Thoughtful landscape design is the key to creating that outdoor oasis you’ve always wanted, whether you have a tiny courtyard in the urban area or a large estate in the country. If you’re looking for a simple guide to help you come up with landscape ideas from scratch, keep reading for our breakdown of everything we’ve chosen for you to consider!

1. Freshen up or add mulch beds. Mulch adds visual interest to any yard at low costs, just a few bags is less than $4 a bag. Mulch helps retain good moisture for your plants that need to flourish while insulating the roots. Plant perennials, the beauty of perennials is that they last for each coming year so you’ll only need to buy them once. To save money in your garden, consider planting flowers and plants from seeds or blooming flowers.

2. Improve the edging around your patio. You can expand your patio’s visual impact by adding landscaping stones that can add a more refined touch, with the added benefit that they don’t need to be replaced often like mulch. Landscaping stones come in a variety of different sizes and colors; decomposed granite is usually around $25 per ton. There may be additional fees for delivery and installation costs, but overall this can be a very affordable way to spruce up your space.

3. Grow native plants. Spend some time researching which plants are native to your area. Native plants help the environment, are very compatible with your area's unique geographic location, and thrive best in this native environment.  Native plants also minimize the need for fertilizers, help prevent erosion and keep the local ecosystem in check.

4. Flower Walls are also a great way to expand your patio’s visuals, Create a natural illusion of privacy with a wall of flowers or plants that don’t mind moisture, shrubs like hydrangeas, ferns or others that are great for ground cover. 

For more tips on how you can beautify your landscape on a budget, click here!