Life is busier than ever nowadays, which means we don’t always have enough time to spend making our gardens look perfect. However, with a bit of creative thinking and some innovative garden hacks, you can make little updates to your outdoor space which will make it look refreshed and better put-together.
Make an impact in your outdoor space, without breaking the bank, using our budget garden hacks below.
Make a vertical garden
No matter if your garden’s big or small, a vertical garden will add some colour and interest to it without taking up too much space.
DIY your very own vertical garden in just a few steps:
- Mount a wooden pallet on your garden fence or wall.
- Drill drainage holes into some planks of wood.
- Attach a plank of wood to the bottom of each row to create a trough.
- Line each trough with plant liner.
- Get planting!
Keep some cuttings from any herbs or vegetables that you use in the kitchen and use them to grow your own plants. This is a great DIY project for the whole family to do!
Craft your own garden furniture
Think you’ve got the skills to DIY your own garden furniture? Stack and secure wooden pallets on top of each other to make a rustic-style set of table and chairs. Then, buy cheap seat pads and cushions with washable covers to finish the set off. You can swap these with ones in different colours, patterns and textures as often as you like. It’ll feel like you’ve got a whole new set every time!
Sow a wildflower patch
Your garden doesn’t need to be meticulously planned to look beautiful. A wildflower patch will bring some colour to your space, whilst also transforming it into an insect-friendly garden – which means you’re helping save declining insect populations, such as bees.
Wildflowers are lower maintenance than other plants, as they need less water and fertiliser. Plus, if you live in a city, a wildflower patch will bring a bit of the countryside to your doorstep!
You can often get wildflower seeds for free; at the time of writing (July 2021), the Eden Project Communities and Just Bee Honey are giving packs away.
Upcycle old items
With the minimalist lifestyle becoming more popular, many of us are getting rid of old furniture and other items to reduce clutter. But don’t just throw your things away without a second thought – there’s bound to be something that you can upcycle for your garden! Repurpose an old pair of shoes, a bike or even a piano into useful garden planters.
Add a splash of colour
Sometimes, it’s the simple things that make a big difference. Paint your garden fence or wall in a bright colour to make the space feel more vibrant. On the other hand, painting it in a dark colour will give your plants a contemporary backdrop that they’ll stand out against.
Organise your shed
If you’ve been putting off organising your shed all year, there’s no better time than now to get it in shape. Use shelving, equipment racks, magnetic tool holders and ceiling hooks to bring order to the space.
You could even pop a comfy chair in there if you’ve got enough floor space left, to create a sheltered area for you to sit in (doors open, of course).
