26 Affordable Small Garden Ideas for Creating a Stunning Space on a Budget

home with pink and white peonies — PHOTO:

LYNN KARLIN

No matter the size of your bank account, there’s a wealth of budget small garden ideas to help you create a lush outdoor oasis for less. By getting creative and making thoughtful swaps for more expensive items, you can still grow a gorgeous garden that beckons you outside—increasing your living space and maybe even adding fresh produce to your table. These 25 low-cost ideas are sure to make a small garden look like a million bucks but with a much lower price tag.

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Match Plants to Growing Conditions

autumn joy sedum pink blooms detail — PETER KRUMHARDT

Work with the unique growing conditions of your small garden, and you’ll save hundreds of dollars in plants over a decade. If your space is naturally dry and sunny, fill it with drought-tolerant plants, such as sedum (shown here). If your garden has of boggy soil or heavy clay, choose plants that thrive in wet conditions.

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Start Small

blue flower plants without pots — DEAN SCHOEPPNER

Instead of purchasing a costly 1-gallon container perennial or annual, opt for the same plant in a smaller pot. The plant will gain size quickly, and you’ll save money. Or start with seeds for an even more cost-effective option.

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Select Multi-Season Plants

star magnolia tree growing in front of house — JANET MESIC-MACKIE

Plants that offer color or texture from spring through winter are landscape workhorses. Instead of purchasing plants to anchor each season, rely on multi-season plants to do it all and keep your garden budget low at the same time. Some beautiful multi-season plants for small spaces include magnolia, dogwood, peony, and holly.

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Plant for Privacy

Arborvitaes growing in backyard — BOB STEFKO

A small space landscape is often situated within whisper distance—literally—from a neighbor. Instead of investing hundreds of dollars in a fence, plant a living privacy screen. Evergreen shrubs, such as arborvitae, juniper, and several types of holly, will create year-round privacy.

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Opt for Perennials

Perennial plants come back year after year and provide color for many seasons, while annuals only live for a year. Over time, you’ll save money by filling your landscape beds with perennials instead of annuals.

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Take Advantage of Divisions

close up of dividing perennials daylilies (Hemerocallis) two clumps — PETER KRUMHARDT

Perennials in a small-space garden frequently outgrow the space they are allotted. In early spring, dig and divide overgrown perennials. Replant the divisions in other areas of the garden for a no-cost way to fill your garden.

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Add a Statement Container

Make a bold statement in a small space by planting a large container with one fast-growing annual. Plant choice is critical here. One ‘Dragon Wing’ begonia, ‘ColorBlaze’ coleus, or ‘Suncredible’ sunflower will create a lush display in a 24-inch-wide pot.

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Get Creative with Raised Beds

Cedar boards are often the most expensive part of a raised bed garden. Forgo the high-cost lumber and repurpose logs from a fallen tree, spare stones or pavers, or even a few metal window wells placed together. Your aim is to create an 18- to 24-inch-tall barrier that will hold soil. There’s lots of opportunity here for frugal creativity.

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Commit to Compost

adding-compost-pile-0d79ed17 — MARTY BALDWIN

Compost is the single best way to improve soil structure and nutrient value. You don’t need to purchase large quantities of compost for your small space. Instead, make your own compost using landscape debris and kitchen scraps. Pile the compost elements, alternating dry, brown elements with moist, green elements.

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Use Recycled Hardscape Materials

Flagstone Pathway to blue and gray house — PETER KRUMHARDT

Paving stones, leftover bricks, and clean gravel can have a new life in your small garden. When friends and neighbors are renovating their landscapes, offer to take unwanted hardscape items off their hands. Do your friend a favor while also scoring items to create a new path, border, or patio in your garden.

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Go Vertical

Clematis growing from trellis — BRYAN E. MCCAY

Don’t forget to look up when creating a garden in a small space. The vertical plane can increase your gardening space. Some budget-friendly options include using foraged limbs to build a trellis for morning glory vine or crafting a sweet pea cage from shrub clippings.

