Whether designing your landscape or redoing an existing one, having a good landscaping border elevates the garden’s aesthetics and adds a bit more personality. Edges or borders give your landscape a clearly defined look, making it look neat and well put together.

While a border is primarily made to improve your landscape’s visual appeal, it can have several other positive impacts on your garden, including helping with nutrient retention and plant hydration. It also prevents plants from growing and encroaching on other spaces by creating a natural physical barrier. 

Frequent landscaping and edging may be costly, but several long-lasting and cost-friendly options will ensure your yard is always at its A game. Here are 20 budget-friendly landscaping borders to transform your space.

Take a look!

1. Go for a Paver Border

Concrete pavers offer unmatched durability for landscaping borders. They handle various weather conditions, so they’ll look right no matter the location. This landscape border requires significant physical effort, so expect to dedicate several days to transporting and precisely positioning these weighty blocks.

During my garden renovation spree last summer, I discovered that while the initial labor was substantial, the finished borders defined my landscape completely. Concrete pavers’ versatility extends beyond simple edging, allowing for cohesive pathways or defining distinct planting areas within your landscape.

2. Consider Hand Edging

Budget-friendly landscaping borders don’t come much better than hand edging; you won’t incur extra costs in your edging! You only need an edging shovel, spade, and electric edger to create the perfect edges. 

Remove any extra soil and trim overgrown grass around the border to create an orderly look to prevent runners from creeping into beds. The only challenge with this method is that it’s labor-intensive, hence will need to be repeated after every 6 months. On the upper side, your edges will always look clean and neat, allowing you to enlarge beds or expand your garden area.

3. Plastic Border

Plastic isn’t the most glamorous material for landscaping borders, but it won’t bleed your pockets dry and will last many years. You’ll first need to dig a trench and sink the plastic edge to install a plastic border. 

Plastic border materials come in long rolls, and since they can sometimes be too wide, you may need help to install them. I’ve realized that the quality and type of plastic will significantly affect how long the border lasts, so keep that in mind.

4. Brick Edging

Brick borders offer timeless appeal for yard boundaries. It has two fairly simple installation methods: position bricks sideways in a shallow trench with their broad surface downward or arrange them vertically for a taller, more defined border. The only challenge I’ve encountered installing this border is achieving straight, level edging throughout the landscape.

For a hassle-free installation, use a rubber mallet to gently adjust brick positioning and utilize a string with a level to maintain consistent height. This ensures your border appears well-organized rather than all over the place.

5. Charm with Glass Bottle Border

If you’re into eco-friendly designs, you should probably consider recycling glass bottles as a landscaping border. Dig a small trench and install the bottles upside down in the soil. Keep the design simple, or play around with different shapes to create a unique pattern that suits you. 

I recently updated the border around my patio area with some painted bottles, each with a unique image, and it has dramatically elevated the space’s visual interest.

6. Grass and Shrub Border

Creating borders with ornamental grasses and flowering shrubs offers a dynamic alternative to hardscape edging methods. This DIY approach brings movement, texture, and evolving beauty to your landscape boundaries throughout the seasons. One secret to a successful shrub border is strategic plant selection. 

Consider contrasting leaf shapes and blade colors; silver fescue alongside deep green boxwood creates stunning year-round visual interest even when blooms have faded. By carefully combining plants with sequential flowering periods, your border will maintain continuous color from spring through fall.

7. Bring a Rustic Feel with Weathering Steel

Weathering steel (corten) landscaping border transforms organically in your landscape, developing a rich rust-brown finish that adds character as seasons pass. 

While installation requires technical skill and patience, the investment yields a permanent garden definition that won’t deteriorate.

8. Natural Log Border

Large tree branches can be used as landscaping borders, especially if you have small garden beds. The logs’ natural look adds a rustic charm while giving your landscape an all-natural look. 

What I like most about logs is that they’re long-lasting; you’ll rarely need to replace your border unless you expand your garden.

9. Go for a Cedar Landscape Border

Cedar shingles or shakes make for a good landscape border because they’re easy to install, and you can incorporate them as part of your garden once they’ve run their course as a border.  Installation is relatively simple, too; hammer shingles around your garden’s perimeter, and you’re good to go. 

Their life span is about 5 years, as trimmers or lawnmowers can damage them. My cedar landscape border lasted for about 6 years, thanks to very delicate plant care routines, and looking back, it was a worthy investment!

10. Try a Woven Willow Border

One of the best, and in my opinion, an underappreciated landscape border, a woven willow border will instantly add an element of uniqueness to your space. It’s perfect for countryside gardens and extensively used in Europe. Like most natural wood borders, it’s easy to install, but due to its organic nature, it won’t last forever. 

What interests me most about a woven willow border is how intricate you can make the patterns. You’ll need skills, and it may be time-intensive, but once complete, the border will help retain your plants and add to your garden’s beauty.

11. Gravel Edging

If your landscaping project is already over the cost, try some gravel edging that’ll cost you almost no money; save for the price of the gravel. A single person can easily install this landscaping border, and since it’s not labor-intensive, you’ll be done in no time. 

First, dig a trench around the area you want to edge. Dig a few inches further to ensure enough growth area if it’s next to your garden. Next, line the four-inch deep trench with a weed prevention barrier and add gravel, raking it for even distribution. A gravel border can also serve as a drainage solution, so it’s a “kill two birds with one stone” kind of situation

12. Stone Landscape Border

Stone border delivers a dramatic landscape definition but demands meticulous installation effort. The foundation preparation phase is crucial for success with this method. Try interlocking stones to ensure the border maintains visual harmony throughout its length.

The most challenging aspect of this border is creating straight lines since it needs careful alignment. Use individual stones rather than connected sections for winding garden paths or rounded bed edges. Each stone element needs proper seating and stabilization using a mallet to prevent it from shifting in the future.

13. Flagstone Edging

Flagstone’s versatility makes it a unique material for landscaping borders. Even though it’s moderately expensive compared to the previously suggested border methods, it’s relatively long-lasting and stylish. 

Natural stone is the best material for such projects, as it resists harsh weather. Flagstone borders can easily be done by hand; simply lay out flagstones around the landscape and stack them to a desirable height for classic cottage or country aesthetics.

14. Impress with Recycled Tires

DIY tire borders have emerged as a practical alternative to traditional landscape borders. These eco-friendly options offer significant installation advantages over conventional materials. Remarkably durable in all weather conditions, tire border resists cracking, rotting, and fading. 

For a whimsical look, consider painting your tires different colors. Having installed these borders in several client properties last season, I can assure you they’ll maintain their integrity despite harsh weather and heavy traffic.

15. Scalloped Terracotta Border

Scalloped terracotta border brings classic Mediterranean flair to your landscape while ensuring it’s always in shape. These decorative clay pieces are a good choice when defining flowerbeds and creating visually distinctive borders through your landscape.

Terracotta’s warm, earthy tones complement virtually any planting scheme, adding subtle color that enhances rather than competes with your yard’s natural beauty. Their distinctive scalloped pattern provides an ornamental element that plain border materials can’t match.

16. A Lively Hedge

Who says a landscape border only has to consist of non-living materials? A living hedge can also be a great landscape border. Find low-growing hedges like boxwood and plant them around your landscape or garden. 

As the plants mature, the shrubs will pull closely together, which you can shear or prune to shape. This border will give your space a lively and natural appearance while creating neat and defined spaces.

17. Metal Garden Borders

If you want an easy-to-install landscape border, metal fencing is perfect! You only need to position and hammer the flexible material directly into the soil. This approach significantly reduces preparation time compared to trench-requiring alternatives.

The material’s inherent flexibility allows for creating both gentle curves and sharp angles, adapting perfectly to any landscape design. Consider proper hand protection during installation; heavy-duty work gloves are essential to prevent cuts and soreness.

18. Bamboo Landscape Border

We’ve suggested several organic landscape borders, but bamboo borders top this class for one simple fact: Despite being organic, it’s almost indestructible, making it a natural and long-lasting landscape border. It makes an excellent choice for an Eastern-inspired garden, adding a tropical feel to your space. 

Like most natural borders, you must pound it into the ground. Bamboo works exceptionally well in open or boho spaces but may not suit all garden styles, so ensure it suits your aesthetic before you install it.

19. Make it Modern with Poured Concrete

While relatively complicated to install, poured concrete is a durable landscape border. First, build the form, then pour the concrete into the mold. This landscape border is only flexible during installation—mistakes can be harder to correct after the concrete has dried up. 

Concrete can be amended to different colors, and you can add interesting shapes to the edges. Consider installing in areas where you aren’t looking to expand your garden further.

20. Weed Mat Border

If you can get your hands on one, a weed mat is an excellent natural landscape border material. It stops weeds and is easy to place around your garden’s perimeter. 

Since it naturally fits with the surroundings, you can easily cover it with mulch to create an inconspicuous look. Use the elements available to you in the landscape to keep the mat in place.

Using organic materials is one way to ensure a natural feel when landscaping your outdoors. These materials add authenticity to the space, making your garden feel more naturalistic. Rock landscaping is a perfect way to add a naturalistic aesthetic to your space. 

There are several rock landscaping design ideas, offering a rugged look or a clean, modern look. Of course, you need to consider factors like the shape and size of your landscape, but no matter the design you’re going for, there’s always a rock landscape design you can try. 

We’ve compiled 18 budget-friendly rock landscaping ideas that’ll keep your yard looking natural rather than industrial.

Take a look!

1. Dry Creek Bed

One essential thing in any garden is drainage. Your plants may quickly become waterlogged without proper drainage, leading to root rot. On the other hand, if your garden is in a sloping area, it may quickly be eroded, making it hard to grow new plants. 

That’s why creating a dry creek bed using rocks may be great to ease off logged water or prevent erosion in your garden. In addition to serving a functional value, a dry bed will significantly improve your garden’s aesthetic appeal.

2. Chick Gravel Patio

Looking for a contemporary outdoor seating area without the hassle and expense of conventional hardscaping? A minimalist gravel patio offers the perfect balance of sophistication and simplicity for modern outdoor living.

The beauty of this approach lies in its understated elegance. A linear fire feature creates a natural focal point while providing practical warmth during cooler evenings. Pair with comfortable Adirondack seating to create an inviting conversation area that maintains clean visual lines.

3. Accent Raised Garden Beds

If you desire a garden but can’t grow one due to poor soil, limited time for maintenance, or the lack of hardy plants, using raised garden beds and accenting them with gravel may be the next good choice. 

Consider the color contrast in the space. For example, if you’re going for dark gravel, you can try light wood for the garden beds. I recently added some shiny metallic planters to my garden, and they’ve since been the highlight of the space despite the abundance of greenery in the area.

4. A Colorful Rock Garden

Many homeowners mistakenly assume that rock gardens must conform to dull, monochromatic schemes. Nothing could be further from the truth! Many landscape suppliers offer an impressive spectrum of options that transform ordinary rock gardens into vibrant design statements.

Beyond traditional gray and tan varieties, contemporary rock selections like striking blues, rich purples, warm pinks, and crisp whites allow for creative color blocking, gradual transitions, or dramatic contrasts that complement existing landscape elements. Surface finishes range from matte textures that absorb light to polished versions that capture and reflect sunlight throughout the day.

5. Combine with Groundcover

A simple but effective rock landscaping design combines gravel, rocks, and groundcover to create a natural, wild-like aesthetic. These materials work well to provide a good drainage solution for your garden. Groundcovers and gravel can also improve water retention for your plants. 

Go for hardy groundcovers such as creeping phlox, sedums, or dianthus. These groundcovers have a high growth rate and don’t need much water; they won’t compete with your plants. Additionally, they can be deadheaded and divided easily, so you can enjoy that lush greenery in no time.

6. Build a Bench

Rock landscaping creates striking flower beds that dramatically reduce maintenance requirements while enhancing visual appeal. Enjoy your rock garden with an equally appealing rock bench.

Before amending your garden, install a commercial-grade weed barrier fabric and cut strategic openings only where plants will emerge. The surrounding rocks create a clean, uniform surface that prevents weed germination while allowing necessary water penetration to established root systems.

7. Rock Water Feature

Rocks are an excellent choice for an in-built water feature. River rocks are especially ideal since they’ll fit right into your pond, fountain, or garden spring. Their smooth surfaces bounce off light as water trickles over them to create a welcoming ambiance. 

You should design the water feature before installing the rocks. My last installed garden water feature was a fountain with a rock bed that elevated its level of authenticity. Light-colored river rocks work particularly well in such designs.

8. Zen Garden

One of my favorite rock landscaping ideas is a traditional Japanese Zen garden. It brings a sense of serenity and uniqueness to your outdoor space—and the good news is you don’t need extensive grounds to incorporate these peaceful elements into your landscape!

A modest Zen garden requires surprisingly few materials, including smooth river rocks and fine gravel. The composition centers on placing large stones representing mountains or islands within a “sea” of carefully raked gravel. The distinctive rippled patterns on the gravel surface symbolize ocean waves or flowing water, bringing movement to this static medium.

9. Consider Xeriscaping

In areas with low rainfall, xeriscaping is an excellent way to create a garden design that’ll survive even during extended dry periods. Add some gravel and rocks to your garden and introduce drought-resistant plants such as cacti, aloe, or euphorbia. 

Since stone disseminates heat during the day and prevents water’s evaporation, this design will help keep your plants hydrated for longer. I prefer introducing mulch before the gravel cover, which helps with water retention and may serve as organic fertilizer.

10. Stone Sculptures

Stone sculptures in a yard are a sight to behold, and they’re good decor for various reasons. For one, they are flat, easy to stack, and make for a fascinating DIY project. Besides, you can make sculptures of virtually any size. 

All you need to do is find some stones, glue, and the desired shape for the most fitting landscape décor. To add some pizzazz, consider combining your sculptures with outdoor lighting to highlight the interesting shapes you create.

11. Try a Rock Grass Border

In most landscaping projects I’ve handled, people prefer neat and well-trimmed grass borders, but in some cases, I find it advisable to go with a more contemporary design. A combination of rocks, gravel, and small boulders clumped with native grasses will create a simple, striking, low-maintenance grass border. 

Always consider the combination of shapes and plants when designing such a garden. Smooth rocks and some rough pea gravel will work. Hardy plants such as blade grass and cactus can create a small desert aesthetic in your oasis.

12. Stone Planters

Rock landscaping isn’t all about pea gravel and river rocks; even planters make for a great rock feature. Unlike other materials used for containers, stone planters are a long-lasting option. In fact, with these planters, you may not need to buy any other planter!

The rocks’ muted tones create the perfect contrast with the plants’ green shade and other lively colors. If you’re going for large-sized planters (as I did), I’d recommend finding the ideal spot, then assembling them on location rather than having to struggle to move the hefty boulders.

13. Pebble Pots

For something craftier than planters, why not try pebble pots? Unlike planters, which may require heavy slabs, these pots can be made with small river rocks by either attaching them with sand and waterproof glue or by layering them with mortar. 

I’ve created two pebble pots for my front yard and found the process quite fascinating. I tried different colored stones to create a pattern on the pots, and they’ve instantly elevated my curb appeal!

14. Decorative Planter Accents

Adding river rocks as a decorative top dressing transforms ordinary planters into polished landscape elements while delivering practical benefits beyond mere aesthetics. This simple enhancement allows for creative experimentation with contrasting textures and colors.

Choose smooth, polished pebbles to complement sleek contemporary containers or irregular, multi-colored stones to enhance rustic pottery. The visual interest created through these surface variations adds dimension to container displays that soil alone can’t provide.

15. Create a Pattern With Stones

Perhaps the most natural use of rock landscaping in your garden is creating a path, but even then, I like shying away from the mundane and going for a design with a little more character. 

Combining different patterned and different colored stones helps add an interesting look to a garden path. Pair this with well-trimmed edges and separate it from mulched areas to keep your space looking great.

16. Handle the Slope

Challenging hillsides present unique opportunities for distinctive rock landscaping ideas. Adding strategically placed boulders alongside thoughtfully-selected plantings can transform even the steepest slopes into dynamic, low-maintenance focal points that enhance curb appeal while solving erosion concerns.

Local stone varieties offer the most natural appearance and typically provide cost advantages compared to imported materials. Position larger specimens to create natural terracing interrupting water flow during heavy rainfall, an essential function beyond aesthetics.

17. Create an All-Season Garden

One cost-effective rock landscaping idea is creating an all-season garden; you won’t have to replant your plants or crops each season! A thoughtfully designed rock garden delivers exceptional all-season appeal with remarkably little maintenance, making it the perfect choice for busy homeowners who still desire distinctive outdoor spaces.

The foundation begins with careful stone selection and placement. Incorporate varied sizes and colors that complement your architecture while creating natural-looking outcroppings. Position large rocks to cast interesting shadows that change with the sun’s seasonal angles and create subtle visual shifts even during dormant periods.

18. Fill in Between the Rocks

One significant challenge when creating a rocky landscape in your garden is what to do with the space in between the rocks. Since this space isn’t large enough, the best way to handle it is by using climbers or flowering plants to add color and give your garden a finished look. 

Try plants like Saxifraga, which thrive in rocky mountainous regions. Flowers that compliment the warm tones of the stones in your garden are also perfect.

Simple front yard updates on your entryway, porch, or landscape can welcome guests with a beautiful first impression.

Most of these updates are easy to install and budget-friendly, but that doesn’t take away the significant impact they can have on your home’s curb appeal.

We’ve compiled several inexpensive front yard updates you can do in a day, week, or month and will have everyone wanting to explore your entire property once they set their eyes on them, especially potential homebuyers!

Take a look!

1. Build a Walkway

A well-thought-out walkway is a front yard update that’ll make your home inviting. Replace a straight concrete path with a contoured one made of brick, stone, or wood for a dramatic improvement. 

Alternatively, apply a colored concrete resurfacer to your old walkway for a less labor-intensive upgrade, then edge it with stone or brick borders.

2. Bring Color to the Front Door

The front porch is usually the focal point of most home’s curb appeal, and a coat of paint on the front door or installing a custom wood door can have a significant impact.

Use metal polish to give new life to door fixtures while cleaning off dirty spots around the door knob. Accenting the door with a wreath or flag that reflects your style is also an excellent way to add a personal touch.

3. Install a Window Box

I love using this front yard update to bring color and charm to a home. Painted wood works particularly well for me since it evokes that serene cottage feel, but you can choose window boxes made from iron or copper for a more traditional look.

Keep in mind the amount of sunlight that falls on your boxes (partial or full sun) to know which plants and flowers to add. Also, complement your home’s color scheme for a congruent look.

4. Replace Hardware

Simple elements like a wall-mounted mailbox, front door lockset, and house numbers go a long way in adding style and interest to your home’s front yard curb appeal. However, your home’s aesthetic may be disrupted if these elements are faded or need to be updated.

These front yard updates work best when used as a collective rather than as mix-and-match pieces. Go for brushed nickel for modern homes and oiled-bronze finishes for more farmhouse ones.

5. Tidy Up Your Garden Beds

Renew your garden beds by planting new flowers, pulling out weeds, and pruning excessive growth. Fix up the garden bed borders by resetting any dislodged stones or bricks and cleaning the soiled ones. Add a new layer of mulch if harsh weather and sunlight have made the color fade.

Try upgrading your rock or brick borders to concrete or decorative stone for a more contemporary look and improved curb appeal.

6. Add Shutters

When appropriately used, shutters and trim are front yard updates that can impart a welcoming layer of beauty to your home’s exterior. 

Recent exterior shutters made from composite materials like polyurethane and PVC resins make trim details low maintenance and durable. However, you can still opt for fiberglass, vinyl, aluminum, or wood.

7. Install Outdoor Lighting

I’ll never stop insisting on the significance of outdoor lighting in relation to your home’s curb appeal. Install spotlights to highlight your focal points and low-voltage bollard lights to illuminate pathways and help avoid tripping hazards.

Better yet, go for easy-to-install solar fixtures to avert the cumbersome wiring and save some money. I recommend incorporating various lighting types and fixtures for the best landscape lighting outcome.

8. Update the Mailbox

They may seem insignificant, but mailboxes are promising avenues for expressing a homeowner’s personality while complementing the home’s style. Consider adding a flower garden to a mailbox sitting closer to the road to make your front yard more approachable and welcoming.

