How Can I Revamp My Garden On a Budget?

Is your garden looking tired and dull? If you’re thinking about sprucing up your garden ahead of the summer months, but don’t have deep pockets to spend on a complete garden landscaping makeover, we’re here to help.

During a time when there’s that bit more of a squeeze on spending, many are putting home DIY and garden projects on the back burner. But, actually, there are lots of ways to upgrade your garden without spending a small fortune.

In this blog article, we’re going to give you some tips, hacks and inspirational ideas that can take your garden from drab to fab, on a smaller and more affordable budget.

Finding bargains and deals

Who doesn’t love a bargain? When revamping your garden on a budget, you need to be a bit thrifty and willing to keep your eyes on the lookout for fantastic savings on premium products.

For example, here at Equestrian Fencing, during April 2023, we’re running a superb promo on our range of softwood decking in our Spring Special sale.

Offers just like these can help you to save hundreds or even thousands of pounds on installing show-stopping garden features, such as a new deck, whilst working to a budget.

The DIY garden route

Whilst some opt for professional landscapers and gardeners, if your budget is slim, finding a quality landscaper or gardener on the cheap is going to be tricky – after all, they are professionals with years of experience who can provide a quality finish faster, and that’s the price you pay.

However, if you don’t have it in the budget to recruit a professional, you shouldn’t let this put you off. If you’re handy with your tools, quite enjoy a little DIY and are willing to do a bit of research, there are lots of ways you can revamp your garden yourself.

And, we’re not just talking about planting a few flowers or fixing the fence…

Installing a deck, building a retaining wall and even raised sleeper beds, are all things that you can do yourself on a budget.

If you are revamping your garden yourself, you need to bear in mind that, naturally, things will take longer. However, you can use this to your advantage.

The old saying ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’ can apply to your garden, too. You can achieve a stunning garden upgrade, at your own pace, sticking to a steady budget rather than a huge financial outlay.

Small budget-friendly garden landscaping changes that go the distance

If you are taking the DIY route, you’ll be pleased to know that in a garden, sometimes it is the smallest changes or subtle additions that make the biggest difference. Just like the inside of the home, the garden needs to work to support your family’s lifestyle needs.

For example, if you have a young family, replacing a muddy patch or a wonky old patio area with a lawn makes for a better outdoor play space for garden games and running around.

Or you may now be empty nesters, who enjoy inviting your friends and grown-up children over for BBQs on sunny Sunday afternoons. It may be out with the big lawn area, and in with a stylish decked area, which is the perfect spot for an outdoor lounge set or dining table.

What we need from our garden changes over time, and small and subtle landscape changes can work to support your adapting garden needs.

Here are a few low-cost garden landscaping ideas that can completely transform the look and feel of your garden.

Add raised sleeper beds

Raised sleeper beds are a fashionably timeless addition to any garden and a superb way of tidying up and adding a refreshing lease of life to an outdoor space.

The beauty of these beds is that they can be built at home, to a size and shape that works for your garden, and budget. “RAISED BED KITS” link to site

Treated softwood sleepers start from just £13 a length.

Or, if it’s your first time building a bed and are looking for an all-in-one bed-building kit, you could opt for a raised sleeper bed kit, which costs from £79.97.

These beds are robust, and when looked after, will last for years to come. Because of the way they help control the temperature of the soil, they are the perfect home for shrubs, your favourite summer florals and homegrown fruits and vegetables.

Pathways and edging

Looking to add a hint of depth and structure to a fairly blank and characterless space?

It may not seem like an overly obvious suggestion, but trickling a pathway through a garden has the power to completely transform the outside space.

They help to add a touch of charm by sectioning the garden into zones, whilst providing additional functionality. A winding path can be a magnificent addition to a traditional-looking garden, or if you prefer to keep things simple, a straight path across the centre of the garden can add stylish symmetry.

You’ve got a few options when it comes to creating a path, but one of the most cost-effective options is 10mm pea shingle.

This natural-looking shingle offers a mixture of tones and textures and is a great way to add a refreshing hint of warmth to your garden. Bulk bags are available from £68.70 per bag.

Asides from digging your path, and adding a weed-proof membrane, this is a quick and easy revamp option.

If you want to add even more character, choose sleepers to create pathway edging. Incorporating these two natural materials next to one another is a really effective and sophisticated use of budget-friendly garden materials.

Build a ground-level deck

Many homeowners are hesitant about building a deck as they assume that the associated costs are high.

But as we’ve mentioned before, building a deck is actually a really fun and straightforward DIY job if you do a little research first.

And while some decking options are considered costly, there are cheaper decking boards available that can look just as good and last just as long if you’re willing to put the maintenance in.

For example, softwood decking varieties are available for just £12.96 per decking board. Or, if you want a head start on timber treatment, you could alternately choose pressure-treated softwood decking for just £20.74 per decking board.

