SEARCH
MENU
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Shop
Creative & Frugal Home & Garden Ideas

Empress of Dirt

  • Grow
  • Make
  • Ideas

New here?

Dig in!

Start here

Improve Your Garden Instantly Without Spending a Dime

August 6, 2020 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

This post contains affiliate links.
Click here for the full disclosure statement.

TwitterFacebookPinterestEmail

Sometimes all it takes is a fresh perspective to improve your garden. Grab these tips for making the best what you have for a better garden—without spending a dime.

For more, also see the Ideas section for creative ideas from home gardens.

Instant garden improvement ideas.

Makeover Your Garden Without Spending Money

Would you like to give your garden a fresh new look without spending money?

We often already have what we need and all it takes is a little elbow grease and rearranging to give an outdoor space a whole new look and feel.

I’ll walk you through some of my favorite tips.

1Make a Big Statement

Most of us have limited resources to fill a garden with as many plants as we would like so the temptation is to spread the ones we have throughout the garden, adding dashes of color here and there.

But what if you brought all those flower pots together to create one big, bold burst of beauty?

Bring your best flower pots together to create wow factor in the garden.

Pick a location where you will enjoy them the most, perhaps by a patio or entry way.

Add some bricks, crates, or a table to allow various heights and give the illusion of abundance.

Add some garden art or decorative items from storage and now you have a fabulous focal point in your garden.

Related: How to Create Your Dream Garden on a Low Budget



2Remember to Dream

For many of us summers are way too short, time flies by, and before we know it, the cool autumn weather sneaks in.

My remedy for this is to have a garden nook all set up so that, no matter how little time is available, I can settle right in and enjoy the garden.

A good sleeping area is key for a great garden.

Pick a shady location, your most comfortable chair, and have essential supplies handy in a bin nearby.

For me, that means a pillow, throw blanket, and books and magazines I never seem to have time to indulge in.

Related: 24 Relaxing Garden Nooks (Seating Ideas)

Grab a cool drink and take time to relax.

Love a summer evening outdoors? Hang up some outdoor holiday lights and gently light up the space.



3Create a Scene

Whether it is watering cans, old kettles and tea cups, or clay pots, often we already have a collection of items that are perfect for display outdoors as quirky garden art.

See what you have stashed away, pick a theme, and get creative with your own garden vignette.

Pick a theme and display a collection in the garden.

I saw this tea-themed arrangement on a garden tour and thought it was quite charming.

Related: Creative Garden Art Ideas Hiding in Your Kitchen

This next photo shows a collection of random items coming together to create a scene:

Create an outdoor display with your garden decor.

Related: How to Safely Use Mirrors in the Garden



4Play with Color

This is my number one tip for making the best use of your existing garden plants: work with contrasting colors.

Some of the most beautiful plants can get lost in a garden, virtually unnoticed, if the ones next to them are too similar or distracting.

Contrasting colours play off each other in the garden.

Examine your garden beds and see which plants deserve a better location so they can really steal the show. Think about ways the various colors and textures can play off each other and try shuffling a few plants around.

Contrasting colours play off each other in the garden.

Just like rearranging the furniture in the house, you might just come up with something fabulous. In this next photo, the hostas, ferns, heucheras, and succulents all play off each other.

Contrasting colours play off each other in the garden.

Related: 6 Simple Tips to Improve a Bland Shade Garden



5Keep it Crisp

I saved this one for last, but it is really the most basic and effective step for dressing up a garden without any expense: weed, trim, mow, and edge.

There is nothing like crisp edges (created with a nice, sharp edging tool—I use a serrated kitchen knife!) and weed-free beds to give a garden a fresh, new look.

Related: 24 Clever Garden Problem-Solvers Using Household Items

Add a layer of organic mulch to bare surfaces, and you will buy yourself more time before you need to do it again.

Crisp edges frame a garden.

When my garden has the blahs, I always do this first. Then, once the debris is removed, I start changing up the garden art and moving a few plants around if it still needs something more.

It is amazing what a difference good garden grooming makes and, best of all, it does not cost a thing.

If you enjoyed this, sign up for the free creative gardening newsletter here.

~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛

Next

Decorative Metal Garden Art Flower Ideas
Garden Art Easel Idea Gallery
12 Super Simple Garden Art Ideas
See More >>
Improve Your Garden Instantly Without Spending a Dime
TwitterFacebookPinterestEmail

FREE NEWSLETTER

EVERY TWO WEEKS

Creative, frugal home and (mostly) garden ideas in your inbox!



Privacy Policy



Listen to Our Garden Podcast

SUBSCRIBE TO PODCAST HERE

Melissa J. Will - Empress of DirtWelcome!
I’m Melissa J. Will
a.k.a. the Empress of Dirt
(Ontario, Canada).
Join me as I share creative + frugal home & garden ideas with a dash of humor.
More: Contact/About
New here? Dig in!  |  Our Podcast

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

Some articles on this site contain affiliate links to Amazon, Etsy, Earthhero, and more. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Affiliate and Ad Disclosure | Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2021 · Empress of Dirt Creative + Frugal Home & Garden Ideas

Hello. We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic.I Accept Read Privacy Notice
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.