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Creating a budget-friendly garden

Inspiring ideas and handy tips on how to make a low-cost garden to love

Gardening is for everyone, no matter how big or small their garden, and it doesn’t have to break the bank. The best and swankiest kit can blow the budget, but with a little bit of creative thinking, you can have a garden to be proud of.

Hedges for less

Starting with the outer edges of your space, the most planet-friendly option is to plant a hedge. Hedges provide a habitat for wildlife and can be trimmed to suit your desired height and width. You can choose from a wide range of hedge varieties, depending on whether you want an evergreen hedge, a colourful hedge, or a hedge that provides security. If you take the time to care for them, you can even grow hedges in containers like other shrubs.

Think big; buy small

Buy small plants to keep costs down. They will establish quickly, usually catching up with bigger plants in just a few years.

Instant hedging is not a budget-friendly option, unless you are only buying that. If you have a small space like a balcony, or you want to provide some screening in your garden, try planting climbers on a wire mesh or trellis.

The most cost-effective way to create a long-lasting hedge is to plant bare root plants. Bare root hedging plants may not look like much when they first arrive, but they usually settle in quickly and thicken into a healthy hedge over a few years.

Cost: from 60p - £3 per bare root plant

Bare root hedging packs are a low-cost option for creating a hedge
You can also buy evergreen bare root plants, such as holly

How to plant bare root hedges

Fences

If you don’t have space for a hedge, fences are a very good option. They come in a variety of styles and sizes, and you can even make your own. Choose a sustainable, long-lasting wood and your fence should last for many years. If you have inherited an old fence, still in sound condition, give it a brush down and a lick of paint to spruce it up. There are a rainbow of environmentally friendly, timber paint colours to suit your style.

Cost: 6ft x 6ft fence panels from around £30 each

Plant a fedge - dead or alive

Go part way and plant a fedge – a fence/hedge – either a live version, made with living stems of willows or dogwoods, or created from dead, cut material, laid between posts.

Create a ‘dead hedge’ or fedge, using old plant material, stacked between posts; forms a screen and a brilliant wildlife habitat
Sweet peas growing up a live ‘fedge’ – a living willow fence/hedge

Paths and patios

How you move around your garden, and where you sit, work and play will dominate the design of your outdoor space. The cost of hard landscaping materials has risen considerably, but there are ways to keep costs down.

Before starting any major overhaul, consider what can be salvaged from your existing garden; can any of the current materials stay and have a spruce up? Existing patio slabs often get slippery and discoloured over time but can be cleaned up with a stiff brush and some elbow grease.

Freebies

Look out for free or low-cost landscaping materials on sites such as Freecycle or in the free ads. If you see items in skips, you must ask for permission from the homeowner before taking them.

If you have a patio or path in the wrong place, consider reusing the materials to create something new. For instance, could you repurpose existing patio slabs to build a new path?

One of the most affordable options for covering an area of ground is to use gravel. There are aggregates in every size and colour, from flat grey slates to sparkly pink chippings, and the most sustainable option is to choose local stone to reduce your carbon footprint.

Weed prevention

Laying an eco-friendly barrier under gravel paths will help keep them clear of self-seeding plants, but the depth of gravel will also block out light, slowing germination.

Consider the size and depth of the chippings for different uses. Smaller stones are better for high-traffic areas where weight needs to be dispersed evenly, while larger pebbles are better for decorative and low-traffic areas, as they aren’t easy to walk on, shifting, like when walking on a pebble beach.

Cost: a bulk bag (850kg) costs around £100, which will cover an area of around 10m2, at a 30-50mm depth

Gravel gardens can be both beautiful and budget-friendly, especially if you also grow plants from seed
Gravel is really useful for pathways and can be a low-cost option, covering large areas of ground

Seating

Find the ‘sweet spots’ in your garden: the places where you like to stop and sit. This might be in the sun or the shade or a bit of both for different seasons and weathers. When it comes to seating, think creatively for budget options. You could make your own bespoke seating using upcycled materials, reclamation yard finds or local internet buy/sell groups to fit your budget.

Seats for small spaces

Use removable or foldaway seating that you create yourself using suitable hinges. Paint them in bright or dark colours to match your style and add some homemade cushions and blankets for a perfect party space.

To add shade or privacy to your garden, use simple uprights made of wood or metal, and grow scented climbers up them to form the walls and roof.

Roses growing on a simple metal framework creates dappled shade and privacy
Wisteria growing on a wooden pergola; you could use recycled timber to make your own

Plants

Plants are a great place to save money, and starting from seed is a cost-effective way to begin. You don’t even need an expensive greenhouse to grow them in, a warm windowsill will work just fine.

How to sow seeds indoors

How to sow seeds indoors

Starting a lawn from seed

Starting a lawn from seed

Trees and shrubs from seed

Trees and shrubs from seed

Vegetable seeds: sowing

Vegetable seeds: sowing

Plant-swapping fairs and community groups are great places to grab bargains, pick up growing tips from experienced gardeners, and share knowledge. Check local notice boards for plant events and look for local social media groups.

Visit your local plant fair or garden show to grab some bargains
Garden centres and plant nurseries often have seasonal sales of discounted plants, where you can find gems that simply need some love and care. Check that discounted plants have some signs of growth or good roots, and no signs of pests and diseases. Our advice guides can help you nurture rescued plants.

Community groups and allotments often give away used plant pots, as well as excess plants and produce. Many of them also run day courses on topics such as making your own compost, how to get growing, and how to make plant food. RHS Gardens also run courses and give talks on a wide range of gardening topics. And don’t forget to beg, borrow and divide plants growing in the gardens of friends and family.

Every garden should have a tree; they are essential for the planet. You can find young tree varieties from £30 upwards and they are a wonderful investment. By planting a tree, you are planting for the future. If you don’t have room for a fruit tree, you could buy small plants or bare root and train them against a wall or fence.

Trees for free

Look out for local gardening groups and associations such as the Woodland Trust who run campaigns to supply communities and individuals with young trees.

Buying: trees and shrubs

Buying: trees and shrubs

Fan-trained trees: initial training

Fan-trained trees: initial training

How to plant a tree

How to plant a tree

Trees for smaller gardens

Trees for smaller gardens

Grow your own

Save yourself money on your grocery bill by growing your own fruit, vegetables and herbs. If you don’t have room for growing in the ground or in raised beds, you can also grow them in recycled containers. Plants such as basil, parsley and micro-greens (tiny salad crops) can even be grown in pots on your windowsill, reducing your plot-to-plate to zero.

A warm windowsill is the perfect spot to start off young plants
Grow micro-greens and herbs all year round inside

If you have no garden at home, consider applying to your local council or gardening group for an allotment. The benefits of growing your own food is well-known, but the added bonus of the sense of wellbeing that comes from being part of a community group is equally important, and life-changing for many people.

Fruit for a fraction

If you only have room for a few pots, fruit bushes are not expensive to buy and provide you with fresh fruit, packed with flavour, year-on-year.

Designing your garden

Potentially the biggest cost is employing someone to design your garden. You are paying for their time, expertise and experience. But there are some simple ideas you can follow to help you create your perfect garden yourself.

New-build gardens

New-build gardens

Get to know your garden

Get to know your garden

Gathering inspiration for your garden

Gathering inspiration for your garden

Creating your garden plan

Creating your garden plan

About the author - Natalie Ashbee

Natalie has worked in Horticulture for more than 20 years; in primary education, TV production and garden design. She lives and gardens in West Cornwall.

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Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.