Your new deck can be used for a variety of applications. As we’ve mentioned before, it’s all about making the garden work for you and your needs.

Maybe you’ll create a tranquil seating area for relaxing in the summer months. Or, perhaps you love soaking up the sun and will create a mini sundeck. Or maybe, you are looking for the perfect spot for a new outdoor dining table.

Decks are a fantastic way to create a functional focal point in your garden, without having to spend a small fortune.

A floral lift with trellis

When upgrading the garden for less, you’ve got to get a bit creative about what the space could lend itself to. Many simply consider what’s going on at ground level, and forget about the vertical pockets of space.

If you love greenery and flowers, trellis is a superb, low-cost addition to a garden and a fantastic way to turn a wall, shed or fence into a stunning feature.

These magnificent growing stations not only work to add an extra touch of character to forgotten spots, but they provide a supportive growing frame for climbing plants and shrubbery.

Evergreen climbers look great all year round, and actually, have become increasingly popular in commercial contemporary-looking outside spaces such as beer gardens and rooftop bars. You can’t go wrong with English Ivy, Euonymus ‘Silver Queen’, Maidenhair vine and Persian Ivy if it’s a healthy hint of evergreen greenery you’re going for.

But if you’re looking for an extra touch of summertime colour, that attracts butterflies, birds and bees, you could choose Bluebell Creeper, Wall Germander, Californian Lilac or Passion Flower plant.

And don’t forget, if you don’t have a soil spot underneath your trellis to plant your shrubs and plants, improvising is cost-effective and easy on the eye when building a sleeper bed under the trellis, from which the plant can grow and attach to the trellis.

Transform a boring wall with cladding

If you have an outbuilding or garage that looks tired and tatty, one of the most effective ways to revamp an outdoor space is to make use of this vertical profile and transform it into a feature using cladding.

Cladding is a simple design feature that can really add a new element of character and sophistication to a garden.

Cladding is available in a range of styles and timber types and works well in both modern and classic-looking gardens.

Whilst some premium cladding profiles can be expensive, there are plenty of low-cost, high-quality cladding options, perfect for sprucing up a bland and boring wall on a smaller budget.

Lower budget but highly effective cladding options include treated T&G shiplap, available from just £5.83 per board, as well as treated feather edge from just £7.92 per board and treated shiplap, for as little as £8.64 per board.

The great thing about cladding is that you don’t necessarily have to clad a huge amount of space to make a big impact. Even in the smallest of wall sections, it can prove to be a great standout feature that breathes a refreshing lease of life into a garden in need of some TLC.

Make the garden feel bigger

When overgrowth takes over, gardens can be made to feel smaller. But actually, will a little trim back and tidy up, you can make more space from your existing garden space.

Zoning is also a superb way to make your garden feel bigger on a budget.

Using landscaping elements such as trellis, fencing, shrubs and pathways to break your garden up into functional ‘zones’ is an easy way to turn your garden into a capacious and attractive outdoor space.

You can also use lighter and more natural colours such as white and timber tones to open up the area and give it a fresh new feel.

And whilst an entirely new fence may seem like an expensive investment, there are things you can do to fix and repair a broken or fallen fence that is making your garden feel cramped and unkempt. Fence panels can be replaced for new, as can damaged closeboard fencing.

Recycling creativity

You will need to buy new materials for many of the projects listed above, but sometimes there’s lots of fun to be found and savings to be made by upcycling creatively.

Here are a few ideas of garden material upcycles you might want to try:

Using old paint pots to create a herb wall
Using an old wooden ladder to create shelving or a decorative trellis
Use an old bath or basin as a planter
Use vintage tea cups and pots as bird feeders or drinkers

Pinterest is the place to be if you’re looking for fab and fresh ideas!

Low-cost garden upgrade – takeaway tips

You don’t have to spend lots of money on revamping your garden.

In fact, if you choose your materials wisely, look out for deals, apply a little creativity and are willing to get stuck in DIY-style, then sprucing a garden up on the cheap is entirely doable.

Start by considering what changes you’d really like to see in your garden. Maybe you’ve always wanted a deck or your fence is in need of desperate repair. Prioritise what’s important, and understand what’s most important.

The DIY approach will help you to save significant costs, but you need to be patient and realise that your garden transformation is a longer-term project rather than a quick fix.

Have fun throughout the garden revamp project by inviting friends and family to help you. There are lots of things, such as building a deck and a retaining sleeper wall, that with some patience and research can be done yourself.

Be sure to take your time in choosing your materials, and keep your eyes peeled for deals and discounts on quality products. And, for finishing touches and decorative features, why not try upcycling?

Revamp your garden on a budget with Equestrian Fencing

If you’re looking for garden landscaping materials for an upcoming budget-friendly garden project, you’re in the right place.

Here at Equestrian Fencing, we stock a range of decking, sleepers, fencing, aggregate and timber materials suitable for a range of budgets. And, there are often great savings to be found across our sale range.