Tips for landscaping your new home on a budget

If you’ve just moved into your new home, chances are you are dying to get all your friends and family around to show off your new home. But without the landscaping finished, entertaining in outdoor spaces is less than ideal. We’ve put together a list of handy tips to help you get your landscaping done quickly and on the smallest of budgets!

 

Hold a working bee

Your friends and family will be as excited as you are about your new home (well, nearly!) so they’re likely to be keen to give you a hand.

Throw a barbie and gather a group of mates together for a weekend working bee. Your landscaping will be done in no time, and your friends will appreciate contributing to a space that they’ll enjoy with you for many years to come. As they say, many hands make light work!

 

Use plant cuttings

If you can withstand the wait to have established plants in your garden, cuttings are a free, easy way to get beautiful plants for your yard. Ask neighbours and friends for any plant cuttings that they are willing to supply you, and in no time your garden will be stunning!

 

 

Hunt for cheap landscaping materials

Established plants and landscaping materials can be pricey, so check out your local Buy/Sell/Swap pages for some great bargains.

Backyard renovators often give away or sell established trees, plants, rocks or pavers for bargain prices, so if you’re not afraid to put in a bit of legwork you can save a lot of money on these items.

It may require their removal and transportation, but it will save you a bunch of money that you can spend on other things.

If you require materials in bulk, rather than buying many bags from the hardware store, research garden suppliers who deliver items such as soil and bark chips by the truckload.

 

Build your own accessories

There are plenty of easy DIYs you can do to create accessories for your new backyard.

Besser blocks are an amazing, versatile product that can be turned into just about anything! From furniture to fire pits to planters, these nifty concrete blocks are only as limited as your imagination. You can pick up Besser blocks for as little as $5 each from your local hardware store, or look in the Buy/Sell/Swap pages for freebies!

Similarly, wooden pallets are a great resource for using in furniture, pathways, garden edging or as planters. You can pick these up for free on Gumtree or other trading pages.

 

 

Seed vs Turf

If your budget is really tight, then grass seeds are the way to go for your new lawn, but this will take some time and effort to get it thick and healthy. You can expect to wait at least 6 weeks for it to resemble turf. The faster & easier, but more costly option is to go with instant turf. You can pick up turf from between $6 and $15 a square metre, and you can even buy it online and get it delivered to your door!

 

Lighting

The addition of lighting can add a beautiful atmosphere to your yard. Using solar lights or candles will save you money on electricity, and remove the need to install expensive wiring. And there are plenty of crafty DIY projects you can do to create amazing and unique lights for your garden!