Quick garden makeover
32 easy garden ideas to transform your outdoor space in no time
(Image credit: Future PLC/Lizzie Orme)
Outdoor space is such a precious commodity that we all want to make the most of what we have. Easy garden ideas will simplify your time planning, planting and primping your space so you can enjoy it to the fullest.
Whether you're short on time, money or knowledge, these garden ideas are here to inspire you to create a space you love - whether you have a large lawn or petite patio.
There are plenty of ways to give your garden an instant lift without having to call in the professionals for hard landscaping – which can also help you save on garden landscaping costs. We've brought together our favourite summer buys, quick tips and easy garden ideas that will spruce up your space. We also have lots of easy patio ideas to consider, like moving things around for a fresh take – could the bench or table and chairs be repositioned? Plant plenty of tubs around the seating area with scented blooms and herbs for you to enjoy.
If you have a summerhouse or shed, consider giving it a fresh coat of paint for an instant lift. Fences might need a facelift too, so think about colour blocking to add some modern pizzazz to your garden. Alternatively look at using bamboo or reed screening positioned in front of fences to transform the look – these options are eco-friendly too.
Easy garden ideas
A garden is a huge draw for today's house hunters – with some prepared to spend much extra on a home because of one. Yet the heavenly promise of a gorgeous green paradise can all too easily turn into a hell of unfinished jobs, particularly if you don’t live and breathe trowels and bedding plants.
If that sounds like you, our easy garden ideas may be just what you need.
1. Add in a folding bar
(Image credit: Future PLC /Tim Young)
Outdoor bars are all well and good, but not everyone has the space for an extra room. Instead, create your own little entertaining zone with a clever pull-down bar made from a couple of pallets and lengths of chain.
An outdoor herb planter above keeps them within easy reach for drinks and barbecues.
2. Create seating zones
(Image credit: Future)
'Zoning your garden will make the space feel bigger and gives everyone their own space in nature,' says Chris Bonnett from Gardening Express . 'Dividing the garden up into different areas, with different purposes can make the space feel more organised and is a simple way to make the most of every inch of green space.'
MaNy people think of garden zones being being created from structural additions. While it is true that planters, walls, screens and hedges helps to separate out your areas, so does cleverly positioned seating.
Create various seating areas in one space by making them all feel distinct from one another. For example, a table and chairs for dining, a hanging seat or hammock for chill time, and a casual seating areas delineated with an outdoor rug.
3. Create a living wall
(Image credit: Future)
Brighten up the side of a shed or drab brickwork by fixing a couple of vertical panels.
Paint this a bright colour to make a statement, or allow it to blend in with the rest of the colours in the space. Add sturdy hooks to hang bucket planters and fill them with herbs or trailing plants to create a living wall on a budget.
Plus, you can easily switch these up with the seasons so there's always some good-looking greenery.
4. Build on benches
(Image credit: Future)
Raised beds are having something of a moment - and for good reason. They look great, and are incredibly practical for a number of planting styles. However, you may be missing a trick. Utilise the sides of the beds to add on benches for a built-in seating arrangement. Accessorise with cushions and blankets to complement or contrast with your planting.
5. Create a kids' area
(Image credit: Future PLC /Tim Young)
Sacrifice a section of a raised bed to create an area of deck with a giant blackboard and a covered sandpit for sunny-day play.
Fix a peg rail to the underside of the lid for hanging toys
6.
Utilise an old stepladder(Image credit: Future PLC /David Giles)
Create a vertical planting area by making use of an old stepladder. Lean against a fence and pile high with your potted plants and decorative elements. Keep the wood unfinished for a rustic look, or sand back and paint in a bright shade to make a contemporary statement.
7. Get spring cleaning
(Image credit: Bradstone)
Every garden will benefit from a good tidy up – and it might not take much to take yours from drab to fab. As well as clearing up leaves and rubbish, dig out weeds and any plants that haven’t survived the frost.
Neaten the edge of your lawn for a more manicured look, power-wash grimy walls and give everything a sweep. It may be all your need to transform your plot.
8. Add some colourful plant pots
(Image credit: Future PLC /Joanna Henderson)
A gorgeous garden wouldn’t be complete without some colour and now’s a great time of year to start planning it.
In grassless garden ideas, plant up a range of pots with summer-flowering bulbs – or buy some pre-planted containers – and dot them around the space.
If you can’t wait a month or two for your bright blooms, make sure the pots you choose are cheery and colourful.
9. Decorate and accessorise
(Image credit: Argos)
Make this the year of your new outdoor living room. Water-resistant rugs, comfy furniture, garden art and mirrors help create a stylish area to relax. Add an electric or gas heater to stay snug and you’ll also get more use out of your new space during spring and autumn.
10. Swap your slabs
(Image credit: Bradstone)
Think of your paving as the foundation of your scheme and you’ll realise just how much cracked slabs and missing bits can let down your new look. Replacing your paving can make a huge difference to the whole space, so it’s worth taking the opportunity to redesign the area at the same time.
Bradstone’s website is full of inspiration on the latest garden trends and easy ways to get the look you want.
11. Invest in some 'faux-liage'
(Image credit: Blooming Artificial)
Real plants are great but they can also be high maintenance and dependent on the weather. Instead, try few items of fauxliage – in the form of faux topiary, shrubs and long grass. Not only are they more realistic than ever before, they’re a good way to brighten up your window boxes or front garden ideas all year round.
