Gardeners swear by these cheap tricks to make your backyard 10x better

"Mulch helps maintain soil moisture and temperature, reduces weed growth, and adds an aesthetic appeal to garden beds,” says Tony O'Neill, a gardening expert and the author of Simplify Gardening. This bag of mulch is made of natural cedar chips and shavings, which not only look nice and hold onto moisture but also smell great.

Strategically place some solar lights along pathways and in your garden to make your yard look nicer and add some light to dim areas. O’Neill says solar lights are “energy-efficient, easy to install, and add a warm glow to your garden, making it more inviting in the evening.” This set automatically turns on at dusk and off at dawn and is waterproof.

Giving your plants the proper care is essential to keeping them healthy and alive, whether you’re tending to flowers or a garden of fruits, veggies, and herbs. These colorful plant labels are a great way to keep an eye on what’s what. As O’Neill points out, labels are good for organization, as well as “plant care and harvesting.” These are easy to see, with a hook and loop closure so they can easily be reused.

Proper hydration is key when it comes to taking care of plants. That means you always want your garden hose to be in the best shape possible, which means storing it correctly when it’s not in use. This heavy-duty carrying strap keeps the hose neatly coiled, which “prevents tangling and kinking, making watering easier and keeping your garden looking orderly,” O’Neill says. You can also hang it from a hook in your garage or shed for careful storage.

Composting makes good use of food scraps that would otherwise be thrown out and it’s great for a garden. “It provides valuable nutrients to your garden, enhancing soil health and plant growth,” O’Neill says. This tumbling composter does the work for you, making mixing easy and convenient with a few turns of the handle every few days. Aeration holes lead to better oxygen flow, and the dual chambers allow one pile to be mixed and one to be used for adding materials.

There are so many reasons to get a bird feeder: they bring pretty birds to your yard, they feed wildlife, they act as decor, and they can even be beneficial to your plants. “Birds help control pests and pollinate plants, contributing to a healthier and more vibrant garden,” O’Neill says. This metal bird feeder is durable and weather-resistant, with an easy-to-fill chamber and a lock that keeps food dry. It also works on solar power and doubles as a pretty lantern at night.

Large garden hoses might be a necessity, but that doesn’t mean they’re aesthetically pleasing. Elevate the look of your yard with this garden hose pot made from durable, weather-resistant resin. “A hose pot is a beautiful way to store a hose when it is not in use,” says Aileen Caroll, a garden consultant based in Napa Valley, California. This one features a large bottom opening that allows it to connect directly to the water source, with drainage holes for getting rid of excess water.

Improve the look of your garden and yard space at night by adding strings of twinkling lights. These solar string lights are easy to work with — the included solar panels charge from sunlight, so they don’t require any wiring or extension cords and will automatically turn on once it’s dark. Caroll recommends these because she says they’re “low profile” during the day and “add quite the dose of whimsy to a garden space at night.” These come with eight different light modes and a memory function as well.

“Hoses can cause serious damage when they are accidentally dragged across tender little plants,” Caroll warns. “Identify pinch points like the edges of flower beds and then stick a hose guide in the ground right there.” This two-pack of hose guide spikes will stay firmly in the ground while allowing your garden hose to be pulled through effortlessly with no tearing, knotting, or tangling.

Some plants, like peonies, tend to get pretty top-heavy when the flowers start blooming, and they’ll kind of flop to the side. Not only does this look less than impressive, but it can also end up damaging the plant. Caroll recommends these plant support stakes, noting that they’re great for keeping flowers like dahlias, zinnias, and delphiniums “upright and unbroken.” They’re available in two sizes and the dark green color allows them to blend into the plant seamlessly.

Fertilizer is great for feeding roots and boosting growth with your plants, and these organic fertilizer spikes make things a little easier. David Miller, CEO of Austin Tree Services, recommends these specifically “for easy and continuous feeding.” They can be used for a variety of vegetables, plants, and flowers, and are listed for organic gardening use as they contain no synthetic chemicals.

