Budget Friendly Yard Design Ideas

We all hear the word budget and immediately start to panic because we know we have so much we want to do but can’t let our imaginations get too carried away. What if I told you there’s a way to make use of your backyard space and turn it into a beautiful, budget-friendly backyard?

Designing your backyard can be stressful, especially when factoring in the cost, let us take off some of the load by offering you awesome ideas that are cost-effective yet still capable of transforming your backyard!

Our landscaping experts at Shrubhub will provide you with simple backyard ideas that will help you create the perfect backyard for you and most importantly, help you save money!

Low To No Budget DIY Cheap Landscaping Ideas

DIY projects are becoming an increasingly popular way to upgrade our backyard landscaping. Not only do they create fun bond-building activities for you and the family to enjoy but they can also be very low-cost and creative ideas on a budget!

Pro-Tip #1 - DIY Planters

We all know how expensive it can be to buy new pots and planters, especially for bigger plants, so why not skip the hassle altogether and use random things lying around your house to make our planters? Sounds too good to be true, right?

Well, with these tips we can help you make beautiful planters that are just as good, if not better than any store-bought ones, without spending a ridiculous amount of money! The best part about DIY is that a lot of it includes recycling so not only are you saving your money, but you are also giving back to the environment by repurposing materials!

 Coconut Shell Planters

If you want to turn your backyard into a tropical jungle with a very low budget and save our planet, this option is perfect for you! Using coconuts as planters may seem like a rather odd choice, but trust us when we tell you this is the cheapest way to decorate your backyard or front yard!

With coconut shells all you need to do is consume the inside of the coconut and save its outer shell, drill or hammer a few small holes on the bottom carefully for drainage, fill up with soil and add the plant of your choice.

Succulents such as the Zebra cactus, the Sempervivum succulent, the Flower Dust succulent, the Mammillaria Cactus, and the Stonecrop are perfect for this option. You can use them as centerpieces for your patio table or arrange them nicely on a slightly raised surface such as a concrete fence or steps.

If you are an artistic crafty person, you can even go the extra mile and carve into each coconut shell any design you like, with a little time, patience, and talent these can turn out beautifully.

Coconut planters also make for beautiful hanging planters. All you need to do is drill their bottoms for drainage then wrap twine or rope around the coconut shell, you can braid the rope or twine for a more artistic, rustic look, then add your soil and for this option, I always recommend a dangling plant as they look beautiful and make you feel like you are on a tropical island.

For this method, I recommend using the Pothos or the Philodendron as they look gorgeous cascading down the coconut shell. You can hang these planters anywhere in your garden, on a low-hanging tree branch, across your patio, against empty areas on your walls. Coconuts are versatile and make beautiful plants and most importantly they are bio-degradable and eco-friendly, so you will not only save a lot of money using them but you will also give back to our planet!

Vertical Pallet Planters

Make use of vertical space and cover up empty wall spaces with a beautiful and vibrant vertical garden using pallets! Vertical gardens are a great way to make use of empty spaces and give your yard a lusher and more vibrant feel.

You may be wondering why pallets are used for vertical gardens, simple, much like a regular garden, a vertical garden requires a variety of different plants that grow on each panel within the pallet to give the effect of a garden that is growing upwards to vertically!

You can do a lot of things with your pallet, you can paint it bright and vibrant colors that go with your patio furniture, you can leave it as-is for that wooden boho vibe, and you can even decorate it with pebbles or rope.

Once you have decorated your pallet now it’s time to plant it!

You can use a variety of plants for this option, but it's best to stick to drought-tolerant plants such as succulents. The best plants to use with vertical gardening are the Pothos, the Westeria, and the Hydrangea as not only do some of them bloom gorgeous flowers, but they also drape down the wooden panels beautifully.

The next time you walk past your local store check the back for pallets that have been left behind and take them home for a zero-budget gorgeous design option!

Recycled Wooden Box Planters

Wooden boxes or crates can be turned into extremely easy-to-make, low-maintenance planters. All you need to do is use the original pot the plant came with and pop it inside the wooden box to cover the unattractive original planter.

To design your boxes or crates you can get as creative as you like, turn it into a family painting activity, and paint your boxes different colors that match your patio furniture. You can glue shells or pebbles to your boxes to make them even more striking if painting them doesn’t make enough of a statement for you.

You may be lucky enough to find wooden crates or boxes behind your local grocery store, but it’s okay if you don’t, they are sold at a variety of different price points at your nearest stores!

The best trees to plant in your recycled wooden boxes are small to medium-sized trees like olive trees, you can even turn them into flower beds by growing blooming shrubs in them.

Pro-Tip #2 - DIY Outdoor Seating

It's no surprise that including a patio into your backyard landscaping ideas will increase the curb appeal of your house, however, designing a traditional patio may cost too much money.

With this guide, we will provide you with DIY outdoor seating alternatives to add to your patio that is low maintenance and low cost.

Wooden pallets are not only useful for planting but they are also extremely versatile and with the right tools can be turned into breathtaking outdoor furniture! This may sound farfetched, especially for those of us who are more practical, but for this option, you need the artistic side of your brain to take over!

You can turn wooden pallets into a makeshift DIY bench, for pillows, you can staple old sheets to cut out pieces of sponge. You can really push your DIY skills with this project especially when picking out outdoor textiles to go perfectly with your bench.

You can also turn wooden boxes and crates into small outdoor coffee tables or stools. There are plenty of videos you can find online to help you DIY your own pillows and outdoor furniture on a very affordable budget.

If you are planning on designing a new patio and want the total cost to remain within reason, using pea gravel as flooring is the perfect option for you. Not only is it a solid and durable foundation to build on but it can also be very aesthetically pleasing and less time-consuming to install.