If the mailbox is attached to your house’s wall, choose a finish and style that matches your home’s trim and accent decor. Painting your mailbox and post to coordinate with the exterior color palette is another simple front yard update you can utilize. Don’t forget to personalize with vinyl decals that indicate your home’s address!

9. Add Height with Trees

Large and robust tree species like European horse chestnut, blue spruce, maples, and oaks are excellent if you plan to stay at your current residence for the long term. 

On the other hand, small ornamental trees or fast-growing species like juneberry, Chinese fringe tree, red lotus, and Japanese maple are perfect for adding dramatic interest, which is particularly essential when preparing to sell your home soon.

10. Consider Porch Furniture

Chic porch furniture, complete with throw pillows, area rugs, and side tables, is a lovely front yard update that creates a welcoming entryway. 

You can put a rocking chair or two or, if you have the space, a small bench or couch. Choose seats with skids to minimize the damage to your surfaces.

11. Add Interest with Artwork

Sculptures, metal cutouts, birdbaths, and wind chimes are some of the few front yard updates that give your outdoors a little whimsy and curb appeal. Choose pieces that are weather-resistant and complement other exterior elements, as well as your home’s natural palette.

Personally, I’m a massive fan of water sculptures; I just love how they make hot days feel cooler, not to mention the soothing, gurgling sound they produce. Place your water fountains on level ground in sound vantage points and optimum hearing.

12. Add Grand Elements

You don’t need an enormous budget for front yard updates that draw attention to your porch and entryway. Add architectural details like molding to the top and sides of the doorway to help create definition. 

Choose a well-curated and nicely arranged planter collection to make your front porch an even more inviting focal point.

13. Replace Downspouts and Gutters

It’s relatively easy to identify poor gutter maintenance from an old gutter system—drooping, rust spots, peeling paint, etc. These issues indicate repair or updating is required, and you may need to replace old downspouts and gutters with a new system. 

There are vinyl gutter systems you can install on your own, so there’s no need to worry if you have constraints on your budget. However, they become fragile and crack over time in cold climates. More pricier copper systems offer lovely curb appeal and an unmistakable look of quality.

Pro Tip: We recommend hiring a professional installer for your gutter system for the best results.

14. Add Symmetry

I always employ symmetry when designing, given that it’s one of the most straightforward layouts to arrange—not to mention very pleasing to the eye.

Front door accents like planters and wall sconces are usually my go-to elements, and they’ve never failed to create a welcoming entrance!

15. Coordinate the Hardware

Earlier, we talked about how installing simple front yard updates such as porch lights, locksets, mailboxes, and address numbers can instantly polish your home’s look despite their small size.

Choosing consistent finishes for these elements will make them appear as an ensemble of accessories rather than a group of mismatched hardware.

16. Employ a Wreath

A wreath is an easy way to add a personal touch to your front porch, whether placed on the entry door or beside it.

Here, the white wreath stands out against the charcoal gray door and nicely complements the white façade.

17. Consider Container Gardening

I recently curated a container garden for my front porch, and I can’t get enough of the welcoming feel and color it always adds to my home exterior. I’m more of a DIY kind of person, so I created my garden planters, but you can get ready-made ones from garden centers.

Chip-resistant ceramic planters are popular for their durability, but wood, terracotta, and plastic pots will also do fine. As for the arrangement, I prefer a staggered asymmetrical one for a dynamic setting, a front yard update that’s never failed to amaze!

18. Build an Arbor

An arbor will increase your home’s appeal and enhance the front yard, but don’t stop there! Consider other complementing front yard updates, like garden gates and decorative fence panels. 

You can find these front yard additions in prefab sections that you can easily connect or easy-to-build kits, and they can serve as a backdrop for a bounty of blooms. Consider painting or staining these elements with similar colors on your home’s exterior for best results.

19. Match Your Porch Décor

Keeping your porch décor and landscaping cohesive is one easy way to create instant curb appeal.

Here, a pair of rocking chairs, a side table, and a porch swing bench create a clean look and complement the warm gray siding and railings.

20. Add a New Flower Bed

Once you’ve finished tidying up your existing garden beds, consider adding a new flower bed to your home exterior to add more color and contrast. 

Whenever I want to add a flower bed, I focus on spaces like walkways, driveways, in front of the house, or the yard’s front corners—these are key spots for improving curb appeal. Another thing to remember is to use a mix of plant color, size, and texture, choosing features that frame the house rather than obscure it. Precast concrete or stone blocks will be excellent edging for your flower bed.

21. Update Railings

Porch railings help reinforce a home’s style, making them an essential part of its exterior aesthetic. If not properly maintained, these railings can deteriorate quickly. If your railings are past their prime, replace the existing material with quality wood or metal components. 

If you plan on updating other elements on your porch, ensure the materials, details, design, and color are congruent with your home’s main features.

22. Practice Lawn Maintenance

Lawn maintenance is one of the most budget-friendly front yard updates to increase curb appeal. Cut the grass near your lawn mower’s tallest setting and ensure you regularly sharpen the mower’s blade.

Ensure the grass receives the required soil nutrients by applying a weed-and-feed treatment, which will also inhibit the growth of weeds.

23. Liven Up the Driveway

A flower bed in the middle of your driveway is an excellent front yard update idea for boosting curb appeal.

The plant colors and textures soften the rustic brick driveway, making it look less utilitarian. Consider low-growing plants and flowers and add depth and height with a tree.

24. Tile the Entrance

Installing tile at your front entrance can drastically change the look of your home and create a permanent welcome mat. Choose a tile that’s rated for outdoor use and is slip-resistant.

Pro Tip: Grind the surface down before installing tile on sealed concrete to make the thin-set mortar bond.

25. Update the Garage Door

Garage doors are a key part in improving curb appeal. Consider sectional garage doors with windows in the upper panel or, if the budget allows, high-end versions that replicate the look of vintage carriage-house doors.

If you can’t install a new garage door, accent your existing one with new lighting to add character or coordinate it with your home’s exterior color palette with a fresh coat of paint.

The front yard look is the key to an improved curb appeal. You may think that a well-looking landscape design will cost you a lot of money and time but these are not always the keys to making your dream come true.

There are many simple, affordable and easy projects that will make your front yard shine and to help you, we have collected 28 Simple Front Yard Landscaping Ideas for a Fresh Look.

1. Gravel Garden

@yardstopgardencenter

Keep the front yard perfectly maintained and visually appealing with gravel in place of grass. You can replace only part of the lawn and enjoy both the green carpet and the rock garden.

Gravel gardens are trending in low-maintenance landscaping as they minimize the growth of weeds. You can still plant specific kinds in the gravel bed that will give it a fresh and living look. The gravel cover is also a good way to improve the curb appeal by matching it with the walkway leading to the front door and the adjacent outdoor features.

2. Try Edging Of The Garden Beds

@flheartland

You can improve the current look of your front yard by adding edging to the garden beds or making the existing ones deeper or more visible.

There are a few ways to make the edging bolder- by sculpturing it with hardscape materials such as pavers, bricks, stones, large rocks or by differentiating it from the adjacent cover with mulch.

3. Tiers Of Boxwood

@houspectnsw

Simple is not boring and these straight lines of gardens prove it. When you do your garden work properly, the final result will give as much visual interest as more complicated gardens.

The idea in this simple front yard landscape is to create layers of an identical plant by giving them different heights and shapes. For this idea, boxwood is a great plant that is prone to quick growth and various forming ideas.

4. Slab Walkway

@rpmarzillilandscape

If you like the grass pavers, you can create an alternative to them which is easier to maintain, very comfortable for walking and good-looking. In this image, we present to you a walkway from large stone slabs with grass joints that blend the walkway with the lawn.

The design of the walkway is up to you and the properties of the terrain. One thing you won’t avoid is the maintenance of the grass by removing weeds and mowing.

5. Paved Front Yard With Raised Garden Beds

@ladylandscape

If there is plenty of rain in your area, you may want to minimize the size of the lawn. An inspiring and visually appealing idea is given in the image above. The front yard combines a lawn, a large paved area and raised garden beds close to the front door.

The flower beds are made from the same material as the walkway for an elegant and harmonious look. As for the garden beds, you can plant your favourite perennial kinds that will beautify the facade of your home.

6. Lush Garden Beds

@sunnygardentime

Create interest in your front yard with different flowers and plants. Plant them by kind, shade preferences and height to achieve a visually appealing result.

The highest plants, such as rose shrubs, trailing plants, topiaries, etc. should be closest to the porch so that they improve the privacy and don’t disturb the shortest ones and those that need more sun.

7. Classic Front Yard

@designbyplace

This entry garden is an example of a traditional landscape design. It is simple and easy to maintain and at the same time very elegant and inviting.

Traditional front yards usually feature a large area with lawn and a curved or straight garden, depending on the property specifics.

The garden bed features different shrubs, evergreen and blooming, ground covers and trees. At the end of each garden bed, there are tufts of seasonal flowers.

8. Create A Colorful Pattern

@scooterslawncarefl

Creating the classic flower rows is always a good idea. You can go for one kind of plant and mix all of its color varieties or pack two or three blooming flower varieties in one row.

These flower tufts can beautify a sidewalk or add color to the house’s facade.

9. Revamp The Existing Front Yard Garden

@spitzslandscapecontractors

If you are happy with your front yard landscape in general but want to refresh or revamp it, here is a simple and effective idea.

Cover the gardens with mulch. This material will help you with the weed control and will unify the garden spaces in a beautiful and cost-effective way.

10. Garden Bed Around A Tree

@yardstopgardencenter

If you have trees in your front yard, you can dress them up with garden beds around them. The size of the beds is up to you and the free time you have for practicing your green thumb.

Of course, this can also be solved by applying a layer of mulch or gravel over the soil.

11. Small But Beautiful Front Yard

@envision_landscapes_sydney

Even the smallest front yard can be turned into an appealing outdoor area with minimal effort.

Here, the homeowners have decided to go for green and evergreen plants that are long-lasting and easy to grow. There is a tiny bit of area that mimics a lawn and acts also as a sidewalk.

To maintain the garden easily, they have covered the soil with mulch.

12. Expose Structural Plants

@pamdigging

Isn’t this front yard attractive and unique? This effect is achieved thanks to the sculptural plants amid the rows of ornamental grasses and green ground covers.

Structural plants add a bold touch and effectively improve the curb appeal. If you want to try this idea, check the following structural plants: Torch Lily, Ruby Falls, Myrtle Spurge, Century Plant, Baccarat Agave, etc. All architectural plants will amaze you with their unique and striking shapes.

13. Front Yard Garden With Annuals

@_nataliepeterson

Annual flowers can make the front yard shine. Compared to perennials, they offer brighter colors, versatility in shapes, heights and kinds.

The only advantage is that they last only one season. Anyway, if you are looking for a quick and simple way to refresh your front yard garden, plant annuals in tufts.

14. Terraced Flower Bed Along The Fence

@grendel2511

If your home is on a hill, there is still a way to make your odd exterior attractive. The sloped terrain is perfect for a cascading effect in the garden.

This effect can be additionally improved by a certain arrangement of the plant kinds in the garden. Start with the tallest ones closest to the door and continue with plants of descending height. The sloped terrain is also very practical for watering.

15. Add A Colorful Border

@secretgardensllc

Give the boxwood hedge a pop of color by adding a row of colorful plants like the one shown in the idea above.

The tufts of flowers paired with boxwood shrubs create texture and an elegant edging of the house porch.

16. Coleus Garden Bed

@gardeninggays

When it comes to the plant design of the garden bed, it may be challenging to decide what plants go well together. In such cases, you can consider only one plant kind for the garden bed.

Coleus, for example, is a great choice, because it comes in different foliage colors and that makes the landscape very attractive.

To enhance the interest of this garden area, outline it with a border that suits the style of your exterior.

17. Create A Garden Bed With Perennials

@jenniferdimplesandtangles

Unlike annual flowers, perennials last for more years and are perfect for a garden that you want to enjoy for a long time. Perennials usually bloom once a year, so it is recommended that you mix more kinds that alternate in their blooming phase so that there is a pop of color during the whole warm part of the year.

Perennial flowers are usually good friends with evergreen shrubs so you can create visual interest in height by surrounding the back side of the garden bed with boxwood, for example.

18. Create A Cottage Garden

@assateaguefarm

For a really simple landscape design, consider creating a cottage garden. Select flowers that are easy to grow, thrive quickly and are different in height. The last will let you create a beautiful pattern.

Cottage gardens usually include trellises or arches that highlight the architecture of the house.

19. Add A Dry Creek

@tafrenchcustombuilder

Dry creeks are usually considered for sloped terrains but if you have a dedicated garden bed, you can still make this unique nature-inspired feature using different sizes of rocks and stones.

The largest ones will help you achieve the shape and height of the creek’s beginning. Smaller ones would form the curved creek.

20. Shrub Garden Bed

@goodpathgarden

A garden bed with shrubs is a low-maintenance area in the long term. Another advantage it offers is its impressive natural effect. If you prefer a shrub garden rather than a blooming one, take a look at this inspiring shrub bed.

A Tamukeyama Japanese Maple tree, a Hydrangea shaped as a topiary, ‘Peachberry Ice’ Heucheras in the front enjoy the eyes with their thick and orange colored foliage.

They are backed up by evergreen shrubs, which enhance the contrast.

21. Replace Grass With Ground Covers And Flowers

@jogalbraithathome

Ground cover plants are great as an alternative to grass. You can minimize the lawn size and plant more ground covers that are resistant to foot traffic and require little maintenance.

Ground covers are also a great way to cover a garden bed around an old tree that makes too much shade for other plant kinds.

22. Create A Jungle With Layered Greenery

@hedge.garden.design.nursery

Create a green oasis in your front yard with various plants and shrubs. Layer them in height, texture and green shades for more interest and an elegant visual effect.

You can plant the kinds symmetrically on both sides of the walkway or experiment with the pattern and the final effect. In all cases, layered shrubs and green plants with lush foliage will make the front yard extremely appealing.

23. English Cottage Garden

@fentonscottfielder

Most associate English garden style with colors but shapes and textures are also important parts of the landscape.

This landscape design is easy to recreate if you mix plants so that the green shades mix well together and create a continuous lush garden.

24. Decorate For The Season

@annmarie.hartley

An easy way to swap the front yard landscape by seasons is to use flower pots. Add spring blooms, then change them for annuals that will cheer the lawn with their bright colors.

When autumn comes, place large pots with mums in front of the door. In the coldest season, you can add two evergreen shrubs on both sides of the entrance for an improved Christmas mood.

25. Cover With Mulch

@cooper.home

Black mulch is great for making the front yard landscape more elegant and maintained. Create a garden bed, or two on both sides of the walkway and cover them wth mulch.

A good thing about this soil cover is that there are plenty of plants that prefer the conditions for growth it provides, so you are not limited to the style of the garden bed.

26. Embrace Symmetry

@hgtv

The symmetry of this house and its front yard requires symmetrical landscape design.

Whatever design you go for, it should be repeated on both sides of the walkway.

27. Anchor Vertical Gardening

@i_love_winnetka

Create vertical interest at your front door with topiaries or climbing plants. They will act as the final touch of the garden, drawing the eye up.

There are people who like simpler designs and prefer boxwood topiaries. Others, enjoy a layered look created by different plants.

28. Create A Focal Point With A Large Pot

@ladylandscape

Adding one or more flower pots to the front yard lets you experiment with the textures and colors of the garden flowers. This is also a good way to upgrade an already existing landscape design simply and easily.

In this idea, the flower pot is in the center of the front path. It instantly catches the eye wth the bold and bright colors of the flowers planted in it which differ from the garden colors at both sides of it.

Are you planning a garden makeover? Then, you should take into consideration black rocks. Recently, they have become very popular and have displaced the trendy mulch.

The reasons for the new outdoor trend are that black rocks add elegance, sophistication, and style to the exterior. When it comes to their properties, black rocks are a material offering plenty of advantages such as durability, porosity, moisture retention, and weed control.

In this article, we are going to explore 25 Creative Ways to Use Black Rocks in Your Landscaping Design.

1. Mexican Black Pebbles

@curbzlandscaping

Mexican black pebbles are entirely natural volcanic beach rocks originating from Mexico. They come in a variety of sizes and finishes and are great for landscape designs that create contrast. You can find them in a polished and unpolished condition.

In this modern suburban landscape, Mexican black pebbles in an interesting cut-out pattern cover a transition area between the wooden fence, the raised deck, and the lawn. They also cover a garden bed with ornamental grasses, helping to minimize weed growth and ensuring good drainage.

2. Black Slate Chips

@liverpool25byporterdavis

Black slate chips are an alternative to the Mexican rocks. You can use black slate chips for landscape ideas that require contrast. This material is great for pathways, garden beds, rock gardens, zen gardens. It is durable, low maintenance and water resistance.

In this landscape idea, the black slate chips cover an area from the front yard turned into a rock garden with ornamental plants, large rocks and slab stepping stones.

3. Polished Black River Rocks

@balandscapinglawncare

To accentuate a garden bed among a green lawn, use black rocks as a cover for the ground. They offer good water drainage, weed control and a visual aesthetics.

To create a beautiful and maintained garden bed with black river rocks, take off more soil so that the garden bed becomes lower than the lawn level. Then, plant the kinds you have planned and are suitable for this layout and cover the ground with the rocks.

4. Mexican Beach Pebbles

@digginwithdrummy

This contemporary backyard landscaping features a nook with ornamental plants surrounded by lovely Mexican pebbles.

Unfortunately, they are quite expensive because of the added transport costs, however, the final visual effect created by them is worth buying some for a small garden bed.

5. Black Gravel

@fcglandscaping

To complement your modern and exotic patio, cover the garden bed with black gravel. It adds personality to the contemporary landscape and a beautiful backdrop for the different green shades of the plants.

Black gravel is another expensive landscape material because it is quarried close to Del Rio, Texas and also used in the road construction processes. On the other hand, this is one of the most durable materials you will enjoy for a lifetime.

6. Minimal Landscape Design With Black Pebbles

@going_green_property_solutions

Black pebbles are the best filling material for a minimal style garden bed when contrast is needed. Other stones would blur the idea for simplicity, style and modernism.

The deep black color of the pebbles when combined with white garden features creates a touch of refinement.

7. Pathway With Black Lava Rocks

@gardenart_landscapes

Black lava rock adds a bold contrast to the landscape. Usually, it is used for walkways or around an outdoor feature like a fire pit. It is lightweight, porous and durable.

It provides a unique natural backdrop for concrete or stone slabs arranged in a walkway pattern.

8. Black Pebbles In A Zen Walkway

@meetdiyjack

Upgrade the pathway look and improve the curb appeal of your home by replacing the mulch or plain gravel with black beach pebbles.

They add an exotic touch and a relaxing feel to the feature through the resemblance to Zen gardens.

9. Replace The Mulch With Black Gravel

@classicrockstoneyard

Black gravel can be called decorative mulch for a reason. It can replace the mulch around plants, successfully providing the same advantages as mulch.

It acts as a protection of the plants by retaining moisture and controlling weed growth.

10. Natural Black Rocks For A Gorgeous Walkway

@geobunga

These volcanic river rocks are amazing! They cover the ground of a lane edging the house that is transformed into a modern Zen walkway. The puka lava pavers functioning as stepping stones are another gorgeous addition to this gorgeous landscape area.

When you step on them, you can enjoy the beauty of a garden bed with different plants with dense foliage, colors and textures.

11. Black Rocks As A Border Of A Garden

@virgodesignsandlandscaping

The polished black river rocks act as a transition between a granite stone walkway and an elegant mulch garden bed next to the fence.

The black color is the theme of this landscape nook, providing a focal point and a lovely natural contrast for the greenery.

12. Draw Attention To A Garden Bed With Lava Rocks

@thehouseonhadley

If you have a garden bed in front of your patio and want to highlight its beauty, cover it with black rocks.

You can use natural black stone or polished material to instantly turn the garden into a focal point.

