As a busy working mom, there are parts of our home that I feel ashamed of because they have been neglected, and one of them is my front yard.
My front yard has been neglected for years, and it’s a mess. I want to give it a little makeover, starting with the existing raised garden bed. I have a few potted plants (they are still alive and thriving, thank God!) in our front yard and a raised garden bed made of cement. There are existing trees planted in the raised garden bed and a Santan flower.
As a mom, you also consider the budget when planning projects for your home. For this makeover, I aimed to save money as much as possible. DIY is the best way to save money, and it allows me to express my creativity in this project, which I know I will love when I finish this little project. I also want my little garden to be practical and easy to maintain.
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Planning for a DIY landscaping raised garden bed
Create a plan for DIY landscaping of your raised garden bed to determine the necessary materials and find the best prices in the market. It could include extra plants, garden decor, or outdoor lights. You might start with a drawing to visualize how you want your garden bed to look.
What materials do I need for DIY landscaping a raised garden bed?
I want a relaxing vibe, especially at night, so I will definitely add outdoor solar lights. Yes, solar lights to save electricity and avoid the hassle of switching lights on and off every day. I also want to add some decor to spruce up the garden bed.
Here are the materials and tools I used for my raised garden bed makeover landscaping project.
Garden tools
Garden shovel
Gloves
Pruning shear
Scissor
Measuring tape
Materials for Decorating the Raised Garden
Outdoor solar lights
Outdoor garden statues
Paint
Paint brush
Shells
Stones
Fake Bermuda grass
Additional plants
Pebbles
How to DIY landscaping a raised garden bed
1. Clean the garden bed
Remove all the weeds and trim the plants. Don’t forget to remove dry leaves.
2. Plant the additional plants you would like to add
In my case, I just planted a Malungay tree, and the other plants I want to add are potted plants that I plan to place on top of the garden bed, which will make it less work for me.
3. Paint the garden bed edge
I painted the cement edge of the garden bed to give it a cleaner look, and I chose light gray as the color. I also painted the pots I plan to add with the same color. Let it dry for a day.
4. Place the fake Bermuda grass
I once tried real Bermuda grass in my garden bed, but it was too much of a hassle for me to maintain, and eventually it died. This time, I used fake Bermuda grass to cover the soil. Not only does it look aesthetically pleasing, but it also helps prevent weeds from growing in the garden bed and is easy to maintain.
Measure your garden bed and trim the fake grass with scissors to fit it. Don’t forget to make holes in the fake grass for the plants.
5. Decor the garden bed
Here’s the fun part. You can decorate your raised garden bed whatever you like. You can make it a fairy garden, a vintage garden, or a Studio Ghibli theme. Just play with your imagination and creativity!
Lucky me, some of the decor I placed on my raised garden bed was just randomly picked up from the street. I have a neighbor who is building a new house and saw a big rock. I asked if I could have it, and they gave it to me for FREE! I also saw shells in my neighbor’s vacant lot and took them. I just wash them, and they look like they were just freshly picked from the beach.
I also made a DIY dish garden to save money, and it turned out really pretty! You can check out my DIY dish garden blog to see how I did it.
I bought a few outdoor garden decorations online, like cute dwarf statues, a colorful mushroom house, and small hanging metal bird cages. I chose the cheapest prices, but they are still cute.
I also place some of my repainted potted plants in the garden bed and add white pebbles and shells to the pots.
6. Add the outdoor solar lights
Spruce up your garden bed at night by adding outdoor solar lights. These lights help create a more relaxing and magical atmosphere after dark! I chose fairy lights, stake lighting lamps, and wall lights.
Tip for choosing outdoor solar lights: Opt for solar lights with larger solar panels to run longer, and select waterproof solar lights.
How to save money on landscaping or decorating your raised garden bed
You don’t need a big budget to make your garden look beautiful. A simple cleaning and trimming of your plants will always have a big impact in making your garden look pretty. A little upgrade from time to time and a bit of DIY flair will save you money.
With my little project on my raised garden bed, I was able to save a lot by doing the following:
1. Do a stroll around your neighborhood
There’s a saying “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” By strolling in your neighborhood, you might find something you can use for your makeover project. A little love on your new finds, you can use them in your project, and it will save you money.
And if you’re friends with your neighbor, you can ask for small cuttings of their plants. Just put them in water and wait for them to root, or you can plant them directly in the soil, and you get a free plant!
2. Use what you currently have
Look around your house; I’m sure you’ll find something to use for decorating your garden bed. In my case, I already have leftover paint I used years ago, along with pebbles and white stones in my garden. As for the Malungay tree, I just found it in a vacant lot on our street and replanted it in my raised garden bed.
3. Repurpose items
If you have stuff that you think you can repurpose it by doing DIY, please, by all means, do it! With a little imagination and time, I’m pretty sure, you will create something new and pretty that you can use for your project, and it will save you money by repurposing items. In my case, I did a DIY dish garden from a broken pot.
4. Thrifting
Visit the nearest thrift store in your area, and you’ll find really nice garden decor at low prices. They have pots, outdoor wall decors, statues, hanging metal cages, and more.
5. Always do canvassing first before buying
I know this is time-consuming, but it will help you save money. When buying online or in a physical store, it’s best to canvas first so that you can find the cheapest price in the market.
Additional tip: Check Facebook Marketplace; you can find affordable items there. Whether new or secondhand, they sell for less than Amazon and your local stores.
In this small project, my only expenses are the fake Bermuda grass, paintbrush, outdoor solar lights, and the garden decorations I bought online, which include the dwarf statue, mushroom house, and hanging metal cages. It cost me less than $100.
Commonly Asked Questions For Landscaping Raised Garden Bed
What materials should I use to build the borders of my raised garden bed?
You can choose from wood, stone, metal, cement, bricks, or recycled materials such as old bathtubs, steel cattle, and more.
How do I prepare the ground before setting up a raised bed?
Remove the grass and weeds, level the soil, and add a weed barrier to prevent weeds from growing in your garden bed.
What soil mix is best for raised garden beds?
You can simply use garden soil if you’re on a budget. For healthier soil, you can mix topsoil, compost, and coco peat.
How do I design the layout for both aesthetic and functionality?
Always leave space between your raised garden beds, create pathways, add garden arches where you can support vines, and consider what types of plants you want to grow. If you want to go the extra mile, you can also add garden decor!
What are some budget-friendly ways to landscape around the bed?
You can use mulch, gravel, pebbles, edging, and thrifted or upcycled garden decorations.
How to maintain your raised garden bed?
Water your plants and apply fertilizer as needed. Remove dried leaves and trim your plants occasionally.
Enjoy your new spot in your garden
Raised garden bed doesn’t have to be boring. By simply decorating it, you can make your raised garden bed look whimsical and magical.
Decorating a raised garden bed doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated; with a little creativity, some love, and a few budget-friendly touches, it can make a difference. I hope these ideas inspire you to roll up your sleeves and transform your garden into a beautiful, cozy haven the whole family can enjoy!
