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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.