Imagine a pair of faux boxwood balls either side of a doorway, a blooming bougainvillea on your patio or some luxuriant hanging baskets that never need watering, and you’ll see what we mean.
Try Blooming Artificial for surprisingly realistic options.
12. Grow a wildflower garden
(Image credit: Future PLC)
Add corners of living foliage that won’t require constant upkeep, like a single bed of wildflowers penned in with sleepers or stones to stop them from spreading out of control.
Scatter mixed packets of wildflower seeds for ease. To maintain your wildflower patch, you simply need to mow it back once in a while.
'To encourage perennial flowers and grasses to make good root development, it is important to mow the meadow in the first year after sowing,' advises the RHS website . 'Cut to a height of 5cm (2in) after about six-to-eight weeks of growth, and repeat every two months throughout the first summer.'
13. Create a quiet corner
(Image credit: Future PLC /Lizzie Orme)
Make the focus of your garden on creating a feeling of serenity and wellness. Position a garden bench or furniture set in a secluded corner to allow a space for quiet contemplation, surrounded by a thriving oasis of plants. This example features a pagoda frame, to allow the garden to grow above the seating for a fully immersive experience.
14. Make your own hanging basket
(Image credit: Future PLC /Mark Scott)
It's time to learn how to plant a hanging basket. If you have an old colander at home, you've got the perfect starting point. All you need is a liner, some compost and flowers to plant up and you're done.
A DIY hanging basket is perfect for adding a splash of colour to a small garden that is short on floor space.
15. Take your old storage solutions outdoors
(Image credit: Future PLC /Lizzie Orme)
An old set of shelves are perfect for creating a budget friendly potting table or your own vertical planter. Be sure to weatherproof your furniture so that will last through winter and summer, why not consider giving it a colourful makeover with a pot of garden furniture paint?
16. Make a garden feel bigger with a mirror
(Image credit: Future PLC /David Still)
If there is a dark, gloomy corner, try transforming it with a weatherproof mirror positioned to create a focal point where there previously wasn’t anything to see but cobwebs. In a small, enclosed area garden mirror ideas can also create the illusion of space.
17. Lay artificial grass
(Image credit: Future PLC /Colin Poole)
If you’re itching for a lush green lawn, but don’t have the time to put into keeping it trim and watered, artificial grass is the answer.
No longer a taboo, thanks to some super-realistic designs, you won’t be afraid to tell your neighbours what’s got them so green with envy.
Just make sure to give it a once over with a stiff bristled brush every so often.
18. Encourage other things to grow with companion plants
(Image credit: Future PLC /Jamie Mason)
This handy tip requires a little research before hand. Group plants strategically based on what blooms grow well with others and will help them thrive. For example strong smelling herbs such as thyme grow well next to roses, as the scent deters blackfly.
19. Embrace garden tech
(Image credit: Future)
If you really can’t be relied on to make sure your plants are regularly watered and fed, it might be time to look into a self-watering plant pot. There is plenty of gardening tech out there to make maintaining your plot of land easier. You can even get an automated wheelbarrow these days!
20. Overgrow on purpose
(Image credit: Future PLC /Tim Winter)
This is less an easy gardening tip and official permission to lay your pruning sheers down.
Leave your mint to spill out of its plant pot, and alpine heather to grow unruly. Sometimes nature is best left to it’s own devices.
Give daily pruning a rest, and make your neglect a garden feature. Just make sure you keep plants well fed and pick plants that can handle a little tough love.
21. Plant 'indestructible' succulents
(Image credit: Future PLC /Jamie Mason)
Instead of constantly battling with plants you just can’t seem to keep alive. Consider investing in succulents that can cope without a daily water, and are basically indestructible. But if you fancy something scented, jasmine is surprise plant that can take a lot of battering, but will need a sip of water in dry conditions.
22. Get power washing
(Image credit: Future PLC /Colin Poole)
This is the perfect time to spruce up garden decking or paving by giving it a thorough clean. A pressure washer will do the job with very little effort – and the transformation is so satisfying, you're definitely going to want to Insta the before and after!
23.
Cheer up a tired bench(Image credit: Future PLC /Lizzie Orme)
Look to garden seating ideas to make a quick change in your garden. Try moving a garden bench to a new spot and creating a quiet area for rest and relaxation. Dress it up with plenty of cushions and a seat pad and think about sprucing it up with fresh paint if it's been left untreated for a few years. We love the side table that doubles as a drinks cooler.
(Image credit: Lakeland)
If you're entertaining outside, serve iced coolers from an easy-to-fill, Kilner-style drinks dispenser set on a wooden crate. It's also great to have out when the kids are playing in the garden, filled with squash or water so they can help themselves.
25. Choose seating that swings
(Image credit: Cox & Cox)
With space for not one but two people to relax into, this hanging chair can be enjoyed indoors and outdoors. It makes a relaxed style statement whatever the weather, especially when you add on-trend faux furs and tufted cushions for extra comfort.
Buy now: Double indoor/outdoor hanging chair, £725, Cox & Cox
26. Plant herbs or bulbs in jars and tins
(Image credit: Future PLC /Colin Poole)
Why spend a fortune on planters when you could create a pretty display with recycled jam jars and food tins. Just be careful to sand down any sharp edges for you pot them up. Just remember to place a layer of stones at the base of the jars, and pop holes in the bottom of tins for drainage.
27. Paint the shed
(Image credit: Future)
A pretty potting shed or smart summerhouse can be the focal point of any garden, but a shabby one can really spoil the view. Cheer up an outhouse with a fresh lick of exterior paint – we'd choose a sage green, deep blue or charcoal grey.
