An outstanding front yard instantly boosts your property’s curb appeal. However, not all front yard landscaping ideas are cost-effective or easy to do on your own. If you want to enhance your front yard but you’re working on a budget, there are plenty of affordable and easy projects that will make an impactful exterior design. To inspire you, we asked gardening and landscaping experts to share their favorite landscaping ideas that won’t break the bank.
- Taylor Hiers, gardens manager overseeing the 3-acre garden at Woodstock Inn & Resort’s Kelly Way Gardens
- Laura Janney, expert gardener and founder of The Inspired Garden, which offers a gardening masterclass about designing beautiful gardens and containers
- Valeria Nyman, gardener and chief product officer of Taim.io, a platform that helps people grow their own food
Make Raised Beds Without Frames
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An affordable landscaping option includes creating simple raised flower beds without frames. “When most gardeners think of raised beds, they think of wooden structures to create the beds,” says gardens manager Taylor Hiers. But these structures tend to be expensive. “Find an area with great sunlight and access to water and remove any sod first,” he says. Loosen your soil with a spade shovel to aerate the soil, then dig pathways at least 18 inches wide and place the topsoil onto your newly made garden bed. “This project is certainly a little more labor intensive, but it will give you a clean-looking garden bed with healthy topsoil and at very little cost.”
Install a Trellis or Arbor
Trellises and arbors are one of the most affordable methods for both front yards and small backyard gardening. Use an existing one or make your own by combining five to six hardwood branches with twine or wire; you can create a conical-shaped trellis in minutes, says Hiers. Plus, all the tools required for this project are at your local hardware store: a saw, spade shovel, and twine or wire. Trail climbing vines and flowers up the structure for added impact.
Create a Small Flower Bed
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One way to be mindful of your budget is by starting with a smaller sized flower bed. “I love crafting little gardens in key areas, adhering to the philosophy that less is often more,” says expert gardener Laura Janney. To create the most impactful small flower bed, pinpoint a few key areas in your front yard and plant clusters of perennials rather than attempting to fill entire garden beds, says Janney. “The less you undertake, the less you’ll have to spend,” she says.
Start Plants From Seed
Rebecca Smith
You can buy flowers from a nursery, but starting plants at home from seed is rewarding and cost-effective. “Growing your own plants can be one of the most interesting, rewarding gardening journeys,” says Janney. “There are some upfront costs such as lighting and seed trays, but starting your flowers from seeds or cuttings is ultimately the most affordable and, some might say, most satisfying way to grow your garden.” Plus, starting plants from seed allows you get a jump on the spring gardening season.
Plant Perennial Bulbs
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Bulbs like daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths are a simple, inexpensive way to get pretty blooms that return year after year. “Just as winter’s grip begins to loosen, these underground treasures start to pop up, reminding us that warmer weather is on its way,” says Janney. Not to mention, perennial bulb flowers return annually and many of them self-divide, replicating underground, so you don’t have to constantly plant new flowers. Before you know it, your front yard will be bursting with blooms.
Grow Native Plants
Haven Kiers
Native plants have evolved to thrive in your climate, meaning less maintenance on your part. Plus, many of these plants will welcome pollinators to your front yard for added interest. “Native plants are a goldmine,” says expert gardener Valeria Nyman. “They are more likely to be low maintenance, tough as nails, and act as magnets for bees and butterflies,” she says. Native plants also don’t need endless fertilizer or water, saving you money and time.
Focus on Vertical Gardening
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Another way to create a beautiful front yard without breaking the bank is by making use of vertical garden space. “A bare wall or fence can be transformed into a living piece of art with climbing plants like hops, clematis, or even pole beans if you’re looking for edible stuff,” says Nyman. A vertical garden doesn’t take up much space, and it requires something you probably already have on hand—a bare wall or fence.
Mulch Your Flower Beds
Adding mulch around flower beds gives your landscape a polished look. Mulching also keeps weeds at bay and helps the soil retain moisture, says Nyman. You can use various natural materials already available to you as mulch, including leaves and fertilizer. Alternatively, some tree service companies offer free wood chips, which can be used for mulching flower beds.
Install Window Boxes
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Window boxes are another smart way to make use of vertical space. Fill them with your favorite flowers, swapping out your plantings as they fade for an ever-changing display.
Add a Water Feature
Create a front yard that invigorates all the senses by adding a soothing water feature. Placed between plantings, a stone bird bath or fountain will instantly elevate your property.
Plant Trees
When planted by seed or purchased as a small sapling, adding trees to your landscape is an affordable project you can accomplish in a day. Build a hedge row for privacy or plant a statement flowering tree for a dramatic focal point.