Gardening on Any Budget: What You Can Do for $50 to $5,000

When spring has sprung, it feels like the world comes to life. Gorgeous blooms burst from the earth, trees grow new leaves, and it’s time to set about transforming our outdoors into wondrous gardens. Though transforming a plot of dirt into a splendid scene may seem like an expensive task, the truth is you don’t need to be flush with cash to get the best garden on the block. 

In fact, there are plenty of garden updates you can make on a budget to render a huge difference to your outdoor space. “I have designed and installed hundreds of beautiful gardens at varying price points,” says Jen McDonald, a certified organic gardener and cofounder of Garden Girls, a gardening design company based in Houston, Texas. “The goal of the garden remains the same—to connect with nature, eat ‘garden to table,’ and live purposefully.”

Here, we’ve racked up all the best tips for making the most wonderful garden possible. From choosing ground cover that sprawls and filling all the nooks and crannies to planting native bulbs that self-divide underground (meaning more flowers next year), there’s a wide range of ways to transform your garden on a budget.

Budget of $50

To kick things off, you’ll want to get into planning mode. “Preplanning will save time, money, and labor,” McDonald says. “If you plan to grow vegetables, select a site that receives six to eight hours of sunlight each day. Herbs and lettuces need two to four hours, while fruiting plants, like tomatoes and cucumbers, need six to eight.” Make sure your garden has the right amount of drainage so water doesn’t collect or pool, and most importantly, make sure you have the right plants for the appropriate growing season (cilantro, for example, is a cool-season herb, whereas basil thrives in spring and summer). You’ll also need the right soil. “I cannot stress how important it is to invest in high-quality local sandy loam soil for vegetable gardens. If you have $25 to spend on a garden, $20 should be spent on soil,” McDonald advises. 

A budget of $50 still goes a long way. For one thing, says McDonald, you can spend it all on seed packets and sow your own seeds versus using transplants from a nursery. You can also sow your seeds in grow bags to expand your garden space without a lot of expense. “These are lightweight, affordable and durable options that can hold a large capacity and are made with landscape fabric,” she says. “I favor these over plastic containers because they actually look nice and won’t leach plastic chemicals into your soil.” Shallow-rooting plants like lettuces work well in the grow bags too. You can even fancy up your display of grow bags by adding in some ornamental flowers, edible herbs, or trailing vines.

Budget of $100

For this budget, you can juxtapose inexpensive flowers with more pricey petals in the garden. Certain flowers, though less costly, still pack a strong design punch with color and texture, says Raquel Kehler, interior design creator and house flipper at RoomCrush in Vancouver. These include helenium, chrysanthemum, dahlias, and forget-me-nots. “Combine these flowers with ornamental grasses like fountain grass and Japanese forest grass,” Kehler adds. In doing so, you will cultivate a garden that feels curated and designed.

Next, choose self-sustaining plants. This includes bulb flowers that will come back year after year (depending on your region). Or opt for wildflowers as ground cover, like a meadow mix of native seeds that are pollinator-friendly. Native plants like these require less watering, attract bees and butterflies, and bolster native wildlife with food and habitat. “Natives can and should be planted at each price point. Adding milkweed to your garden space will only cost a few dollars per plant but will create a monarch butterfly haven,” adds McDonald.

If you have a front porch, add some hanging pots and fill them with plants that don’t require much water to save even more money. “Look for succulents with trailing stems like string of pearls and donkey tail,” McDonald suggests. “For tighter budgets, buy small succulents and then grow them before planting them in the baskets when they get bigger.” Spend the money you would have spent on water for a moisture meter instead. It will help you waste less water.

