Whether your backyard is light on acreage or vast and full of empty space, enhancing your lawn and garden should be at the top of your to-do list. From defining the landscape with designated areas to seeking symmetry beyond the normal bounds of convention, your backyard is brimming with possibilities. The only problem? Doing it all on your own. On budget. Fortunately, there are many a backyard hack that are easy, effective, and — best of all — reasonably priced.
The Great Xeriscape
If you’re looking to switch up your backyard’s landscaping style without having to break your budget, consider implementing Xeriscaping in your outdoor living space. This eco- and wallet-friendly landscaping focuses on water conservation, utilizing only plants native to the area for an environment that’s both understated and elegant.
Start your xeriscape journey by seeking out native plants that require minimal watering, such as those in the succulent family. By utilizing drought-tolerant plants in your xeriscaped garden, you’ll save big time on water bills and have less stress regarding the health of your lawn when dry season rolls around.
Save on Seating
Being able to entertain guests and spend some personal leisure time is the highlight of having a backyard living area. But just because you’re eager to pull off the sectional covers and ottoman cover so you can get to hosting doesn’t mean you have to spend an arm and a leg on comfortable, practical seating.
Thinking outside the box when it comes to seating solutions can save you some serious money. Forgo purchasing a brand new furniture set at a big box store and instead search out secondhand treasures that will bring both character and comfort to your backyard.
If you’ve got a DIY mindset, there’s plenty of tutorials and inspirations available for building outdoor seating from scratch or repurposing existing materials. Creating your own seating solutions not only saves you money, it allows you to express your creativity, especially when you add in personal touches like custom sectional covers.
Save Money with a Trellis
When you think about cost-saving backyard measures, installing a trellis may not be the first thing that comes to mind. But the fact of the matter is, these garden staples have a few tricks up their sleeve to help you save money in their own unique way.
Much like how roller shades help to keep your home cool and comfortable in the hot months, a strategically placed trellis can provide much needed shade for your backyard-facing windows. Your AC bills will drop with the addition of this cooling element, and your garden will get a lovely aesthetic boost to boot.
Creative Containers
Maintaining a garden is one of the most rewarding backyard activities there is, but without proper planning it can become costly before you know it. Between water bills, tools, and supplies like fertilizer, giving your garden a refresh can add up to more dollar signs than you’re willing to spend. Thankfully, cost saving measures aren’t hard to find.
One of the simplest ways to grow a cost-efficient garden is to utilize reused and recycled items for plant containers. The possibilities are endless when it comes to containers, with creative gardeners using everything from chandeliers to watering cans to house their precious petals.
No matter what kind of upcycled planters you decide to adorn your garden with, make sure that said planters have drainage holes at their base. When watering, a draining hole is needed to prevent moisture from pooling and the resulting root rot. If you’re concerned about the surface underneath getting wet, lay down some heavy duty custom tarps for protection.
Seeing Double
There are plenty of small scale steps you can take to keep your backyard transformation on budget. One of the simplest ways to save money while sprucing up your outdoor space is to utilize the ingenuity and convenience of multipurpose storage.
Instead of splurging on a shed to house all of your outdoor accessories and gardening tools, opt for double functioning options such as storage benches and tables. Innovative pieces like these serve as both lifestyle accessories and covert storage for items such as a pool tarp or extra cushions and pillows.
And you can save even more money in the process by choosing to build your own outdoor storage furniture instead of purchasing a premade set. Emphasizing DIY methods in your backyard renovation will be your most cost-effective habit, and allows you to add personal touches for that extra layer of love.
Paths, Perfected
Garden paths are a quintessential detail found in backyards across the country. They add charm, whimsy, and practicality to any outdoor living space, and are a simple way to give your backyard new life without breaking the bank.
Adding a garden path to your backyard oasis is a relatively simple task that can be completed in the span of a weekend. Plan out your path’s direction before you bring it to life: do you want it to lead to where your pool? Just make sure your tarp is there to keep the pool and everyone else safe. Or should it direct guests to your outdoor seating area, sans accessories like an ottoman cover?
The key to saving money when adding a path to your garden is to take the DIY route. Forgo hiring a pricey landscaping team and take the project into your own hands. Gravel is the most cost-efficient material for a DIY path, and is easy to work with no matter your level of landscaping expertise.
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