Backyard ideas on a budget

A backyard changes a lot on a few hundred dollars, as long as the money goes on structure and light rather than on furniture. Most of these projects are a weekend each, and the biggest one, the raised beds, still comes in under $650.

10 ideas, with costs

• Mulch the beds and edge them by hand

  $80 – $200

  Two cubic yards of mulch covers about 320 sq ft at 2 in deep, and a crisp spade-cut edge makes the whole yard look maintained. Keep mulch 3 in clear of the foundation and off tree trunks.

  Beginner A day

• String lights across the patio

  $60 – $180

  Two 50 ft strands on screw-in hooks at 9 ft, with about 2.5 ft of sag, light a seating area for a fraction of the cost of a fixture. Use outdoor-rated cable and a GFCI outlet.

  Beginner 2 hours

• A gravel sitting area with paver edging

  $180 – $400

  A 10 ft by 10 ft area takes about 1.5 tons of 3/4 in gravel over 3 in of compacted base. Set the edging pavers into the ground so the gravel stays where you put it.

  Intermediate A weekend

• Two 4 ft by 8 ft raised garden beds

  $340 – $620

  The cheapest way to grow food: 64 sq ft of beds, 48 cu ft of soil, and a call to 811 before you break the ground. Built once, they last a decade.

  Beginner A weekend
  Full guide: How to build raised garden beds

• Repaint or stain the fence and gate

  $120 – $300

  A 100 ft fence takes about four gallons of exterior stain, applied with a sprayer or a roller and a brush. Cleaning it first with a hose and a stiff brush is what makes the finish last.

  Beginner A weekend

• A fire pit ring from wall blocks

  $150 – $350

  Thirty-six blocks in a 36 in ring, on a gravel base, with a steel insert. Keep it 10 ft from anything combustible and check the local burn rules before lighting it.

  Intermediate Half a day

• A stepping-stone path through the lawn

  $90 – $220

  Twelve 16 in pavers set 3 in into the turf, about 20 in apart, make a path that survives the winter. Set them level with the grass so the mower passes straight over them.

  Beginner A day

• A border of native plants along the fence

  $100 – $250

  Fifteen native perennials planted 18 in apart, mulched and watered through the first season, need no fertiliser and very little water after that.

  Beginner A day

• An outdoor table from pallets or offcuts

  $60 – $180

  A 4 ft by 2 ft table from heat-treated pallets or 2x6 offcuts, sanded and sealed with exterior oil. Check for the HT stamp and never use painted or chemically treated pallets.

  Intermediate A weekend

• A clothesline or a drying rack

  $40 – $120

  Two posts and 40 ft of line dry a load of laundry for nothing at all. Set the posts 2 ft deep in concrete, and run the line where it gets sun most of the day.

  Beginner 2 hours