28. Tidy up the lawn with hidden edging
(Image credit: Future PLC /Brent Darby)
A neat edge will keep your garden looking tidy. Moulded plastic edging, hidden in the earth keeps grass and weeds away from your beds and brick or stone edging help to frame your lawn – it's available at all good DIY stores and garden centres.
Your friends will wonder how you did it!
Putting a border edging around your lawn keeps invasive plants where they belong and stops soil or mulch from spilling onto the grass.
29. Create a cooking corner
(Image credit: Future PLC /Simon Whitmore)
If you love entertaining an outdoor barbecue area is a must and doesn’t have to be expensive. A built-in brick bbq looks professional and blends into the surroundings well. Bring the feel of the kitchen outside by fixing utensil shelves and spice racks to a wall.
30. Treat fences to a new look
(Image credit: Future PLC /Alun Callender)
Garden fence ideas can be a fantastic opportunity for you to express your creativity. For a contemporary look, paint strips in complementary colours. Not only will you be adding valuable protection, you’ll be making an artistic statement.
31. Throw some shade
(Image credit: Future PLC /Jonathan D Jones)
Make the most of hot summer days and create a shady corner in which to sit and relax.
A simple awning like this one is easy to create – you could recycle on old sail or even sheets.
A parasol in a bright pattern is another great garden shade idea that will add colour to your garden while creating a cool, shaded area for relaxing.
32. Build your own benches
(Image credit: Future PLC /Colin Poole)
If you're really into DIY, why not learn how to make pallet garden furniture to create your own outdoor seating area? You could even make the hinged so that the whole unit doubles as garden storage for tools, or outdoor cushions. Continue the theme by building your own brick fire pit, allowing you to enjoy your garden late into the evening.
How do I build a simple garden?
'My top tip for garden landscaping is to reduce work and long-term maintenance by using ground covering landscape fabrics,' advises Chris Bonnett from Gardening Express. 'It costs a little more, but it keeps the much-needed moisture into the soil over the hotter months.
Cover it with cost effective attractive materials, such as coloured slate or stones in contemporary designs or chipped bark for traditional cottage style gardens. To set out new plantings in the fabric, simply cut holes and plant through it. It is also great to suppress weeds.'
'Another top tip for larger garden owners to consider when keeping landscaping work to a minimum is to select low maintenance, ground covering plants,' continues Chris. 'Rather than dotting plans here and there which leaves them looking lost, plant in blocks to create impact.'
What are the easiest plants to grow in a garden?
Growing fruit and veg from seed is much easier than you might think. Just pop a few seeds into some seed trays or pots filled with compost, leave then in a propagator or greenhouse, and water then regularly. Then in Spring, when there's no more frost, you can plant them in the garden!
Some simple varieties to try are:
1. Chillies and tomatoes
Your seeds can be started off inside in March and April.
Your plants will be ready to go outside in a sheltered, sunny spot from May.
2. Potatoes
Buy seed potatoes – small potato tubers that are certified disease free – rather than use your leftover old potatoes! Start by 'chitting' them in February or March. This means letting then grow shoots by placing them in trays or egg cartons and standing them in a cool, light spot. Once the shoots are a couple of cams long, pop them in a mix of soil, organic matter and fertiliser in a sunny place. Water regularly, and you'll be able to harvest your potatoes in 10-12 weeks.
3. Runner Beans
Sow these straight in the ground outside as soon as the soil warms up. Use canes to support them as they grow.
As you can see, you don't have to splash the cash to get the garden of your dreams.
Amy Cutmore is Editor-in-Chief, Homes Audience, working across the Future Homes portfolio. She works on titles including Ideal Home, Homes & Gardens, Livingetc, Real Homes, Gardeningetc, Top Ten Reviews and Country Life.
And she's a winner of the PPA's Digital Content Leader of the Year. A homes journalist for two decades, she has a strong background in technology and appliances, and has a small portfolio of rental properties, so can offer advice to renters and rentees, alike.
Budget garden ideas – 45 brilliant ways to update your outdoor space
The weather might have got us all in a spin, but that doesn't mean our gardens have to look that way! We've got plenty of great budget garden ideas to give yours a seasonal refresh, ready for hosting family and friends, come rain or shine.
Whether you're looking to make beds beautiful, planters perfect or even seating stunning, follow our top tips to transform your garden space in just a few hours.
Start by checking what needs your attention first. If your garden fencing is in need of repairing or painting, or your garden edging seems overly messy it can impact upon the whole space. Breathing new life into your back garden, or front garden, for that matter, doesn't always require a landscape gardener and huge costs– as these brilliant budget garden ideas prove.
Budget garden ideas
There are plenty of simple updates that can be achieved on a budget, and which make a huge difference to the appearance of your outdoor space. Whether it's a small garden, a patio or a balcony garden, there are plenty of budget garden ideas (or even DIY tricks) to boost your space.
From simple garden lighting to inexpensive outdoor furniture ideas, pretty planting to statement outdoor styling for summer garden parties, there are a multitude of smart ways to make your garden great without breaking the bank.
All it takes is a little planning and a few clever tricks, and you can turn any garden into a tranquil haven, country retreat or al fresco dining area - even on the smallest budget, as these garden ideas show.
1. Use old guttering to plant up strawberries
(Image credit: Future PLC/ /Howard Walker)
Don't just chuck out old plastic guttering once it needs replacing, but use it as a cheap container for growing strawberry plants instead.