13. Black Slate Rocks For An Edging Garden

@rootwisellc

A natural and elegant way to highlight your house is to surround it with a beautiful garden. To enhance the interest and improve the curb appeal, consider covering the soil with black stones other than mulch.

Black slate chips are trendy as they provide a sophisticated contrast, low maintenance and durability.

14. A Black Oasis Amid The Green Lawn

@wellgrowseeds.official

Check out how amazing lava rocks look in this landscape idea! They cover the entire garden beds, providing a bold contrast with the adjacent lawn.

The two garden beds have an interesting curved shape that is highlighted by paving edging. You may notice that most of the time, lava rocks are preferred in garden beds with shrubs and other tall plants because of the thickness of the material.

15. Black Granite Rocks

@jrandsonsservice

Black granite stones are another gorgeous material for garden beds, known for the tiny shiny speckles in their texture. It is also durable and moisture-retaining.

People tend to use it as an accent to water features or borders but it also makes a significant difference to the visual appearance when applied over the soil in the place of mulch.

16. Ensure Low Maintenance Of The Garden With Mexican Black Rocks

@Marc Mason Landscape Services

The natural Mexican beach pebbles are one of the greatest in color and shape stones you can use to enhance the curb appeal of your property.

In addition to the visual effect, these pebbles ensure good durability, resistance to fading, chipping and cracking. You don’t have to replace them every two years as you would have to in the case of mulch. Also, the Mexican rocks defend the garden from weeds.

17. Black Pebbles Mixed With Other Rock Types

@Tri County Landscape

Black pebbles can be a good addition to other hardscape materials such as flagstones, pavers, bricks and even concrete.

It doesn’t matter what the style of your garden bed is, as the black color and round shape of these rocks can only make the existing landscape more elegant and sophisticated.

18. Rock Garden With Black Gravel

@Beck Builders, Inc.

In this tailor-made home, black gravel has been used to create a contrast with the stamped concrete walkway leading to the front door.

It covers entirely one big garden bed and a smaller one in the shape of a stripe edging half of the house. The plants chosen for the gravel garden are ornamental grasses, shrubs that bloom and a tree complemented by large rocks that complete the rock garden idea.

19. Tropical Garden With Polished Black Pebbles

@Tri County Landscape

This is another proof that black rocks fit any type and style of garden.

In this edging garden with tropical plants, the black polished pebbles cover the bed, setting the perfect conditions for the thriving of all kinds.

20. Mexican Rocks In A Stylish Minimalist Garden

@Folia Horticultural Design

When the Mexican pebbles are dry, they have a gray color that is also fantastic for your landscape project. Their bluish hue makes them a good match with concrete, granite and stone slabs.

This gray shade also provides a lovely contrast for the greenery you have chosen to plant next or amid it.

21. Rock Garden With Mixed Pebbles

@Forever Young Landscape

You can use the black rocks to create a beautiful contrasting pattern with other colors of rocks or mix them all and turn them into a beautiful mosaic.

The owners of the garden above have decided to go for the second option and cover the entire garden bed with mixed pebble colors. This enhances the natural feel of the landscape design and reminds one of a dry streambed.

22. Lava Stone As Part Of Garden Sculptural Enhancements

@Folia Horticultural Design

If you are looking for a filling material that can complement a modern garden layout featuring minimalist sculptures, there is no better option than black lava stones.

Take a look at the example above! The lava stones are of the perfect color and smooth round shape that can highlight the style and pattern of the repetitive stone spheres.

23. Black Rocks As A Landscape Nook Transition

@ADLA Studio

Black rocks can be used to transform an odd part of the garden or to create a bold transition between two backyard features. This image pictures the second option. The black gravel covers a curved area between the sand game basin and the pool.

The black rocks add texture and depth to the landscape and a visual appeal.

24. Urban Garden Bed With Black Rocks

@Exterior Worlds Landscaping Design

The black lava rocks in this landscape idea are used to ever a part of a garden bed edging the modern house.

Instead of plants directly in the ground, Impatiens is planted in metal black containers standing on the black rock surface. The outdoor rock border creates a lovely transition between indoor and outdoor spaces.

25. Mini Zen Garden

@Garden Mentors

A little is a lot! Have you heard this expression? This mini garden oasis proves it! Sometimes, even the smallest indoor garden could change your mood and relax your senses.

The homeowner has utilized the small space to the maximum, aiming to recreate a Zen garden. In the center, there is a tiny lawn with large rocks, surrounded by black pebbles. The decoration consists of stone containers for water, a small garden bed and typical Japanese plants.

Constructing front yard landscaping in a compact space might be a bit discouraging, but I assure you that the beautiful end result is sweeter than honey. By integrating appealing gardens into your outdoor space, you can not only create a whimsical environment for yourself and your guests but also have a constant source of creative spark.

Whether you crave a romantic overflowing front yard in a cottage style, or a symmetrical and appealing walkway garden, you can find anything you need in this article. You can even draw inspiration from the styles and aesthetics we have selected to construct the best landscape for your small front yard that would also match your personality and unique style.

1. Cottage Style Landscaping with Whimsical Overflowing Flowers

@gathercoaustralia

If you prefer overflowing flowers and a natural look, this cottage-style landscaping idea is just for you. Let your plants grow wildly, overcoming the stone path in your front yard to evoke a whimsical feel.

For an even stronger effect, you can also let some climbing plants grow up your house for a natural feel. In this way, you can always feel closer to nature and its authenticity, which can be a source of inspiration and creativity for you.

2. Small Shrubs and Tall Perennial Flowers for a Refreshing Look

@terragardensco

A simple, inviting look can sometimes be the best choice for your front yard. Opt for small green shrubs along the house’s foundation and add some decorative boulders to enhance the earthy feel.

Continue with tall perennial flowers in graceful colors to maximize the curb appeal and create a sense of innocence and unmistakable charm for your small front yard. In this way, you will create the best first impression for your home.

3. Compact Lush Garden for Enhanced Visual Appeal

@taylormadelandscape

If you happen to have just a bit of garden space, you can still make the best of it by integrating a compact, lush garden with small shrubs and gentle perennial flowers in your front yard.

Opt for adding a small tree as a charming focal point to your garden, and spread decorative stones in the middle as a small path. Make sure to integrate different kinds of plants and flowers to enhance the garden’s variety and visual appeal.

4. Green Flower Beds for a Symmetrical Appearance

@lyke_minded

Integrating a couple of stone flower beds around the house’s foundation is an intriguing idea that would keep your front yard organized and symmetrical, while enhancing its visual appeal and unique style.

Plant big shrubs and trees in these big planters to achieve a neat design. Keep the one nearest to the front door nice and dense with small greenery to achieve a refreshing ambiance in your outdoor space.

5. Traditional Dense Green Flower Bed Along the Porch

@nathanburkett.nbla

If you crave something traditional, you can go for a dense green flower bed along the porch with globe-shaped shrubs and smaller greenery all around it for a rich design that is organized and neat.

Moreover, you can add a small tree as a focal point to the flower bed to offer a timeless curb appeal and a sense of gracefulness and charm. Make sure to tend it often to keep it in its full visual potential and grace.

6. Stone Ring Focal Point for a Sense of Balance in Design

@ashlah_landscapes

By adding an elevated stone ring in the center of your landscaping, you can create a clear visual center that draws the eye and is the epitome of symmetry and the anchor of surrounding elements.

It is an ingenious idea to place a single ceramic pot in the middle with an exotic plant in it. Surround the stone ring with various evergreen shrubs to create a sense of harmony for a calming front yard.

7. A Mulch Bed Around the House for a Creative Spark

@breinerlawn kevin.fouts14

Integrating a mulch bed around the house’s foundation is a beautiful idea that could create a charming contrast with your green lawn. Plant small green shrubs in the mulch bed together with spherical bushes for variety.

Furthermore, you can add bigger flowering shrubs as focal points in the bed. This idea could ignite your creative spark with its endless possibilities of filling it with all types of flowers and greenery according to your personal aesthetic feel.

8. A Beautiful Foundation Garden to Enhance Your Curb Appeal

@clclandscapedesign

Foundational gardens are the preferred way to soften the transition between the house and the yard. You can surround the garden with stone framing and integrate seasonal flowers to beautify your outdoor space.

Opt for bolder flower colors and symmetry to enhance your front yard’s visual appeal. You can also position a big stone vase on each side of the front door walkway and fill it with similar colored flowers as an elegant finishing touch.

9. Beautiful Shrub Garden with a Stone Path for Visual Appeal

@kellyslandscapingltd

It is an ingenious idea to integrate a shrub garden in your compact front yard space to create a beautiful, relaxing atmosphere. Opt for some evergreen shrubs to evoke a refreshing feel in your outdoor space.

Furthermore, you can add a diagonal stone path for a sense of texture and structure. It would also be visually appealing if you added some deciduous shrubs that could invite a bit of color besides green.

10. Desert Front Yard Landscaping for an Earthy Feel

@gardenscapesbyclaudia

A desert-style landscaping could be a beautiful way to add a bit of spice and exoticism to your outdoor home space. Opt for succulents, cacti, and sandy hues in the construction of this thematic oasis.

Furthermore, you can spread some decorative stones around to enhance your outdoor space’s visual appeal. Such a landscaping design could also evoke an earthy, relaxing feel in your outdoor space.

11. Small Flower Beds Around the House and the Fence

@pinehouseediblegardens

In order to create a structured front yard landscaping, you can integrate small flower beds around the house and the fence to beautify every corner of your outdoor space, to have your morning coffee in a comforting ambiance.

Opt for different types of succulents and small evergreen and deciduous shrubs for a sense of variety in design. Through this landscaping style, you can create a unique first impression for your guests.

12. A Stunning Tree Ring with Seasonal Flowers in Bright Colors

@Lisk Landscape Innovations

One of the best ways to beautify your outdoor space in a simple yet effective way is by integrating a tree ring. Opt for seasonal flowers in bright colors to create a stunning focal point in your front yard space.

Furthermore, you can also plant the same flowers from the tree ring around the walkway of the front door for an enhanced visual appeal and continuity in exterior design.

13. A Small Stone Flower Bed With Hydrangeas for a Nice First Impression

@designingthedillons

Even if your outdoor space is limited, you can still make the best of it by adding a small stone flower bed along the walkway to your front door. Opt for a single plant choice to really focus the passersby’s attention on the compact flower bed.

I would recommend using hydrangeas for such a minimalistic space to have a balance between the green and the bright color of the flowers. You can also add another small shrub near the front door as a nice finishing touch.

14. Cottage Style Garden with Overflowing Flowers for a Romantic Feel

@aarontuttle_

In case you prefer wilder vegetation and a maximalistic feel, you should go for a cottage-style look with overflowing flowers. Add all types of deciduous shrubs in different flower colors to achieve variety in your outdoor design.

Opt for some climbing greenery to intertwine along the front porch’s facade as a nice finishing touch. Make sure your cottage front yard is well-kept despite the wild aesthetic to achieve a romantic feel.

15. Abundant Front Yard Garden with Shrubs and Small Flowers

@justintuckerteam

If you want to evoke a sense of coziness and a refreshing energy in your outdoor space, you can do so by adding a stone path leading to the front door and surrounding it with various shrubs and small flowers.

Opt for well-kept round shrubs around the walkway and some deciduous shrubs surrounding it. You can also focus on adding specific plants like lavender to enhance your exterior space’s curb appeal.

16. Modern and Clean-Cut Flower Beds for an Aesthetic Appeal

@joannaarchergardendesign

Modern designs tend to be neat and symmetrical – this also includes landscaping designs, which have clean-cut flower beds. In this way, you can have an organized and beautiful front yard for an enhanced curb appeal.

Add a round shrub at the corner of each flower bed and plant some lush evergreen shrubs in it to capture the refined effect. Opt for white and pink flowers to create a romantic, seasonal feel in your front yard.

17. Stone Meandering Flower Beds Around the House

@Fox Landscaping

If you want to create an elegant, flowy feel in your front yard, you can do so by adding meandering flower beds around your house’s foundation. Opt for planting some evergreen shrubs to create a refreshing, earthy sense.

Choose some one-color flowers to spread around the flower bed, as well, to create a graceful front yard ambiance. Such an idea could go really well if you have a solid ranch-style house.

18. Walkway Garden With Appealing Pink Flowers and Green Shrubs

@Lifestyle Landscaping, Inc.

A graceful idea for your front yard could be a meandering walkway with appealing white and pink flowers for a romantic feel. Add lush green shrubs around the flowers for a sense of symmetry and variety.

Another thing you can do for this beautiful design is to integrate a stone flower bed around the house’s foundation for a natural feel. You can also add an elevated vintage pot for the same pink and white flowers.

19. Big Flower Pots Around the Walkway for a Compact Garden

@James Martin Associates

It is an ingenious idea to add big flower pots around the front yard’s walkway for a minimalistic, yet graceful ambiance. Opt for a mixture of different types of small flowers in various colors for a beautiful effect.

You could also add a pair of decorative ceramic urns on each side of the front steps for a sense of refined elegance and high style. In this way, you can create an overall charming atmosphere in your front yard.

20. Tropical Front Yard Landscaping Reminiscent of Relaxing Summers

@JK Design Custom Landscapes inc.

When you often find yourself reminiscing about past holidays in warm, tropical places, this idea is just for you. Integrate one or two palms in your front yard to get reminded of the relaxing summers you had.

Construct a flower bed along the walkway and the foundation of the house where you can plant different kinds of succulents and bright-colored flowers for a stylish tropical design that is sure to impress your guests.

21. A Variety of Vegetation to Create a Refreshing Ambiance

@Design Build landscape

If you are inclined to more than one landscaping style and you can’t decide which one to pick for your compact front yard, you are more than welcome to combine all of them to ensure a refreshing feel.

You can start with some evergreen trees and shrubs in the front of the yard. Then, you can combine some succulents, flowering shrubs, and lavender in a foundation garden near the house.

22. Whimsical Mediterranean Landscape to Beautify Your Front Yard

@Pratt Guys

Mediterranean landscapes evoke a certain sense of rustic elegance and natural simplicity. Integrate a circular flower bed on one side of the walkway and a bigger foundation garden along the house.

Opt for small, colorful flowers and evergreen shrubs, together with pink roses and rosemary. Add potted plants, garden ornaments, and decorative stones as a charming finishing touch in harmony with nature.

Nowadays, people are willing to spend a little bit extra to enhance their outdoor spaces, infusing them with luxe patios, outdoor kitchens, wildlife-friendly gardens, and more. 

There’s no doubt these landscaping projects will make your home outdoor experience fun, but some offer a bigger bang for your buck than others, either by helping save money in unexpected ways or increasing your home’s resale value.

Factors to Consider When Deciding on Landscaping Projects

Think Big

A complete landscape upgrade can be expensive to pull off at once. What I advise my clients is to have a clear vision and consider the ultimate goal for their backyards, then begin the upgrade in stages—be it a place to relax and unwind with a sauna or a screened-in patio with a TV and an outdoor kitchen to entertain guests.

Do What Resonates with Your Ideals

For some, having an outdoor bar to entertain guests and family is all they could ask for, while a butterfly garden would be a bliss to those who want to sit, relax, and enjoy nature’s serenity. In the end, we all have our preferences, and you should put your money into what brings you the most joy.

Consider the Time Frame

If you plan to move from the house you live in a year or two or the house is an investment property, the best upgrade you can give your home is a well-maintained landscape. However, if your plan is to stay in your house for a couple of years, then you’re free to personalize it the way you want and make improvements that will increase your quality of life.

Landscape Maintenance

You’ve probably been dreaming about starting a kitchen garden, but if maintaining it will be difficult and you lack the time to water the plants, then it might not be a wise decision to undertake the project. Some of the highest maintenance additions to the outdoors are pools and intricate landscaping, and neglecting them can make them less alluring to potential homebuyers when selling your home.

We’ve taken it upon ourselves to find the best landscaping projects recommended by experts to help better spend your landscaping bucks and maximize your gardening budget.

Take a look!

1. Build an Outdoor Kitchen

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, formal dinner parties have become less and less frequent as people have started to enjoy a more casual, laid-back sort of entertaining in order to socialize. One easy way to host your backyard barbecue is to invest in an outdoor kitchen.

Functional outdoor space has become increasingly valuable to homebuyers, and an outdoor kitchen is up there when it comes to things buyers will pay a premium for, adding 2.2% to the house’s purchase price.

2. Construct a Pizza Oven

An outdoor kitchen is great, but not all of us are fortunate to have the space for a full-on outdoor kitchen. No need to worry, though, especially when landscaping projects like a pizza oven exist!

In today’s market, homebuyers are willing to splurge more on small backyard luxuries that have that ‘wow’ factor and are just plain fun, and a pizza oven perfectly fits this description. Plus, it can add 2% to your home’s purchase value.

3. Install Outdoor Lighting

I have all kinds of outdoor lights in my yard: solar lights, string lights, uplights, spotlights—you name it. And there’s no better feeling than getting to enjoy your outdoor space, whether it’s day or night, especially when you’re looking to entertain outdoors after hours. 

Moreover, outdoor lighting can add 1.2% to your home’s purchase value.

4. Add a Firepit

What’s more fun than having bonfires in your backyard? And the best part is you can DIY a firepit all by yourself! And don’t confuse a firepit with an outdoor fireplace—for an outdoor fireplace, it’s better to leave it to the professionals.

That said, a firepit can have a home sold nearly a day faster than anticipated and for 1.1% more of the home’s value, which is a higher premium than that for an outdoor fireplace.

5. Consider Native Plants

One time, I made a mistake (a tiny one) by choosing plants that weren’t suited for my area, based solely on the notion I would dedicate all my effort and time to ensure they reach their full potential. But as life goes, I definitely didn’t have the time (nor the effort) to see this landscaping project come to fruition, and it all came tumbling down—in my defense, they were glorious flowering plants, only I didn’t get to experience them😑.     

Choosing plants, trees, and grass that are native to your area and well-adapted to your local environment is critical to helping keep your garden healthy and thriving, even when you aren’t always on top of your gardening responsibilities.

6. Add Mulch

Mulch isn’t the most attractive landscaping project to partake in, but it’s definitely budget-friendly and will give you good value for your money. 

Mulch also makes garden beds less susceptible to weeds and reduces the time spent in garden maintenance by helping improve the soil’s moisture retention, which is very essential if you live in a drought-prone area. Furthermore, when selling your home, it makes your landscaping look more charming and cleaner.

Add at least two inches of mulch to your garden beds—if you’re using a larger mulch that creates more gaps for weeds to take root and evaporation, you’ll have to go a bit thicker.

7. Plant Trees

I can’t get enough of trees in my backyard, and I’ve enjoyed a myriad of benefits from having them, including reducing my heating bills by buffering my home from cold winter winds, shading my home on hot summer days, and thus reducing my cooling costs, and enhancing my home’s curb appeal. 

Here’s another fun fact: according to the Arbor Day Foundation, well-placed trees are said to reduce air conditioning costs by up to 35%. Additionally, trees can help dampen the noise from the streets and keep the nosy neighbors from distracting your ‘me-time’ by creating a privacy screen.

8. Install a Bluestone Patio

If you want to entertain outdoors, patios and decks are a key addition. According to Zillow data, a bluestone patio can add 2.2% to a house’s selling price. Bluestone in itself is famed for its durability and beauty and can be used to impart a sleek, modern touch to your space or a more rustic, natural vibe.

9. Focus on the Front Yard

Curb appeal not only makes a good first impression to guests and family when they step foot in your front yard but is also critical to your home’s value. Consider an easy-to-care-for but attractive landscape that’ll create a beautiful space to live in and bring a return on investment when selling your home in the future.

10. Lawn Care and Maintenance

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and the National Association of Landscaping Professionals (NALP), lawn and landscape maintenance were found to have one of the most significant returns on investment among landscaping projects, with a 100%+ ROI. 

It may not be the most spectacular way to spend your landscaping budget, but a well-manicured lawn and landscape is essential to boosting up curb appeal, especially when you’re looking to sell the house.

The outdoors is the perfect place to relax, whether it’s enjoying the evening breeze or creating memorable moments with your friends or family. 

