6 Cheap Garden Ideas Worth the Non-Investment

Cheap garden ideas were a huge trend during the Covid-19 pandemic. With the world closing down and everyone forced inside, our outdoor spaces became the top priority.

Thankfully, you don’t need loads of disposable income to transform your garden. Upcycling items, repurposing old furniture, and using clever landscaping tricks will all spruce up your outdoor space in no time. For any areas where you need a seasoned pro, then check out our gardener costs – they’re more affordable than you think!

So, get ready to pull up your sleeves and sow the seeds of your renovation with our cheap garden ideas on a budget.

Garden ideas on a budget

There is a myriad of ways to turn your garden into an oasis without spending a small fortune. Even if you’re not a dab hand at DIY, learning a few clever tricks is all you need to make an impact.

For example, these gorgeous glass flower jars are perfect for hanging over trellises, under windows or on balconies, and they’re made using existing glassware in your home – be it old coke bottles, jam jars or tins. Simply fill them with water and place your flowers inside. Alternatively, fill with soil and grow a variety of herbs. Use glue to secure ribbon or twine around the lip of each receptacle, and voila! – beautiful garden decor for under £1.

When it comes to choosing your flora, consider planting cheap flowers, shrubs, and trees, all of which offer the benefits of spring without the price tag of a summer holiday. Check out our cost guide to learn how much planting a tree might set you back.

Cheap garden edging ideas

Retire an old tyre (or two) and turn them into unique edging planters. Yes, we’re serious.

As you can see, these tyres have been repurposed and painted with environmentally-friendly paints, which we think look fabulous. Filled with ground soil and wildflowers, they’re now giving back to the environment in their retirement.

If rubber isn’t your thing, then other cheap edging ideas include gravel, grass, rocks, and cinder blocks. Some of our favourite designs include old pallets and scrap wood that are shaved, sanded, and painted. You can even use terracotta pots or glass bottles. Just be sure to mark out the area and keep it uniform for a tidy finish.

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Cheap garden ideas made from pallets

Who says you can’t have a house with a white picket fence?

We adore this design entirely made out of pallets, which have been used to create a miniature feature in this homeowner’s back garden. The pallets are lined up along the periphery and secured together with nails and screws. Painted white and topped with planters, the colourful assortment of flowers contrast nicely against the white.

Three wooden flower beds sit in the centre of the structure, each growing various herbs, while the white gravel covers the remaining ground for a clean finish.

If you build this yourself, the entire look will cost you less than £50. However, if you’d like a more professional finish, don’t hesitate to hire a professional to transform your garden into something guaranteed to stand the test of time.

Cheap flower bed ideas

This gorgeous DIY garden design is a simple yet striking example of how to make a striking yet cheap flowerbed.

These homemade raised flower beds are made from reclaimed wood. Filled with soil to grow an assortment of flowers, herbs and vegetables, they’re not only pretty, they’re practical too.

However, you don’t have to build raised beds to make your flowerbeds stand out. Cutting out areas in your lawn using edging tools, spades and rakes will allow you to plant easy-care flowers like violets and pansies. Then all you need to do is find some bricks or rocks to line along the border of your flowerbed for a clean edge.

Read our how to build a raised bed and the cost of building a raised garden bed guides for more information.

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Garden screening ideas

For those with a balcony or smaller garden, a living wall or garden screen is a great way to grow upwards not outwards and save on precious square footage.

This incredible DIY design uses reclaimed wood and rope to secure various plant boxes onto the wall. Lined with soil and sowed with various types of seeds, it’s the perfect way to grow herbs, which saves you money and helps the environment at the same time.

Other options include recycling old plastic bottles and turning them into eco-friendly planters. Just secure them to a trellis or wireframe using cable ties. Cut a hole in the side that will become the top and poke holes in the opposite side (aka the bottom) for drainage, then fill with soil and seeds.

Check out our garden screening ideas for some extra inspiration.

Garden design ideas on a budget

If building pallet furniture isn’t for you, there are still plenty of things you can do to spruce up your outdoor space.

For example, consider refurbishing your walls and fences by giving them a clean lick of paint. This can extend to plant pots and other household items you no longer use.

Another neat trick is to hang festoon lights, lanterns, solar lights or LEDs throughout your garden, in trees or on your patio. There are plenty of affordable options just waiting to be utilised.

Finally, why not repurpose old furniture items from the charity shop? Alternatively, if you have an old bath or two to spare, they make simple yet stunning planters that require little to no maintenance.