With summer here, you probably want to spend as much time as you can relaxing and entertaining in your backyard, whether that’s through playing with the kids or pets, reading a book, pottering about in the garden, hosting an outdoor party, or otherwise chilling out. 

However, if your backyard never gets a lot of attention, it might not look as lush and serene as you would like. As such, it’s important to find ways to care for and maintain it.

Don’t think you have to outlay a huge amount on your backyard though. In fact, there are numerous steps you can take to make your outdoor zones welcoming at any time of year, without breaking the bank. 

Do Your Own Planning and Designing

If you think your yard needs an entire “do-over”, save money by doing your own planning and designing. It can be costly to hire a landscape gardener or designer, so cut costs by researching current landscaping trends yourself.

Check out all the useful free and low-cost resources readily available to consumers these days. For example, look at magazines, blogs, books, social media sites like Pinterest and Instagram, forums, etc. Also attend home and garden shows for tips and ideas. Once you know what you’re after, you may also want to utilize an app. There are many great options on the market that help with planning, budgeting, and other aspects of backyard design.

Keep Your Lawn Healthy

A peaceful, pleasant yard typically has some lovely, lush lawn in it. If your lawn is looking dry, overgrown, bare, or otherwise worse for wear, then, it’s time to give it some TLC. This is important not just for looks but also because maintenance keeps grass healthy and ensures you don’t have the expense of having to put new lawn down. 

To get your lawn thick and green, mow it regularly. This helps the grass to stay strong and the soil underneath to get better access to water, feed, and sunlight. Water your lawn often, too, particularly in the drier or hotter months of the year. It’s also necessary to aerate lawns annually, and to fertilize them a couple of times per year. Plus, rake up the leaves that fall from trees above, so these don’t form a mat once wet and suffocate the grass. 

If you find it challenging to fit in enough time for this maintenance or don’t have the skills or knowledge needed, there are affordable professionals you can hire to assist. Go online and search for “lawn care services near me” for vendors available in your suburb.

Be Savvy about Money Spent on Plants

Whether you’re a keen gardener or someone who doesn’t have a whole lot of experience, you may find you spend a considerable amount of money annually on plants, if you add up expenses over a year. This is money that could be spent elsewhere, so consider ways to outlay less on plants.

For example, take the bulbs already in your garden and divide them so you get more plants for zero cost. You can also get cuttings from your friends or families or the local area, and grow plants from there. Also, save money by buying less-than-perfect plants that are healthy but discounted because they’re not as visually appealing as others. Another option is to buy affordable plants at garage sales.

Reduce Water Usage

Since the majority of us in the developed world have easy access to drinking and backyard water, we often aren’t very mindful about our usage of the precious commodity. However, if you want to reduce spending in your backyard, it’s a good idea to mind your water usage. Take steps to waste less of it by reusing and harvesting water, both inside and outside your home. 

Use tanks and buckets and the like to collect rainwater, and collect gray water via your kitchen sink, laundry, and shower. Also, cut back water usage by being smart about how and when you water your lawn and gardens. Complete watering first thing in the morning or late in the day, especially during summer, so less moisture evaporates and you don’t need to water as much. 

Furthermore, fix leaking taps in your garden, choose drought-resistant plants, water by hand rather than using less precise sprinklers, and reduce the amount of thirsty lawn you have by putting in stones or pavers or easy-care ground covers instead.

Follow the tips listed above and you’ll soon be saving considerable cash each year. This means that, in turn, you can use the extra money on other things, like renovating the inside of your home, going on a holiday, or building your bank account.