While they are the ideal place to literally “touch some grass,” no matter how well you landscape your yard or style your garden, you’ll always need conscious improvements and refreshment of the space to break the monotony or switch between different themes. 

For most people, redoing their exteriors every now and then is an expensive, not to mention a tedious undertaking. But the good news is that there are plenty of simple and inexpensive ways to transform their spaces. 

Here are some expertly proven methods to fake an outdoor renovation.

Take a look!

1. Start with the Landscape

Curb appeal is all about introducing new items to your outdoor space. Sometimes, the best way to improve the look of your surroundings is to handle the landscape. You don’t need to introduce new plants or add décor to the space (that won’t hurt, though). 

Start with the simple things, like trimming and maintaining the plants in the area. Tidiness can go a long way in making a yard look fresh and revamped, so clear the space of any dead leaves and branches.

Remember to edge the beds as well. Each time I make clear, defined edges, my garden always looks new. The good news is you don’t need a great deal of skill to do it yourself! Simply use a hand-held edger or shovel to create straight lines and curves when necessary; trust me, it doesn’t take a lot of effort.

2. Patch Bare Spaces

People often ignore the impact of bald spots on their yards. While they may seem to only affect the outdoor look of your property, studies have shown that they have a far-reaching impact on people’s perception of your home. 

They make your house look old and neglected, which can be especially detrimental when looking to rent or sell the property. Additionally, they considerably lower the aesthetic appeal of your property. Touching up any bald pots in your yard is one of the easiest ways to make your outdoors look renovated. 

Get some seeds, sods, or straws, and fill out any spotted areas. Ensure you use the same type of grass as before to give the space a uniform look. I always look to fill bald spots during growing seasons, such as summer or late fall, to give the grass enough time to root.

3. Disguise Garbage Cans 

Most of the time, when chilling outdoors, people tend to forget to clean up after themselves or be tidy, and small pieces of paper, peelings, and other waste materials may pile up in no time. If your space doesn’t have the proper disposal methods, these seemingly harmless pieces of dirt can quickly become a nuisance and make your outdoors unsightly. 

The solution is simple: go for DIY garbage cans, which are inexpensive and highly effective in hiding garbage. You can even be creative with the solution by installing cans for different types of waste and then adding a privacy screen using wood pallet boards for an inconspicuous, modern look. 

One simple way I disguise my garbage cans is by painting them with interesting shapes and characters so that they act as part of the outdoor décor.

4. Tweak the Lighting

Lighting isn’t just important inside; when creatively installed, it can also make a difference in your outdoor space. When it comes to this aspect of outdoor renovations, it’s common for people to look at flashy lighting or store-bought outdoor lighting fixtures. 

However, these options are usually costly, so if you’re operating on a tight budget, they aren’t the best. To keep the reno costs minimal, repurpose old interior lights that aren’t in use. These lights can add a warm, inviting atmosphere without burning a hole in your pocket. 

I recently repurposed some old string lights I was using as Christmas décor for my garden pergola, and I have to admit, it has really livened up the space. Try to minimize the costs by using solar-powered lights wherever necessary. You can also try portable lights that you can move inside in case of bad weather.

5. Take Care of the Damage

Your renovation won’t do much to your exterior if your space has damaged elements like fascia, gutters, drainpipes, and other non-structural elements.  

Before jumping on a renovation, ensure all these items have been repaired or replaced. If you’re short of funds or time, you can remove the items and replace them when you’re ready.

Always remember that a neat space is the first step to an updated-looking exterior. This is why you should also consider factors such as edging, repairs, and a clutter-free space. Take time to consider the costs and manpower required to make your repairs. Sometimes, I prefer repurposing items if they’re crucial to the garden.

6. Paint the Front

One of the age-old tricks for updating exteriors on a limited budget is painting or repainting the area. Paint works wonders if you’re looking to fake a reno; you don’t even need to paint the entire space to make it look renovated! Focus on key elements of your front space. 

Here are some of the areas you should consider.

• The front door: The front door is the first feature visitors see when visiting your home. As such, painting it will create an instant visual impact. Opt for bright, bold colors to create a welcoming focal point.

• Mailbox and curb: A fresh coat of paint on your mailbox is a good way to fake a revamp of your space. Update the curb lettering and numbers to give the space an updated look. Try going for a stand-out color or model to really make your mailbox stand out from the rest.

• Front Side: If you are looking for an even fresher look, why not update the entire front side of your house? Ensure you use the same color as the rest of the house; the last thing you want is mismatched colors. 

• Trim and shutters: It may seem unusual, but painting your exterior windows, trim, and shutters in a clean, complementary color will significantly improve your home’s curb appeal. Try complementary colors with the rest of the house or a matching color with the doors.

7. Install a Surface Deck

A surface deck makes for a good reno to cover up worn-out concrete or wood. Natural materials like wood make for good surface-level decking since they can maintain room temperature even during the cold season. 

Unlike floating decks, which require a lot of materials, craftsmanship, and intense labor, surface decks are much easier to install since they rest directly on the ground. 

If you have the budget for it, you can try surface decks made of rubber or composite. They are durable, resistant to rot and insect damage, and provide a safe surface to walk on. Always check the weather resistance of the material before installing, as it could be crucial to longevity.

8. Add Decorative Mulch

If you have ever come across a house on the market, then you might be familiar with decorative mulch. This seemingly simplistic element will take the curb appeal of your home a notch higher (or two!). The good thing about mulch is that it also doubles up as a ground cover, making your plants pop and keeping them well-hydrated for longer.

As with any other type of gardening, the correct type of mulch is essential to determine its effectiveness. I always prefer organic kinds, such as chipped or shredded wood bark, which blends in with the soil. You can also go for inorganic types, like pebbles, which last much longer, but why not revitalize the soil while doing your reno?

9. Add an Outdoor Rug

Rugs aren’t exclusively reserved for interior spaces; they can also make for a good disguise outdoors. If you have any chipped floors or a cracked concrete front, a rug may just be the perfect solution. 

Don’t just place the rug in any place; tweak the space and make it functional. For example, if you have a cracked porch or patio floor, add a rug and make it a small family area. 

Rugs made from durable, waterproof materials like polypropylene are best for outdoor areas. They can withstand adverse weather and come in various colors, adding a pop of color and style to your space.

10. Add Some Container Plants

Container plants in the entryway are an instant attention grabber. They provide the greenery and charm that improves the visual interest of a space while livening it up. 

What I like about these plants is that they provide color without needing a complete garden overhaul. Not to mention, they make good seasonal décor. 

If you are going for containers for the front porch, go for planters that are large enough to make a visual impact but not too large to overwhelm the space. Try a symmetrical arrangement to make the space feel balanced and well-rounded.

Landscaping, whether home improvements or outdoor projects, doesn’t only beautify your yard and give you a lovely place to live; it also increases your home’s curb appeal, ultimately helping you fetch a higher price for your house when selling it. What you ought to ask yourself is: which outdoor projects have the highest ROI (return on investment) and offer much satisfaction?

Recently, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) conducted a study that focused on homeowners’ level of satisfaction with outdoor remodeling projects, why they complete them, and the potential value the projects added to a home’s market selling price. The report highlighted 11 outdoor landscaping projects that scored high in value and satisfaction.

Why You Need Landscaping

According to 97% of NAR members, curb appeal is critical when attracting a buyer for residential properties. The main goal is to make a good first impression with your home, and that means ensuring the yard is neatly mowed, nice edging, trimming hedges, and adding seasonal color with colorful planters—all these will give you an advantage when selling a home!

While getting the best return on investment from your projects is a key goal, you shouldn’t focus solely on the future monetary gains and forget the present moment. Your outdoor projects should be more of a lifestyle investment, which simply means you should focus more on what brings you the most satisfaction and enjoyment.

For some, some shade and privacy for a serene sanctuary is all they could ask for, while others would prefer to use their space to entertain their families and give their kids and pets more space to run. So, it all boils down to the experience you want in your yard, then plan your landscape according to how you want to live in your home.

Today, we will seek insights from the 2023 Remodeling Impact Report: Outdoor Features from the National Association of Realtors Research Group and examine 11 landscaping projects listed to have brought the best return on investment.

Take a look!

1. Standard Lawn Maintenance

In the report, standard lawn maintenance was described as six conventional seasonal applications of weed and/or fertilizer control on a 5,000 sq. ft. lawn. Lawn maintenance had a “Joy Score” of 9.4 (on a scale of 10) and was regarded as a project that adds beauty and aesthetics.

The project had an estimated 217% return, with a return on investment estimate of $900 from an estimated cost of $415. Furthermore, 58% of homeowners indicated they were more satisfied going home after the project was completed.

2. Landscape Maintenance

According to the report, landscape maintenance entails planting approximately 60 annuals or perennials, pruning shrubs, mowing 2,835 sq. ft. of lawn, and annual mulch application. Homeowners cited that landscape maintenance added beauty and aesthetics to their properties.

Landscape maintenance had a 104% return: the estimated cost of $4,800 had a return on investment estimate of $5,000. Additionally, 61% of homeowners indicated that they fancied going home after the project was completed.

NB: A good strategy I’ve always found helpful when trying to save a couple of bucks is conducting smaller projects or routine maintenance by myself. Low-cost projects like container gardening are perfect if you have a green thumb, not to mention they’ll add seasonal color and enhance your outdoor space. The challenging ones, like plant disease control and tree pruning, you can leave to the pros.

3. Full Landscape Upgrade

A complete landscape upgrade entails installing two stone planters, each 6 ft. long, 2 ft. wide; a natural flagstone front walkway 3 ft. wide, 30 ft. long; one deciduous 15-foot-tall tree; five flowering shrubs; and bark mulch.

In the report, 50% of consumers indicated that adding beauty and aesthetics was the most important result of a complete landscape upgrade. 23% of Realtors recommended the project before selling, and it had a “Joy Score” of 9.7.

The project had a 100% return: an estimated cost of $9,000 had a matching return on investment estimate of $9,000. Furthermore, 72% of homeowners were more inclined to be home after completing the project.

4. Installing an Outdoor Kitchen

Take it from me: adding an outdoor kitchen is an excellent way to customize your home and incorporate your personal style. An outdoor kitchen project, according to the report, includes installing 60 sq. ft. concrete countertops of veneered masonry stone, stainless steel drawers, one inset grill, a sink, and an ice chest.

Most homeowners listed durability, alongside long-lasting results and materials, as the most important results of adding an outdoor kitchen to their property. The project had a 100% return, with an estimated cost of $15,000, yielding a matching return on investment estimate of $15,000. 

Also noteworthy is that 99% of homeowners longed to be home after completing the project.

5. Building a Patio

Installing a new patio helps upgrade worn-out features and improve livability. The report defined a patio as the installation of an 18 x 16-foot concrete paver patio in a backyard, dry set over a sand base, and compacted gravel.

The project had a 95% return, with an estimated cost of $10,500, yielding a return on investment estimate of $10,000. Consumers also noted they had an increased sense of enjoyment while at home when they completed the project and had more desire to be there.

6. Constructing a Wood Deck

Constructing a new wood deck had as much appeal as building a new patio, with the wood deck project having a “Joy Score” of 9.8, while the patio project had a “Joy Score” of 9.9. A new wood deck, according to the report, entails a 14 x 18-foot cedar structure with cedar stair steps and railing and fir or pine lattice at the base.

Consumers listed improved livability and functionality as the most crucial result of both projects. The project had a return of 89%, with an estimated cost of $16,900 and a return on investment estimate of $15,000.

7. Tree Maintenance

NAR found that 44% of Realtors recommended tree maintenance before selling, with the Realtors estimating that tree maintenance can recover 87% of the project cost when selling a house.

Per the report, tree maintenance includes regular spraying, pruning, trimming, and three applications of tree fertilizer, as well as removing one 30-foot-tall tree. The return on investment estimate was $2,500 from an estimated cost of $2,875.

8. Installing an Irrigation System

An irrigation system project entails installing and managing an irrigation system for a 5,000-square-foot lawn. In the report, a few consumers indicated they could install an irrigation system to improve the lawn’s beauty and aesthetics. Consumers with already-installed irrigation systems reported a “Joy Score” of 9.4.

The project had an 83% return, with an estimated cost of $6,000 and a return on investment estimate of $5,000. Furthermore, 61% of homeowners were more inclined to be home after completing the project.

9. Installation of Landscape Lights

Landscape lighting was one of the only two projects given a “Joy Score” of 10 by consumers who had already completed it. Most consumers said adding beauty and aesthetics was the most important result of this project. Additionally, consumers listed modernizing their space and improving livability as key factors in undertaking this project.

The report described a landscape lighting project as the installation of 20 LED lights and a standard 600W transformer. The project had a return of 59%, with an estimated cost of $6,800 and a return on investment estimate of $4,000. Moreover, 61% of homeowners were more satisfied being at home after completing the project.

10. Installing a Fire Feature

The report described a fire feature as the installation of a 10-foot-diameter flagstone patio and a dry-stacked natural stone kit with a gas burner. Most consumers installed a fire feature to add features and livability to their homes.

The project had a return of 56%, with an estimated cost of $9,000, yielding a return on investment estimate of $5,000. In addition, 78% of homeowners indicated they had an increased sense of enjoyment while at home, and 73% said they had more desire to be home after completing the project.

11. Construction of an In-Ground Pool

According to the report, an in-ground pool consists of an 18 x 36-foot in-ground pool with a 3 – 7-foot depth and gunite walls, a 3-foot-wide concrete perimeter surround, and a standard filtration system. An in-ground pool was the second project to be given a perfect score by consumers, with a “Joy Score” of 10.

The project had a return of 56%, with an estimated cost of $90,000 and a return on investment estimate of $50,000. However, there were other benefits. In addition, 89% of homeowners were more satisfied to be at home after completing the project.

NB: If the cost estimates featured in this article seem too much, keep in mind that some projects can be done in phases.

There’s no place more relaxing than a lush green garden; it’s the ideal spot to relax and unwind after a long day or enjoy a bit of greenery on clear, warm days.

What most people don’t know is that it isn’t just the greenery, fragrant flowers, and long-lasting perennials that make a garden a sight to behold but rather the little touches that may not seem evident at first glance. Getting the small details right will determine how expensive or welcoming your garden will look as a tranquil, cohesive space!

It’s essential to be indulgent as possible when it comes to landscaping. This is especially true if you’re a perfectionist (as I am!), where you just have to achieve a specific look. Each shrub trim, planter placement, or pavement pattern will add visual appeal to your space. Since plants have different lifespans, your selection of shrubs, trees, and flowers will be instrumental in how fresh your garden looks all year round. 

One age-old trick I have found to be effective in almost every landscaping job combining plants. Forget the expensive décor or the lighting; a well-curated plant collection will make all the difference! Reason being adding plants to a natural environment will always make the space look better than trying to manually charge the space into your ideal look.

Still, man-made features shouldn’t be discounted from the design. Combining hand-picked plants and well-designed artificial structures will bring an instant wow factor to your garden. It’s essential to bear in mind that more isn’t always necessarily better; even a minimal garden can look lush and luxurious with the right touches.

Here are some clever ideas on how to make your landscape look more expensive. 

Take a look!

1. Go for Evergreens

As I previously stated, the choice of plants makes all the difference when creating an expensive-looking garden. To this end, you should opt for plants with year-round color. These plants, such as the classic evergreen boxwood, will add visual appeal to your space and improve the texture.

For a little bit of pizzazz, try shrubs with flowers or plants with different foliage colors. I prefer choosing plants with matching or complementary colors to ensure a cohesive color pattern.

2. Go All Natural With Furnishings

As you may have noticed by now, natural materials work well in most luxurious landscapes. Most modern spaces are moving away from concrete and steel to natural materials such as woven fabrics, wood, and rattan.

When used in outdoor spaces such as gardens and patios, these nature-inspired materials create a rich ambiance with a soothing feel. 

Before settling on materials, decide on the color palettes and textures you want for your space. It’s also essential to consider the mood and ambiance you want to evoke in the space. Complementary décor accents can add to the luxurious feel.

3. Attention to Detail

I cannot stress this enough! For a luxurious-looking landscape, the devil is always in the details. Even the tiniest of details that may seem unimportant will be crucial in contributing to the space’s aesthetic appeal.

Keep your walkways tidy and unroot any creeping weeds. Next, ensure that your driveway is in good repair and that grass isn’t creeping over it (here’s where edging comes in). 

Other simple details that could elevate your garden include a well-designed and maintained mailbox and planters around the front door with seasonal plantings; this will come in handy during the festive season.

Don’t forget the lighting. A spotlight on a tree or two will do wonders for your visual interest. If you have a sitting area, you can also opt for string lights to ensure it’s usable day or night. The choice of lighting will also contribute to the space’s ambiance, so be careful about what you choose.

4. Create Some Symmetry

Let’s face it: we are orderly creatures; even a little bit of chaos can make us unsettled and uneasy. While the symmetry concept is widely employed in interior spaces, it can also be a good choice for outdoors.

A garden with a jumble of unrelated plants and garden elements will be too chaotic and hardly make sense in your landscape, but introducing a pattern will help create a unified space.

Start with a simple pattern, which you can then make more complex in the future. When landscaping, I like having a clear image of how I want my garden to look before introducing plants and other design elements.

This ensures the space is always well structured. Remember, landscaping isn’t just a one-time activity—you have to be patient for your garden to take shape.

5. Neat edges

As simple as it may sound, neat edging significantly impact how your garden bed looks. Even the most well-designed gardens will look shabby when neglected. Overgrown foliage and unmaintained lawns can make even a royal garden look out of place!

Go for edge designs that are simple, clean, and easy to maintain. You should also consider the future prospects of expansion. As the landscape takes shape, the size of the beds is likely to change.

Consider simple edges like metal, which are easy to maintain, or go for the more conventional spade edges, which are neat and simple to expand as you add to your garden. Don’t forget to prune and trim any overgrown plants.

6. Try a Discrete Color Palette

When designing my front yard, I decided to adopt a unique approach, and I have to say, it worked exceptionally well! Wanna know the secret? I adopted a discrete color palette that was instant eye candy for visitors. I figured since the yard is the first thing people see when approaching the house, having a good color scheme will go a long way in improving the curb appeal. 

Try interesting color schemes, like a mixture of green shrubs with accent flowers, to inspire different moods. The choice of accent colors will depend on your tastes and preferences. In my case, I went with white and orange flowers to bring in the full fall spirit.

7. Well-Tended Trees

No garden is complete without a tree. Trees add an element of depth and dimension to a garden while also using their size to contribute to its dramatic appeal. Their unique, undefinable aesthetic allure makes your garden glimmer and impacts your property’s selling price.

The good thing about trees is that you don’t have to worry much about a sitting spot. I have a couple of maples and dogwoods that are my perfect retreat on hot summer days.

The most tricky part about trees, and probably the most discouraging one, is that they take a bit longer than other plants for you to see their true beauty. As such, you should grow them as soon as you start your garden. My maples took about 7 years to really come to form, but I have to say, they were worth the wait!

8. Go Big With Pavers and Stone Work

Large pavers and stonework can add immense flair to your landscape since they look more grand and have a better dramatic appeal than the standard small-scale pavers; the bigger your pavers, the grander the space will look!

Natural stone is one of the best choices for garden pavers, as these stones seamlessly fit into the natural environment. Clear lines and well-defined borders will also add to the feeling of luxury in your space.

9. Proper Maintenance

With a lush-looking landscape, it would be a shame to let it spiral into disorder due to a lack of maintenance. Sometimes, even the most luxurious garden may fall apart if not cared for well enough. This is especially true if you visit your garden every day, as it’s hard to see these gradual changes. 

Take a step back and look at your property and surrounding landscape to note areas needing a touch-up.

I have devised a simple solution to ensure my garden is adequately maintained: taking a picture after every maintenance circle. Having a pic of my garden looking at its best ensures I can always compare its growth and surrounding conditions. This way, I always know when maintenance time is around the corner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Now that we’ve highlighted everything you need to do to make your garden a luxurious space, it is time to look at the frequently asked questions about luxurious landscaping.

What makes up a luxurious landscape?

A luxurious landscape doesn’t have to include many elements; besides, luxury is subjective! Add an element of personalization. This may be a fire pit, a small outdoor dining area, a conversation area, or even a fountain. The most crucial point to remember is balancing functionality and aesthetics.