Attach the guttering to the wall of your house or garage and arrange in lengths sat on top of each other. Not only will this make an attractive display, it will also save you from having to bend over low flower beds, and makes the plants more accessible to pick once ripe.
2. Make a planter with built-in drainage
(Image credit: Future PLC /Howard Walker)
Another great way save cash on a planter is to use an old metal colander, and attach four lengths of chain to it to make a hanging basket. The beauty of a colander is that it has ready-made drainage holes already built in, so you don't need to worry about your roots becoming water logged. Plant it up with a mixture of flowering plants and trailing plants to make a beautiful display.
3. Bring your inside furniture, out!
(Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles)
Save money and space, by bringing out your indoor chairs and side tables, and setting them up in a sunny spot in the garden. Ok so this isn't ideal if you live in a high-rise flat, but if you can save on doubling up on seating that spends the majority of it's life tucked away in a shed, you're winning right? Think wicker chairs on your balcony, rattan numbers on the patio and cool cane armchairs nestled among the flora.
4. Make vegetable tags from corks
(Image credit: Future PLC/ Tim Young)
Save the corks from bottles of wine enjoyed with friends and upcycle them into vegetable tags. Carefully slice one fifth of the cork off to reveal a flat surface, then use a permanant marker to write each vegetable name on. Use a wooden skewer pushed into the bottom of the cork to give your tag height, then pop into the ground when you're growing your veg to remind you what's what.
5. Make a pallet planter
(Image credit: My Thrifty Life/Cassie Fairy for Mano Mano)
Make a planter which can also double as a privacy screen, using a few old pallets (and a bit of DIY knowledge). A planter is super versatile and can be filled with flowers to add colour to the garden, herbs for those looking to 'grow your own', and if you add some taller plants, it can also act as a privacy screen to zone spaces or divert prying eyes. Check out Mano Mano for the step-by-step guide.
6.
Create a candle centrepiece(Image credit: Future PLC/ Dominic Blackmore)
Use vintage terracotta pots to make a simple patio display. Fill the pots with sand and push in a selection of dinner candles.
Odd numbers feel visually balanced, so use three standard sized candles or seven to nine skinny tapered ones.
Place on the table as a rustic centrepiece or along walkways to cast light and create a relaxed ambience. To repel insects use candle that contain citronella essential to deter pesky mosquitoes.
7. Make a plant marker
(Image credit: Future PLC /Tim Young)
Prettify your pots with slate labels. Never confuse your chives with your chervil again by creating handy labels to pop in your herb pots. Use a white marker pen or piece of chalk (if you want to rub them out) to write the plant names on mini slate tiles.
Bend wire using pliers to make rods with curled hooks to hang them on. Write how often plants need watering on the back of the marker.
8. Beachcomb for garden materials
(Image credit: Future PLC/ Lizzie Orme)
Repurposing is always a winning way to cut down costs when it comes to seeking out garden materials. In this landscaped garden the planting is highlighted by recycled whelk shells, lighting up the ground underneath the Acer tree at the back of the garden. The intention is to make a feature of the hero tree, and to hide the dark soil beneath.
9. Create a free vegetable garden with kitchen scraps
(Image credit: Future PLC/ Tim Young)
If you want to make your garden a bit more about sustainability, but don't really have space (or the funds) to plant a full-scale veggie patch, why not try a neat vegetable trug instead?
Marcus Eyles, Horticultural Director, Dobbies Garden Centres suggests ways to grow vegetables from kitchen scraps! 'Spring onions and celery are two kitchen staples that are easy to regrow from their root base with a couple of inches of stem attached' he explains.
'Slice across the stems, then stand them root down in a shallow glass of water. When new roots appear, plant them out in the garden to grow on.'
'For chillies and sweet peppers, collect their seeds and plant them directly into fresh compost. Then leave them to grow on a warm sunny windowsill, watering regularly.'
10. Preserve planting with 1p coin trick
(Image credit: Future PLC)
Do garden tips get much better than this 1p wonder from celebrity gardener David Domoney ?! Appearing on This Morning he explains, 'I'm often asked 'How do you tell if a plants alive or dead at this time of year if it hasn't come into leaf?'. His response, 'All your need is an expensive bit of equipment' he jests, as he goes on to explain, 'it costs a penny, it is a penny!'
He goes on to demonstrate how you use the 1p coin to scrape away a small patch of the bark on a branch, to determine the health of the plant. If it's brown, it's dead and if it's green or white (depending on the branches) it's still alive and well.
This simple garden hack instantly tells you which plants are alive or dead.
11. Upcycle to make brilliant budget furniture
(Image credit: Cuprinol)
If you're on a budget, buying new garden furniture can sometimes feel so far out of reach. If you are looking for a savvy solution while you save for the dream furniture set try upcycling old wooden pallets. Above is a fine example of how a disused wooden pallet can make a fabulous garden table, thanks to a splash of vibrant colour and simple castor feet it takes on a whole new purpose.
12. Build a budget corner sofa
(Image credit: Future PLC/ Dominic Blackmore)
Making your own furniture is always going to prove more budget-friendly, plus you get exactly what your heart desires. Visit your local DIY retailer and buy some basic sheets of MDF to construct a seat for your corner sofa, fashioning a back with scatter cushions for comfort. Ensuring the base is securely fastened to the walls and well-supported beneath to take the weight when garden gatherings ensue.
To add an extra touch of style, and make it feel less budget, paint the seating area in the latest on-trend colours. Add a coffee table and outdoor lighting to welcome a touch of ambience to the sociable space.
