MEET THE EXPERTS
- Danielle Le Vaillant, Head of Photography and Film at Cox & Cox: ‘Treat your garden like any room in the house, keeping it neat and caring for furniture’
- Lee Burkhill, Garden Designer at Garden Ninja and TV Presenter: ‘A tin of paint, thinking strategically with colour, propagating more of the plants that work well and getting your hands dirty will take you far’
- Julian Palphramand, Head of Plants at British Garden Centres: ‘A good garden clean-up costs nothing and gives you a fresh canvas for any ideas you have’
At this time of year, many of us are seeking ways to spruce up our gardens in time for summer without breaking the bank. But where do you start with your budget garden ideas?
We asked a garden designer, a plant expert and a brand stylist to share their insider secrets for budget makeovers that look amazing.
‘Start by editing rather than buying,’ says Lee, which refers to plants as much as furniture. ‘Lift and divide your herbaceous perennials and you’ll get three or four plants from each clump. Then reorganise what you have by colour – it’s the most overlooked part of good garden design. Moving plants costs nothing but genuinely transforms the space.’
Julian adds: ‘Give everything a good tidy by cutting back dead or straggly growth, pulling weeds before they seed and edging your borders.’
If your furniture needs a revamp, Julian suggests sanding the wood, followed by a coat of teak oil or exterior wood paint. ‘Painting is one of the most transformative things you can do for under £30,’ agrees Lee. ‘Use a slate blue, sage green or warm off-white and paint every mismatched chair, table and planter the same colour. What once looked like a jumble sale suddenly looks like a curated outdoor room. You can go bold and choose bright blue or even yellow to make a design statement.’
Danielle loves to add new accessories. ‘Weather-ready cushions in cheerful shades will transform neutral seating.’ She also likes to add one hero piece: ‘Look for something that makes a statement, such as a water feature or an impressive planter, then rearrange your existing furniture to make this new piece the focal point for a fresh perspective.’
Go big
To make an impact with planting, Julian suggests ‘a few large pots filled with something bold and architectural, like ornamental grasses, lavender or trailing ivy, which can act as focal points. Bedding plants, such as pansies, violas and petunias, add instant colour in hanging baskets or containers.’
Lee likes to paint fencing or feature walls: ‘Fern green, dusty terracotta or even a rich inky blue will instantly make your planting pop and give the
Light it right
There are many ways of adding garden lighting without calling an electrician, says Danielle. ‘For festival-style, party lighting, choose festoons that plug in, while rope lights can give a magical effect. Get creative with the placing – wrap them around trees or through the horizontals of a pergola for maximum effect.’
Lee suggests solar and battery-powered options. ‘Spike lights in borders, solar lanterns on steps and battery-powered LED candles on tables provide layers of light for under £50. Layer your light sources as you would indoors.’
Look for low-cost landscaping
‘Gravel is still one of the best value landscaping materials available and, used well, it looks genuinely beautiful,’ says Lee.
‘Pair it with large stepping stones or sleepers to create structure and plant drought-tolerant perennials and grasses through it. It’s low-maintenance, drains well and gives you that relaxed, naturalistic feel that is very of-the-moment.’ Julian adds: ‘Cotswold stone and blue slate give outdoor spaces a tidy, polished look with minimal effort, adding colour and texture all year round.’
When it comes to fencing, Lee says, ‘I love vigorous climbers like Rosa ‘Rambling Rector’ or a self-clinging Hydrangea petiolaris to cover “naked” unpainted fence panels – much softer and more inviting than bare grey or orange fence panels!’
Steal from interiors
‘Think of your garden as an outdoor room and apply the same principles. Use an outdoor mirror to double the sense of space and position it to reflect a planted border or a focal point rather than a fence or gate,’ advises Lee.
‘Create a feature wall with a bold paint colour or a trained climber. Use accent colours consistently across your cushions, pots and accessories just as you would with soft furnishings indoors. Repetition of colour and form is what makes a space feel designed.’
‘There are some really attractive new colours inspired by earthy palettes in textiles and accessories for gardens this season, which are perfect for those who prefer a restrained look,’ says Danielle. ‘Seek out terracotta, rust, sage and almond-toned pieces in matt finishes.’
Make it bloom every year
‘Investing in evergreen structural plants – grasses, pittosporum, spiraea, viburnums and ferns – will give form and foliage interest through the season,’ says Lee.
‘And buy in multiples. Build your planting scheme on this backbone and layer seasonal colour around it. Everything else – furniture, pots and accessories – is secondary to getting the bones of the garden right, and good structure makes even a sparse garden look intentional in winter.’
‘It’s all about cohesion,’ adds Julian. ‘Create a space where pots, furniture and materials all share the same palette. Remove clutter, redundant pots and anything that doesn’t earn its place instantly. This elevates the whole space, because expensive gardens tend to have less in them, not more.’
NEED TO KNOW… Make it look expensive
Julian Palphramand of British Garden Centres shares his tips
- The gardens that look expensive on a modest budget are the ones where every decision feels deliberate.
- Edit ruthlessly – remove anything that doesn’t contribute. Use fewer, larger pots instead of lots of small ones for impact.
- Repeat the same plant three to five times through a border rather than buying one of everything.
- Choose one paint colour and apply it consistently across all your furniture and woodwork.
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