What designs are popular in landscaping?

Again, the choice of landscaping design often boils down to personal preferences. Currently, the most popular designs are contemporary, but it’s always a good idea to match your landscape with your home’s architectural design.

Should I go for a landscaper, or can I just do it myself?

Personal landscaping allows you to really infuse the design with your preferences and add a little bit of character. But if you don’t have the know-how, it’s always advisable to go with a professional who will offer ideas to help realize your vision.

Landscaping is not only a visually engaging way to transform your backyard or cozy front porch but also a functional space that could bring you closer to nature and provide a relaxing spot for you and your family. We have selected eighteen easy landscaping ideas to beautify your outdoor space effortlessly.

Whether you need a brighter ambiance in your outdoor area or you strive for something more organized and practical, we have it all covered! Draw inspiration from these landscaping ideas to create the perfect outdoor space for yourself where you can find relaxation and enhance your home’s visual appeal.

1. Wilderness Combined with a Modern Design for an Appealing Backyard

@coshliving

If you are fond of contrasting styles, blending wild flora with modern stone-paved backyard could be the perfect choice for you. Choose exotic plants and trees to overcome the stone path for a romantic look of nature overcoming modernity.

Add a wooden platform with chairs and a table as a meal area together with an outdoor fire bowl on a stone path. In this way, you can keep the earthy feel with such natural materials in your backyard design.

2. Cottage Garden Landscaping with Multiple Gardens

@plantingtree

If you crave a rich outdoor space with multicolored flowers and shrubs, a cottage landscaping idea could be the perfect choice for you. You can compose it with multiple gardens for versatility and charming appearance.

Opt for similar rich colors, such as red, yellow, and purple to create a sense of continuity in style. You can also plant big decorative shrubs in each section to evoke an abundant and soft feel for natural outdoor beauty.

3. Stone Pillars for Enhanced Visual Appeal and Elegance

@jamesmartinassociates

If travelling and exploring major ancient centers gives you a sense of fulfilment, then this idea could make you experience it in your own home. Opt for stone pillars to enhance the visual appeal of your outdoor space.

Place them in a central spot where your outdoor dining area is, or spread the pillars around your garden among the mulch beds. In this way, you can enjoy a year-round adventurous feel and elegance.

4. A Curved Stone Path With Lush Gardens on Both Sides

@thisoldcapehouse

If you have a bigger outdoor space, you can make it more creative and visually entertaining by adding a curved stone path with lush gardens on both sides for a creative and beautiful addition to your outdoor space.

Opt for shrubs in different heights to construct a multi-level garden that will beautify your space. Add some aesthetic outdoor lamps for beautiful night walks along the curved stone path.

5. Garden Boulders in Your Exterior Space for an Earthy Feel

@dennis7dees_landscaping

Garden boulders are one of the most aesthetic additions to a front yard garden due to their authenticity and earthy feel. Spread the boulders around your lush mulch beds for enhanced visual appeal.

Choose shrubs in different hues, like red and yellow, for the gardens and some smaller trees for a multi-level composition. Enjoy a unique and natural atmosphere in your front yard space.

6. Minimalist Neat Landscaping for a Modern, Organized Look

@landscaping.shadesofgreen

If you have limited space for greenery in your outdoor space, you can still make the best of it by focusing on a minimalist, neat landscaping to achieve a modern and organized look in your backyard.

Opt for bigger potted plants and shrubs around the garden area. Use your elevated space for decorative purposes and the smaller garden space for neat rows of green and red flowers to beautify your space.

7. Gravel Beds with Evergreen Shrubs for Year-Round Appeal

@gardeningdesigns

Gravel beds are one of the most elegant garden choices for outdoor spaces. Such designs could enhance a charming atmosphere in your backyard area and make it look neat with some stone enclosure.

Opt for small shrubs for year-round appeal and drought-resistant plants like lavender on the outskirts of the garden, together with colorful garden flowers in yellow, purple, and white for visual appeal.

8. Lush Colorful Gardens Around the Trees to Beautify Your Space

@missminnicole

If you crave more color in your outdoor space, you can compose lush gardens around the trees to beautify your space. Opt for decorative grass, tall green shrubs, and red, purple, and pink flowers.

In this way, you can combine multiple styles to achieve a composed look of color and joy. Make sure to take good care of this makeshift garden to keep its lushness and beauty for a long time.

9. Traditional Foundation Planting with a Stunning Focal Point

@simplysoutherncottage

Foundation plantings are one of the most common landscaping designs that are a classic and elegant choice for your outdoor space. If you have a lush, colorful tree that could serve as a stunning focal point, it could be even better.

Keep the main row with green shrubs of approximately the same height and plant colorful flowers in the front row to complement the focal point of the landscape. In this way, you and your guests can enjoy a pleasing view before even getting inside the house.

10. A Beautiful Tree Ring with Purple and Pink Flowers

@to_mimishousewego

By integrating a tree ring landscaping in your outdoor space, you can highlight a tree in a lovely way while adding a sense of charm to your yard. You can add decorative elements like stones or keep it simple with plants and flowers.

Opt for graceful purple and pink flowers for the front part of the tree ring and a row of shrubs for the back to create a multi-leveled visual experience. Go for chrysanthemums that could create a charming feel in your outdoor space.

11. Foundation Planting for a Balanced and Symmetrical Front Yard

@simplysoutherncottage

If you want your front yard to have a symmetrical and balanced look, you can turn to foundation planting to create the organized and visually appealing look you seek in an accessible and easy way.

Opt for evergreen shrubs for year-round beauty in the back row closer to the house, and plant petunias and other perennial flowers in various colors to create a refreshing and charming outdoor space look.

12. Structured Geometrical Front Yard Landscaping

@Ginkgo Leaf Studio

If you are a more organised and composed type of person, you can showcase these qualities of your personality through your outdoor space and your thematic choice of geometrical yard landscaping.

Compose the landscaping around the entryway path of your house, which should also have some relevant shapes on it. Focus on evergreen shrubs and colorful decorative flowers to also add a charming feel to the set structure.

13. A Mulch Bed for a Polished and Neat Front Yard Look

@followmetobrentwood

Mulch beds are both practical and aesthetically pleasing, serving to improve plant health while giving your outdoor space a neat look. You can compose a kind of foundation planting with the mulch bed around your front yard.

Opt for small evergreen shrubs and ornamental grasses to create a polished look. You can also integrate some garden boulders to create a refined feel in your outdoor space that will make it even more charming.

14. Walkway Landscape for an Inviting Ambiance and Charm

@thedistinctivegardener

If you have a rather limited outdoor space, you can still make the best of it by adding a walkway landscape for an inviting and charming first impression that will make your guests come back again and again.

Opt for two big potted plants on each side of the front door for an earthy, graceful feel. Plant rows of stylish begonias surrounded by lacy green foliage along the walkway to beautify your front door space.

15. Color-Themed Plant Groupings for a Cohesive Outdoor Style

@gardeningdesigns

If you are a perfectionist and want to make that clear through your outdoor space as well, you can try color-themed plant grouping that will not only create versatility and enhance the visual appeal of your outdoor space but also show your personal qualities.

Start with purple and white groups of flowers that could evoke a sense of purity and refined elegance in your yard, and add green shrubs. Keeping to a small color palette like this could create harmony and visual impact.

16. Cottage Garden Style for a Vintage and Charming Feel

@gardeningdesigns

In case you are someone who is fond of the vintage style and wants to incorporate it into your outdoor space as well, this cottage garden idea is just for you! Start with an elegant stone walkway with overflowing flower borders around it.

Such cottage designs consist mainly of wildflowers to evoke an earthy feel and wild charm. You can also add big shrubs and garden boulders to make the cottage garden even cozier and enhance its charm.

17. Traditional Countryside Landscape for Enhanced Homeliness

@Shirley Bovshow

If you want to create a sense of charming nostalgia in your outdoor space, you can try to recreate your memories from your childhood when you spent most of your summers in the countryside.

Incorporate a decorative garden with small shrubs and potted plants as focal points. Add an arch trellis and wooden benches around the garden to emphasize the homely feel and take you back in time.

18. A Lush, Neat Front Yard Garden with an Elegant Fountain

@Home Garden Design, Atlanta – Danna Cain, ASLA

Sometimes, what we need is something simple yet effective to create a sense of charm and homeliness in our outdoor space. You can opt for a lush, neat front yard garden with small evergreen or flowering shrubs in various colors.

Furthermore, you can add decorative stones in this landscape design together with a stone fountain as a focal point in the outdoor space to enhance its elegance and unleash its charming effects.

Everyone wants a beautiful and functional landscape, but sometimes, our hopes and dreams for our outdoor living spaces can be crushed when we browse the prices of the items we adore most.

But worry not! We’ve compiled some of the best and cheap landscaping ideas that will instantly transform your yard, from plants, outdoor décor elements, and gardening practices to more generic DIY projects.

Whether you want to reduce maintenance, add a pop of color, or increase privacy, these budget-friendly solutions will help you achieve the landscape of your dreams.

Take a look!

1. Add Mulch

Mulching has many benefits for the garden, including soil temperature regulation, moisture retention, and weed prevention. It also adds depth to your space, making it one of the easiest and most cost-effective landscaping options for improving your yard’s aesthetics.

I prefer organic mulch, such as compost, shredded leaves, grass clippings, straw, pine needles, and wood, since it offers beneficial nutrients to your plants as it decomposes.

There are also inorganic types of mulch, like landscape glass, rubber, and stones. In addition to enhancing your plant’s health, mulch is low-maintenance, thus limiting the amount of time you’d normally spend in the garden.

You can mulch by yourself or transfer the responsibilities to a professional company. If you decide to go with professional installation, mulching will cost you about $90 per cubic yard. However, doing it yourself will knock you back to around $35 – $70 per cubic yard, depending on the mulch type you pick.

NB: Numerous cities and counties have free mulch programs worth looking out for. Also, you can acquire wood chip mulch for free from local tree service companies, who will happily share their loot from their tree removal projects!

2. Build a DIY Water Feature

Installing a water feature might sound complicated, but I assure you, it’s not! You only need a low-cost submersible pump, decorative rocks, and, of course, some water. The size and shape will depend on your preference, and you can add flowers and foliage to beautify your oasis.

Depending on the size, a pre-built water fountain costs between $100 and $2,500. If you take the DIY route, however, expect a setback of about $30 if you have most of the items around your home.

3. Consider Xeriscaping

If you travel to areas where water conservation is important such as the Southwest and other arid regions, you’ll notice most homes employing xeriscaping in their landscape designs. 

This cheap landscaping idea uses thoughtfully designed irrigation systems, native and drought-tolerant plants, and hardscaping elements to offer a sustainable water-saving solution.

Xeriscape landscapes require minimal water and maintenance, which lowers the total landscaping costs. I always recommend grouping native plants when working on a xeriscape landscape to not only cater to their watering needs but also create a beautiful, diverse display.

If a turf area is giving you headaches, consider drought-resistant groundcover plants such as sedum and snow-in-summer, and add some boulders and rocks to increase the visual interest.

Professional installation for a xeriscape landscape ranges from $5 to $20 per square foot, which is a fairly generous amount.

Fun fact: You can easily source landscape rocks and boulders for free from local construction crews, landscaping companies, or even Craigslist.

4. Grow Perennials

I just love having perennials in my compound. These beautiful and practical plants provide a new shine year after year and come in a wide array of colors and textures. Some of my favorites include daylilies, chrysanthemums, heleniums, dahlias, and coneflowers, just to name a few.

Perennials not only beautify your landscape but are also budget-friendly. They can cost from $4 – $100 per plant, depending on the size and species you’re looking for. This makes them a practical and aesthetically pleasing choice for an alluring and low-maintenance landscape.

Some large shrubs can even cost more than $100, so it’s all about preference.

5. Opt for a Vegetable Garden

Grocery trips to Walmart, Costco, and Target are fun, no lie! But you can significantly reduce your grocery bills with a small, easy-to-maintain vegetable garden at your home. Most vegetables are pretty easy to grow, so you won’t have to worry about your busy schedule!

A vegetable seed packet costs between $3 and $4, but a fully grown plant will cost you around $12 – $15 per plant.

6. Utilize Focal Points

Landscaping your entire yard can become quite an expensive endeavor. One way to save money is to focus on one area and add an attention-grabbing element to elevate your curb appeal. 

Creating focal points is actually one of the simplest and most eye-catching techniques DIYers can use without spending a lot of money.

Build an arbor or trellis to add height and dimension to your yard, and adorn it with climbing plants and flowers for a touch of pristine beauty. Upcycle items such as recycled metal, boulders, and driftwood to build sculptures and garden statues that won’t cost you a penny!

Or take the easy way out and let nature do the heavy lifting; planting a statement-making tree or shrub with a unique growth pattern and beautiful flowers will surely catch the eye.

7. Choose Sustainable Hardscaping

Hardscaping is a cheap landscaping idea to modernize your yard and turn it into a functional and versatile outdoor space. Whether you’re building a deck, walkway, patio, firepit, or retaining wall, hardscaping elements create a low-maintenance design that will last years.

Dedicate a whole weekend to construct a DIY firepit and grace your yard with a chic entertaining spot for your friends, this I can guarantee you of! I didn’t construct mine, though, but I purchased a firepit kit for about $650. So, if you have such an amount or more lying around somewhere, just know it’s an option. 

Lay pavers or stones throughout your landscape to create a low-maintenance walkway. Depending on the material, this can cost up to $2,500. However, a low-maintenance pea gravel walkway will set you back around $400.

8. Install Outdoor Lighting

There are cheap and functional landscape lights on the market to enhance your outdoor space. The most cost-effective ones have to be solar lights due to the apparent harnessing of the sun’s power to operate. Plus, you won’t have to deal with any wiring whatsoever!

You can use spotlights to create focal points in your landscape by highlighting trees or outdoor sculptures. Illuminate your walkways with path lights to minimize the risk of tripping hazards, and hang string lights or decorative lanterns for a sweet, romantic ambiance on your outdoor patio or pergola.

A solar landscape light will cost you about $50 – $150 per fixture. Still, with a little bit of research, particularly online, you can find solar lights for as little as $10 per fixture.

9. Utilize Recycled Materials

Why spend all the money on expensive garden containers when you can repurpose unused items around your home? Upcycling offers an eco-friendly and frugal way to repurpose everyday items into beautiful, functional pieces that withstand the test of time.

Look around for an old wheelbarrow or tires and turn them into colorful garden planters, or build outdoor furniture with old wooden pallets. Barrels, watering cans, tubs, toolboxes, and bird cages are also excellent options for unique container planters.

Since you’re repurposing what you already have at your home, the only costs you will incur are for the plants and probably the soil, which are between $5 – $50 per plant and $5 – $20 per bag of potting soil.

10. Ditch the Lawn

Groundcover is insanely cheap, not to mention very low maintenance. Groundcover plants are excellent alternatives for lawns, eliminating the expensive lawn maintenance requirements while offering a lush carpet for your landscape.

Creeping phlox, creeping thyme, lily of the valley, lamb’s ear, sedum, and pachysandra are some lovely groundcover plants I can think of from the top of my head. Whichever you go for, be ready for some alluring textural elements and a pop of color from seasonal blooms!

You can purchase a creeping thyme plant for as low as $2. Plant seeds cost about $0.50 per square foot or $5 per pound.

11. Add a Pop of Color with Container Gardening

Container gardening doesn’t only serve the purpose of growing plants in your landscape. Garden containers and pots come in various colors, sizes, shapes, and materials, making them perfect for adding impact to your outdoor space.

These versatile and budget-friendly options can be found at your local home improvement store, garden centers, or online retailers like Amazon. My porch has never been the same since I added flower pots to it. To impart some personality, I mixed the sizes and colors of the planter collection, and the results were magical!

Flower pots will cost you between $2 and $100 per pot, and the price varies depending on the material and size.

12. Plant Native Plants

There are a couple of reasons to consider native plants for your cheap landscaping ideas: they adapt extremely well to the soil and climate, are pest-and weed-resistant, and will last a lifetime.

Their adaptability means less fertilization, watering, and pesticides, minimizing the overall costs and maintenance procedures. Native plants also support local pollinators and wildlife like hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees while promoting biodiversity.

Like perennials, a native plant can cost between $4 and $100, depending on its size and species.

13. Define the Yard with Edging

Try edging if you want a functional landscaping project that will add structure and definition to your yard while improving visual appeal. Furthermore, it’s a neat method for preventing grass or groundcover plants from invading your flower beds.

Edging is also integral in preventing soil erosion in vegetable gardens and keeping mulch from spilling on walkways. Some landscape ideas, such as xeriscaping and rock gardens, require edging to maintain the design’s integrity.

Depending on your landscape and preferences, you can choose natural stone, plastic, or metal edging. Professional concrete edging installation will set you back around $5 to $18 per linear foot.

For my garden edging, I simply stacked small stones along the garden bed for a rustic look. This DIY project will cost you nothing!

14. Plant Seeds Rather than Buying Plants

We all know plants are a must in our cheap landscaping ideas, but buying fully grown plants can rack up the cost. As such, going for seeds becomes a more cost-effective approach.

One seed packet costs between $2 and $4 and can easily fill a flower bed. At such a low price, you can buy multiple options for a diverse display.

15. Surround the Mailbox with Foliage

Surrounding your mailbox with beautiful flowers is an excellent way to improve your home’s curb appeal, and since the mailbox isn’t going anywhere, you might as well try out this simple DIY project.

Start with a layer of mulch for definition, then plant low-maintenance perennials with different colors, textures, and foliage. A bag of organic mulch costs around $2 to $6, and you can get perennial plants for $4 to $100 per plant.

16. Go for Annuals Instead

My love for perennials is unwavering, but I can’t deny the fact that they can be too costly. Planting low-cost annuals is an alternative cheap landscaping idea for improving your yard on a budget.

I’ve actually planted a couple in my garden, with some of my favorites being sweet alyssum, cosmos, marigolds, petunias, and zinnias. Annual plants cost between $2 and $11 per plant, depending on the species and size.

17. Keep it Natural with a Rock Garden

Rock gardens are an excellent way to conserve water while adding visual interest to landscapes. They provide year-round appeal and require minimal maintenance, and depending on the materials, they can be a cost-effective landscaping option.

Here are a couple of ideas that can help you get the most out of your rock garden:

• Plant drought-tolerant plants like succulents.

• Use river rocks and landscape fabric to improve the visual appeal.

• Create pathways in your rock garden with stepping stones.

Before you go on a “rock shopping” spree, keep in mind you can source rocks locally for free through various avenues. If you don’t mind spending a little bit of money, though, landscape rocks would cost you around $15 – $160 per cubic yard, professional installation not inclusive.

18. Take it Up

Don’t let that backyard wall or privacy fence stay bland when you can spruce it up with a vertical garden. Vertical gardens are inexpensive, fun DIY projects that help maximize the space we have. 

I switched up the game with my vertical garden by planting vegetables, with the aim of cutting down on grocery costs; save whenever you can, right?! You can combine herbs and leafy vegetables with more decorative options such as air plants, climbing vines, and succulents.

19. Consider Raised Beds

Garden maintenance is a hectic undertaking, especially for beginner gardeners. Good thing is, solutions such as raised garden beds have helped reduce the costly maintenance associated with gardening.

Raised garden beds are versatile, making them suitable for vegetable and flower beds. They also prevent soil compaction, pests, and weeds while ensuring proper drainage. Plus, you can build raised beds with ordinary materials, such as wood, brick, or cinder blocks.

A DIY raised bed will cost you between $22 and $35, especially if you already have most of the materials at home.

20. Add Texture with Ornamental Grasses

Ornamental grasses offer color, texture, and height, giving your landscape a touch of whimsy and elegance. Popular ornamental grasses include Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra), blue fescue (Festuca glauca), pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), and fountain grass (Pennisetum).

Most are drought-tolerant and require minimal care. Depending on the species, ornamental grasses cost between $2 and $40.

Commonly Asked Questions

What are the best affordable landscaping materials to use?

