15 Budget Front Yard Landscaping Ideas That Are Simple and Beautiful

To cut down on costly yard care, plant densely enough to make sure all ground is covered. Weedy plant species take advantage of open soil, plenty of light, and moisture. By using a mix of larger shrubs, perennials, and groundcovers in a naturalistic design, you can keep weeds to a minimum.

11 Landscaping Ideas for Your Front Yard on a Budget

These helpful tips and tricks will boost your curb appeal without emptying your wallet.

Landscaping your front yard can be a rewarding experience when done well, plus it can add curb appeal and value to your home. But landscaping also can be a somewhat costly undertaking, especially if you just jump into it without a plan or an eye on keeping costs down. Before pushing a shovel into the ground or swiping the credit card at your local garden center, keep these 11 landscaping ideas for your front yard on a budget in mind to save big.

1. Avoid Annuals

Annual plants such as petunias and impatiens are terrific for filling planting beds and containers with color. However, they will only last for your current growing season and won’t survive the winter across most of the United States. Purchasing annual plants every year can get expensive and time-consuming. Instead, choose perennial plants for your front yard landscaping, which will give you a longer-lasting, budget-friendly garden.

2. Fill Gaps with Large Grasses

Tall ornamental grasses like switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans), or beak grass (Diarrhea obovata) fill the landscape with beautiful texture and movement. Plus, they grow quickly so you can buy them in cheaper one gallon containers and they’ll soon grow to full size and fill in empty spaces.

3. Limit Types of Plants

While it might be tempting to buy a large variety of plants from the garden center, keep it simple by purchasing with no more than five types of plants. One type of evergreen, two larger types of shrubs, and three types of perennials will fill a space well without looking cluttered while keeping costs low.

4. Densely Planting to Cut Weeds

To cut down on costly yard care, plant densely enough to make sure all ground is covered. Weedy plant species take advantage of open soil, plenty of light, and moisture. By using a mix of larger shrubs, perennials, and groundcovers in a naturalistic design, you can keep weeds to a minimum.

5. Deter Weeds with Cardboard

Before planting and laying out mulch, cover open soil with cardboard to create a biodegradable weed shield. Using cardboard will allow for moisture to permeate the soil while hampering the growth of weeds. Replace cardboard and mulch every few years to maintain a weed-free landscape.

6. Take Advantage of Deals

Spring is the ideal time to plant and after a long winter, getting out into the yard can be irresistible. However, you can save hundreds of dollars by waiting to purchase your plants in late summer and early fall as garden centers and big box stores seek to offload their stock.

7. Divide to Multiply Plants for Free

Most established yards already have a large variety of established plants that have outlasted many previous owners and many of these such as hostas, grasses, and peonies benefit from division of large clumps. Divide plants in early spring and replant in bare spots of the garden before purchasing more the following growing season.

8. Keep Things Contained

Instead of planting out an entire yard, you can save thousands by using planted containers and pots. In drier regions, use rock, sand, or pebbles as a landscape filler and use groupings of containers to add splashes of color and flare. Likewise, in wetter regions, plant non-invasive groundcovers like wild ginger (Asarum canadense) or perennial geranium (Geranium macrorrhizum) in lieu of rock for an easy-to-maintain yet lush look.

9. Plant from Seed

If you have the time and patience, planting a garden from seed can be very cost effective. Perennial seed mixes that include native wildflowers are better adapted to drought and other adverse weather conditions. That translates to a lower cost of maintenance and the creation of valuable wildlife habitat all in one.

10. Plant a No Mow Yard

Lawns are thirsty and require hundreds of dollars annually to keep them looking nice. To save on costs, consider lawn alternatives such as clover, buffalo grass, or a wildflower seed mix. Once established, say goodbye to daily watering and the lawn mower!

11. Create Living Fences

Whether traditional wood, plastic, or metal, putting up and maintaining a fence is not only expensive, but labor intensive to keep in good shape. To save not only on upfront costs but maintenance costs as well, plant a living fence or hedge instead. Favorite evergreens such as arborvitae and juniper are drought tolerant and act as a sound barrier as well, flowering shrubs like ninebark create an impenetrable wall of color throughout the year.

