Taking on the garden can cost just a few cents, says horticulturist and garden designer Anne Britt
With November in full swing, there's never been a better time to update your outdoor space. And it doesn’t necessarily have to break the bank. In fact, it can cost less than 50p – or even be free! Here, Anne Britt, a gardener and garden designer with 20 years of experience in the industry, explains how you can transform your garden affordably.
CLEAN UP!
As all of our great public-access gardens (your National Trusts, RHS sites and stately homes) know, if your hedges, borders and lawns are trimmed and kept tidy, your garden will look well maintained, no matter how unruly the rest of your garden. So now it's time to get out the clippers and grass trimmer and then thoroughly sweep the patios, grass and paths.
Go potty
To brighten up bare walls or fences near the house, add simple wooden plank shelves (like those found in kitchens) and place terra cotta pots filled with herbs. The latter are also practical for the kitchen and should therefore ideally be kept nearby. You can get pots and herb plants for pennies at local garden centers.
LIGHT IT
Outdoor lighting isn't just for Christmas. It looks sparkly and pretty all year round and works especially well as we approach fall and the evening light fades earlier each day.
Hang pretty battery-operated string lights (not solar lights, as they don't work most of the year) from a shrub or tree within sight of the house. It will be a beautiful eye-catcher from the inside and will lure you outside on nice evenings.
PAINT IT BLACK
Paint is cheap, but it can transform your garden from shabby to chic in an instant. Fences, garden furniture, sheds, pergolas and garden sheds benefit from a quick refresh. Use exterior paint like Cuprinol. Keep fences and sheds neutral – I'm personally a big fan of black paint as it makes plants stand out and reserves the color for nicer structures like furniture and garden sheds.
REALLY WILD
Make David Attenborough proud and recreate a small piece of your garden. Help bees, butterflies and other insects by buying a pack of wildflowers – which cost next to nothing, some you can buy for less than 50p and in fact The Range has some beautiful wildflower scatter seeds for 49p – and scatter them over the area.
It makes for a lovely surprise when your flowers bloom, and you'll feel proud of not only nourishing the ecosystem, but also growing plants from the ground up.
SHOP SECOND HAND
Do you want a smart water feature or planter for your patio? Go to eBay or Facebook Marketplace and search for a “galvanized tank or trough.” Shopping second-hand is good for the environment because you're giving a home to something that would otherwise end up in landfill, and it's also good for your bank balance.
You'll find that people often get rid of unwanted items for just a few pounds. I filled my own trough with water, added a water lily and am using it as a decorative plunge pool to water the pots with a watering can.
You can also fill them with compost and plant them for year-round use.
FEED THE BIRDS
Place a squirrel-proof bird feeder outside your window and fill it with sunflower hearts. Bringing birds into the garden has so many benefits – they feed on aphids and caterpillars and generally keep your plants free of pests.
They are also stunning and a real joy to look at. Add water for drinking and bathing, choose a bird bath, large or small, new or used, and enjoy the show from your window.