Locally sourced rocks, recycled wood and metal, organic mulch, and gravel will create a gorgeous, low-budget landscape that you’ll be proud of.

Are there inexpensive ways to improve my outdoors?

Numerous cheap landscaping ideas can enhance your outdoor living space, including repurposing old furniture, budget-friendly decorative items like cushions, lanterns, and outdoor rugs, and upcycling materials like pallets for DIY projects such as building outdoor furniture.

What are budget-friendly ways to add privacy to my yard?

A living fence is by far the simplest way to add privacy to your landscape. You can plant fast-growing, low-cost bamboo or install lattice screens adorned with climbing vines. Other ideas include hanging outdoor curtains, repurposing old doors and shutters, or a DIY privacy fence.

Doing something on a budget doesn’t mean settling for less, and this applies to your landscaping projects as well. 

With the proper outdoor decorative ideas, hardscape and softscape features, and favorite plants, you can easily upgrade your outdoor space without putting a hole in your wallet.

We’ve compiled a few affordable landscaping ideas that will impart an attractive allure to your yard without the need for professional landscapers or highly priced plants.

Take a look!

1. Choose Affordable Hardscaping

There are numerous inexpensive hardscaping materials available, such as sand, rocks, bark, brick chips, shredded leaves, mulch, and pea gravel.

You can build a paver or brick patio in sand instead of concrete or create a DIY stone walkway. With a properly planned design, you can even avert the need to cut any of the bricks.

Let me chime you in a little secret: when buying these hardscaping materials, purchase in bulk to fetch them at a much lower price than you would when purchasing bagged mulch or rocks at your local home improvement store. You can thank me later when you’re counting all the money you saved!

Search for free sources or local landscape supply stores for bulk deals.

2. Buy Inexpensive Plants

You can always find low-cost plants at your local grocery stores. But, personally, nursery sales have always been a great deal-saver whenever I’m looking to buy plants. They are usually held annually in July and August, and you can find amazing deals on selected plants.

Plants sold at these local nurseries are usually superior to the cheap ones found at grocery stores. Nonetheless, this shouldn’t discourage you from shopping for grocery store options—you can always bring them back to life with a bit of care and love!  

You know what? Skip the whole ‘buying of plants’ endeavor. Instead, choose some established perennials and spread them throughout the yard for a budget-friendly option. You can even trade some of the cuttings with your gardening friends to beautify your landscape with new plants!

3. Substitute Fertilizer with Compost

Instead of buying commercial fertilizers at your local gardening stores or nurseries, consider using compost to fertilize your plants for free. Building a compost bin will do wonders for your overall budget-friendly landscaping project.

The best thing is the materials are readily available. Just put in kitchen food scraps, grass clippings, eggshells, raked leaves, twigs, shredded paper and cardboard, and more. Mix and water occasionally, and you’ll have a free, readily available source of soil amendments.

4. Save Water with Xeriscaping

Xeriscaping is a gardening practice that had been traditionally reserved for hot and arid areas. However, the landscaping option has become popular in numerous places in the country due to increasing concerns about climate change and the need for water conservation.

Drought-resistant plants are the main feature in xeriscaping, with the following principles helping incorporate them as part of an overall water-conservation strategy:

• Planting plants with similar watering requirements together for a more efficient watering regimen.

• Combining drought-resistant groundcover plants with hardscape features to replace or reduce turf grass.

• Making the soil well-draining by amending it with compost and organic matter, ultimately improving the soil’s water absorption ability.

5. Opt for Perennials

Perennial flowers come back each year, and these easy-growing plants can help to cut back costs on your spring planting purchases.

I planted a bunch of them in my backyard a few years ago, including salvia, lungwort, and hardy geraniums, and they never miss with their beauty every year. Oh, they’re also deer-resistant—another reason to have them!

There are also perennials that do well in the shade, such as bleeding hearts, foxglove, and hostas, making them excellent for container gardens.

6. Consider Groundcover

Another cost-effective option for your landscaping is planting groundcover plants. These plants spread on their own, and you only need to plant a few to get the job done.

My love for perennials also extends to groundcover plants, and I happen to have some periwinkle and creeping phlox in my yard. The naturally spreading groundcover plants come back each year, are deer-resistant, and fill my space with a beautiful, lush carpet.

Most groundcover plants don’t need much fertilization or watering, making them excellent substitutes for grassy lawns. Or better yet, you can combine them with your lawn, using groundcover plants to landscape around shrubs and trees. This will ultimately reduce the cost of landscape maintenance.

NB: You can also utilize some weed varieties as ground cover since they spread fast, are hardy, and appear yearly without fail. Some of them include white clover and wild violets, which most people try to get rid of without realizing they’re lawn and groundcover alternatives.

7. Go for Mixed Planting Beds

Planting beds is an easy idea that can instantly elevate your landscape, and there are tons of DIY planting bed ideas that you can try out. Still, you need to have an understanding of materials, put in some physical work, and have an elaborate plan for a bed that suits your space.

Some of the ideas include utilizing DIY container gardens as raised planting beds or using landscaping fabric to fashion planting beds in the ground while controlling weeds. 

For such projects, I always recommend using recycled and affordable materials for the planting beds and borders, such as landscape timbers and pallets—they’ll significantly bring the cost down; take it from me!

8. Consider Affordable Containers

Container gardens are a budget-saver whenever you’re looking for affordable landscaping ideas. There are even secondhand pots and containers that you can get at virtually no cost at all! Just make sure you thoroughly clean your thrifted container in case there are any lingering diseases that were left in there.

DIY container garden projects are also worth taking part in. I’m a DIYer myself (at least, I consider it so), and I have indulged in a few creative container gardening projects, such as upcycling an old wheelbarrow, bird cage, and even hollowed-out logs.

If you have an unused 5-gallon bucket, you’ll be surprised by the potential it holds as a garden planter or container. The process is relatively simple and will only take an hour of your time, which is a considerably fair exchange! Just make sure you drill drainage holes to the planters that have a solid bottom.

9. Go for Native Species

Ever wondered how you can cut back on your plants’ fertilization and watering requirements? Well, here’s a great idea: plant native species! 

Native plants are plants that adapt naturally to your local climate and soil, thanks to centuries of evolution. They’re usually pest- and disease-resistant and flourish in gardens without much hassle.

Native plants come with a myriad of benefits. For one, they assist local pollinators and wildlife by creating an abundant and safe space for their needs. They also help the ecosystem by preventing soil erosion.

Each area has its own unique native plants, so ensure you get in touch with a local cooperative extension office to inquire about the specific types of native plants suitable for your area.

10. Install Water Features

Water features don’t come cheap, especially when you hire a professional landscaping company to adorn your yard with a grand waterfall. 

But don’t worry! Nowadays, low-cost options such as pond liners and pumps make it easy for DIY enthusiasts (like myself!😉) to install a water feature in their space.

Whether it’s a small pond, an easy-going waterfall, or a tiny stone fountain, you can create a focal point in your yard that will have visitors stopping in their tracks just to admire it!

Commonly Asked Questions

What’s the appropriate budget for a landscaping project?

The budget and cost of landscaping projects vary significantly due to a variety of reasons, such as whether you’re using a professional landscaping company for the whole project, DIYing most parts yourself, size of the yard, desired features, or if you’re landscaping both the front and back yard. On average, the cost of landscaping a yard from scratch ranges from $2,000 – $6,000 or more, inclusive of labor and materials. A landscape designer’s fees range from $1,000 – $7,000.

What is the most costly part of a landscaping project?

Using a professional landscaping company is sure to ramp up the costs of your landscaping project. If you go the DIY route and do much of the work yourself, it’s safe to say you’ll save a lot of money. Incorporating hardscape materials like patios and concrete, as well as planting trees and shrubs, can also increase the overall cost of your landscaping project.

Does landscaping help increase home value?

According to research, adding or maintaining landscaping improves curb appeal and significantly increases a home’s value. When selling a house, the return on investment (ROI) can reach 100 percent for an overall landscape upgrade.

A thoughtfully planned landscape increases curb appeal and is essential when making a great first impression, ultimately increasing your home’s value.

Whether you have a small or extensive yard, your landscaping should be adapted to your local climate and surroundings and complement your home’s architecture. 

We’ve made a list of the most straightforward landscaping ideas that will guide you in enhancing your home’s curb appeal for a high-end feel.

Take a look!

1. Use Desert-Friendly Plants

@mgehrealestate_la

Make considerate choices with sustainability in mind by using drought-tolerant plants in your landscaping. 

This California bungalow includes a small front yard planted with succulents, cacti, and other desert plants in raised beds, which significantly reduces water usage. The low-maintenance garden beds allow the simple, rustic facade of the bungalow to stand out.

2. Cover Your Picket Fence

@bhgrealestate

A classic white picket fence is an excellent option to enhance the landscape of a small front yard. Brighten your picket fence by flanking it with lush foliage and flowers. Here, the picket fence is bordered by greenery and flowers that give the home’s entrance a welcoming feel.

The plants and an enormous tree partially obscure the cottage’s facade, giving the front yard a semi-open feel. A classic lamp post adds a timeless feel and completes the look in style.

3. Let Pavers Take Center Stage

@1225karenreynoldsrealtoratl

Minimize the lawn area of a spacious front yard with a paver driveway and walkways. This front yard features a few patches of lawn areas flanked by boxwood shrubs and hydrangea blooms for a modern feel. 

The old-looking paver driveway and walkways make the small patches of lawn look greener.

4. Utilize a Walkway

@chrisveechrealestate

A narrow walkway is an excellent landscaping idea to guide the eye to further beauty beyond. 

This beautiful cottage has vivid green grass lawns that follow a slender walkway up to the front door, providing a fantastic way to transition from the street to the front yard porch. Hydrangeas and evergreens help frame the house.

5. Consider a White Exterior

@oh_hellooo_home

The bright white facade of this grand home creates a delightful backdrop for the plantings in the yard.

The gray roofing contrasts nicely with the white, while the brown on the door, gutter, awning, and windows add color and warmth, enhancing the home’s curb appeal.

6. Embrace Symmetry

@epicureanestatesct

This house is bordered by a humongous hedge and a woodsy backdrop. The front yard is landscaped with a formal garden with lawns, evergreen hedges, and several flowers, helping the house blend in with the surrounding natural setting.

Touches of symmetry manifest on the pavers edged in the grass, the concrete entrance, and the home’s exterior. Symmetry makes a home look well-maintained and more attractive by creating a balanced, visually pleasing, orderly appearance.

7. Let Trees Dominate

@daisychohanca

If there are a lot of mature trees around your home, consider keeping your front yard landscaping simple. This home stands out against the towering trees in the background. 

An undemanding front yard features a small strip of lawn, evergreen bushes, and outdoor lighting, with a pair of topiaries framing a window for a whimsical look. Painting part of the shingled wall a similar color to that of the roof is another simple way to boost curb appeal.

8. Use Different Materials

@hadleyjameshome

A home’s exterior presents the perfect opportunity to inject some personality. Here, a stone accent wall complements similar finishes on the chimneys and adds tons of character.

The front yard landscaping saves on water by using the driveway as the prominent landscape feature, accented by small garden beds for a modern look.

9. Vary Heights

@nancykemparealtor

Vary the heights of your plants in your front yard landscaping to add more interest.

Here, a curvy walkway is flanked by a low-growing hedge on one side and sculpted evergreen bushes and conifers in a range of heights and shapes on the other side.

10. Play with Colors

@travistraversing

Thoughtful landscaping and a clever use of exterior paint color make a feature of a space in this front yard. 

The red hues on the home’s front yard garden contrast nicely with the teal facade without being overbearing. A rustic brick chimney pulls in colors from the plantings for a coordinated look.

11. Create a Living Wall

@simply_southern_home

Use your home’s vertical space to add extra greenery to your front yard. Here, a curving walkway bordered by colorful blooms adds an inviting feel. 

Lattices adorned with creeping plants soften the facade and help the home blend into the landscape.

12. Add a Layer of Mulch

@robthebroker

A mulch bed with new flowering plants is an excellent way to up your home’s curb appeal at a relatively low cost. 

Here, black mulch beds with small, trimmed bushes and trees create a landscape that will have passersby look twice. The small purple trees complement the purple exterior for a cohesive look.

13. Match the Exterior

@housesofhollywood

Choose landscaping that reflects your home’s style for a seamless look. 

Simple low-lying hedges, bushes, and potted plants complement the red and green color palette of this bungalow-style cottage for a harmonious feel.

14. Plant a Flower Garden

@greenworksecoscape

Front yard flower gardens that incorporate vivid colors are a fool-proof way to enhance your home’s curb appeal. Here, a jumble of colorful flowers in a garden bed at the center of the lawn creates a subtle focal point.

Bountiful flower beds near the porch create a significant impact with bold, bright hues and make the yard feel more welcoming.

15. Plant Around Trees

@elizabethgregory.exp

Trees can be a good guide when planning the layout of your landscape. This front yard landscaping makes a big impression with a vivid color palette formed by flower beds based around trees. 

A well-manicured lawn adds a lovely color contrast and lets the flowers take center stage.

16. Mix Architectural Styles

@conradhanson

Adding a period architectural feature to an old home will make it stand out from the usual designs everyone else has. Here, a Victorian porch, bay window bracketing, and decorative panels along the eaves were added to this three-bay flushboard Greek Revival home in New York, giving it a unique look.

A polychromatic color scheme enhances the newly added features, while colorful flowers and green shrubs along the front porch provide lushness and texture to the overall look.

17. Add a Pea Gravel Driveway

@caldwellandcastello

Accent your lawn and flower beds with a pea gravel driveway for more functional front yard landscaping ideas. This beautiful home has a pea gravel driveway that complements the weathered-like shingle exterior.

A pair of boxwood shrubs flanking the porch steps add an element of symmetry. At the same time, a greenery garland and wreath integrate the home into the landscape. The American flag offers a low-cost way to add color and gives the house a dose of timeless style.

18. Stagger the Walkway

@getmovingwithmegan

A small patch of lawn and greenery garden beds border this staggered walkway for a modern, organic feel. 

The rustic stone mailbox complements the facade and adds charm to the space, with the black mailbox contrasting with the stand to enhance the small front yard.

19. Refresh Planting Beds

@trishorndorffrealestate

Layer your front yard with low-growing shrubs and flowers to increase your home’s curb appeal and give a modern house a friendly feel. 

Here, a small lawn and black mulch beds planted with low-growing evergreen shrubs, flowers, and trees play up and soften the neutral-inspired stone and wood facade of the contemporary home.

20. Hide the House

@fyffela

Ornamental grasses, boxwood shrubs, and trees provide varying shapes and heights to this front yard landscaping for a lush, layered look. 

A few Astilbe chinensis ‘Purple Candles’ flowers along the flower bed draw the eye in and provide much-needed color to the green-laden front yard.

21. Frame the House

@bigrockinc

A few trees planted in this home’s front yard garden bed add height to the space and frame the house perfectly. 

Small evergreen shrubs and not-so-vivid flowers combine with the trees for an aesthetically pleasing look, while a concrete walkway dividing the lawn helps create some balance.

22. Paint the Front Door

@upackmoving

Painting the front door of your house a bright, verdant shade is a fantastic way to enhance a smaller yard’s landscaping and increase curb appeal. This home’s brightly hued red front door is fun and energetic, and it pairs with the blue siding for a color palette that makes the house stand out in the neighborhood.

The small yard is landscaped with a neat lawn and a flower bed that leads the way to the front door. A low boxwood hedge lends an air of formality to the design.

23. Go for an Earthy Palette

@hgtv

Your house’s materials and architecture can sometimes provide clues on where to take the landscaping. Here, a well-curated garden bed lets the intricate brick facade take center stage without taking anything away from it.

The warm tones of the earthy-inspired exterior complement the greenery and match the brown mulch to make the garden feel integrated with the facade.

24. Make an Impression

@gardendesignmag

Wild flowering bushes and tall hedges use a style that’s more effortless than manicured to give this small front yard a private feel. 

Some plants spill over the walkway to soften the hardscape, while others, like the red trees, complement the house’s exterior for a cohesive look. Vining plants on the porch bring an intimate feel.

25. Gray it Out

@annekoons

A gray exterior color palette is an easy way to give your home a modern feel and keep it up with the times. A minimalist front yard complements this neutral-inspired house for a contemporary feel.

The reasonably extensive front yard features manicured lawns, a splitting pathway, and a garden filled with flowers, evergreen trees, and shrubs, which add structure to the landscaping.

26. Contrast with Window Shutters

@hgtvmagazine

The brown window shutters of this home create a lovely contrast with the white facade and complement other earthy hues in the landscape. 

A mix of perennials, evergreen shrubs, and trees create beautiful curb appeal along the house and walkway.

27. Embrace Cohesion

@fedakrealtygroup_inc

Here, the landscaping was kept to a minimum to allow the ornate architectural details of the shingled facade to stand out. 

Lush foliage and flowers from the front yard garden play up and soften the rustic shingles and light gray color of this modern farmhouse home.

28. Add Edging to Your Garden Beds

@sheahomes

The paver brick edging boarding this home’s front yard walkway helps prevent the flowers from encroaching into unwanted spaces and complements the gray brick exterior for an organic look.

Colorful flowers and green hedges soften the stony elements, while a pair of strategically placed topiaries add interest to the front yard.

29. Make a Statement with One Color

@am.interiordesign_north

If you already have an impressive facade, you only need to focus on key details in your front yard to give your home a facelift. 

Here, similar pink flowers were planted on each side of the walkway, adding color, softness, and curb appeal while contrasting with the neutral tones of the facade. Low-growing boxwood hedges provide a lovely backdrop for the flowers and make them really pop.

Landscape edging is an excellent way to highlight your outdoors and infuse more personality. Edging or borders establish a defined space, giving your yard a more complete look.

While defined landscape edges are sure to add visual interest to your space, the type of edging you choose also plays a crucial role in how your plantings grow. Common landscape edging materials include metal, wood, plastic, concrete, natural stone/rock, mulch, or plants.

We’ve compiled several creative landscape edging ideas that will protect and highlight your garden beds and lawn while keeping everything else neat and delightful.

Take a look!

1. Complement the Façade

@costa.verde

Add rustic charm to your landscape with a natural-looking edging that will last a couple of years before you replace it. 

The rocks used here make a bold edge and create a clear, distinct separation between the lawn and the gravel garden. The gravel bed emphasizes the rustic edging.

2. Try Corrugated Metal Edging

@tuscanpath

Bring a touch of style to your landscaping with an inexpensive edging idea that adds definition to your yard. This black corrugated metal edging creates a clean, defined border for the flower bed. 

The material is rust-resistant, flexible, strong, and suitable for both straight and curved spaces, adding depth and contemporary elegance to your outdoors.

3. Opt for Steel

@formboss.metal.edging

Metal edging is low maintenance, easy to install, and creates crisp, clean lines. Furthermore, there are several options that you can explore, including steel, aluminum, and others, depending on your preference.

Here, weathered steel edging keeps the wild perennials of this flower bed from encroaching into the neat lawn. The weathered look of the edging creates a contrasting outline, highlighting the vibrant colors of the plantings.

4. Pour some Concrete

@miamiexclusiveborders

One popular choice for landscape edging is poured concrete. Here, black concrete edging creates a clear definition of the yard and the garden. The edging adds some organic curves to the space, with the white and black pebbles for the garden bed helping add depth through contrast. 

Consider hiring an expert for this idea to avoid any mistakes. Nonetheless, when done right, you’ll have a beautiful, sturdy edge that offers the perfect blend of function and form and stands the test of time.

5. Stack some Stones

@proridgelandscapes

Stacking stones is an inexpensive landscape edging idea. Here, pieces of flagstone were stacked along the garden edge, creating a rustic division of the garden and yard. The stones also give the yard a classic country garden appearance.

6. Go for Rubber Edging

@tuscanpath

Recycled rubber edging is an eco-friendly and sustainable option for defining your landscape. Here, sustainability meets style with scalloped recycled rubber edging. 

The edging makes a striking border, with its flexible design allowing for creative and versatile landscaping solutions.

7. Cater to Corners

@dreamyardlandscapes

Make more of a statement with a mow-over edging. Here, a low-maintenance brick edging sits against the lawn, creating a clean edge. 