13. Paint the patio
(Image credit: Dobbies)
If you want to make your grassless garden ideas a little bolder, perk up an old patio with a splash of paint and a stylish stencil pattern. A striking floor will enable your furniture and outdoor accessories shine brighter as a result of the backdrop.
The trend became uber popular last summer, as cost-effective garden makeovers reached fever pitch.
14. Carve out a gravel path
(Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole)
Navigate your garden with a path paved with gravel and concrete slabs. This garden path idea is a great budget solution for those who want to do it themselves, rather than having to source a professional to do the job – which would substantially add to the costs.
15. Open a DIY garden bar
(Image credit: Future PLC/ Tim Young)
After a long day of work in the garden, a cheeky G&T may be just the thing you need. Fashion your own DIY garden bar with an upcycled wooden pallet mounted to the wall with a chain to drop down when required. Cheap to make, plus it'll save you a fortune from not spending at the local. Plus you can make your own DIY pallet bar – for as little as £35!
16. Invigorate with a simple splash of colour
(Image credit: Dobbies)
Adding a splash of bright colour behind your existing plants will help to breathe new life into your garden. Painting a feature wall in a bright colour, such as this sunshine yellow, will deliver huge impact without much budget or effort. Be sure to paint with a specialist exterior paint to ensure it's suitable for the space. Choose a coordinating colour palette for pots and garden accessories, to create a cohesive look.
17. Organise garden twine
(Image credit: Future PLC/ Simon Whitmore)
Upcycle unused kitchen funnels to organise your garden twines.
Simply attached the surplus kitchen accessories onto the wall in the shed, using a hook or a picture fastening. Ensure it's secure enough to take the weight of the twine and withstand the pulling motion as the string is dispensed.
18. Use old wine corks to elevate plant pots
(Image credit: Future PLC/ Tim Young)
We've picked this tip up via Love Your Garden’s celebrity gardener David Domoney. On his Instagram David writes, ‘Use wine corks, instead of buying pot feet for containers. By elevating your pot you’re creating a gap between the container and the patio allowing the pot to drain effectively and preventing the soil from getting waterlogged’. Drinking wine to help the garden, it's a win win.
19. Make your own free plant food
(Image credit: Future PLC)
On Gardening Together with Diarmuid Gavin on BBC2, a must-watch for any keen gardener, Diarmud showed fans how to use nettles for a greater good in the garden – by making nettle soup for plants.
'The idea is to make a wonderful plant food. All you do is pop a handful of nettles into a bucket of water (preferably collected rain water) and pop on the lid for 2 weeks.
20. Upturn crates to fashion garden shelving
(Image credit: Future Plc/Spike Powell)
Use old wooden crates imaginatively to create bespoke garden storage. Upturned crates can be stacked to fashion shelving for displaying plants or simply storing pots and accessories – even garden shoes.
To ensure safety we recommend attached the wooden crates securely to the fence behind, where possible. If being used as a freestanding storage unit, say in a shed, simply attached the crates to one another and ensure they are positioned safely – so not to topple over.
21. Transform old shelves into a vertical herb garden
(Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole)
If you have an old set of shelves mount them to a fence and fill with terracotta pots to create your own vertical herb garden.
You can also convert an old pallet or ladder if you don't have any old shelves lying around.
22. Repurpose peg rails
(Image credit: Future PLC/ Jamie Mason)
Repurpose old peg rails into a striking outdoor lighting fixtures. Attach any hooks or peg rails you have lying around the house to a fence or wall to create the perfect spot to hang solar powered lights or tea light holders. This is the perfect tip for adding interest to a small garden.
23. Make a shed multipurpose
(Image credit: Future PLC/ Joanna Henderson)
Create the perfect place to entertain by making a your garden shed a multi-purpose solution. It can house garden furniture in the winter, then open out into a bar for garden parties and alfresco sundowners in the summer months. Hang herbs from the roof to utilise during cocktail hour.
24. Reuse old pans as planters
(Image credit: Future PLC)
Before throwing out old pots and pans, think about whether they could be used as alternative planters instead.
Their hard-wearing shells make them ideal for the outdoors. Simply punch a couple of drainage holes in the bottom before re-potting your plants.
25. Dress the garden with indoor accessories
(Image credit: Future PLC/ Joanna Henderson)
Why double up the expenses of buying beautiful home accessories? Dress your deck with attractive textural accessories that can be easily popped inside should the great British weather do its worst. Doubling up also makes the outdoor an extension of out stylish indoor spaces, a rising trend we're seeing right now for gardens.
26. Paint your house number on plant pots
(Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole)
The ideal front garden idea, painting your house number onto plant pots is a thoroughly charming way to make your house instantly identifiable. It costs next to nothing, especially if you already have a plant pot in mind and a test pot of paint. Get creative and paint the design of your choice – here simple flowers are created with freehand brush daps.
To paint the numbers neatly we recommend using either a wraparound stencil or marking them precisely with masking table.
27. Fashion a plant display using old ladders
(Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole)
Step up your garden features with the help of decorative ladder shelving. These ladder shelves are formed by tying two ladders together at the top. Wooden planks laid across the runs provide the shelves on which to display potted plants, lanterns and decorative accessories. Super easy to make and totally cost effective. A step in the right direction for budget gardens!
28. Power up solar lights for ambience
(Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole)
Fairy lights in the garden help to add ambience. This clever fairy light idea is made using a kitchen staple, the Kilner jar, and a set of solar-powered lights. Powered by all day by the sun these dainty lights will cast a pretty glow over gardens after dark. They are a great solution that doesn't cost a lot at all.