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Plant a Portable Herb Garden

herbs and edible flowers in oversize pot — VICTORIA PEARSON

If in-ground growing space is running short, plant easy-to-grow herbs in pots. Unlike some edibles that grow best in in-ground planting spots, herbs usually thrive in containers with adequate drainage. Looking for low-cost containers? Transform 5-gallon buckets with a faux stone paint treatment.

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Assemble a Simple Arbor

simple rustic arbor with purple climbing clematis and lush landscaping — MARY CAROLYN PINDAR

Framing the entry to your small-space garden with a simple arbor instantly elevates its appeal. DIY one on the cheap by using four sturdy fence posts and a length of woven fence to craft a simple arbor. Adhere the woven fence to the posts with zip ties.

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Create Vignettes

garden bed with blue pot — PETER KRUMHARDT

Grow your small-space garden on a budget by adding plants over time. Focus on one area of the garden each year—plant a pleasing vignette that includes a flowering shrub, three or four perennials, and an annual for a pop of color. Tackle another area of the garden next year.

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Repurpose Containers for Planting

galvanized metal container with red and purple flowers — KRITSADA PANICHGUL

Any vessel that can hold soil and has drainage can be a planting pot. Hunt for repurposed materials you can turn into planting pots at tag sales, the thrift store, or even in your own garage.

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Hang String Lighting

Cathy and Garrett eating dessert on patio — LISA ROMEREIN

Twinkle lights and outdoor string lights of all sorts instantly transform a small garden for just a few dollars. Thread the lights over tree branches and along hedges to illuminate the perimeter of your space.

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Include Water for Wildlife

A water source is a great way to encourage wildlife to visit your small garden. You don’t need to install a big, expensive pond to beckon butterflies and songbirds. A basic birdbath is a great water source. Rinse the vessel every couple of days to ensure fresh water.

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Edge Your Beds

Cut landscaping costs with a simple spade by using it to create garden edging. Dig a shallow V-shape trench along the edge of a landscape bed. The trench will prevent lawn grass from creeping in and form a tidy outline. Plan to dig the trench annually.

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Experiment with Natural Seating

log seats in garden — ANATOLIJS GIZENKO / GETTY IMAGES

Look to the natural world for garden furniture. Turn a length of a substantial log into a bench or make garden-side stools by standing a few hefty chunks of wood on end, burying them slightly for stability.

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Create an Above-Ground Pond

water pump fountain and wooden bucket — KRITSADA PANICHGUL

An in-ground pond requires an investment of time and money. Achieve similar results in a small-space garden with an above-ground water feature. Turn a half-barrel or water trough into a pretty pond. Add a fountain and enjoy the sound of moving water.

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Tuck in Edible Plants

Raised bed vegetable garden with flowers — DENNY SCHROCK

Add tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, and other tasty edibles to landscape beds. This strategy maximizes space, and low-cost edibles are lovely, too. They add plenty of color and texture to the landscape at a low cost.

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Plant a Tree

Flowering Dogwood Cornus florida — ALLEN ROKACH

Instead of investing in a pergola or shade structure, plant a tree. For a fraction of the cost of a manufactured structure, a small tree will provide shade, color, and texture that changes with the seasons if you are willing to be patient as it grows.

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Stake Up Plants

bamboo plant stands with mint plant — MINT IMAGES / GETTY IMAGES

A roll of garden twine and a handful of bamboo poles will help a small-space garden live large. Sink a pole into the ground alongside a flopping plant and use the twine to help it stand tall. You’ll quickly free up ground-level space for other plants.

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Make an Upcycled Garden Pathway

brick pathway in garden with white flowers — ERIC ROTH

Even small-space gardens benefit from a defined path. Use reclaimed or recycled materials like leftover pavers or cast-off flagstones to create a path through your garden.

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Be Water-Smart

Green plants growing in garden in soil with sprinklers — ED GOHLICH

A simple drip hose, available in the garden section of most box stores, can be an excellent low-cost irrigation system for a small-space garden. Use the drip hose with a timer, and watering chores are nearly hands-off. Plus you’ll avoid wasting water and money by directing water to exactly where it’s needed.