This is a simple DIY landscaping solution for backyard corners, and you can easily mow over the brick edging without a fuss.

8. Create a Cohesive Look

@plantmark

Corten, also known as weathering steel, is a popular material for landscape edging and creating raised beds. The corten steel edging used in this front yard garden provides structure and a sleek design while adding rustic flair with its weathered look.

The edging matches the brown chip mulch for a cohesive look, with the soft, airy plantings bringing the garden to life. A white planter adorned with Aloe plicatilis (fan aloe) sitting at the end of the garden provides the perfect finishing touch. Although it’s a bit tricky to install, this edging will last a lifetime!

9. Define a Walkway

@sgt.landscaping

Individual granite rocks line this gravel walkway, dividing the garden into several sections while making access and maintenance much more manageable. 

The contrasting rocks create an enchanting pathway that doesn’t take anything away from the lush flowers and foliage.

10. Go Natural

@tristarlandscapingllc

Consider a pebble border for an inexpensive landscape edging idea to separate the lawn from the garden. 

Here, the natural stone edging brings timeless charm to the yard and creates a colorful profile with the brown triple shred mulch and neat lawn.

11. Add River Rocks

@costa.verde

An edging of steel and river rocks separates this long, narrow front garden from the lawn and driveway. 

The garden bed contains varied textures and colors that provide an organic complement to the metal border, river rocks, and garden mulch.

12. Tidy Up your Yard

@our.simonds.build.green

The sturdy and natural-looking edging in this idea makes a timeless border for the small lawn area. 

Part of the edging has been raised to prevent rocks from the gravel bed along the fence from spilling over to the lawn, but it also brings added depth and height to the design.

13. Wall Blocks Edging

@pavestoneco

Bring structure and a subtle element of sophistication with Ladera wall block edging. The sleek design of these wall blocks creates a visually appealing border that helps define the flower bed. 

Colorful blooms effortlessly elevate the outdoor space’s overall look.

14. Create Contrast

@goldenwolflandscapellc

Black mulch and river rocks are a clever combination of natural materials for landscape layout ideas, and when it comes to edging, the two can be used with or without a roll of plastic or metal edging.

Here, river rocks separate the garden from the lawn, providing a clean, low-maintenance edge. Black mulch creates a lovely contrast with the rocks while allowing the boxwood bushes to take center stage for a modern front yard.

15. Polish the Edging

@Olympic Lawn Landscape Inc

Installing a polished concrete curbing edge can offer a stylish yet classic feel. This landscape edging idea is more challenging and needs a professional to install it rather than conduct it as a weekend DIY project. The green lawn pops when set by the dark gray edging and driveway.

16. Create Multiple Beds

@D.I.G. Landscape

Here, brick pavers have been used to define several garden beds. This landscaping project might be pricier than the average edging since you’ll be using more materials. 

Nonetheless, you’ll be left with a statement-making yard like the one featured above, which is what you might just be looking for!

17. Boulder Edging

@Verdant Landscape Group, LLC

Using small boulders as edging is an excellent idea to give your landscape a natural look. Here, boulders cordon off a small flower bed from the rest of the yard for a subtle focal point. 

Go for multicolored rocks for a unique garden edge that won’t put a hole in your wallet!

18. Go with the Flow

@OLIVINE Land

Most metal landscape edging ideas are no-dig, meaning you only need to hammer them into the ground. Here, gauge steel edging offers a rustic fusion of structure and style for the vegetable garden.

The galvanizing of the steel was removed with a chemical solution to give it the rusted effect. The flexible metal makes it easy to create curves, which are supported by soil by just sitting there on the ground. Wear heavy gloves when handling this project since the steel can be hard on your hands while installing.

19. Create Rows

@Artemis Landscape Architects, Inc.

Choose inexpensive materials such as pavers, then create rows for a striking landscape edging idea. 

Here, several rows of concrete pavers create the perfect edge to separate the driveway and the garden while highlighting the long beds of vinca and boxwood.

20. Consider Sandstone Edging

@Little Landscapes

Brick pavers in different shades create a visually striking driveway, which is edged with sandstone for a refined look. A small seating area and colorful plantings make this front entrance look picture-perfect!

21. Beautify with Stone

@dreamyardlandscapes

Here, extreme stone edging separates a well-manicured lawn from a formal garden. The stones used for the edging have a different color than those for the garden bed, adding variety to the space. 

The textural Podocarpus macrophyllus ‘Variegatus’ elevates the look of this garden.

22. Bring a Rustic Feel with Wood

@thebeargardener

Wood is another excellent way to create a natural border between your garden and yard. Here, small wooden logs were used to edge a raised flower bed, adding organic warmth to the space.

The rustic edging not only frames the flower bed but also complements the natural surroundings. The logs are easy to replace if required.

23. Border a Tropical Oasis

@koolbeanzzzz

Modernize your landscape with the minimalist curves of concrete curbing. Here, a curved concrete edging separates the lawn from a garden filled with tropical plants, including Thaumatophyllum xanadu, Cordyline fruiticosa ‘Black Magic’, bromeliads, Dianthus gratianopolitanus ‘Firewitch’ and a Pygmy date palm tree.

Once more, ensure you use a contractor or professional for this project to avoid the nightmares that come with the costly removal and reinstallation of the curbing. Also, avoid installing the edging too close to a tree that will grow large—the roots will lift the edging and break it!

24. Build an Interesting Design

@drea.damara

Landscape edging ideas can also give your outdoors some character. Here, building blocks stacked upon each other create a raised flower bed and a rustic edging that separates the garden from the lawn. For this one, you can save the money for hiring someone to install the edging since it’s an easy DIY project.

25. Keep it Simple

@libertylandscapesupply

Landscape edging ideas don’t get more rustic and simple than this. This inexpensive garden border uses stones for the edging. 

The stones are easy to find and will create a natural-looking garden edge that will last for years to come.

26. Go for a Small Design

@highlandlandscapingtx

Here’s another affordable way to bring a natural look to your landscape. The contrast between the black mulch and the rock garden border adds a decorative touch to this space. 

As the flowers and foliage grow to their full potential, the rocks will continue to provide a neat edging.

Your front yard is the first thing your neighbors and guests interact with, and it’s a critical element in establishing good curb appeal.

Applying a fresh layer of black mulch is one of the most straightforward and quickest ways to improve your front yard landscaping. Black mulch improves drainage and nutrients, adds definition to walkways or driveways, creates a dark contrast for greenery, and makes flower beds look well-manicured.

Today, we’ve decided to share with you some of the best driveway landscaping designs with black mulch that you can use to spruce up your curb appeal, regardless of your style, modern or traditional.

Take a look!

1. Mind the Gap

@aldrichlandscape

This backyard features many lush plants, from shrubs and ornamental grasses to trees and topiaries.

A small walkway that cuts through the lawn features gravel and stepping stones that complement the home’s brick exterior. At the same time, black mulch adds a nice contrasting element for all the elements in the space.

2. Adopt Simple Curves

@lcftw_

Black mulch can make a significant impact in your front yard. Here, a flower bed consisting of evergreens, hardy shrubs, and trees leads guests to the entrance of the home. 

The black mulch helps the green and brown foliage pop against the dark backdrop, with the simple curves from the lawn border keeping everything looking neat and tidy.

3. Be Creative with Your Design

@breinerlawn

Mulch is a low-maintenance option for adding visual appeal to your landscape. This beautiful, traditional front yard gets a spruce up with low-grown hedges, evergreen shrubs, and black mulch.

The hedges frame two trees for a one-of-a-kind look that stands the test of time.

4. Match the Plants

@localandscapingandlawncare

Boxwood shrubs are a relatively straightforward way to elevate your flower bed. Here, a series of boxwood shrubs offer a vibrant green color that nicely contrasts with the natural-looking brick facade. 

Black mulch helps the boxwood stand out more, while a rustic stacked stone border complements the exterior and keeps things contained.

5. Utilize a Corner

@kinglandscapinglawncare

Treat the corners of your home near the driveway like a blank canvas to exemplify the look of your yard. 

Here, a small corner garden features ornamental grasses, evergreen bushes, and a small tree for shade. Black mulch helps the plants stand out, while a rock in the mix helps add subtle dimension.

6. Contrast with a White Exterior

@melisaclementdesigns

Consider matching your driveway’s look with that of your walkways to give the curb appeal of your home a complete look. 

Black mulch softens the look and creates beautiful contrasts with the green trees, landscape grasses, and white stone. Some grasses have been planted in the middle of the pathway for an extra natural-looking scene.

7. Keep it Away from the Siding

@juniorlandscaping

This front yard has many materials and textures, from the stone pillar foundation to the wooden pillars and white siding. The walkway leading up to the porch steps isn’t short on texture as well, with its sleek, patterned concrete pavers.

A mulch garden bed helps break up the warm and bright exterior scheme, while pea stones separate the mulch bed and siding to prevent staining. Evergreen shrubs add a bit of color and liveliness to the muted garden beds.

8. Coordinate with Trim

@qalandscaping

Make the most of whatever is on your home’s exterior by taking a cue from the garden bed and using its elements to enhance the overall picture.

Here, black window shutters pair with the black mulch for a cohesive look. A collection of plants infuses green and red hues into the landscape and prevents the mulch bed from being overbearing.

9. Accent Your Pool Area

@proridgelandscapes

A good rule of thumb when picking out what to fill your flower bed with is to choose a variety of colors and textures. 

Here, ‘Sunshine’ Ligustrum shrubs add color and interest, while some evergreen topiaries at the back bring in some height. Black mulch has been used for extra contrast.

10. Consider Sculptural Garden Elements

@greenviewstl

If you’re looking to add a bit of drama to your front yard landscaping, consider incorporating rocks or boulders into your mulch bed. 

Here, ornamental grasses and perennials create interesting points of contrast around the rocks and flower bed border, bringing the look together. Other elements, such as a small water fountain, stock tank, and satellite dish, break up the planting in a really nice fashion.

11. Make it Bright

@brilliant_gardens

When it comes to filling a mulch bed, you have to think outside the box.

Not only can you plant blooms, but you can also add container planters, landscape rocks, and wall trellises like in the above example for more variety. A small, white birdhouse lends visual appeal to the design.

12. Utilize Multiple Areas

@handyhomeguys

This front yard consists of multiple sections with mulch throughout, creating several focal points. Each mulch bed features greenery and trees for a gorgeous, clean look. 

Mulching around a tree base not only has a nice look but also improves their health, making them grow faster.

13. Embrace Minimalist Designs

@heathoutdoor

This home features bold hues and clean lines on its exterior. The vibrant color palette acts as a backdrop for the more muted shades of plants and the mulch bed.

The concrete porch steps, stacked stone border, and gravel are similar in color throughout the design, creating a cohesive look. They also complement the mulch bed, creating a more inviting and tranquil space.

14. Add some Height

@hickman_lawn_landscape

Using a mulch bed in your yard landscaping projects can help forge a deeper connection with nature, especially if the mulch you use complements the surrounding environment, such as the clean backdrop of this home’s white exterior.

Arborvitaes add much-needed height and pair with small evergreen shrubs, rocks, and the brick patio foundation to root the design further into the natural world.

15. Utilize a Paver Border

@kaybenlandscape

As a garden border, pavers lend themselves to a deconstructed look that suits a mulch flower bed well. 

Here, a paver border complements the home’s exterior and gives the mulch bed a more defined look. The black mulch matches the dark gray bricks on the house’s base for a simple, streamlined aesthetic.

16. Go for Boulders

@panarsasianlandscaping

Embrace the organic beauty of the natural world with rock boulders for your flower bed. 

Here, large stones separate two mulch beds at different heights, adding dimension to the front yard. The outdoor light adds a rustic element to the design without compromising on beauty.

17. Add Seasonal Color

@dannyslandscaping

One way to extend your garden is to use a tree flower bed. The subdued, earthy tones of this home’s brick exterior blend beautifully with the hardscape materials in the front yard, such as the driveway. 

Annuals, perennials, and evergreens make the flower bed stand out even from afar, with a tree with mulch at the base anchoring the design.

18. Bring In Some Pebble

@kinglandscapinglawncare

Incorporate a smooth pebble border into your flower bed for a beautiful contrast with black mulch. Only a few plants were used here, making the black mulch the standout feature of the design. 

The pebble border complements the home’s brick exterior and provides a clean transition from the lawn to the flower bed. If you want to resize or reshape your flower bed, all you need to do is move the pebble border!

19. Border a Walkway

@miltoncosta1991

A mulch bed is an excellent choice for framing a walkway. Here, mulch beds border a walkway leading to the house, enhancing the overall look of the yard. 

Small bollard lights make the walkway visible at night and add visual interest to the design.

20. Create a Cohesive Look

@mif_contracting

This home’s walkway, made with patterned brick pavers, complements the house’s exterior and helps connect the porch with the driveway. 

The walkway is flanked by mulch flower beds that give it a simple, streamlined look.

21. Use a Raised Bed

@brilliant_gardens

Adding mulch to a raised garden bed will not only improve your yard’s aesthetic appeal but also allow proper drainage, easier maintenance, and improve soil quality. 

Here, the house’s off-white wooden siding complements the raised stone bed, while the red mulch pairs with the home’s brick features to keep in line with the natural aesthetic.

22. Achieve a Grand Feel

@tristarlandscapingllc

If you have a large yard with an extensive lawn, a mulch bed can go a long way in helping break up the space. 

Here, a mulch flower bed borders the walkway and side of the house and pairs with different green shades to provide a grand look.

23. Keep it in Place

@jc_landscapes_

A mulch flower bed can be filled and decorated with whatever you like. This flower bed features evergreen shrubs and a withered tree for a rustic look. 

Small zinnia flowers incorporate a vibrant color and pair with the rest of the plants for a one-of-a-kind mulch garden.

24. Connect the Designs

@r.p.kellerlandscaping

If your yard features several mulch flower beds, you can use garden features such as garden lights to coordinate the look. 

Here, boxwood shrubs, ornamental grasses, and garden lights create a continuous look in the front yard. One mulch bed has a stacked stone border, while the other has one, making the garden beds unique yet unified.

If you are a beginner gardener, you may haven’t heard that there are more than 150 boxwood varieties. In the past, there were only two kinds, English and American, but in time, they were cultivated to grow less susceptible to disease boxwood plants.

Boxwood varieties are among the most preferred outdoor landscape plants for their resistance to different climates, shaping possibility and lasting green foliage. In the past, boxwood was part of the knot gardens in royal courtyards, but nowadays, it is one of the most common green plants seen in landscape designs.

Whether you are looking for a formal or a casual landscape design, you will find your inspiration in these 20 Most Beautiful Boxwood Landscaping Ideas (Shrubs and Trees).

1. American Boxwood Landscaping Idea

@zhush

This boxwood type is perfect for screening or forming dense outdoor shapes that catch the eye. The plant is a slow-grower although it can reach up to 20 feet height and width.

The front yard of this traditional home is decorated with boxwood shrubs closer to the front door and fences from the plant that ends in a spiral shape that embraces a small boxwood bush.

2. Boxwood As A Garden Edge

@jamesdoyledesignassociates

To keep the outdoors lively and green, you can use boxwood shrubs as a fence.

They are perfect for tracing a garden bed or differentiating one garden bed from another. In this image, the boxwood shrubs outline a tree garden bed.

3. Boxwood Topiaries

@romanofinelandscapes

American boxwood is known to be the tallest in the family. You can use this plant to create topiaries in different shapes.

To maintain your plant to the desired standard, prune away side stems from the main one and then lightly trim the leaves to achieve the shape.

4. Harland Boxwood Shrubs

@barnlandscape

This boxwood species is perfect to be grown as individual shrubs in a mulch garden.

The shrub doesn’t go over 3 feet in height which is perfect for terraced gardens with a mix of seasonal flowers and trees.

5. Boxwood Parterres

@piante_design

The landscape of this modern home is a mix of contemporary and traditional. Boxwood plants are planted in a rectilineal form to match the neighborhood’s traditional landscape.

The modern touch in this well-maintained backyard is the addition of contemporary concrete spheres, jasmine, gardenia and muhly grass.

6. Layers Of Boxwood

@roseview_farms_llc

Boxwood can be the only specimen in your garden but to make it appealing and unique, you can plant it in masses and layers.

In this amazing landscape idea, boxwood shrubs are trimmed short to form natural hedges of garden beds in a rectangular shape. They anchor taller boxwood kinds shaped like different topiaries.

7. Boxwood Edging A Flower Garden

@southerncrossgardens

The short green layer that the boxwood can create is a lovely organic way to create contrast for seasonal colorful flowers. The shape of the boxwood fence depends on the size of your flower garden and the interest you would like to create.

Short varieties such as Sprinter and Wedding Ring are resistant to blight and winter burn and are great for low hedges.

8. Boxwood Drawfs

@beyond_gray

The boxwood dwarf North Star has dense foliage and a globe form. It is perfect for mixed gardens where boxwood shrubs alternate with rose bushes or other flowers.

Suffruticosa is a cultivar of English boxwood and is also a preferred shrub for its slow growth and dwarf size.

9. Backdrop For Tulips

@gardening__gram_

Sculptured boxwood plants in the shape of linear hedges are perfect as a green backdrop for lilac tulips.

The boxwood is maintained low to let the tulips peek out and amaze with their eye-catching color and delicate blossoms.

10. Korean Boxwood As A Hedging

@southerncrossgardens

Korean boxwood is perfect for hedges or edging. It resists cold winters without any change to the leaf color. In this landscape idea, the boxwood outlines a border between the patio and the lawn.

Instead of a straight line, the homeowners have sculpted it a little, creating curves where there are beds with climbing roses.

11. Boxwood Labyrinth

@anchoredbleuinteriors

Boxwood labyrinths date back to Renaissance Europe being the most popular type of garden from the 16th century on in rich people’s and royal backyards.

This beautiful landscape is inspired by the hedge mazes featuring only a small section of boxwood hedges.

12. Edge For Perennials

@alejandrarossetti

Sculptured boxwood shrubs create a thick and green edge of a garden bed filled with white hydrangeas.

The boxwood border enhances the elegance created by the layered white blossoms.

13. Boxwood In Raised Garden Beds

@romanofinelandscapes

You can grow boxwood in oversized pots or other containers. In this landscape idea, the boxwood plants act as a border of symmetrical raised garden beds that beautify the front door of a house.

The harmonious look is continued by two boxwood topiaries on both sides of the front door. The best boxwood kinds for such tall sculptured living decorations are Fastigiata, Graham Blandy or Dee Runk.

14. Walkway Fence

@romanofinelandscapes

Make the visual experience while passing through a walkway unique by framing it with boxwood hedges.

You can trim all boxwood plants to the same height or sculpture topiaries in key places such as the beginning of the walkway, its end, next to a tree in the garden bed.

15. Fountain Backdrop

@myformalgarden

Layers of boxwood presented in different shapes and heights turn this garden into a whimsy outdoor space. Boxwood globes grow in oversized terra cotta pots, short linear hedges frame alliums.

Cone boxwood shrubs and topiaries show how this plant can create interest in height.

16. Improved Curb Appeal With Boxwood Hedge

@bex.design.co

The biggest advantage of boxwood is that its hedges can be sculpted to your taste and the specifics of your outdoor space.

Borders can be rounded, curved, or straight.

17. Pyramidal Boxwood

@romanofinelandscapes

If you don’t have much time to maintain a lush garden and yet want to upgrade your landscape, you can plant Pyramidal boxwood. It naturally forms a cone shape so trimming and sculpturing are not needed.

This low-maintenance boxwood topiary is great to add interest to flower gardens, mulch gardens or to enhance the symmetry of the entryway by planting it in two oversized pots

18. Boxwood Hedges In A Gravel Garden

@hedgelover_

Boxwood plants in this landscape idea are used for garden bed containment. There is no need for low fences; the dense foliage of the boxwood is the perfect living wall.

Here, the versatility of boxwood is proven one more time seeing it as part of a contemporary gravel and stone backyard.

19. Boxwood Garden Bed

@romanofinelandscapes

Boxwood is sculptured as a haze and ends with tall topiaries to create an elegant and lively “welcome” setting.

