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Frugal Ways to Decorate Your Yard with Potted Plants

I know the feeling. You drive by these homes that are landscaped so well; flowers are everywhere. Next thing you know, you are at your favorite place to buy potted plants, and you walk out with one because that one alone costs you $20.

If you want to decorate your yard with potted plants for cheap, here is how I do it every year. Maybe this will be the year you finally sit back and feel pleased with your landscaping.

decorate landscape with potted plants

My favorite way to add pops of color around the homestead is to repot hanging plants. If you aren’t growing your own annual flower seeds, this is a great choice to save money on decorating your yard with flowers.

If you have been following the blog now, you know I adore clearance. I try to buy everything on sale or clearance or not buy it at all.

Check out the video I did on this process, or keep scrolling for images.

Hanging plants are one of those frequent clearance/sale items.

Read or Pin for later: How to Start Flower Garden on a Budget

In our area here in upstate New York, I have a few favorite places I’m sure to find clearance hanging plants.

  • Home Depot/Lowes- ( I love their $5 pot sale)
  • Walmart
  • Tractor Supply
  • Aldi
  • BJ’s
how to landscape cheap with potted plants

My go-to place when I can’t get hanging plants at the price point I need is BJ’s wholesale club. During the spring/summer months, they carry hanging baskets outside the club.

These are priced around $15 for a larger basket, but I can usually pot at least three planters from one hanging basket. I aim to spend $5 or less per planter. This will vary based on the size of your planters.

Another frugal tip for decorating your yard is to have patience. I was in love when the Trisha Yearwood line first came to Tractor Supply.

The price wasn’t crazy high, but for this frugal girl, it was high enough that I could only buy one.

Then, I found two more on clearance during the end of summer. If you don’t have cheap blood, you can buy the number of planters you want and not think twice. For the rest of us, it will pain us to wait and pain us not to buy.

BUT when we wait and get them on clearance, we get them ALL! So, that patience reminds us to walk away and wait for a better deal.

Are you striving for a debt-free lifestyle? Check out our debt-free story here.

how to landscape cheap with potted plants

I love these planters that say Farm Market on the outside. They also have drain holes in them which is nice. Because they were on clearance last fall ( 2019), I don’t know if these same ones will be back in 2020. I can’t find them online for you.

how to landscape cheap with potted plants

BUT I do have some more frugal choices similar here. I’ve also gotten great deals on planters at Wegman’s after summer.

You can see a post of these planters and more farmhouse-type ones in my post here.

how to landscape cheap with potted plants

The first thing you need to do is pop the hangers right off the pot. Usually, they pinch off. You can always cut them if you can’t get the plastic to slide off.

TIP: If you are looking for really cheap BIG 16″ planters- BJ’s has the best price. A huge one was only $12.99. You can see the post I did on it here. 

how to landscape cheap with potted plants

Take the entire plant right out. Then you will start to break apart each plant to re-pot.

how to landscape cheap with potted plants

Push around to find each plant in the pot. You will notice they are in little clusters. When you find one, you can use a little garden shovel to go around the plant carefully.

Once you have cut around the plant, you can pull it up and add it to your planter. This will feel like you just bought these annuals in single containers.

Read or Pin: How to Start Seeds Indoors

Frugal Ways to Decorate Your Yard with Potted Plants
how to landscape cheap with potted plants

You can mix and match your planters and colors to your heart’s desire. This is the part where you get to be creative and do what works for you.

I hope this helps inspire you to look high for those hanging plants that just may be cheap and ready to spruce up the outside of your home- on a budget, nonetheless!

Check out these 5 mistakes to avoid when starting with potted plants.

how to landscape cheap with potted plants

If you love having planters all over but are not a fan of all the time it takes to water, try doing this as a kid’s chore. I absolutely love having my youngest daughter in charge of watering plants in the summer.

how to landscape cheap with potted plants

Frugal Ways to Decorate Your Yard with Potted Plants

The best part is if you buy annuals at the beginning of the season, they will grow bigger. So you can leave room in your planters for the plants. I always do this with annuals in my flower window boxes.

Yep, the first couple weeks, they look a little empty, but before you know it, the flowers have grown and are full, and I spent less money by being patient.

Supplies Needed:

Let me know what deals you are finding on plants this year?

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kristine Davis

Tuesday 13th of June 2023

I like the designs but wish we had cute buckets like in the picture.

TerrieChastain

Saturday 10th of June 2023

You are brilliant! Heading out to find hanging baskets on clearance now!!

Grace Miller

Tuesday 20th of June 2023

@TerrieChastain, me too solves my budget issue flowers have doubled in price in my area

Twaters

Friday 14th of April 2023

When I pot a plant - I put some pebbles in the bottom, then a square cut from a disposable diaper, plastic side down, the size of the pot, then potting soil. The diaper acts as a water reservoir. You only need to water once a week- and then only if it hasn’t rained sufficiently. I have been doing this for 20 years. You don’t have to worry about either waterlogging the roots or the plant drying out. Also, I can go on vacation for a week without watering. I do this for my indoor plants as well. I appreciate your tips as not only am I too busy to spend all my time watering, but I love gardening on the cheap.

Linda

Sunday 19th of November 2023

@Grace Miller, I do this I put peddles in the bottom of my container never had no trouble haven't done the disposal diaper thank I will try that also

Grace Miller

Tuesday 20th of June 2023

@Twaters, wow great tip I have new stone planters with no drainage holes I have problem with downy mildew on my impatiens will this solve my drainage issue in the future ?

Tasia

Monday 17th of April 2023

Oh, I love that idea! I'm so glad you shared it. I still have a big box of the Doggie Potty pads, I wonder if those would work just as well.

Kristin Underwood

Monday 25th of May 2020

Great article! I own a small garden center in Kansas. Another way to save money when filling your planters is to buy a French garden that is used for Memorial Day. They are filled with several plants and can easily be divided to fill several planters

Grace Miller

Tuesday 20th of June 2023

@Kristin Underwood, what is a French garden ? Who carries them

CIndy

Wednesday 26th of April 2023

@Kristin Underwood, wow! Thank you for this awesome idea! I would think that maybe other holiday planters could work in the same way. Mother's Day is right around the corner with possibly some nice spring flower planters.

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