35 DIY Garden Ideas to Upgrade Your Backyard (2024)

Gardening

Gardening Basics

• 01 of 35

  DIY Raised Garden Beds

  

  Add to your garden or start a new one by using one of these raised garden box plans. Built with beautiful cedar planks, these raised beds are a lovely and functional DIY garden idea on a budget. You'll have them for years and they'll stand up to the elements nicely.

  Raised Garden Beds from The Navage Patch

  Continue to 2 of 35 below

• 02 of 35

  Window Box Planters for a Shed

  

  A window box planter gives you a small space for just one or two items to grow. Here, one is built into the window of a shed, creating a little extra space for a garden. This DIY garden idea is perfect for small spaces—learn how to build the crate and whitewash it to get a rustic look.

  Window Box Planters for a Shed from Funky Junk Interiors

  Continue to 3 of 35 below

• 03 of 35

  DIY Succulent Garden in a Fountain

  

  Instead of being grown in a pot, these succulents are growing in a DIY outdoor fountain container garden. The layers of succulents spill over onto the next, creating a full, layered look.

  Succulent Garden in a Fountain from A Piece of Rainbow

  Continue to 4 of 35 below

• 04 of 35

  DIY Pallet Garden Walkway

  

  With just two pallets, you can create a DIY walkway that goes right through your garden. You can leave them natural or paint them to get a whole different look. The best part is how easy this is to put together.

  Pallet Garden Walkway from Funky Junk Interiors

  Continue to 5 of 35 below

• 05 of 35

  Greenhouse With Custom Flooring

  

  Having a whole greenhouse for your garden might be the ultimate dream. This project shows you how to take any greenhouse and add a paver floor. The floor is then stenciled, giving it a whimsical feel.

  Greenhouse with Custom Flooring from Delia Creates
  

  Continue to 6 of 35 below

• 06 of 35

  Solar Fountain

  

  Add a solar fountain water pump to any large vessel along with some water-loving plants. This makes a beautiful living decoration that can be placed anywhere in the garden or yard.

  Solar Fountain from A Piece of Rainbow

  Continue to 7 of 35 below

• 07 of 35

  DIY Small Space Vertical Herb Garden

  

  The smallest of spaces, even vertical ones, can be turned into a garden. This herb garden is contained in a weed barrier that's had pockets sewn in to hold the plants. You can make these any size you want, so they fit perfectly in your space.

  Small Space Vertical Herb Garden from A Beautiful Mess

  Continue to 8 of 35 below

• 08 of 35

  See Also

  16 Small-Space Landscaping Ideas to Make the Most of Your PlotBackyard Ideas For Small Yards To DIY This Spring25 Small Backyard Ideas That'll Transform Your Space Into a Dreamy Outdoor Oasis14 Smart Small Yard Landscaping Ideas

  DIY Repurposed Patio Chair Garden Planters

  

  Upcycle an old, thrifted patio chair into a vibrant garden design idea. A few coats of bold-colored spray paint will prepare the DIY chair for its new life as a planter. It looks great sitting among the garden beds.

  Repurposed Patio Chair Garden Planters from Sustain My Craft Habit

  Continue to 9 of 35 below

• 09 of 35

  Cold Frame Garden Beds

  

  DIY cold-frame garden beds keep your vegetables warm even during the coldest of weather. It's like having a small greenhouse that you place over your plants during the winter months. These have a beautiful black finish, making them almost look like pieces of art.

  Cold Frame Garden Beds from Dans le Lakehouse

  Continue to 10 of 35 below

• 10 of 35

  DIY Trellis Herb Garden

  

  A simple trellis is built with the directions in this project. It's given a simple coat of paint before the buckets are added on with hooks. You can plant whatever you want in these but the size makes it perfect for herbs. It's a petite DIY vertical garden that's going to save you precious square footage, and it's a great garden idea for small spaces.

  Trellis Herb Garden from The Sweetest Occasion

  Continue to 11 of 35 below

• 11 of 35

  Container Gardens

  

  You can grow a garden in just about any container. This guide takes you through the whole process from selecting the flowers to getting the container garden-ready. There are a lot of great tips and hints here to help you build some beautiful container gardens.

  Container Gardens from Skip to my Lou

  Continue to 12 of 35 below

• 12 of 35

  DIY Stenciled Garden Stepping Stones

  

  Pathways within a garden really make it something special. These easy-to-make stepping stones are just pavers that have been stenciled with paint. Choose your own design and colors to match your garden for this easy DIY garden idea.