This universal garden hose nozzle transforms your old hose, allowing for seven different watering patterns that can do everything from gently watering flowers to cleaning off your deck. When using a garden hose nozzle, Miller says, “Use the mist setting for delicate plants, the shower setting for general watering, and the jet setting for cleaning garden tools.” You can easily control the water pressure with the knob and the nozzle is resistant to rust, corrosion, and wear.

Don’t let persistent weeds take over your carefully put-together garden and flower beds. This weed barrier fabric has a durable, breathable design that reduces erosion and blocks weeds while still allowing air and water to permeate the soil. “Lay the fabric over your garden bed, cut holes for plants, and cover with mulch to block sunlight and stop weeds from growing,” Miller says. You can also cut these to whatever size you need.

“A basic garden tool set can make maintenance easier,” Miller says. “Keep your tools organized and accessible by storing them in a sturdy tote bag.” This gardening tool set comes with five tools, gloves, and a spray bottle, all of which can neatly fit in the included storage tote. The bag is sturdy, machine washable for easy cleaning, and has space for extra items. The tools are made of anti-rust stainless steel and the construction-grade gloves can also be machine washed.

Throw some red wiggler composting worms into your compost bin to create worm castings that result in rich nutrients for your soil. “Bad quality soil leads to under-nourished plants, which produce limp plant growth with low nutrients,” says Niwar Nasim, president of Nasim Landscape. He recommends these worms because he says they enhance nutrients “by rapidly decomposing organics with high nutrient levels.”

Properly watering your plants might seem like a simple process, but it can actually be more complicated than you’d think. As Nasim points out, runoff and evaporated water can lead to “uneven saturation conditions,” which is why he recommends using an automatic drip irrigation kit like this one. It’s located close to the plant roots, which “minimizes wastefulness and promotes healthier growth of plants.” This one is made for beginners and experts alike and is designed to be easy to install and customize, saving you effort and time in the long run.

If you’re short on yard space but dream of having a multitude of plants, you’ll find a vertical planter like this one will come in handy. Nasim likes that this five-tier planter allows you to grow several plants in one small space for “an attractive, layered garden effect.” The flow-through design makes it easy to use, and the compact size is great for smaller yards.

This large pack of succulent plants is an easy way to add more greenery to your yard without a lot of extra effort on your part. “Succulents add color to the backyard and keep it nice, but don't require a ton of watering,” says Dan Bailey, president of WikiLawn Austin Lawn Care. This set of 20 come in a variety of colors and shapes, and can easily be placed in various planters to show them off however you want.

A beautiful outdoor space is comprised of more than just pretty plants. Steve Schumacher, owner of Boston Landscape Co., recommends “creating focal points using affordable garden ornaments or DIY projects,” like these inexpensive wind chimes. Made of aluminum and wear-resistant wood, these are available in a variety of colors and sizes, and make pretty music whenever there’s a breeze.

Another way to add charm to your yard is with a unique piece of decor, like this mosaic table lamp. It’s made of hand-blown glass, with an LED light that reflects through the mosaic glass to emit warm, colorful light. The solar panel can easily be charged with sunlight, so it’s low-maintenance and doesn’t require wires or batteries.

Don’t waste time and money on a fertilizer that’s not going to work well with your soil. To make your garden great, a simple soil test kit allows you to “get a clear sense of what your soil needs and find ways to meet those needs,” explains Ryan Farley, CEO of LawnStarter. Detailed instructions make this one a breeze to use.

If you love your garden the way it is and want it to look the same year after year, these seed envelopes are a handy purchase. You can collect and store seeds from your existing plants in these. Labels on one side allow you to identify key details and a clear window on the other side lets you see what’s inside. They reseal tightly to keep the seeds fresh. “This allows you to preserve heirloom varieties unique to your garden,” says Matthew Wilson, gardening expert at Handy Gardeners.

Multi-purpose neem oil spray can be used indoors or outside to protect plants from bugs and diseases. Wilson recommends using this as an insect repellent spray to kill pests like spider mites, fruit flies, and aphids fast, and also as a fungicide spray at the first sign of disease. It’s organic and easy to use.

