Are you dreaming of having a beautiful patio garden but don’t have a lot of money to spend? Don’t worry, we have small patio garden ideas on a budget that will help! With some creativity and resourcefulness, it is possible to create the perfect garden without emptying your wallet.
The first thing you should do is consider what types of plants would work best with the space that you have.
If you have limited access for watering or low levels of sunlight in certain areas of your patio then be sure to pick plants accordingly so they can thrive easily in those conditions. You might even find free or cheap plant cuttings from friends or family which can save you money as well.
Next up is finding containers for all the plants you want to have in your patio garden. Visit thrift stores and yard sales where there may be pots available at deeply discounted prices.
Ultimately though, if those aren’t options then make use of things lying around like old buckets and jars which could also do the trick just fine.
Finally, once everything has been set up properly don’t forget about maintenance. Regular pruning will help keep things looking neat while composting will provide essential nutrients for healthy growth too (bonus points: this helps reduce waste!).
Free or Inexpensive Plants
Plants make any space feel more inviting and cozy and the best part is that they don’t have to be expensive. You can get seeds or seedlings from friends or fellow gardeners who may already have some established in their own gardens.
Also, if there’s a certain plant that catches your eye in a store window then why not try growing it yourself using seeds instead of buying an adult plant? It might take longer for them to grow but it will be fun and with patience comes reward!
Use Seeds Instead of Grown Plants
When buying seeds, they are much cheaper than purchasing an already grown plant from a nursery. Not every seed in a seed packet will grow into a plant, but the price of a seed packet is low enough that it won’t empty your wallet if something doesn’t work out.
Be sure to check on the packet for instructions on when and how best to sow them in healthy soil (not garden soil). Garden soil can contain weed seeds, pests or mold which may make your plants sick or even kill them. Keep an eye out for weeds while waiting for those little sprouts to appear too.
Get Seeds and Seedlings from Friends
Have you ever thought about trading with your friends and fellow gardeners for seeds or seedlings? You can trade things like strawberry seeds that come from dried strawberries, dill plants from your friend’s garden, or even clipped off-shoots of some plants.
And if one of your friend’s plants are not doing well in their garden, they could give them to you and then when you get them healthy again, you can share it back with them.
Use Do-It-Yourself Systems
You can save a lot of money by building your own patio garden and all the components that go with it, and still get the satisfaction of creating something yourself. It might not look ultra-cool at first, but with some creativity and hard work, you can still make it look great.
Use Your Creativity
There are lots of creative ways to get around buying expensive pots and containers.
For starters, instead of buying pots, try using everyday items like used coffee cans for pots and egg trays as seed starters. You’ll need to drill holes in the bottom of the cans so they can drain properly and don’t forget a coat of waterproof paint on the outside if you want them to look nice.
You can also build your own raised beds out of planks, small tires or cinder blocks. And don’t worry if DIY isn’t really your thing. There are plenty of helpful YouTube videos that will show you how it’s done step by step.
If raised beds are more your style, there are tons of DIY tutorials online that will show you how to build them out of planks, small tires or cinder blocks. Whatever fits best on your patio.
DIY Self-Watering Options
We have some great DIY self-watering pot solutions for both simple and complex gardens.
The easiest option is to fill up an old plastic soda bottle with water and stick it into the container with its open end first. This will help keep your plants watered without having to do anything else, except refilling the bottle every once in a while.
You can also use a container of standing water on the patio, and dipping in a wick or cloth into the soil. This will act as an automatic watering system for your garden.
For more complex gardens, there are several videos available on YouTube that show how to build irrigation systems using tubes and drip systems. Just search “making your own drip irrigation system balcony garden” for step-by-step tutorials.
Summary
Creating a balcony garden doesn’t have to break the bank. These small patio garden ideas on a budget are meant to get you brainstorming on the possibilities that you have. The only thing that you will have to spend money on is the potting soil and this isn’t something you want to skimp on. Everything else from seeds and seedlings, pots and containers, and materials for raised beds can all be found for free if you look in the right places. All it takes is a little creativity!