Boxwood is a plant that can be seen in any type of garden because of its versatility and relatively low maintenance requirements.

20. Make A Parterre

@wesleystoutassociates

With boxwood parterres, you can give the backyard a more formal look. The geometric design, the pattern and whether to mix it or not with other plants is up to your liking.

In this landscaping idea, the impactful parterre features boxwood plants arranged in a square. Inside the square, there are two rows of boxwood placed diagonally which create four separate sections for seasonal plants.

Functional and attractive landscaping ideas can add value to your home and increase the curb appeal.

Whether it’s foundation shrubs, specimen plants, or creating zones of activity, a well-thought-out landscape can help your outdoor space realize its full potential. 

We’ve compiled some of the best fall garden landscaping ideas that will transform your outdoors into your most relished space.

Take a look!

1. Uplift Your Poolside Area

@mazelis_landscape

A poolside garden is an excellent idea for beautifying your pool area. A curved paved walkway separates this garden, which is filled with colorful perennials like black-eyed Susans and sweet alyssum.

The greenery pairs with the lush lawn to soften the look of the brick pavers and wooden decking. Planters and lush border plants break up the large expanses of natural stone and wood elements in this design.

2. Add a Border

@mazelis_landscape

Define your fall flower garden with a paver border for an elegant, rustic touch. A bushy border provides a lush backdrop for various colorful fall flowers, including pansies, petunias, and wishbone flowers. By giving the eye more colors, textures, and shapes, the border makes the yard look bigger.

A well-manicured lawn offers a subtle block to the vibrant color, while white pebbles add color and drama for visual impact.

3. Utilize Pumpkin Décor

@theglampad

This fall garden landscaping idea uses a bountiful of colorful pumpkins, flowering plants, a lush lawn, and planters at varying heights to give the entryway a playful, enchanted garden feel.

4. Spruce Up Your Retaining Wall

@sharonreddrealestate

Retaining walls are essential for yards with steep levels, helping control soil erosion. Consider beautifying these natural structures with seasonal plantings.

Salvia, asters, and Mexican bush sage frame the stone stairs in this idea, making a dramatic entry point. Some grass in between the flowering plants creates a casual yet intentional look.

5. Line Your Pathway

@farmercolandscape

Lining your entry walkway with fall flowers and decor is an excellent way to begin your fall landscaping project. Strips of lush green grass divide this brick paveway for a stylish statement.

Fiery croton plants and colorful pumpkins bordering the walkway make this porch a welcoming destination for the fall season. The aged brick pavers lend rustic charm to the design.

6. Plant Evergreens

@cooganskitchen

A variety of evergreens keep this facade looking classically glamorous through the fall season. Boxwood hedges, fern planters, and vining plants pop against the red brick, while heliotropes and pumpkins offer a wealth of color.

The brick wall echoes the paver walkway and door, adding a warm color against the cool color palette of greens, purples, and oranges.

7. Walk Through the Garden

@gncgarden

This fall garden landscaping idea features a lovely green pathway bordered by boxwood bushes. Vibrant mums in the background provide some color, while different-sized trees add a sense of height.

Natural woven planters infuse warmth into the space and pair with the pavers for a muted, sophisticated feel.

8. Bring Some Color

@jenniferrizzodesigncompany

This landscaping idea is all about celebrating fall gardening, with colorful mums creating a significant impact in this small space.

The cottage-style garden also includes hostas and various perennials that make the yard feel more welcoming.

9. Make a Statement with Container Gardening

@farmercolandscape

A fall planter is an excellent way to add a riot of color to your yard. Furthermore, they can help you bring height and depth to your space without too much effort.

This planter has various flowering and vining plants that transform this front yard into a work of art. A tall fern plant at the center catches the eye and brings attention to the planter.

10. Bring Color with Mulch

@kjmlandscaping

Adding mulch to your garden is an excellent way to add color and create focal points.

Mature trees flank the lawn and paver walkway of this front yard, with a variety of ground-hugging fall flowers combining with the black mulch for a pleasing and functional design.

11. Create Green Curves

@greenleaveslandscape

This fall landscaping idea features a large green lawn that hugs the curves of the pathway and gardens.

Other green plants and bushes pair with the lawn to enable the vibrant mums and asters to take center stage without competing.

12. Make it Eclectic

@magnoliagreenms

One way to make your fall landscape design stand out is to use bold elements. This home’s front yard features colorful, bright hues of fall flowers, creating a sense of grandeur.

The colorful garden sits in between a lush green lawn and green border plants, which tone down the color and ensure the home fits in with the drama.

13. Line Your Flower Bed with Pumpkins

@thebloomingbackyard

Black mulch helps define this flower bed and creates a lovely background for the fall vegetables and plants in this design. Grasses allow for a comprehensive view of the gorgeous backdrop of vibrant mums.

The paved walkway provides a softer curving shape for balance, while pumpkins and red cabbage infuse a dash of color to the space.

14. Complement Your Home

@bobvila

Your home’s elements can sometimes provide clues on how to handle your fall landscaping ideas. In this case, the brilliant blue hue on the home’s exterior walls calls for a similarly decorative yard.

The vibrant fall flowers below the railings perfectly complement the home’s architecture and lend an air of freshness. For a whimsical look, leave fallen leaves on your landscape.

15. Utilize Space Smartly

@christywebberco

Just because you live in the city, it doesn’t mean your curb shouldn’t receive some love from fall colors. Vibrant asters and cabbages grace the curb of this pavement, enlivening the raised flower bed. 

Circular raised planters add a layered look and pair with the raised bed for an eye-catching landscape.

16. Keep it Minimal

@jen_hartung

Fall landscaping ideas don’t have to be fussy or complicated. Small ranch-style homes like the one in this design lack height or grand proportions, making them lost in the shuffle. 

This minimalist design allows an exciting border to the front yard with black mulch on the flower bed. Colorful mums and fall greenery call attention to the house and make its walls stand out more.

17. Glam with Perennials

@nashvillebuylocal

This fall landscaping idea uses grassy perennials for a tidy, attractive look and moisture retention during dry spells.

Black-eyed Susans at the back provide a lush, colorful, yet straightforward approach to adding fall flowers to a desert-inspired landscape.

18. Go for a Contemporary Feel

@cappealexteriordesigns

The low-maintenance grasses and perennials in this fall landscaping idea add organic shapes and visual textures to this home’s gray exterior. 

Black mulch, a play of heights, and a minimalistic approach to planting give this flower bed a modern look.

The backyard is that place of your home that can be turned into an outdoor haven.

You can do it with a little investment or make a significant overhaul lasting many years.

In both cases, we have covered you with the next amazing collection of 24 Stunning Backyard Landscape Design Ideas that will inspire you.

1. Backyard With Raised Wooden Garden Beds

@daighrick.la

Growing different plants in raised garden beds is very practical and aesthetic as it creates the feeling of organization and preliminary planning.

The garden beds in the example above are made from wooden planks treated to withstand outdoor conditions. Gravel, which pairs very well with the wood texture, limits weed growth on the ground.

2. Mulch Garden Beds

@harrelldesignbuild

In this backyard idea, the garden beds are covered with mulch that makes them look more appealing and modern and also helps prevent weed growth.

The plant varieties in this idea are in the ornamental group to match the modern look of the backyard.

3. Overflowing Grass

@charlotterowegardens

The plant varieties in this backyard idea belong to the ornamental grass group. They are planted in tufts to create a dense green texture.

Another beautiful characteristic of the ornamental grasses used in these garden beds is the long leaves that create an overflowing layer over the walkway.

4. Edged Garden Bed

@caldwellandcastello

Outline a garden bed next to a lawn or a water feature with a border for a more aesthetic and finished look.

Depending on the exterior style, the border can be made from different materials, such as stones, bricks, wooden posts, cinder blocks, etc.

5. Green Wall

@normarklandscapes

The idea of the partial pergola in this backyard design is to form natural shade only on one side of the yard through a dense growth of climbing vines. The same plant kind extends to the fence, creating a vertical green wall.

The greenery creates a unique natural landscape that pairs perfectly with the clean, modern outdoor look.

6. Firepit Among Nature

@stefanoassognagiardini

This relaxing area is surrounded by lush greenery, which makes it feel like an escape point rather than simply part of the backyard.

The rattan furniture enhances the feeling of an oasis and also ensures comfortable relaxing outdoors.

7. Backyard Full Of Relaxing Features

@oconnordesignbuild

This backyard accommodates a swimming pool with a sunbathing area, a sitting area, and edging gardens.

The designer has chosen grey stone tiles to cover the ground, keeping the atmosphere neutral, contemporary, and clean.

Plants are an essential part of the overall landscape, adding a natural touch to the artificial features and a calming vibe to the outdoor experience.

8. DIY Firepit Area

@homestoloveau

This idea is easy to implement in your backyard. All you need is a free, level space to form the firepit nook.

The firepit was made from a metal dome and angles that act as supports. Depending on the space size, you can add a bench or logs for sitting.

9. Backyard Is A Place For Everyone

@hutsnyc

This backyard design ensures that the entire family feels good outside. Two lounge chairs for the parents are on the gravel area, and a tiny house for the children is next to the lounge chairs.

The lawn area is perfect for outdoor games or placing a sitting set for more people. The edging gardens give this small backyard a finished and appealing look.

10. Layered Backyard Design

@cos.design

You can try the layered layout to position the entertaining outdoor features in a smaller backyard or such with an irregular shape. Platforms with decking cohere with the modern design of the house.

The materials used are a mix of natural and industrial, allowing the greenery to stand out.

11. Light It Up

@allabouthomedesigns

Extend your outdoor time in your sitting nook with strings of lights stretched on the pergola.

You can choose from a wide variety of designs and also supply options. If you are eco-friendly, go for the solar-powered ones.

12. Water Feature

@flaneuse_blog

Having a pool in the backyard is fantastic; summer is surely your family’s favorite season!

This backyard design offers thick gardens that trace part of the pool periphery to add a touch of privacy and natural beauty.

13. Hardscape Idea

@nelsonlandscapingok

If you are busy and want to keep your backyard neat and appealing, cover it with crushed stone.

You can experiment with stones of different sizes and colors and create a pattern that will give the exterior character.

14. Outdoor Oasis

@oriolelandscaping

This backyard combines wood and stone, creating a harmonious look and an inviting atmosphere where homeowners can relax.

The wood decking surrounds a large pool and garden beds with hydrangea shrubs, which add a natural and serene touch to the space.

15. Backyard With A Lawn And Edging Garden Bed

@grahame.rowe

The design of this small backyard focuses on easy maintenance and visual interest. The low maintenance requirements are met through the partial lawn and raised garden bed, which are covered with gravel that limits the growth of weeds.

Plants are sustainable and easy to care for. The addition of a gravel walkway and a firepit nook proves the functionality of this outdoor space.

16. Stone Walkway

@psd_architectsbuilders

Walkways are not only a means of passing through the garden. Exterior designers also include them to add a touch of interest, texture, and character to the outdoor space.

In this lovely backyard design, the walkway was made with large flagstones. They create a bright contrast to the perfectly maintained lawn and garden beds.

17. Above-The-Ground Pool With A Platform

@grasstains.landscape

Despite the size of the backyard, you can turn it into your outdoor paradise by practically zoning it. In this appealing backyard, the owners have included a silo pool that looks like a built-in water feature thanks to the raised deck platform surrounding it.

The area around the pool is covered with gravel to ensure low maintenance. You can sunbathe on the decking or relax on a wooden bench next to the pool and enjoy the surrounding lawn and edging gardens.

18. An Escape Behind A Lush Garden

@landscapedesignpros

Here, the sitting area is right next to a garden bed with a wide variety of blooming and green plants forming a natural fence.

The dense vegetation also acts as a privacy and calming feature that instantly makes you feel you are on holiday.

19. Xeriscaping Idea

@grasstains.landscape

The idea behind this backyard design is to have a garden requiring minimum irrigation and weeding. The plant varieties are coordinated with this aim and are planted in a pattern that promotes the thriving of each kind.

In the middle of the yard is a stone-covered patio that people can access using the walkways.

20. Tiered Patio And Edging Mulch Gardens

@duralocklandscape

This landscaping idea showcases a combination of a tiered stone-tiled patio edged with a lawn and a flower garden.

The natural areas contrast the neutral stone tiles, creating this backyard’s relaxing zones.

21. A Gorgeous Flower Bed

@victorialambertinteriors

The flower garden in this landscape design is the perfect escape from reality. The garden bed is covered with mulch to create contrast and limit weed growth.

It is positioned in the middle of the backyard across a well-maintained lawn, and thus, it reminds me of a river flow.

22. Fence Garden With Evergreens

@grasstains.landscape

This backyard offers a landscape that you can enjoy all year round.

Most plants are cold-resistant or evergreens positioned along the fence to enhance privacy and in a garden bed surrounding a patio with a fire pit.

23. Lush Tiered Garden

@fishtailcottage

In this backyard landscape idea, lush shrubs and trees surround a gorgeous green carpet.

A terraced layout of the garden bed achieves the tiered design. Of course, the plants are also coordinated with this to achieve this enhanced backyard landscape.

24. A Firepit Area With An Edging Garden

@artechlandscaping

Whether winter or summer, the fire pit is an area you can enjoy all year. Including it in your backyard design will ensure joyful nights spent outside with your family and friends.

This fire pit idea features a stone brick over-the-ground fire pit placed on a patio defined with stone tiles in two colors.

Evergreens are an instrumental component of landscaping. They fill up empty spaces easily, and their greenery lasts all year round, so they are a permanent addition to the visual interest of the area. 

Evergreens can be used to create screens and borders or to secure privacy on a large property. Moreover, these trees serve as shelter and food for birds and wildlife. From cones and berries to flowers and nectar, evergreens can make a complete ecosystem for birds and small animals. 

The fastest-growing evergreens will often reach the highest heights. These large trees improve the aesthetics of a home, and can also increase the property’s value. Shorter species can be grown as shrubs and used as edges.

It’s important to note that evergreen species also include slow-growing dwarf cultivars, so before choosing the ideal tree to plant, ensure you have a clear plan on how to landscape it.

Rapid-growing varieties are generally preferred for their ability to change a space’s outlook in little time. Trees with a growth rate of 25 or more inches per year can be considered fast-growing. 

Here are 12 fast-growing evergreens that you can add to your property.

Take a look!

1. Nellie Stevens Holly

Even though it’s often grown as a shrub edge, the Nellie Stevens Holly can work well when used as a small tree. It’s one of the few broadleaf evergreens with a rapid growth rate averaging about 3 feet per year. 

The tree features broad, dark green, glossy leaves and produces red berries that add to its beauty. Since it’s salt tolerant, the Nellie Stevens Holly can thrive in coastal areas. However, it’s essential to be cautious when growing the plant, as its berries can be toxic to animals and people.

2. Italian Cypress

The Italian cypress is a sight to behold. Its tall, narrow, cylindrical shape brings a touch of elegance and sophistication to any outdoor space. For this reason, the tree has been widely used in many landscaping designs and gardens worldwide. 

The tree, which is native to the Mediterranean region, features upright branches that are adorned by sprays of dark gray-green needles. Mature trees produce cones ranging from brown to copper in color. 

Its growth rate is relatively fast, growing 35 to 40 feet in 10 years. However, the plant can be pruned and shaped appropriately to maintain less height. 

3. Japanese Black Pine 

One of the unique evergreens in this list, the Japanese black pine is valued for its unique twisting trunk and dark green foliage that can instantly increase the visual interest of space. Another unique aspect of this tree is its foliage, which emerges as white but gradually turns green. 

Unlike other evergreens with tapering points, this tree has branches that droop slightly and a flat crown that’s slightly rounded. There are many cultivar varieties of this tree; for those who prefer indoor plants, you can even grow it as bonsai. 

4. Thuja Green Giant 

@tedcarterlandscape

As one of the fastest-growing trees, it’s no surprise that this evergreen goes by the name of Thuja green giant! A mature tree can grow to about 50 feet with a 5-foot spread in 10 years. Its dense, narrow growth habit makes it easy to use as a screen or barrier. 

The Thuja green giant features brown shaggy barks with fan-like spreads of rich green foliage that get darker in winter.

Even though it can add immense beauty to your landscape, exercising caution when growing this plant is essential, especially if you have livestock or pets around, as it can be toxic.

5. Western Red Cedar 

While its name can be misleading, Western Red Cedar is a perfect conifer to grow if you have limited space. The tree has fragrant green foliage that develops distinct white butterfly markings on the undersides of the leaves. 

Its narrow to broad pyramidal shape gives a beautiful, graceful appearance and makes it ideal for small spaces. The tree blooms in the autumn, producing brown to copper-colored cones.

The Western Red Cedar is fairly short, growing to about 12 feet in 10 years. 

6. Leyland Cypress

This coniferous evergreen native to North America and the United Kingdom is a versatile option that can fit many landscape designs. This tree will add enough visual interest to your outdoor area with its evergreen foliage, reddish-brown bark, and brown cones. 

The Leyland Cypress is broadly rounded with a pyramidal shape tapering to a point at the crown. The plant can be grown to full height or pruned and shaped as a smaller specimen tree or used as a hedge. Leyland Cypress has a slow growth rate of 20 to 30 feet in the first ten years.

7. Norway Spruce

One of the most iconic coniferous evergreens often used as a Christmas tree, the Norway Spruce produces large cones of about 4 to 6 inches that dangle from its unique weeping horizontal branches. 

This tree features a brown-gray scaly bark. However, what makes it ideal for the festive season is its stiff, dense, dark green needles that can easily hold lights and ornaments. Norway spruce can grow to about 10 feet in its first five years.

8. Monterey Pine

If you are looking for a tree that will dwarf other elements in the surroundings with height while adding beauty to your landscape, then the Monterey pine is the choice for you. With a narrow trunk and pyramidal shape, this plant is perfect for landscaping.

Monterey pine thrives in dry conditions; hence, it won’t need frequent watering, especially when it matures. 

The tree features dark green needles and brown seed cones and grows to about 53 feet in 15 years. The tree is primarily cultivated for lumber in many areas around the world. In some native environments, such as Mexico and parts of central California, the tree is considered an endangered species. 

9. Wax Myrtle 

Commonly known as the southern bayberry tree, the wax myrtle is a fast-growing evergreen that can reach 40 feet in height. Its dense, fragrant olive-green foliage makes it well-suited for use as a border or screening hedge. 

This plant blooms in the spring to produce catkins, which are followed by pale blue fruits in the winter. However, two plants, a male and a female, are required for the plant to produce berries. The bark color may vary from light gray to nearly white. 

10. Rocky Mountain Juniper Skyrocket

A cultivar of the Rocky Mountain juniper, the skyrocket is one of the fastest-growing cultivars of the species. This evergreen adds beauty to your landscape and is versatile so you can use it in plenty of settings. 

The tree has a rounded conical shape and moderate height, hence its versatility. A silvery-blue to dark green foliage and a reddish-brown bark add to this plant’s visual interest and beauty. 

One of its most notable features is the waxy, blue, berry-like cones that make this evergreen even more beautiful. The skyrocket grows to about 15 feet tall, spreading about 3 feet in 10 years. 

11. Grand Fir 

One of the most famous evergreens, the Grand fir, lives up to its size and appearance. This tree is an excellent focal point for any landscape, featuring smooth gray bark and shiny dark green needle-like leaves. 

The Grand fir produces reddish brown cones that are about 3 inches in size. The common cultivar of this plant is the giant variety; however, there are dwarf species of the same, but they won’t grow as quickly.

12. Cherry Laurel 

Another evergreen with about the same characteristics as the wax myrtle, the cherry laurel is a broadleaf evergreen tree with glossy green foliage that may be fragrant and white flower spikes that bloom in spring.

The cherry laurel is easy to care for since it survives in various soil types and responds well to pruning, making it ideal for a screening hedge. 

The plant’s combination of flowers and berries attracts birds and pollinators in autumn. With the proper care requirements, the Cheryl Laurel can grow to about 10 feet tall in four to five years. However, this plant can be toxic to people and pets, so take the necessary precautions when growing it.