What is the best (and cheap) way to decorate a backyard??

Question

I know it costs money to fix up yards. But what is a cheap alternative to fixing the landscape for your own yard?

I would like something that is child friendly for a 4 yr old child.

Books/websites references would be extremely helpful.

Thank you!

Answer 1

Well, I am an aspiring landscape architect, so maybe I can suggest something.
Depending on the shape and size of your backyard, you could do many different things with it.
Gardening is a great activity to pursue with your children. I have attached several websites about it. It's not only together time with you child, but also teaches them (even at such a young age) about growing things, biology, and a reverence for the earth. Plus, kids love to play in dirt.
Try to range your plants in height, with the tallest in the back (for example, sunflowers) in the shortest in the front (for example marigolds). You might even try a small vegetable patch, which looks nice and provides you with fresh veggies. Green beans are a good choice here - simple & low maintenance.
Stay away from things with thorns or woody branches. Annuals or bulbs are probably your best bet. Seeds are cheap. You can start them in an egg carton full of dirt on a sunny windowsill, until the sprouts are more than in inch tall, then transfer them to pots or the ground. Make sure to follow the directions for planting times on the back of the seed packet.
Flower and vegetable beds can be lined with a variety of things - stones, bricks, broken pottery (sharp edges buried, of course), to make a nice contained look. You can also use old tires for a terraced look. Paint the treads various colors, lay them on the ground, fill them with dirt and - voila! - a raised flower bed that can also act as a boundary for a small child.
As for decorations, there are many ways to find inexpensive lawn ornaments and furniture. The salvation army and goodwill carry inexpensive used furniture. You could also get in touch with the branch of freecycle in your area (freecycle is a free organization to encourage trading of useable things within communities). Yard sale time is also coming up. You can usually pick up terra cotta pots and other such things for a fraction of the price you would pay at the store. Try mixing in terra cotta pots with hanging vines in your garden to give a multi-level effect.
You might even think of putting in a small sandbox. You can build the structure with a few nails and boards and a bag of sand - probably totalling about $20.
Lastly, you may want a patch of grass in there somewhere. Buy the grass seed yourself (like I said, seeds are cheap). Scatter the seed on a warm day (or follow the instructions on the back of the package). If it's on bare dirt, cover it with some hay if you can, so the seeds don't blow away. Water immediately, and about every second day. And try to stay off it until it's fairly grown up.
One last thing - if you do create a garden, save the sod that you remove and use it somewhere else if you can. Find a bare spot in the lawn, clear away the dying grass there, dig down a bit, cut the sod to fit and place it there. Make sure to water it and it should take root.
Hope that helps!

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Oh! I'm 14 also! Take Christmas lights (or fairy lights, same thing) and decorate. Find tea light candles and write a letter with them, like a D for Diana, on a rock or pavement section. At a thrift store, find big clear glass bowls. fill the bowls 2/3 full with water. Sprinkle glitter (clear flakes is best!) on the water surface, and float flowers and lit tea light candles on the top.

Answer 4

Depending on how bad your yard is...the best thing is to keep it mowed and weed free...set up a small vegetable garden with your child...that way they could watch things grow and teach healthy eating habits.

If there's hardly a patch of grass, buy grass seed to re-seed your lawn, make sure though you break up soil where you are seeding. Hoes and rakes are cheap at any home store...

Ask anyone at your local home and garden stores for more suggestions.

Answer 5

Make a garden..one for you ,and one for the four year old.
start the seeds in your home that's the cheapest and trans plant.
do some perennial flowers so they come up every year.
for a garden plant peas easy grow grow look pretty and very tasty, carrots,any thing you like to eat.
Have fun!
you can also go to dollar stores and find cheep outdoor hangers.

Answer 6

I guess oyu could try getting a Japanese-Style sand garden... You need a bunch of sand (it's a special kind) and some river stoines.... just get someone to do a walkway there with stone slabs... It's look cool. Oh and some bamboo.

Hope it helps :-)

Check these websites out for reference:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2099.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen_garden
http://mcel.pacificu.edu/as/students/chee/sand.html

Answer 7

The best way is to do it yourself. If you're resourceful, you can find things you need at very low costs (i.e. wood, furniture, stone, etc.) There are all kinds of outlet centers and places to find low cost materials.
You can find directions to make things yourself for your yard on sites like the ones I've listed.
http://www.doityourself.com/
http://www.servicemagic.com/article.show.Do-It-Yourself-Landscaping.13340.html
http://www.doityourselflandscaping.net/
http://aco.ca/do_it_yourself_landscaping/index.html
http://www.dreamlandscaping.com/landscaping-guide/do-it-yourself-landscaping.htm

Just google it. There are a plethera of sites to help you out there!

Answer 8

lots of sites out there. You can also try hgtv.com & bhg.com

Answer 9

Put manure on everything