Landscaping Your Backyard on a Budget With Scrap Metal and Old Appliances
Turning scrap metal and old appliances into beautiful backyard landscaping features may seem daunting, but it can be done on a budget with a little creativity and elbow grease. Here are some tips for reimagining castoff items to enhance your outdoor space without breaking the bank.
Finding Materials
Check around your home, ask neighbors and friends, and scout thrift stores, antique shops, salvage yards, and online classifieds for potential projects. Great candidates include:
- Old grills - Transform into a fire pit or vertical planter.
- Washing machines - Cut in half to make planters.
- Bike parts - Make wind chimes or hanging art.
- Metal drums - Use as fire pits, tables, or water features.
- Car parts - Wheels, hubcaps, and more become art.
- Scrap metal - All kinds of scraps can be welded into sculptures, trellises, and edging.
Be choosy and creative to see past the rust and grease to an item's potential. Focus on sturdy, well-built items without too much wear.
Planning Your Projects
Before cutting and welding, plan out projects to complement your yard's style and needs:
- Safety first - Ensure fire pits and water features are child/pet safe.
- Placement - Consider sunlight, views, traffic flow, and seating.
- Purpose - Decide the function, like privacy screening or herb planter.
- Prep work - May need cleaning, sealing, reinforcing, or combining elements.
Rough sketches help envision the end result. Measure to scale for fit.
Affordable DIY
With scrap metal, the savings come from free or cheap materials. But specialized tools and skills add costs. Here are budget-friendly options:
- Cutting - Use an angle grinder or ask a machine shop to cut for you.
- Welding - Rent a welder, or many salvage yards can weld pieces for cheap.
- Artistic touches - Add detail with affordable mosaic tiles, paint, or stamping.
- Finishing - Sand, seal, stain, or add patina for long-lasting results.
- Savvy shopping - Buy secondhand tools and materials at garage sales and thrift stores.
Enlist handy family or friends to barter skills.
Best Practices
Follow these tips for satisfying, safe results:
- Research proper welding techniques or hire a professional.
- Anchor heavy sculptures and features securely into the ground.
- Use non-toxic paints and sealers rated for outdoor use.
- Add drainage holes to planters.
- Smooth out sharp edges.
- Keep reflective surfaces polished to prevent glare.
- Choose kid and pet friendly materials that won't tip or retain heat.
Take time to maintain projects yearly.
Creative Ideas to Try
Get inspired by these imaginative backyard transformations:
- Old truck bed - Create cosy bench seating around a fire pit.
- Bike chain chandelier - Hang over an outdoor dining table.
- Metal drum barbecue - Retrofit as a smoker or grill.
- Shovel flower bed - Use old spades and rakes stuck in the ground.
- Washing machine fountain - Add water spout and submersible pump.
- Scrap sculpture - Make an abstract metal tree, dinosaur, or other art.
With clever vision, scrap metal and old appliances can become treasured backyard sanctuary features. Let your imagination wander, sketch plans, and create a Pinterest board to spark ideas. The project possibilities are endless with even the rustiest of leftovers!