29. Add interest to walls with framed plants
(Image credit: Sandtex)
Simple but hugely effective, this easy make costs just a few pounds but is a smart way to bring colour to a dull wall. It's a great Bank Holiday project – you'll need some frames, chicken wire, paints, and succulents and moss to fill them out.
30. Upcycle an old cabinet into a potting table
(Image credit: Future PLC/ Jamie Mason)
Here, an old freestanding kitchen unit has been transformed into a place to repot plants with a few easy modifications. Start with a lick of paint, and maybe look to changing the worktop – here, a surface with a lip stops soil dropping all over the floor. Add hooks to the side so you can hang trowels and other tools for easy access. Inside, you can stash compost, pots, seeds and more, freeing up space in your shed.
31. Lay a path made from old bricks
(Image credit: Future PLC)
Put that pile of leftover bricks to good use and make a path that mirrors the shape of your flowerbeds.
Lay them long and sideways in a bed of gravel to create a patterned curve.
32. Add instant colour with bedding plants
(Image credit: Future PLC/ Val Corbett)
A tray of Tagetes or Antirrhinum (snapdragons) will add instant colour to your front garden and bloom throughout the summer. Be sure to feed them weekly with tomato food in the summer keep them well watered in the heat – snip off any dead flower heads to keep them looking top notch.
With the right care they should be packed with flowers until early autumn.
33. Perk up a patio with a rug
(Image credit: Weaver Green)
An outdoor rug and some oversize floor cushions laid over faded decking or a grubby patio will instantly lift your outdoor space and ensure an entertaining area just as stylish as your interior. Go for designs that are patterned on both sides, so you can flip them over if they start to discolour in the sun.
34. Impress guests with an outdoor bar
(Image credit: Future PLC/ Simon Whitmore)
Rather than disappear into the house every time another drink is needed set up a bar outside and make cocktail hour an alfresco affair.
You can pick up the materials needed to knock up your own Tiki-style serving area cheaply at your local DIY store. Or you could keep it really simple and upcycle and old wooden bar cart, making sure to treat the wood against the elements. Keeping drinks cool is as simple as filling a bucket with ice.
35. Use plastic bottles as containers
(Image credit: Future PLC/ Amy Cutmore)
It's only when you look closely that you notice this potted display is actually contained in used drinks bottles. We spotted this trick at this year's Chelsea Flower Show, and isn't it genius? Try it yourself by carefully cutting off the top of each bottle, then adding gravel for drainage, followed by soil and the plants of your choice.
36. Hang baskets filled with blooms
(Image credit: Future PLC/ Polly Eltes)
Hanging baskets are easy to make and look stunning. Make sure you use multi-purpose compost and feed regularly with tomato food. For a sunny spot use sun loving Surfinias and Bacopa and for a more shady corner try Lobelia and trailing Fuchsia.
37. Turn your shed into a summerhouse
(Image credit: Future PLC/ Dan Duchars)
If you have a garden shed, but you're not really using it for anything beyond storing a toolbox and housing some cobwebs, don't waste the extra space. You can spruce it up pretty easily and turn it into a bright and airy potting shed (if you're green-fingered) a sunny summerhouse, a neat studio or even a garden playhouse for the kids.
38. Create a bird feeder
(Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles)
It's not always big things that change the feel of a garden – it can simply amount to the sounds you hear. Boost your garden's atmosphere by encouraging birds in with a DIY bird feeder their song will instantly create a more positive feel. Talk about an idea on the 'cheep'!
39. Paint the fence
(Image credit: Future PLC/ David Giles)
Garden fences need more care and attention than we usually care to think about. How come the paint job it needs never lasts as long as we hope it will? So, if you're looking for garden fence ideas, why not treat it a bit differently next time you give it a coat of wood paint.
Use paint specially designed for outdoor use to add new life to your garden as this will help preserve the wood, meaning the colour won’t fade. Instead of your usual shades of golden or ashy brown, consider a fresh, playful colour instead. Create a bold statement with your trellis or shed by using bright oranges for a hot Mediterranean feel.
40. Upcycle drawers to create a unique planter
(Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole)
If you have an old, unused chest of drawers knocking about the house, give it a new lease of life by turning it into a unique colourful garden planter! This four-drawer unit is well-balanced with two staggered tiers of plants, that bring a playful touch to your back garden design.
41. Create an inexpensive awning
(Image credit: Future PLC)
If you have a compact patio garden that's a bit of a sun trap, consider hanging a simple sail-like canopy. It won't take up the valuable space that a parasol would, but still gives you a little bit of safe shade.
You can buy shades like this at B&Q, or get creative and make your own garden shade ideas out of an old sail or sheet.
42. Opt for a one-colour wonder
(Image credit: Future PLC)
Paint everyone in one colour, save buying more than one tin. In a balcony garden, don't overcomplicate things; choose slender planters in a rich, summery colour and match your furniture. A lick of metal paint can update an old iron garden chair quite easily and is a cheap update, too. This beautiful blue has a real Mediterranean feel and, together with the slender lines of the plant pots and the chair, the small garden area feels comfortable rather than cluttered.
43. Repurpose old food tins
(Image credit: Future PLC/ Lizzie Orme)
Turn kitchen waste in garden wonders. For the planters, make drainage holes in the base of each can with a bradawl and a single hole 1.5cm from the top edge. Spray with 2 coats of paint (we used Plasti-kote spray paints) and, once dry, thread wire through the top hole as a hanger.
