I don’t have much of a garden where I live, which is just as well because I’m not the best of gardeners!
But that doesn’t mean that I don’t want my outdoor space to look pretty. Each year, I try to make what is effectively a concrete yard look the best it can, by sprucing it up – without spending too much money.
There are so many amazingly cheap things you can do to make the best of the outdoor space you have and I find Pinterest and YouTube so helpful when it comes to ideas for gardening on a budget. You can guarantee that someone else has already come up with a great way to do something so these two places are my first port of call for ideas.
Here are a few of my favourite ideas, some of which I’m doing right now and others which I intend to do in the future!
1. Paint old plastic plant containers
I don’t have a lawn, so to ensure I have some colour in my garden, I need containers for plants and flowers. The thing about nice containers is that they can be extremely expensive. I actually bought some marble containers quite a few years ago (on credit!!!) and they cost a fortune! Luckily, we still have them and use them, but I wouldn’t buy expensive pots like this again.
Last year, my parents gave me some old plastic containers, they were very much faded and worn, however they were a great size. This year, I’m painting them to give them a new lease of life! The great thing about spray painting your old containers is that you can create a colour co-ordinated set of planters. Perfect! Here’s a handy video showing you how to do this!
2. Use household objects as planters
You don’t just have to use standard plant pots for your garden. You can use old watering cans, wellies, fruit bowls, cans, cupboard drawers and much more!
3. Get free plants and flowers
Plenty of people have too many plants and will be more than happy to give them away for free or to snip off a few cuttings for you. All you have to do is ask! Check with your friends on Facebook or in Facebook groups, on Gumtree or even ask your neighbours whether they could spare a few plants or flowers for you.
4. Grow from seeds
Growing your own flowers, veggies and fruit from seeds is the cheapest way to develop your garden. Many plants can be grown in containers so you don’t need to worry too much about space. If like me, you’re not sure how to do this, get started by reading this beginner’s guide to growing plants from seeds.
5. Upcycle old bottles and cans
Use old wine bottles with coloured glass to make tea light holders and paint old tins / cans to make beautiful herb containers! Anything that is remotely “container-like” – if that’s a word – can be turned into some kind of planter for your garden, so check your recycling or rubbish carefully before disposing!
6. Add lighting
Speaking of tea lights, lighting is a great way to make your garden seem more intimate and cosy. In the evening, when the sun is setting, any garden can look amazing if you get the lighting right. You can hang tea lights in jars from trees or use outdoor fairy lights which you can pick up quite cheaply.
7. Create some DIY garden furniture
Garden furniture is usually very expensive if you buy new. However, you can pick up wood pallets to make your own garden furniture for free from small businesses if you know where to look. If you don’t know where to look, don’t worry – here’s a list of places to get you started!
From tables and planters to garden swings and patio seating, you can get really creative with wood pallets and make something pretty spectacular for next to no cost. If you’re not a DIY person, ask your friends if they can help!
8. Make a fairy garden
Surely every garden should have one? I’m definitely going to be making one of these for me – I mean my little girl! 😉 Use twigs, leaves and string to make a fairy palace inside a planter or tub. Just knowing it’s out there in your garden even if you can’t see it will make you love your garden that little bit more!
For more ideas on making your garden beautiful on a budget, check out and follow my Pinterest board on this topic, it’s updated regularly!
Follow Hayley @ Disease Called Debt’s board Gorgeous (Budget) Gardens on Pinterest.
*Image courtesy of Flickr.
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14 Comments
We used old plastic bottles and we also painted our old pot to make it new. You don’t need to spend a lot of money just to have an ideal garden, all you need is your creativity.
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A person I work with got her hands on some of the huge wooden spools that they use for cabling. She painted them very colorfully I might add, tipped them on one end and they are little tables to hold pots and such.
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These are some great ideas. There’s a lot of things you can use for the garden that are often just tossed aside in the garage! I recently built a bench from an old headboard. Pretty cool!
There is nothing I love better than a garden with some cute lighting around it. We really should do that to our back porch, now that I think about it. We are trying to sell our house and I think that might spruce up that area and make a buyer go “aw, I would love to sit out there”.
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Great ideas, especially the adorable lighting!
I grew everything from seed this year. It’s fun watching your plants start from nothing, and for those of us who live in places with long, cold winters, it’s a great way to get a start on our gardening while there’s still snow on the ground.
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I love the tea lights in jam jars. I’m actually a sucker for any sort of collection of hanging lights. I love how they look.
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Such great ideas! Spray painting the pots is a great way to spruce them up. My favorite though has to be the fairy lights! I was just thinking I need to buy some lights for my patio when I read this! Can’t wait to figure it out! Thanks!
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Aw, it feels like I have the need to spruce up my garden because I haven’t taken care of it like for months and it needs grooming. Thanks for your tips. I liked the DIY!
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Great ideas! I never thought about painting old plastic planters to make them look better. Will definitely do that for next year (since I’ve already planted this year’s flowers in them).
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Thank you! It does make such a difference and it’s so much cheaper than buying new pots!
I love your ideas, all of them are so creative! I wish I had the time to start renovating our garden immediately. However, when I have the time I will definitely use some of your ideas (the first thing to do will be to place lightnings like yours, I like them very much :))
Great ideas! My sisters will usually take a snipping from succulent plants (elsewhere) to add to their apartment porch plants. Anything that grows and takes root are always great and usually the snipping is free.
Your creativity can save a lot of money which you really spend on making your garden look beautiful. I made beautiful planters using wood and colorful paints and planted the flowers of different shades to create a good blend of colors that can make my garden look attractive.
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Hello, I absolutely agree with the lighting. I was actually very hesitant about taking such drastic step when redesigning my garden, but now I am half way through it as I have already added few lights and it looks wonderful! Also I like the idea of DIY garden furniture. I started doing this with my son and he was very happy. It seems he will be quite the craftsman one day :).
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