  Stenciled Garden Stepping Stones from Design Improvised

  Continue to 13 of 35 below

• 13 of 35

  Cement Garden Beds

  

  Here are some garden beds that are kept low to the ground and are made out of stylish concrete. It's a budget-friendly project that will give you a new way to grow your garden.

  Cement Garden Beds from Delia Creates

  Continue to 14 of 35 below

• 14 of 35

  DIY Rainbow Vertical Garden

  

  Gardens can be quite colorful and there's no reason that your garden decor shouldn't be too. This rainbow vertical garden is painted in bold colors and gives lots of room for new plants.

  Rainbow Vertical Garden from The Paper Mama

  Continue to 15 of 35 below

• 15 of 35

  No Dig Garden

  

  A no-dig garden is a garden where the soil is left as undisturbed as possible. It's supposed to mimic how soil is formed in nature. Here, a no-dig garden is placed inside a bathtub sat among the vegetable plants.

  No Dig Garden from Garden Betty

  Continue to 16 of 35 below

• 16 of 35

  DIY Hanging Basket Garden

  

  Another way to take your garden vertical is by using some baskets to create planting space. Here, three baskets are used and they're put together with some colorful rope. It's hung on the side of a house but you could hang it anywhere in your yard or garden.

  Hanging Basket Garden from A Beautiful Mess

  Continue to 17 of 35 below

• 17 of 35

  Wooden Obelisk

  

  An obelisk is a type of trellis for climbing vegetables and plants and this one is made from wood. Besides being functional, it looks like a piece of art among your plants. Just one looks special but a pair of them could be used to flank the garden entrance.

  Wood Obelisk from Chatfield Court

  Continue to 18 of 35 below

• 18 of 35

  DIY Mason Jar Wall Garden

  

  A chicken wire frame is used to hold up mason jars for this fun DIY garden idea on a budget that can be hung on the wall of a shed or your home. Flowers are grown in these jars but it would make a wonderful hanging herb garden. It's a rustic, farmhouse look that may just look like it fits right in with your porch decor.

  Mason Jar Wall Garden from Taste of the Frontier

  See Also

  100 Cheap and Easy DIY Backyard Ideas

  Continue to 19 of 35 below

• 19 of 35

  Kid's Garden

  

  Kids can really connect with gardening and you can foster that interest by building their own gardening space. This mini garden is low to the ground and perfect for a wide variety of vegetables, fruit, and flowers. It has a raised bed for the plants, special pots for herbs, and a lattice so the vegetables can grow vertically.

  Kid's Garden from Addicted 2 DIY

  Continue to 20 of 35 below

• 20 of 35

  Tomato Trellis With Conduit

  

  If you're growing tomatoes in your garden, you can add a trellis that acts as a support for your tomatoes, allowing them to grow vertically. The tomatoes will love all the extra growing room and you'll love that the pests on the ground can't reach your tomatoes. It's made to last season after season, being made of sturdy conduit.

  Tomato Trellis with Conduit from Chatfield Court

  Continue to 21 of 35 below

• 21 of 35

  DIY Pallet Planter Box for Cascading Flowers

  

  This specially built planter encourages flowers to grow in all different directions so they look like they're cascading over each other. This one is made from wooden pallets, and with each year gets more and more stunning. You can keep it natural like shown here or stain it for a more polished look. Pick out flowers that bloom the majority of the summer so you can enjoy them as long as possible.

  Pallet Planter Box for Cascading Flowers from Her Tool Belt

  Continue to 22 of 35 below

• 22 of 35

  Protective Plant Cover

  

  If you have some unwelcome visitors to your garden, you'll want to take every step you can to protect your plants. Aluminum and wood are used together to create this sturdy protective plant cover that can be used year after year. It will give your plants a fighting chance against those critters.

  Protective Plant Cover from Home Made by Carmona

  Continue to 23 of 35 below

• 23 of 35

  Hanging Gutter Planter and Stand

  

  Here, a wooden frame is built to hold sections of a gutter. Growing inside those gutters is a cute herb garden. The gutters have been painted which gives them a fun look. Growing plants vertically is a great way to save space, and with this one, you'll do it in style.

