MoneySaver

Creating a great garden on the cheap
(1)

16 July 2009

Creating an oasis in your backyard can cost a bomb. Landscaping, outdoor furniture, soil and plants are all very expensive. Added to that, if you build and maintain your garden yourself it can be time-intensive. So when you see a backyard that is simply a slab of concrete with a plastic table and chairs, have pity on the owner, for they are probably pining for some lush greenery and a water feature.

However, there are some tricks you can use to create a beautiful piece of earth without it costing, um, the earth. You can choose to spend several weekends and a bit more money to landscape your outdoor space yourself, or you can simply put in a few plants here and there to pretty it up. Either way you will reap the benefits, both financially and psychologically. If you grow your own food you will save money on supermarket trips, and if you go all out and make yourself a garden oasis, then you will find the benefits run deeper, as you enjoy your own private retreat from the world.

If you are planning to landscape, plan first, do second. Visit demolition and building sites and crumbling warehouses to find stones, bricks and old wood. “The best way to get the most out of your permanent garden structures (‘hardscaping’) is to make them both functional and attractive. And if you can get multiple practical uses, that’s even better,” according to Jane Gates from Examiner.com

Use what you have already, as long as it is durable. If you hate your chicken wire-style fence, grow some vines or flowers over it to hide the wire and add colour. Think logically about where plants and furniture belong; for instance, the herb garden is most useful if it is close and easy to access from the kitchen.

Rocks and pebbles work as ornamentation. If there are a lot of rocks in your neighbourhood, you can probably pick them up for free by combing the land near your house. Avoid spacing rocks too evenly around your garden, as it makes them look unnatural.

Container gardens

If you want to make an easy and economical raised bed for a vegetable or flower garden – particularly if you want your kids to be involved in the gardening – you can use a small plastic swimming pool, a discarded tyre, or a Styrofoam cooler. Container vegetable and flower gardens are perfect for small backyards. If you use a kiddie pool you will need to put holes in the sides of the pool for drainage, two inches from the bottom and about three inches apart.

Good garden soil is very expensive. You can make your own with a mixture of one-third topsoil, one-third compost, and one-third sand. Otherwise, buy some of the cheapest potting soil you can find at home improvement and gardening stores. You can also save the soil at the end of the season and use it again next year. Just make sure you add more fertiliser and some organic matter such as compost each season. See here and here for advice.

Tree stumps as furniture

Durable outdoor garden furniture can be very pricey, but if you want to avoid the cheaper plastic alternative, consider tree stumps as an option. They work with the surrounds and don’t cost a fortune. You can check with a local tree service about purchasing stumps. A woodworker will be able to finish the stumps for you to make them smooth, or you could do it yourself. The wood needs to be sanded smooth to make it safe for use as a table or seat, and treated to prevent the wood from rotting.

Trellises and vines

If you don’t like the look of your wall or fence or want some privacy, attach a trellis to your wall and coax some vines to grow over it. To get instructions, look here and here.

Lighting

Once you’ve got your garden oasis sorted, you’ll want to light it up at night so you can enjoy it at all hours. Select a focal point such as a tree or walkway. Visit this website to check out some lighting options.

Solar power is a good option for outdoor lights. A small solar panel may cost a bit at the outset, but it won’t cost you anything to run, as it will generate power itself. Some solar-powered lights have the solar panel, light and battery all in one self-contained unit. However, if shade is an issue on your property there are units that can be powered by a remote solar panel placed in a sunny location. Solar-powered lights run on LED lamps, which last much longer than halogen lights. Many units have internal reflectors to enhance and distribute light evenly.