Create a beautiful outdoor living space with these inexpensive backyard landscaping ideas on a budget. Weekend project ideas for your patio and yard including lighting idea, inexpensive projects, garden hacks and outdoor design tricks.

Backyard Landscaping Ideas

When we moved, it was at the end of winter the beginning of spring. Every day our yard was showing a new sign of life. It was beautiful and I marveled at the surprises this backyard would unveil.

You see, our new home backs against the woods with a beautiful little creek that runs into the Potomac. Nature had done it’s own work and I was willing to let nature take care of itself. My husband saw this differently. He saw that heavy rains would bring high creek levels. He saw lower areas that would hold mud. He saw that the grass would grow uncontrollably, perhaps above the boys shoulder. I dismissed his warnings and told him the yard would take care of itself.

Woops. Two months into living here and the grass (in areas) is as tall as the boys shoulders. I have begged my husband to look into landscape help, ASAP. While he is looking for help, I am searching Pinterest for low-cost backyard landscape ideas to perfect our natural space.

So here we go… figured I would share with my frugal friends too!

Backyard Landscaping Ideas on a Budget

Create an instant backyard water feature with your downspouts. Lay down plastic trash bags on the ground as a liner. Pour over river rock and add plants and mulch. When the rain water travels down the spout and over the rocks, it provides a beautiful rock water feature. | Woo Home

This genius backyard hack mounts flower baskets on wooden posts. Doesn’t that beautifully line the walkway? | Cottage at the Crossroads

Set the ambiance with lights. This is a very easy tutorial on how to string lights from natural elements like tree limbs using galvanized buckets and concrete.  (As seen in our Backyard Movie Ideas) | Ida klipper och klistrar (in English)

In our cheap patio ideas, we shared this cheap patio lighting idea. Even a small backyard can bet transformed by hanging string lights in potted lamp posts. Great a glow with pots of beautiful flowers. | I Should be Mopping the Floor

Take an ugly fence from drab to fab with this DIY Horizontal Slat Fence. Transforms your outdoor space on the cheap. | Fresh Mommy Blog

Create a beautiful backyard ambiance using Christmas Lights (even when it isn’t winter!) Shop Wayfair for Lights.

Transform your seating area and dinning area with this step-by-step DIY Patio String Lights Tutorial. | Place of My Taste

Tired of weeds? Did you know this newspaper hack will prevent any grass and weed seeds from germinating; the ultimate weed solution. Important to note that unlike WeedBlock Barrier fabric, it will decompose after about 18 months. | Rosemary on the TV

Transform your garden fence with this marble hack and cheap backyard landscape idea. Drill holes, insert colored marbles, and watch the light create a beautiful rainbow sun catcher. I get you will spend more and more evenings outside enjoying the colors of the sunset! | Garden Drama

Planters can be expensive. Did you know you can upcylce a Styrofoam cooler into a DIY Planter! | Salvage Sister and Mister

Don’t open your wallet, I bet you have everything to make these DIY Glowing Outdoor Orbs for about $1 to $3 (if anything!) | The Art of Doing Stuff

These DIY Fire Pit was only $60! Consider it a weekend project. You could later add a homemade fire pit bench.  | Keeping It Simple Crafts

This couple took a $20 yard sale armoire and upcylced it to cover unsightly wires from a meter reader and electrical box. They turned the other half into a vegetable garden bed. | Shabby Glam

As seen in our garden hacks and tips, try this pot-in-pot method, so you can switch plants almost instantly. | Florida Friendly Plants

Patiently wait and watch this bean pole teepee plant grow. Such a fun and inexpensive backyard idea that also acts as the perfect DIY fort and hangout for the kids. | Artful Parent

Have an area of the lawn that is brown and isn’t growing? Hiring a landscape designer can be costly. Instead, replace dead grass with a DIY Rock Garden. Save money by replacing turf with rocks! | Home Talk

Transform your flower beds with this garden hack. Put your terracotta pots within the grown and assign each pot a different herb. | Town Mouse

Add charm and character to your area with rock wall edging against a colorful flower bed. | Pine and Prospect

Take an eyesore like a HVAC unit or garbage cans. Hide these ugly items with easy to install decorative fencing.  | All Things Mama

Solve the problem of mud and dirt on your shoes with this frugal-friendly up-cycled wood pallet walkway. Such a beautiful garden idea and a stray from the traditional stone path. | The Homespun Hydrangea

Look at these DIY Midsummer Nights Backyard Lighting Ideas.  Pin to Pinterest.

Save these Garden Tips and Hacks when creating your own perfect space. Pin to Pinterest.

WHAT’S TRENDING? Get inspired this Spring with Dollar Store Easter Decor.


Also access our Free Frugal Coupon Living Printables to help you find joy through embracing the chaos of motherhood more easily!



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