Budget Backyard Ideas to Bring Fall Style Without Breaking the Bank
Gardening Know How offers ten inexpensive ways to add fall color to a yard, from planting bulbs to DIY water features, all doable before August ends.
Gardening Know How has released a list of ten budget backyard ideas that can transform a yard into a fall-season display without breaking the bank. The guide stresses acting before August ends, so plants have time to establish roots and benefit from late-summer sales. By planting bulbs, refreshing hanging baskets, adding long-lasting flowers, and installing simple DIY features, homeowners can enjoy a thousand-dollar look for a fraction of the cost.
Bury Bulbs for Quick Fall Blooms
One of the most affordable ways to bring color to a lawn is to plant Crocus sativus bulbs in September. According to Gardening Know How, the bulbs can be buried in the lawn or at the edge of a border and will bloom in 6-10 weeks, producing 3-6 inch azure flowers that contrast with fall foliage. The source lists 20 bulbs from Jackson & Perkins for $17.95, a price that allows gardeners to create drifts of blooms without mowing the lawn during the flowering period. The bulbs are hardy in zones 3-8 and can be dug up and separated every 3-4 years for free propagation.
| Item | Quantity | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Crocus sativus bulbs | 20 | $17.95 |
| Plentifall pansies | 4 plants | $13.95 |
Refresh Hanging Baskets with Pansies
Gardening Know How recommends using Plentifall pansies to revive tired hanging baskets after a hot summer. The pansies are said to flower profusely through fall, winter and spring in zones 6-8, and can tolerate colder climates down to zone 3 if sheltered. They have a trailing habit, reaching 8-10 inches tall and 18-24 inches wide, and the 1-inch flowers are edible for garnishes. Burpee is offering four plants for $13.95, with three varieties: Lavender Blue, White, and Frost. The source notes that the pansies can spill from a basket, adding a casual, cascading look.
Add Long-Lasting Flowers with Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’
Sedum spectabile ‘Autumn Joy’ is highlighted as a reliable fall bloomer that can be grown in 1-gallon pots. The succulent produces pale pink flowers that shift to rosy pink and finally copper as they mature. Gardening Know How says the plant thrives in sun or partial shade in zones 4-9 and that the dried flat-topped flowers can be left after the first frost to provide winter structure. The source lists the plant from Garden Goods Direct and notes that Dutch-grown bare-root stock is available at a third of the price, though bare-root sedum planted now will not flower this year.
DIY Projects and Natural Accents
The guide also suggests several low-cost DIY and foraged décor ideas. A solar-powered floating fountain with LEDs can be installed in a watertight polyresin tub, creating an illuminated water feature for evenings. Stepping stones can be laid across a lawn to protect grass during wet or frozen weather; the source mentions a four-pack from Wayfair that can be purchased for around $50. A wreath made from foraged stems tied with twine and attached to a wooden hoop offers a quick, inexpensive accent. Finally, pinecone mulch and colored yarn around sticks provide texture and insulation for patio pots or borders.
The water feature can be made with a solar-powered floating fountain with LEDs.