This smart-release plant food makes it easy to care for your plants efficiently. “Using a slow-release fertilizer ensures that your plants receive a steady supply of nutrients over time, promoting healthier and more vigorous growth,” explains Zahid Adnan, gardening expert and founder of The Plant Bible. This can be used on indoor or outdoor plants and helps replenish nutrients over time to really boost growth.

The composting process can require some patience, so if you want things to get moving, try this fertilizer compost starter. Adnan notes it will “accelerate the composting process and enrich your soil naturally.” It’s organic, easy to use, and has thousands of positive ratings on Amazon.

Instead of using a sprinkler or regular garden hose, try this soaker hose for keeping your grass hydrated. “These kinds of hoses are specifically designed for watering plants in a low-effort way,” explains Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO of Lawn Love. “They can be moved easily and have a large number of tiny holes that evenly drip water directly into soil at a low pressure.” This one is kink-resistant so it’s easy to put away and it comes in several sizes.

Neatly manicured flower beds are something that will make your yard really stand out and look more elevated and special. One way to achieve that look is with this landscape edging. Use it to surround existing trees and flowers, suggests Diane Kuthy, founder and lead gardening expert at How to Grow Everything. Made of galvanized steel, the durable edging will prevent grassroots and weeds from spreading into your flowers and making a mess.

Another way to make your garden beds look impressive is to add pea gravel, something Kuthy says can create an “interesting, clean, and attractive” area. Start with the landscape edging for clean lines, then fill everything in with this pea gravel. Kuthy also recommends using it for a kids’ play area or seating area, or even using it as mulch to create a contrasting look against the grass. This gravel can be purchased in five different colors and can also help keep moisture in the soil.

Instead of just sticking to flower, vegetable, fruit, and herb plants, branch out and plant a small fruit tree. This peach tree grows to be just 4 to 5 feet tall, is great for humid environments, and produces sweet peaches. “The benefit of a fruit tree is that they are both ornamental in the spring when they are in full bloom and ornamental in the late summer and fall when their fruit begins to set,” Kuthy explains. She adds that they’re also inexpensive, last for decades, and attract beneficial bugs like butterflies and bees.

Pollinators like hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees can not only add a bit of charm to your yard but can also ultimately make your plants look better. “Your backyard can flourish more effectively with a higher volume of flowers, larger growth, and happier-looking plants in general,” says Brett Bennett, director of operations at PURCOR Pest Solutions. This wildflower seed mix is ready to plant and includes 23 pretty species, all of which are meant to attract the types of bugs you want crawling and flying around.

If you already have enough flowers and don’t want to plant more, another way to attract pollinators is with this insect hotel, which Bennett recommends as an option. Made of natural wood with a metal roof, this is meant to be a year-round habitat for bees, butterflies, and ladybugs. It’s easy to attach to the side of a garage or shed with pre-drilled holes.

Not all plants are created equal: some are easier to care for than others. “Perennials return every year, reducing the need for annual replanting and saving money over time,” says Nadezhda Yaneva, a gardening expert at Fantastic Gardeners. This perennial pack comes with five varieties of flowers that are colorful, pretty, and easy to care for.

Ideally, you want a variety of birds to flit around your garden. Don’t only rely on birdhouses and plants to get them to come: a bird bath like this one also attracts them. Yaneva says that birds can add “life and movement” to your outdoor space for “a more dynamic environment.” This bird bath is durable, has a bronze finish, is weather and fade-resistant, and doubles as decor.

This wood grain rain barrel is a great way to conserve water — it collects rainwater and filters out debris so you can use it to do things like water your lawn and grass. “Collecting rainwater is eco-friendly and can help reduce your water bill,” Yaneva notes. This barrel has a nice look to it, is easy to install, and holds a lot without taking up too much space. Spigots on the barrel also allow you to add other barrels to expand it if you want.

This bag of decorative stones is full of various hues, all lightly polished for a more elevated look. Add this to your garden beds or pathways, as Yaneva believes they can “enhance the visual appeal” of either. These don’t have any sharp edges and can be arranged in a variety of ways. For less than $10, they’re an easy and inexpensive way to make your yard look nicer.