4 ideas that won’t break your budget
By: Garden Gate staff
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4 ideas that won’t break your budget
A getaway doesn’t need to be elaborate or cost an arm and a leg. It can be as simple as a lawn chair in a shady spot. But you may be looking for something with a little more style. Let these ideas help you turn your backyard into a relaxing retreat without spending a lot of cash.
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Freshen up your furniture
Not all the color in your garden has to come from flowers — outdoor furniture can be colorful, too. Save some money and update what you already have with a can or two of spray paint. Bright colors, like that on this bistro set, stand out from a distance better than dark ones. Start by cleaning up your pieces thoroughly with an all-purpose cleaner and letting them dry. Remove rust with a wire brush and spray on a primer before you add color. Remember, with spray paint, it’s better to do several thin coats than one thick one that may run and drip.
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Save a tree
Don’t let a tree that’s being taken down be a total loss. Salvage a few pieces of the trunk to use as seating or a play area for the kids. These chunks of blue Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’) trunk are about 20 in. in diameter and vary from 6 to 20 in. in height. Because cedar is water-resistant they’ll last a long time even without any sealant.
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Bring a broken fountain to life
Don’t leave that old fountain high and dry. Fill each level with potting mix and your favorite plants. Because these basins are shallow, you may need to water plants more often, especially in hot weather.
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Add height with style
An 8-ft. 1×8 piece of pine cut into 1-in. strips and screwed together makes this 72×21-in. trellis. It leans against the fence like a ladder with colorful buckets that hang from a chain attached to an eye-hook. Leftover pieces of wood were painted and wedged in the sides for an artistic flair.
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