Pro-Tip #3 - Add Swings and Hammocks

Swings and Hammocks make an extremely budget-friendly and cozy addition to any backyard. Individual wooden swings are perfect if you are going for a rustic style and look very pretty hanging under a tree especially if their handles are made of rope, they also give a very nostalgic touch to your yard.

The next time you get a flat tire and feel like tossing out the old tire, don’t! Use the tire and DIY your swing, not only will you be repurposing, but you will be upgrading your yard design for virtually nothing with a very useful element that is fun for all!

You can also opt for crochet swings which look extremely elegant and come at a variety of different price points! If you’re brave enough, you can even try to DIY them yourself!

Hammocks are also cost-friendly and can make your backyard feel like a relaxation retreat. All you need to do is find a low-cost hammock and tie it strategically between two trees. For more ideas to help you transform your budget-friendly relaxation retreat, hang string lights to be able to enjoy it day and night!

DIY Your Own Fire Pit

Fire pits can be extremely easy to build yourself in your own backyard. Not only do they make cozy additions to your patio but they will also allow you and your family to enjoy more time in your backyard rather than cooped up indoors!

A backyard fire pit is a great way to make a cozy nook in your backyard, hang outdoor string lights, and add some throw pillows and bean bags and you have the perfect backyard getaway!

All you need is a set of the following building materials, bricks, gravel, and sand. To find out how to build your DIY fire pit just visit Shrubhub.

Average Budget-Friendly Backyard Landscaping Ideas

Just because the budget for your yard is average doesn’t mean your yard has to be average-looking! There are plenty of simple backyard landscaping ideas that will help you transform your yard into a beautiful and vibrant garden that is well suited to your budget!

Here's how to make use of your outdoor space by giving it a budget-friendly backyard makeover!

Pro-Tip #4 – Invest in Hardscaping & Water Features

Add A Small Outdoor Dining Area

Make use of an empty outdoor area by adding a small outdoor dining area to enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner outdoors.

Outdoor dining areas do not necessarily have to be large dining table that seats up to 10 people. An outdoor dining area could range from a small breakfast nook to a glass dining table that seats your whole family. Throw a large patio umbrella and you are all set for a beautiful tea corner.

There are plenty of affordable dining sets at your local furniture stores that you can install in your backyard to make lasting memories with your loved ones!

Add A Patio Swing

Picture a breezy spring morning, the sun is shining, your flowers are budding, and birds are chirping, you walk out onto your patio with a nice warm cup of coffee in hand, you turn to a large patio swing, you take a seat and take a sip of that nice fresh coffee whilst admiring the sunlight. I don’t know about you, but nothing sounds more relaxing to me!

Patio swings are perfect for small backyard landscaping ideas on a budget, not only can you find them at a good price but they can also make a beautiful focal point in your backyard. If you have a front porch, patio swings can make great additions to your front yard design as they are aesthetically pleasing and a great place to enjoy a good book!

Add Rockscaping Features

There is a variety of rock-scaping features you could add to your yard to elevate it. You could create a Zen Garden with a small sculpture and beautiful hand-picked stones, you could make a stone path that leads to each seated area in your yard, or you could even design a firepit using stones and rocks that you and your entire family can enjoy!

There are also cheaper materials you can use to decorate your rock-scaping garden such as stepping stones you gathered yourself for free on a walk by the beach or in your local park!

Natural stone can be used as edging materials for cheap landscaping ideas, you can use it to form a garden path, or surround a flower bed to make it pop!

Add Small Water Features (bird bath, small waterfall, small pond)

Water features can vary from bird baths that attract beautiful local birds to small rocky waterfalls to small ponds which you can fill with brightly colored goldfish. The main benefit of adding water features is for aesthetics, they can be very compelling and can elevate any space in your yard!

Pro-Tip #5 – Carefully pick out the best plants for your yard

When deciding on what you want to plant in your yard you need to be very strategic. Think about where you are located, are you in Southern California, North Carolina, or even Texas, or are you in our colder states, New York, Boston, or Philadelphia?

Depending on where you are in the country, you can pick plants that are best suited to your climate, one way of making sure that you invest in plants that are certain to thrive in your environment is by native gardening.

Native gardening is when you choose to grow plants that are native to your area, meaning they can be found naturally growing there. Do a little research and find out which plants are native to your state and use them to grow a beautiful and vibrant garden in your yard.

It is also important that you invest in trees that provide shade, not only do they offer shade for you and your loved ones to escape on those blindingly sunny days, but they also offer shelter and perfect growing conditions for other types of plants that thrive off more shady areas.

You can also opt for drought-tolerant and drought-resistant plants, these are normally found within the succulent or cacti family and not only make beautiful additions to your garden but will help you cut down on water bill costs.

Pro-Tip #6 – Invest In An Automatic Irrigation System

Investing in an automatic irrigation system is not only a great way to track and cut down your water bill costs but it is also a great way for you to make a minimal effort when taking care of your garden.

Your automatic irrigation system can be programmed to run during certain times of the day, such as, early in the morning or late at night. You can even program to set different schedules for different plants depending on their watering requirements.

This option may be costly at first but in the long run, it saves you time and effort, no more lugging around heavy hoses and watering down your garden and wetting your clothes, and no more stepping in muddy puddles.

All you need to do is angle your sprinkler heads on your plants and sit back and relax!

How Else Can I Make Use Of My Outdoor Space On A Budget?

Our experts at Shrubhub have years of experience in the landscaping business and have transformed the most challenging yards into beautiful havens on even the tightest of budgets!

We are here to guide you every step of your landscaping project and will provide you with all the support you need, all you need to do is sign up for our service and receive our unmatched service!

Once you make Shrubhub your home you will get all the latest posts on how to transform your outdoor spaces! If you sign up now you can get the low-budget yard design of your dreams for just under $300!

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