Fill with plants of your choice.
As lanterns, draw a pattern on the can using a Sharpie pen then punch along the lines with a bradawl. Punch two holes near the top edge at opposite sides for the hanger. Spray with two coats of paint and loop the wire through the top holes as a hanger.
44. Transform a plain wall with a mural
(Image credit: Future PLC/ Simon Whitmore)
Here, and old brick garage has been magically reinvented as a mystical pathway through the woods. And all it took was some tins of paint, applied by an expert wall artist. Commission your own work of art, or have a go yourself if you're really counting the pennies and fancy yourself as the next Banksy.
45. Boost seating with colourful cushions
(Image credit: Future PLC/ Simon Bevan)
Give your old garden sofa a boost by layering it up with new-season accessories for a modern, budget-conscious look.
Keep a feeling of warmth, even in a shady corner with bright cushions and matching planting.
How can I make my backyard beautiful on a low budget?
Try all these ideas to make your backyard beautiful on a low budget. From upcycling to make your own furniture to painting the stone tiles to add some much-needed colour – there are so many ways to make the garden beautiful on a budget. where you can try your hand at DIY to ensure whatever you are updating is cost-effective.
Try dressing the garden with accessories such as outdoor rugs and shower-resistant cushions to instantly make the space feel more premium and well-dressed. All of these things can be a cheap fix to enliven outdoor spaces of all shapes and sizes.
How can I landscape my yard cheaply?
DIY garden landscaping ideas are how you do it cheaply. Put a pile of leftover bricks to good use by fashioning a cheap garden path that mirrors the shape of your flowerbeds. Lay them length and sideways in a bed of gravel to create a patterned curve that looks professionally done, rather than DIY.
Use pots of low maintenance plants to frame patios and pathways, while building raised beds using reclaimed wood to create depth for your border planting will also help save on garden landscaping costs.
Additional words: Holly Walsh
How easy it is to transform a summer cottage: 14 ideas - INMYROOM
Soil and plants, fire and water - everything that gives pleasure in nature requires care. Services of seasonal storage of furniture, services of landscape designers or professional cleaning, of course, are convenient. But if you prefer being active in the country to lying in a hammock, our tips will come in handy.
Plan and divide
Maintaining a dacha requires many things, but there are only two basic rules:
- use only the most practical and easy-to-clean;
- Keep everything in the designated area only.
Vertical landscaping
Herb crates or strawberry stands are a great way to use space efficiently.
Supports for climbing flowers and decorative hedges with hanging planters are easy not only to zone the area, but also to disguise outbuildings with garden equipment, drainpipes or woodpile.
nine0003
For skillful gardeners - arboarchitecture: growing supports and walls from branches and vines, which are given the desired shape.
Lawn roofs provide shade and coolness over a seating area and a woodpile: the roof of an arbor or a detached cellar is decorated in the same style, as it is also an excellent way of thermoregulation.
Create privacy where you need it with living walls. The green rests the eye.
Borders
Dirt and dust on garden paths are out of the question: consider protective borders between paved walkways and lawn, flower beds or beds. There are many options for filling, for every taste. nine0003
Coarse gravel or sea pebbles combined with mosaics.
Sustainable solutions: coniferous wood chips and cones with low wicker fence.
Bamboo stems and old pipes are filled with gravel and hardy plants.
Containers, sides, walls
Pay attention to the width of the passages between the different areas on the site, or even better - break once and for all high beds, with wooden or stone fences.
Then garden tools or a hose, a child or a dog will not harm greenery and flowers. nine0003
Petunias, garden geraniums or succulents can be planted in vertical planters with a mesh frame for plastic or burlap.
Spiral beds are enclosed with masonry or gabions. In the Mexican style, the ground level is uneven and rises towards the center.
Practical organization of space: you can attach a stand or container with gardening tools to the wooden edge.
Lettuce and herbs are placed on the wooden ladder bed. nine0003
Footwear
Rubber boots or slippers are resistant to dew and water, but their grooved soles collect soil that is useless in the house, on the terrace and porch.
We definitely provide for the possibility of cleaning and storing garden shoes outside the living quarters. Both for myself and for guests.
Wire shelves, trays with drainage to collect moisture.
For vertical storage and ventilation: pegs and stands.
Shackle and brushes to remove dirt - easy to do yourself. nine0003
INMYROOM Tip: The fastest way to gently and thoroughly clean stubborn dirt and dust from house facades and garden tiles, fences and pools, furniture and garden tools, roller shutters and awnings, cars and bicycles is to use pressure washers Kärcher families compact.
All models have a powerful and durable water-cooled motor and a built-in fine water filter.
Detergent tube, gun and jet nozzle included: pressure adjustable, dirt blaster included. nine0003
Telescopic aluminum handle for transportation (just like a suitcase on wheels), the ability to work lying down and standing up.
When cleaning large flat surfaces of concrete and stone - floors, walls, decks and walkways - it is best to connect the optional T-Racer attachment.
Hide, Combine, Simplify
The box-shaped stand with door hides the garden hose stand from view, and it's a matter of seconds to get and connect it.
Bicycles and scooters, children's toys, retractable containers will hide in the same box. nine0003
Quickly change the appearance of the flower garden during the season? Make indentations in the soil to take out pots with plants that are already fading and put new ones right away.
Garbage or compost bin is also masked.