  Hanging Gutter Planter and Stand from Her Tool Belt

  Continue to 24 of 35 below

• 24 of 35

  Hose Holder With Pallet Wood Planter

  

  A clever way to hide away your garden hose is with a hose holder. You can make your own with this simple building project. Pallet wood is all cleaned up and used for the structure. The top can be used as a shallow planter and inside is where you can tuck the hose away. There's even a drawer pull added to make getting putting back the hose easier.

  Hose Holder with Pallet Wood Planter from DIY Candy

  Continue to 25 of 35 below

• 25 of 35

  Budget-Friendly Gravel Garden Path

  

  A garden path can be budget-friendly and still look like it really belongs in your garden. Here, gravel is used for most of the path with some stones used as edging. The whole process from digging a trench to finishing the path is included in this tutorial.

  Budget-Friendly Gravel Garden Path from Craving Some Creativity

  Continue to 26 of 35 below

• 26 of 35

  DIY Chevron Lattice Trellis

  

  A trellis will help all those vegetable vines grow like peas or cucumbers. This chevron-style DIY trellis is updated from the classic and especially looks good when used as a pair. Find a place for the trellis inside your garden or sit against a structure for a new area to grow.

  Chevron Lattice Trellis from Remodelaholic

  Continue to 27 of 35 below

• 27 of 35

  Wooden Garden Bench

  

  A garden bench looks great in any garden and gives you a place to sit and enjoy your space. This beginner woodworking project has you build a bench that looks like something out of a designer magazine. With clean lines and a simple profile, it's going to look wonderful in any garden.

  Wooden Garden Bench from DIY Candy

  Continue to 28 of 35 below

• 28 of 35

  Defined Garden Bed

  

  Garden beds can be defined in all different ways and this one has a clean crisp edge that really divides the plants from the yard. This DIY garden design idea could be used in all your flower beds or on the edge of your vegetable garden.
  

  Defining a Garden Bed from Reality Daydream

  Continue to 29 of 35 below

• 29 of 35

  DIY Mosaic Tile Window Box

  

  This tutorial has you take an existing wooden window box and make it into something special. Mosaic tile is added to give it a clean and modern look. Choose whatever color goes along with your home or garden for the best look.

  Mosaic Tile Window Box from Centsational Style

  Continue to 30 of 35 below

• 30 of 35

  Teapot Garden Decor

  

  If you want something purely decorative for your garden, this piece of decor will fit right in. It's made with an old teapot and some decorative beads. When placed among the vegetables it looks as though it's watering all on its own. Incorporate some lights to make it just as pretty after dark.

  Teapot Garden Decor from The Navage Patch

  Continue to 31 of 35 below

• 31 of 35

  Free-Standing Strawberry Garden

  

  This adorable DIY strawberry garden has two hanging baskets where strawberries are being grown. The sign can be customized to say whatever you like about your sunny strawberry patch. It can be built lower to the ground if you want the kids to help too.

  Free-Standing Strawberry Garden from Reality Daydream

  Continue to 32 of 35 below

• 32 of 35

  Inlay Garden Markers

  

  Garden markers help tell you where you have your produce, herbs, and flowers planted. This easy DIY garden idea is especially handy for vegetables because the plants can look very similar when they're small. Here, the garden markers are carved with an inlay, but you could get a similar look with vinyl and a stencil.

  Inlay Garden Markers from Houseful of Handmade

  Continue to 33 of 35 below

• 33 of 35

  DIY Raised Garden Bed for Vegetables

  

  Choose a place in your backyard for a garden or flower bed and then use pavers to create the edging around them. These stones will last longer than wood, especially if you live in a wet area. Stack them up either two or three planters high for a stylish garden design idea.

  Raised Garden Bed for Vegetables from Garden Sanity

  Continue to 34 of 35 below

• 34 of 35

  DIY Garden Fence

  

  If you need privacy in your yard, then the first DIY garden idea on a budget you should look into is a DIY fence. You can make one out of bamboo, upcycled wood, pallet wood, and even mesh. Climbing plants will help the fence look like an intentional, styled part of your yard.

  Continue to 35 of 35 below

• 35 of 35

  Plastic Bottle Garden

  

  Plastic bottles are usually the enemy of the environment, but you can use them in your own garden to start seeds or plant smaller plants and keep them out of the reach of animals. This is one of the most affordable upcycled DIY garden ideas out there and it's super functional.