Enjoy Your Garden on a Budget
Recently, we've been spending more time outside and started looking at ways to transform our garden on a budget. I've never been much of a gardener, I've always found it a bit overwhelming and prefer a minimalist look (probably because it always seemed like hard work!)
When it came to planting flowers and trimming trees, I didn't know where to start, so I just left it at that! We mowed our lawn, stuck some plants in some pots and hoped for the best, most of the plants died over the winter and the lawn looked like someone had combed it!
1. Clean your patio or deck
Remove all furniture, potted plants, and other accessories from your patio and use a broom to sweep away leaves, dirt, and other debris. You may also need to pull any plants or weeds that have grown between the patio layers.
Mix one cup of bleach with one gallon of water in a bucket to create a powerful cleaning solution. If you prefer a more natural method, you can use a mixture of white vinegar and water. Always wear protective gloves when handling bleach. Using the same brush, you can use the cleaning solution to scrub the patio or decking.
2. Spruce up a tired patio or decking by painting it!
We put new layers down 3 years ago and after a few winters it didn't hold up well. I looked at different ways to arrange it and decided to paint a mosaic pattern using Dizzy Duck Designs stencils and cuprinol paint. You don't have to try to stencil your space, a lick of paint can instantly refresh your decking or patio and is a quick way to update your garden on a budget. If you're interested in gardening and landscaping, you can explore gardener jobs in Scotland to put your green thumb to good use.
3. Trim the flower beds and weeds and add some color
If you're looking for small garden ideas, trimming your borders and flower beds is an easy way to spruce up your garden on a budget! Try to pull the weeds up by the roots so they don't grow back.
If you want to prevent weeds or grass from growing in your flowerbeds, go to the edge of the lawn and give it a border with something simple like bricks, sleepers or concrete blocks. Refreshing your flower beds can make a big difference in the overall look of your garden. Trim back any dead or overgrown branches on your plants to encourage new growth. Be careful to follow specific pruning instructions for each type of plant, as some plants do not perform well to pruning at certain times of the year.
4. Add color by painting your fence or shed
Painting your garden shed or fence is a quick and easy way to add impact and color to your garden. Different fence paint colors can make all the difference in making a garden look small or large! It's all a matter of perception.
Investing in lighter colors like lilac, pink and baby blue can give the illusion that your garden is much larger than it actually is. Darker colors will have the opposite effect, making your garden look more compact due to the distinct change in color compared to the grass.
Why not try something new and give your fence a new paint color? There are plenty of affordable options, so you can find the perfect one for your garden. No longer are wardrobes just brown, light brown or any other shade of brown. You can find anything from iris blue to bright pink, making it a great idea for gardening on a budget.
5. Repair and paint pots
Painting or decorating tired plant pots and repairing those that didn't make it through the winter can help transform your garden on a budget. I love terracotta plant pots, but you can paint tired pots bright colors to add interest to the garden. We are trying to get rid of plastic pots in our garden and you can make pots out of many materials including hanging baskets, well boots, pots or pans!
6. Add lights
Last year, adding lights to our garden was a complete revelation and completely changed our outdoor life. It's a quick and easy way to transform your garden on a budget.
It not only looks beautiful at night but also gives a wonderful decorative feel during the day. Adding wicker and glass lanterns, oversized candles, hurricane lanterns and fairy and festoon lights to your seating area or strung around a tree can give your garden an instant lift.
7. Add mirrors or decorative features
Glasses aren't just for the home! If you're looking for a quick and easy way to transform your garden on a budget, these are just the thing. You can get a variety of outdoor mirrors online that you can hang in your garden.
If it's a particularly shady or dark spot in your garden, it helps to let light in around it and make the space feel like a home.
8. Paint your garden furniture
Is your garden furniture looking a little sad after 8 months of heavy winter rain? I know ours definitely was. Just like your fence or shed, there are so many wonderful paint products available these days that you can paint your furniture an array of wonderful colors.
To add color to your garden, paint a small garden planter with a bright pop of pink, or give your bench or dining room a new lease of life by choosing one of the fab colors from Cuprinol, Ronseal and Rust-Oleum. It doesn't have to be expensive garden furniture, it's growing in popularity to use old wooden pallets to make seats and garden tables, and you can paint them to give them a fresh look. Gardening on a budget couldn't be easier!
9. Comfort your seating area
Once you've decorated your garden furniture, adding plenty of soft furnishings like throws and cushions and an outdoor rug to your seating area can turn it into a totally cozy outdoor space! It's become a big trend in recent years, with brands like Wayfair, La Redoute and Maisons du Monde all selling outdoor rugs. There are plenty of garden ideas and products to suit all styles.
10. Divide the garden into zones.
Finally, if you're like me and gardening is a bit overwhelming and don't know where to start, divide your garden into zones and tackle each area one at a time. Start with a sitting area so you can get the most out of your garden and make sure it's where you want to sit (unlike us who spent a lot of money building new decking in a permanently shaded area)!
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