5 Smart Money-Saving Landscaping Ideas
Get your gardening fix without breaking the bank.

For all the beauty a home garden can bring, it takes a lot of time, patience and often money to create the lush landscape of your dreams. A few gallon pots, potting soil and a few spring bulbs to tuck into the front yard can quickly add up. For beginners, the initial investment can be discouraging. An unexpected, early freeze can wipe plants out overnight and catch even advanced gardeners off guard – better luck next season!

Rustic White Photography
And while accidents will always happen, you still don’t have to spend a small fortune to green up your outdoor space. We rounded up our favorite budget-friendly landscaping ideas to help put some of that green back in your pocket.
Buy Seed Packets

One of the easiest ways to save is by buying seeds instead of potted plants. Starting from seed can be intimidating for new gardeners, but I dare you to take the challenge. It’s extremely rewarding to see your first flower or eat a salad with lettuce you grew from seeds. Start with something easy like radishes or lettuces and build from there.
Turn Anything Into a Container Garden

I love looking at those gorgeous, glazed stone pots. The price tag? Not so much. Being creative with containers will allow you to put more money toward flowers and plants. Hit the thrift store to find old wine crates, salvaged wood and other items to make planters. My first “raised bed” was a large wine crate lined with scrap fabric, and my family grows tomatoes in 5-gallon buckets from the hardware store. The key is to always create drainage holes in your chosen vessel, since most plants’ roots will rot if they’re left sitting in standing water for too long.
Upcycled Container Gardens
See All PhotosDitch the Grass

Gardener’s Supply Co. at Gardeners.com
The EPA estimates that one-third of all residential water use is for landscape irrigation. That unfortunately means a healthy, green lawn can be a water guzzler – especially during hot, dry summers. Consider replacing all or part of your lawn with low-maintenance groundcovers, mulch or softscaping areas with small stones.
Tired of Mowing?
See All PhotosFall in Love With Foliage

Photo by Felder Rushing
Big, showy blooms can be costly. Mixing in foliage plants like coral bells, liriope or mondo grass adds budget-friendly beauty, plus it gives you something to look at while you wait for bulbs and flowers to bloom. Reach for blooming evergreens, like camellias or azaleas, to get the most bloom for your buck.
Catch the Sales

Ball Horticultural Company
Don’t neglect the garden center during the off-season. Sign up for your local nursery’s email newsletters if they have one or get to know the staff to catch sales. On Black Friday, instead of fighting chaos at the mall, I went to a garden center near my house that was having a sale. At the end of the season or during winter you can get heavy discounts, but don’t be surprised if you end up with a “naked” plant. Be patient – that hydrangea may look like a twig now, but will eventually bloom just the same. And only you willl know the difference!