Landscaping your front yard doesn’t need to be expensive nor time consuming. These ideas will add tons of curb appeal and character to your yard for less.

15 Budget Front Yard Landscaping Ideas That Are Simple and Beautiful

Stacy is an expert writer for The Spruce covering home DIY projects and crafts. She has over 18 years of journalistic experience, appearing as a DIY expert on the Dr. Oz Show and several radio shows. She has published hundreds of articles and co-authored a book.

Your front yard is what a visitor first notices when they visit your home, and it’s important that you care for it. These budget front yard landscaping ideas will inspire you to take on a DIY project that will transform your yard into something new and fresh. You’ll get beautiful results with some simple changes that you can make in less than a weekend. These projects make it easy to increase your curb appeal without busting the budget.

Show Off Your Flowers in Window Boxes

Window boxes are a budget-friendly front yard landscaping idea that will instantly give your house a fresh and updated feel. Fill them with your favorite flowers, adding pops of color as you go. Window boxes can be purchased but it takes no time at all to build a few. A window box is a really simple build that even a beginner can handle, so don’t be afraid to give it a try.

Add a Rock Feature

A rock feature is a wonderful addition to any front yard. It can be used along with plants to create garden areas. Buying landscaping rock at rock gardens can get expensive so consider checking local home-building sites or public land (with permission) to save some money.

Ditch the Lawn

Change up the whole look of your front yard by introducing xeriscaping to your lawn. Instead of grass, native plants are used that don’t require as much water. The result is a beautiful lawn full of flowers and plants that look right at home. This project takes some time but the result is amazing.

Plant Garden Beds

Garden beds are an easy and inexpensive way to add new features to a front yard. Separate these gardens from the rest of the yard with edging and then fill with plants, shrubs, flowers, and even trees. You can put these flower beds up near the house, around trees, or even right at the curb.

Build a Path

A path is a surprising but welcome addition to a front yard. It adds a whimsical touch to your yard that your guests will adore. You can use a variety of materials to build the path so you stay within your budget.

Put Out Pots of Flowers

Landscaping a front yard requires some attention to the porch. This super simple idea has you flank the front door with flower pots. It’s a quick project that won’t break the bank.

Swap Out the Mailbox

Changing out your mailbox for a new one is a great budget front yard landscaping idea that you can DIY yourself or purchase one and install it. Go classic or choose something unique that tells a story about your house.

Create Some Yard Art

This project has you use your creativity to make a piece of yard art for your front yard. You can go as simple as you like and if you reuse materials, it will be easy to stay within budget.

Make It Low Maintenance

Using rocks, edging, and bushes keeps maintenance low, which is just what you want for a front yard. If you feel like a flower or garden bed is too much work, this type of landscaping will give you a break.

Hang Up a Birdhouse

If you have some trees in your front yard, consider hanging up a birdhouse. They’re easy to build or you can just purchase one that you like. It’s another quick and inexpensive yard landscaping feature that will take you less than an afternoon to complete, even if you’re building it from scratch.

Put Up a Water Feature

Water features don’t have to be just for the garden. Install a fountain or other water feature in your front yard and enjoy the beauty and lovely sounds as you relax in style. Surround it with flowers and you have something that all the neighbors are going to envy. It’s quite an upgrade that you’ll enjoy for years.

Remember the Details

The little details are what make a front yard special. Sit out baskets of flowers, add pillows to seating areas, and provide places to relax whether it be on the porch or actually on the lawn. These special touches are what makes a visitor to your home feel instantly welcomed before they even step into the house. You can go as simple or extravagant as you like, depending on your budget.

Put Up a Fence

Fences in front yards are a unique look that never goes out of style. Surround your yard with fencing and you’ll have a fresh look that really upgrades your home. Plus, you have a safe place for the kids and pets to play as they enjoy the front yard.

Decorate for the Seasons

A fun budget front yard landscaping idea is to update your yard for holidays and seasons. The front porch should come first, and then add any yard decorations that you like for the upcoming holiday. You can go simple with just a few elements or go all out with a completely decorated front yard.