Are you thinking about upgrading your backyard? No matter what type of home improvement project you set out to complete, the first thing that you will have to figure out is the budget. With a landscaping project, many may think that it is going to be an expensive project, but there are a lot of tips and techniques you can use to lower the cost.
In this article, we are going to take a look at some backyard landscaping ideas on a budget. These are just a few options, and truthfully, there are a lot of suggestions on the Ideas 4 Landscaping website you can use in conjunction with our tips and tricks below.
Budget Landscaping Ideas
Finding smart ways to repurpose things and utilize things that seem out of place in a landscaping project. Here are some of the best budget landscaping tips:
Use Mulch Alternatives
By using mulch in your flower beds or planters, you will be saving money. Mulch reduces the chance of weeds and also helps decrease the need for watering. Mulch can be expensive, but there are some alternatives that you can use as a mulch substitute:
- Grass clippings
- Leaves
- Pine needles
- Compost
- Newspaper
- Stone
Repurpose
You can repurpose things like tires into planters and decorations. This is a great way to use something that otherwise would be thrown away and affect the environment negatively. You can use tires that you have laying around or find then at a salvage yard for practically nothing.
You can use wheel burrows, old bikes, or even old luggage. Get creative and repurpose anything you can. This will give a fun and funky vibe in your backyard.
Vertical Gardening
If you are dealing with a small backyard or are working with a tight budget, you may want to garden vertically. Vertical gardening uses walls and vertical areas to add a touch of nature to your backyard. You can use recycled materials like old plastic bottles to build planters inexpensively.
Try using a ladder and wires to build trellises from climbing plants. You can also use paint cans hanging on the wall as planters. There is a lot of budget-friendly optioned you can do to vertical garden.
Add Color
In order to add a little something to your backyard, all you may have to do is add some color. This can be done by painting your planters or even add some to the chairs you have already played around the outside table. You can save money by using those left-over paint from previous projects.
You can also add color with some vivid flowers or plants. You can place them sporadically throughout your backyard.
Useful Plants
You can use your backyard to save money by planting plants and flowers that you can use for other household purposes. Veggies and herbs sometimes offer amazing blooms, and they also can repel bugs. This can be a great way to have your landscaping do double duty for you.
Use Ground Covers
If you want to save money on weed killers, then you could use a perennial groundcover plant instead. Not only are weed killers are expensive, but they are not always environmentally safe. There are a lot of great groundcover plants that are very cost-effective. Try Periwinkle or even Snow glories for some variation.
Fire Pit
You don’t have to go camping to enjoy a nice night telling stories around the fire as you make some delicious smores. One of the best ways to add some personality to your backyard is to build a firepit. There are a lot of budget-friendly materials you can use to build it. You can even use rocks from your backyard to build the pit.

Plant a Tree
One of the cheapest things you can do to spruce up your backyard is to plant a tree. You will need little to no extra tools, and trees can be cheap if you choose the right type. You can also use the tree you choose to help save money. Trying to plant shade trees will help with shade in the summer, which can save you money on AC costs.
Lighting
You can find very inexpensive lighting options to add some character to your backyard. There are cheap string lights that offer a nice ambient light at night. This can make the backyard chill and gives it a modern look. You can go with more expensive lights, but no matter what you choose, you will be using one of the best budget options form your backyard landscaping.
You can use them around doors and pillars. Or even string them through trees to an=dd extra ambiance.
Build Furniture
Once the basic budget backyard landscaping is done, you will want to add some cool and comfortable furniture. This will round out the whole look. You can find beautiful chairs and couches at yard sales or even check online shops.You can use natural things as well, like tree stumps or even wooden crates. You can utilize milk crates or wood logs. There are plenty of budget options for furniture for your backyard.
Final Thoughts
In the end, the best tip we can give you when looking to complete a budget landscaping project is to reuse and recycle whatever you can. You can take a trip to yard sales, thrift stores, and scroll through the free stuff section of craigslist.
You can also be smart about the plants and shrubs you plant by finding a low cost or even plants that serve multiple purposes. Planting herbs and vegetables that will both nourish your body and bring a sweet scent and a beautiful look to your backyard is another excellent choice.
You can manage to craft a beautiful and cool backyard for little to no money, and that is something most never think could even be possible. There are a lot more tips and tricks out there. In fact, if you want more information, you should check out the info at Ideas 4 Landscaping Website.