It is reasonable to equip a sink and a table for transplanting plants in a greenhouse, store mini-tanks for seedlings right there on the racks.
Refresh your flower bed in minutes.
Check the weather and the calendar
After harvest, the excess is sent to compost bins for fertilization. And the wood that remains after pruning and clearing the garden will go not only to the woodpile. Fruit trees or vines will provide you with the most delicious charcoal for barbecue and wood chips for smoking. And there is also a workshop. nine0025
Wood for business
With your own hands, even with modest carpentry skills, you can make beautiful and useful things: the possibilities for decoration are inexhaustible.
Soft lime or textured walnut for crockery and kitchen utensils. Furniture will come out of acacia, which, moreover, is not afraid of dampness, but more serious experience is already needed here.
Wall panels.
Naive style chess.
Rustic hanger.
Water and sun
Wooden and wrought iron furniture suffers in wet weather: do you clean it up or take it away for autumn and winter?
On tents and umbrellas, rugs, pillows and covers from moisture, even in the warm season, mold and streaks from corrosion form. Dry immediately, store dry.
In areas where there are many hot, dry days, wood and fabrics discolour, so they must be selected taking into account UV exposure.
Waterproof materials and impregnations are important.
An umbrella and an awning will save you both in rain and heat. nine0003
A spare set of textiles is useful.
Count and sort
Storage
What and how much you have in your household - three zones correspond: utility room, basement and cellar.
Ventilation, temperature control, easy access and clear labeling are among the universal requirements for storage locations.
An inventory of everything and everything with a check of condition and expiration date is carried out at the beginning and end of the season: a checklist and a planner will come in handy here. Make sure that pests such as rodents or insects do not gain access to the crop and seeds. nine0025
Store small items for gardening in fanny packs or aprons with suitable pockets so that you do not need to move from place to place. Just make sure that the tools are clean of dirt and their working edges are sharpened.
Preservation in practical stand.
Inventory in the pantry.
Power tools in the garage.
Make the most of every centimeter
Think of walls and even the ceiling by freeing up the floor: stackable items, fold-down worktops, folding and movable tables. nine0003
Hanging string bags for vegetables can be crocheted with coarse twine.
Make floor baskets from jute cord, burlap and fine mesh, placing them on the frame and strengthening the bottom. Better yet, put it on wheels.
Instead of a pile of shovels and rakes, it is better to have a set of interchangeable nozzles with one ergonomic handle. But if you are used to your tools, organize vertical stands for them: clamps and stands made of wood scraps, polyvinyl pipes or even latex foam rubber. nine0003
The inventory rack can be mobile.
Hooks and brackets, suspended ceiling structures will help you to place even bulky things: bicycles, step ladders and folding seasonal furniture.
Slatted pallets and boxes of various depths work well for light fruits, vegetables, root crops.
Be thrifty
Do not accumulate rubbish in the country: everything unnecessary, inoperative or damaged must be disposed of decisively.
If the weather is more than adequate, provide drainage under the roof drain. And when every drop counts because of the heat, do not be lazy to collect water for irrigation and cleaning.
nine0003
Barrels under the rain pipe are different: ceramics, metal, wood, plastic. What is yours?
Drainage system with grating covered with gravel will save the basement of the house from damp blooms and dirty splashes.
Instead of a traditional rain barrel, several bottled drinking water containers can be connected to each other by integrating a tap into one of them. It is possible to deploy a bell made of waterproof fabric over the storage tank during rainfall, increasing the collection area.
INMYROOM Tip: Watering plants from a garden barrel is convenient with the BP 1 BARREL SET from Kärcher .
You don't have to carry the watering can from garden to garden. A submersible pump, an adjustable hose, an inlet filter - and you do not pay extra for tap water, because you use up the accumulated rainwater. The float sensor measures the liquid level and will not allow the device to run idle.
Attach the pump to the rim of the drum with a flexible clamp, select the required head.
nine0003
Easy to move the kit from place to place if necessary.
Add any convenient attachment.
On the cover: design project by Natalia Sorokina
How to inexpensively transform a summer cottage: 7 ideas — INMYROOM
Making a suburban area atmospheric and picturesque is a feasible task even for summer residents with a modest budget. We've put together seven working solutions on how to do it the best way. nine0003
Enhance zoning
A clear, graphic division into zones will add visual order, and the dacha space will look as thoughtful and neat as possible.
The boundaries of recreation areas, gardens, vegetable gardens, children's corners and others can be placed at different heights, divided by low shrubs, reinforced with a border.
Add symmetry
This technique will help make the site more elegant and visually more expensive. Here are two simple ways to bring it to life: place mirrored large flower pots under both sides of the entrance to the house and plant identical shrubs in pairs along the main garden path.
nine0003
Break up permanent beds
Large box beds with successive potting soil components will look more complete than those formed from soil.
We also advise you to plan them symmetrically to each other - then the site will become a bit like an English regular garden.
Design: Green Island Landscape Company
Renovate your garden paths
The most economical options are bulk gravel and crushed stone, and also lined with paving slabs. But before starting work, check the logistics of moving around the site: perhaps it also needs to be improved. nine0003
Tidy up your lawn
A beautiful lawn requires regular maintenance: be prepared to water it twice a week and mow, fertilize and weed regularly, and sow "bald spots" with seeds every spring.
However, these efforts pay off handsomely, because thick, perfectly even grass will improve the appearance of even the most modest area.
Design: SpetsParkDesign
If there was no time for a lawn in the spring, you can resort to an express option: a rolled lawn.
