There’s nothing better than your own little getaway that you can escape to without leaving your home. Gardens – whether a little one on the balcony or a backyard – can offer that dream, giving your home an outdoor space that can be used as a private space for relaxing or as the perfect spot to host a party.
Plus, maintaining a garden is not only one of the best ways to keep the exterior of your home looking fresh, it might help you mentally too. Pottering around outdoors has been shown to help with depression and, if you’re part of a community garden, can reduce isolation too.
It’s very easy to put off doing up the garden or adding more pots and décor to your balcony – it’s a physical task after all. And it can get expensive if you’re moving garden beds and adding prominent features. But if you’re looking for a way to keep your home’s green oasis looking fresh, there’s a few ways to do it without breaking the bank.
Before jumping in, it’s important to decide what you want out of your garden. Do you want an outdoor area to entertain some guests? Or are you looking for the perfect spot to cultivate your own private veggie patch? Once you know exactly how you want to use your outdoor space, budgeting becomes a breeze, especially with these five handy tips that are both cost and time effective.
1. Add dimension with container gardens and pots
From raised flower beds to container gardens, there’s a lot of ways to change up your outdoor space without completely overhauling your garden. Not only are container gardens perfect for homes without a yard, but it can help to add another dimension to your balcony or backyard by literally raising your plants out of the ground.
Raised, or vertical, gardens are also a good option for folk who love to grow flowers and vegetables but find it difficult to get down low. Bringing the plants higher helps to avoid bending over. While it might also prevent weeds from intruding, pesky birds and even the wind could still bring in unwanted intruder plants and weeds, but having the plants up higher can make it a bit easier to pull out those weeds without the need to get down on your knees.
There are a few options when it comes to creating a container garden – you can upcycle old drums or vessels you already have lying around, or you can drop a bit of cash on new pots and flower containers. You can get relatively affordable vertical planters and garden walls from some nurseries and Amazon. If you’re super handy, you can craft one completely from scratch too.
If you’re not sure which plants to add to your container garden, have a chat to a horticulturist at your local garden centre and they’ll be able to direct you to your best options.
Click here to check out a massive variety of garden containers to help get you started.
2. Find low-maintenance plants like succulents
Gardens can take an awful lot of work – between planting, weeding, watering, fertilising, making sure it gets enough sun, making sure it gets enough shade… There's a lot to keep in mind if you want to maintain the garden of your dreams. However, there are a few plants out there that take very little effort to keep alive.
Most succulents and cacti need very little watering, and sometimes even thrive from being mostly ignored. These plants come in a wide variety of colours, with some cacti that can even spout flowers in the right conditions, and you can even keep costs down by taking clippings from certain succulents and replanting them to grow an entirely new plant to expand your garden.
There are also native plants to consider, and these come with the added benefit that they’ve adapted to the local climate, so you won’t have to do a lot to keep them well tended and cared for.
There are plenty of books and resources available to help select the right plants – click here to check them out.
3. Bring out some outdoor furniture
Adding outdoor furniture to your garden can completely change the functionality of your garden – even a balcony – and you don’t need to spend thousands to do it.
Benches, tables and even enclosed fire pits can turn your outdoor space from a hidden private escape to the perfect entertainment space for your next party. There’s also the option to add furniture that you can pack away when not in use, so you can change the vibe of your garden from ‘party central’ to ‘relaxing getaway’ when you’re not hosting anyone.
And if you’re looking for another spot to work while working from home, your garden or balcony can transform into that extra space. With the right furniture you’ll be able to work right amongst the plants you’ve grown yourself and away from your traditional office setting – it can help you breeze right through the day in a better state of mind. A simple table and chair can easily make this a reality, so long as the weather is also working in your favour or you have covered outdoor space.
The amount of space in your garden is the big limiting factor on what furniture you can fit in, but if you have room for some outdoor furniture, click here to check out a wide range of outdoor furniture.
4. Make use of garden decor and trimming
Create your own little outdoor kingdom by adding little bits and bobs like fairy lights or a cheeky gnome. Garden decor is one of the most simple ways to add some flair into your outdoor space without doing too much work or breaking the bank.
Small statues, water fountains and even outdoor lighting are all designed to withstand the weather and UV, so you don’t have to worry about them getting damaged by the elements. And unlike most plants, you won’t have to regularly water any statues to keep them alive.
Statues come in a wide range of sizes and designs – you can get abstract arty-looking pieces or opt for more traditional things like people or animals. You can even easily swap or dress up these pieces to suit the season, or move them around from time to time to change the look of your garden without spending any more cash. A small corner water feature can be a beautiful oasis too.
Garden lights are generally solar powered, so you don’t have to worry about your electricity bill suddenly skyrocketing if you add any. These lights come in a lot of different styles and shapes, with the option to simply stick some in the ground or hang them from arches or trees. You can also get smart outdoor lights that you can control via an app or a voice command. Even a simple string of fairy lights can transform a space.
Your garden decor also doesn’t have to be extravagant, and if you prefer something more subtle, adding some edging to your garden beds can add a distinct look while also being functional – it gives visitors a clear indication between where they can walk and can also help you to separate parts of your garden like veggie patches from flower beds.
Check out garden decor from trimming, lighting to unique statues by clicking here.
5. Get some new (and the right) garden tools
The right tools can make all the difference when it comes to maintaining a garden. While you won’t directly add these into your garden like the other four options, garden tools are an essential and cost-effective way to keep your garden thriving. Things like edge trimmers, sprinklers and perhaps a pressure washer can help reduce the effort you need to put in to maintain your garden. Even finding the right shovel for you could make a huge difference to how you feel when you tend your garden.
You can often find gardening equipment on a budget, though sometimes dropping a little more money upfront is the best way to reduce costs down the line. And once you have your gardening tools and equipment, you likely won’t have to buy any new ones for a while – these are generally built to last, so long as they’re stored away properly between uses.
Plus, the right garden tools and equipment can also save you a lot of money in the long run. Timers for sprinklers can help reduce your water consumption, especially if you’re prone to forgetting to turn the sprinkler off once your garden’s been sufficiently watered. There’s even smart gadgets that you can control from your phone to switch sprinklers on and off remotely, and they don’t cost an arm and a leg either.
Find the right garden tools to help make gardening a breeze here.
