Many people enjoy gardening as it is a great way to relax, get some fresh air, and exercise while also making your home look more attractive and inviting.
If you have been looking to add some plants to your garden but want to save money, you can use this guide on the top 7 best garden makeover ideas for a small garden on a budget.
We’ll give tips on how to repurpose items from around the house in order to design a garden that looks like it costs thousands of dollars!
1. Choose Plants That Fit The Space
The best plants for small garden design ideas are low-growing, so you can use every inch of space. You also want plants that grow quickly and do not need much maintenance.
Perennials are great because they come back year after year, but annuals will give a new look each season.
You can start with one or two hardy perennials in the springtime, like irises or ferns, and add some annuals later in the summer when they’re at their peak color.
Create pathways with stepping stones or pea gravel: You’ll be able to see what’s around you better, and the path will lead you right where you want to go.
Add benches and a birdbath: These are nice places to sit, relax and enjoy nature while still getting things done. Plus, it gives the birds something clean and fresh to drink.
If your garden is in full sun all day long, add large pots of shade-loving plants next to those pots that need more sun exposure.
Remember to keep everything neat by trimming branches from trees (don’t forget about sprinklers!) and pulling weeds now and then. And if all else fails, bring out an ice cream maker!
2. Group Plants by Their Watering Needs
Different plants need different amounts of water, so it’s important to research how much you will need. A good rule of thumb is that if you are using rainwater or drip irrigation in your garden, then watering once a week will be enough.
But if you use tap water (which is often chlorinated), then you may need to water every two or three days.
This first plant group in your small garden makeover ideas includes drought-tolerant plants, which means they require little-to-no watering. Examples include succulents, cacti, and agave.
The second plant group needs only infrequent watering; these include plants like ferns and mosses.
The third plant group needs moderate watering; these include herbs and vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers.
And finally, the fourth group requires frequent watering; these include most flowering perennials such as pansies and begonias.
3. Follow Color Schemes
One of the best ways to spruce up an already existing small garden is by following color schemes. For example, green and yellow, red and orange, purple and pink. These color schemes contrast nicely with each other and can give a fresh look to the entire garden.
Another good tip for garden decoration ideas for a small garden is to mix up shapes. Rather than sticking with one shape for all plants in the garden, mix it up and create different shapes like triangles or squares among others.
Try flowers: Flowers are always a good choice when it comes to sprucing up any room or space but they are especially helpful when it comes to small spaces. What you want to do is use flowers that have very different colors, shapes, and sizes.
An important thing to remember when looking at flower choices is that more varieties will work better then just using a few types.
Just be careful not to go overboard because you want people to still be able to see what the original design was supposed to be without feeling overwhelmed by too many options.
4. Mix up Different Styles and Textures
A great way to add interest and color is by incorporating different textures and patterns into the design. Think about mixing up different textures like natural materials such as wood, pottery, or rocks with artificial materials like plastic or metal.
Mixing textures in this way will create depth for the eye to see and will be visually pleasing. Another thing you can add to your small garden design ideas is incorporating different colors into the design.
If you are trying to achieve a specific look for your garden then it might not work best if all of the plants are green. You can play around with different colors of plants or flowers to give some life and vibrancy to your space.
Just remember that using too many vibrant colors may leave the area feeling cluttered so use them sparingly.
The same goes for foliage type; don’t go overboard with foliage varieties unless you want a jungle-like feel.
5. Add Compost and Mulch
Compost and mulch are both relatively cheap ways to add nutrients and improve the soil in your garden. Adding compost will boost the levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium while mulch can add organic matter which helps retain moisture in the soil.
Mulch also prevents weeds from growing, meaning you’ll spend less time weeding and more time planting!
It’s important to use mulches as your small garden makeover ideas that are appropriate for your plants- pine needles work well for acid-loving plants like azaleas, spruce needles work well for blueberries and rhododendrons. Avoid using mulches made with plastics as they block out light that is needed by some plants such as ferns.
6. Create an Outdoor Room
If you have a small backyard, apply this to your garden makeover ideas for small garden to making your space feel more like an outdoor room:
A bench by the door – This is a great place for guests to wait before entering or for kids to sit while they wait for their parents. It also provides extra seating when friends stop by.
Place it against one of the fences so that people can see through and enjoy both areas. Add an overhead trellis to create a canopy overhead and provide shade from the summer sun.
Make sure there’s enough room in front for someone to sit comfortably with legs stretched out in front of them. Place two benches side by side if there’s not enough room for everyone who may come over at once.
Baskets of flowers on either side of the bench will add color and attract butterflies as well as other pollinators, making this area a natural sanctuary even if surrounded.
7. Enjoy Yourself While Gardening
Gardening is a wonderful way to decompress, get some fresh air, and enjoy the company of plants. However, making garden decoration ideas for small gardens can also be tough work.
That’s why it’s important for you to find ways that you can enjoy yourself while gardening. For example, one way is by turning gardening into an opportunity for meditation or relaxation.
Use this time to reflect on what is going well in your life, think about what needs improvement, and release any negative energy.
Another idea is to turn gardening into social time with friends or family members. Invite friends over for tea and take turns tending to the plantings together.