10 Most Affordable Gardening Materials for Beautiful Landscapes

Creating a beautiful landscape doesn't have to break the bank. Planting trees is one of the easiest and least expensive backyard gardening ideas of all. All you need are a few digging tools, some mulch and the tree. Plus, you'll end up saving even more if you plant trees in the right places.

Using crushed stones or garden rocks is one of the cheapest backyard landscaping ideas you can find. Instead of having to pay a high price for grass or other plants, it can easily take up a lot of space with the type of crushed stone in the picture or even with garden rocks, gravel, etc. For example, your composite roof has a 25-year warranty and doesn't need to be stained or painted. And today, there is a wide range of products that fit various budgets. These walls are painted with “Knightsbridge 215” (opens in a new tab) and “Carmine 189” (opens in a new tab), intelligent masonry paints, both by Little Greene (opens in a new tab).

With all the rustic charm of wicker, this woven garden border gives a handmade finish to your humble garden. Recreate this idea of cheap gardening at home by placing bamboo poles in the soil 12 to 18 inches apart, and then interspersing raspberry canes or other long, thin stems that grow in your area through the posts to achieve a whimsical weaving pattern. For a professional look, finish the project by lightly hammering the top of the bamboo supports until they are all level. Are you pruning trees? Save the smaller branches (those that are less than 1 inch in diameter) to create a rustic and charming tree. Two simple inverted “U's” spaced a couple of feet apart can be connected approximately each foot by horizontal braces; tie the pieces together with a wire.

Or you can make a more square design with vertical “posts” and a horizontal roof. Plant a climbing vine at each end of the tree and train the stems to climb and overcome their new structure. Water fountains don't have to exceed your budget to cause a stir in your garden. Modern pond pumps and liners are inexpensive and easy for DIY enthusiasts to install. Add some stones and a little more effort, and you can even build small waterfalls.

Look for free stones at construction sites (get permission) or on your cousin's farm property. Or go a little more elegant with a cascading clay fountain. If you're looking for an affordable way to create an eye-catching landscape, these 10 materials are perfect for you. From crushed stones to bamboo poles, these materials are easy to find and won't break your budget. Maintaining landscape vegetation and flowers can be expensive and time consuming. You can also build beautiful hard landscapes, such as retaining walls, courtyards, and walkways.

However, if you're concerned about the budget, you can still create attractive landscapes with cost-effective gardening materials. Below are 10 of the most affordable gardening materials you can use to create landscapes as beautiful as expensive ones.