Budget of $500

As your budget grows, so can you garden. “Consider investing in larger native perennials that are closer to maturity to speed your garden’s growth,” says Nicole Broder, head farmer at Shine Farms in Richmond, Virginia. Though smaller local nurseries might be a little pricier, the higher quality of those plants will pay off in the long run, she says. “With a larger budget, also consider investing more in your soil with things like vermicompost and deeper layers of bagged soil.” This will help you to not only expand your garden’s borders but lengthen its life. Rely on organic fertilizer and steer clear of big-box store blends promising larger blooms. “These products are commercially manufactured with a ‘one size fits all’ approach,” says McDonald. “They usually contain chemicals and additives that defy the principles of organic gardening.”

Once you’ve expanded outward, it’s time to go vertical. According to Lindsay Miller at Gardener’s Supply Company in Burlington, Vermont, “Trellises, cages, and other plant supports help keep crops off the ground and allow for a healthier level of airflow between plants.” A cage-trellis combo can go directly in a raised bed when you need it seasonally,” she says, “and tomatoes and eggplants can be planted in the end cages, while beans and peas are trained up the center mesh.” You can also create interesting tall focal points in your garden with a decorative obelisk, freestanding sculpture, or even an arch for supporting heavy woody-stemmed vines like roses and wisteria.

Budget of $1,000

At this price point, turn your attention to showstoppers. “Think fruit trees or large flowering shrubs, or invest even more in the outdoor hangout spot—consider an arbor or pergola to add structure to your space and grow vertically,” Broder says. Think of ways to use the showstoppers as anchors for a lovely outdoor hangout space. “Group several raised beds together and connect them with arch trellis boxes to create a beautiful, functional patio space,” says Miller. “Tuck a coordinating compost bin in nearby so you have a convenient place to toss yard waste.”

With this budget, you can even build habitat for animals. “A pond is a great way to showcase plants like water hyacinths, add a mini waterfall, or even feature colorful koi fish,” says Kehler. “Be sure to use animal-friendly cleaners for your pond water in case any critters wander by,” she says. “Look for nonpoisonous pond cleaners that say they’re safe for pets and wildlife.” 

Even a simple water feature can add a dynamic element while affording a friendly habitat for pollinators and birds. And if you get one made out of a standout material like copper, painted ceramic, or weathered concrete, it can add a striking design element to your space. Surround the bird bath with distinctive features like heavy planters made of ceramic. “Think about these as sentinel containers for either side of your doorway or anchoring your patio space,” says Joan Mazat of Ball Horticultural Company in West Chicago. “They can be reused year after year. Then you can fill them with taller, more tropical plants for greater theatrical impact—I’ve even used a palm tree as a centerpiece surrounded by Begonia and other accessory plants.”

Budget of $5,000

With $5,000 to spend, you can get a truly customized space. “Hire a skilled carpenter to construct a raised garden bed using untreated cedar,” says McDonald. Then insert a two-foot gravel pathway around the bed, she says, as an enjoyable walkway for you. With such an arrangement, you can add in a variety of features from panel trellises to rock gardens and firepits, all of which add instant curb appeal. 

Invest in filling all the spaces of your customized patio, even the areas in the shade. “If you’re still looking for high-impact flower, I recommend begonias,” says Mazat. “There are several interspecific begonias on the market that have massive fill and are highly forgiving in part-sun/part-shade exposure, plus drought and heat tolerance.” The breed Megawatt is a larger-size begonia for patio pots or baskets. “In the garden bed, look for whopper begonias. Or for a more pendulous flower structure, check out dragon wing begonias. They all come in red, pink, and white colors with glossy green or bronze foliage.”

Sustainable irrigation methods like drip irrigation are also in reach with this budget. While typically expensive to install, drip irrigation pays for itself overtime by allowing for more water saturation without overflooding plants. “I’d definitely encourage you to invest in some nice drip irrigation to make sure your garden is well hydrated and very efficient for you,” says Nikhil Arora, cofounder of Back to the Roots. Drip irrigation reduces runoff water and soil erosion because it drips at a rate permitting a plant’s roots to absorb all the water, leaving no excess water to seep into soil. With the new irrigation, you can really start turning your whole backyard into an edible garden, he says.