Attach a waterproof cushion to the top of a tree stump and you’ll have a perfect place for reading.
• Tires can be used to make a seat that is durable and has storage space for children.
• Use milk crates to create portable seating by adding weatherproof cushions.
• If all else fails, you can drag some old logs to your fire pit as a seating option for a campfire.

This post was written by a professional at 345 Landscaping. 345 Landscaping in Blacksburg, Virginia, turning outdoor areas into breathtaking retreats. With over a decade of experience, 345 Landscaping offers services which include landscaping Floyd VA, and hardscape design, custom pools, retaining walls, patios, 3D designs, and lawn maintenance. Their expert team is committed to excellence, blending innovation and skill to exceed your expectations. Whether it’s creating new spaces or maintaining existing ones, 345 Landscaping ensures your outdoor space reflects your dreams. Let them transform your outdoors into stunning retreats for lasting enjoyment. Trust 345 Landscaping for unparalleled outdoor transformations.