Renting can sometimes feel like living in a creative straightjacket.
If you’ve rented, you’ll know exactly what we mean.
Your landlord’s rules often leave little room for sprucing up your indoor space, not to mention the backyard, even if it’s never been touched at all.
This predicament often leaves people wishing they could make their living space at least resemble their personality. If that’s not possible, many will feel like their rented space isn’t really a home, but just a temporary situation.
Of course, this is not the best outcome.
Luckily though, with a little creativity, you can create a renter-friendly garden that’s stylish, low-maintenance, and abides by your landlord’s rules.
In this blog, we’ll explore what makes a garden renter-friendly, how to keep it low-maintenance, and a few genius ways to use artificial plants to transform your outdoor space.
Ready to make your rented patch of dirt a lush oasis? Let’s dive in!
What Is a Renter-Friendly Garden?
A renter-friendly garden is an outdoor space that you can use as a garden without breaking the rules of your lease. In most cases, this means you’re unable to make any permanent changes to the space like digging, pulling out plants, or nailing shelves to walls or fences.
For some, it’s the perfect way to create a temporary space that benefits your daily routine without risking getting kicked out of the rental. But for others, it may mean restriction.
Still, since we like looking on the bright side, we like to say that a renter-friendly garden is a tenant’s ideal way to flex their gardening muscles while keeping in mind existing limitations that prevent them from going overboard. Plus, since your garden is temporary, you’re likely to enjoy it more.
A renter-friendly garden is a great way to get a touch of nature, a spot to relax, or even just a way to fill those awkward dead spaces that make your backyard look sad.
And the best part is that you can pack it all up and take it with you when it’s time to move on. No mess, no fuss, and no grumpy landlord.
What Is the Best Low-Maintenance Garden?
When creating a garden in a rental, keeping it low-maintenance is the way to go. Here’s what makes a renter-friendly garden a breeze to look after:
- Easy to clean: Since you’re renting, you need to ensure your garden isn’t taking up a lot of time out of your day - it’s a temporary fix, after all. So, ensure you won’t be sweeping up fallen leaves or running around looking for pests for long. Aim for a garden that needs no more than a few minutes of maintenance. Focus on materials that are easy to wipe clean and surfaces that won’t trap dirt.
- Minimal upkeep: If you’re busy or on the go, you don’t want a garden that requires constant watering or pruning. If you’re planting, go for drought-tolerant plants that would probably survive an apocalypse, or use fake plants for areas that have proven unsuccessful at supporting life.
- Bigger pots: Larger pots are a renter’s best friend. Not only do they hold more soil, but they’re also easier to maintain because they don’t dry out as quickly as smaller ones. Plus, they make a bigger impact visually without requiring any more commitment from you.
- Artificial plants: If you have a shady corner or a spot that’s hard to reach, you’ll quickly notice that a real plant won’t be able to fill the gap and will die from revolt. But, a faux plant can be a great alternative. They stay green year-round without needing sunlight or water, making them perfect fillers for areas where live plants struggle to survive.
A low-maintenance garden means spending more time enjoying your space and less time feeling like a slave to your backyard. It’s a win-win!
4 Ways to Create a Renter-Friendly Garden
Now that we’ve got the basics down, let’s look at some practical renter-friendly garden ideas to transform your space:
Use Artificial Potted Trees
For starters, if you want an easy way to fill your garden without digging into the whys and the hows of artificial plants, we recommend getting a simple artificial potted tree. Our collection showcases an array of faux potted trees that can make quite an impact in an empty corner.
Pop a smaller artificial tree into a big, stylish pot and place it in a spot that needs a pick-me-up. For example, you can get our Real Touch Artificial Phoenix Palm Tree to bring a beach-like feel to your garden, or decorate height-wise with an Artificial Ficus Tree that would fit in almost any decor style.
Regardless of your choice, just make sure the artificial tree you choose is UV-resistant and can handle our harsh summers. If you overlook this key consideration, you might end up with a product that turns blue in a few months.
Create a Cosy Patio Space
Your renter-friendly garden shouldn’t just be a nice spot for your plants - it should be your favourite space to relax and unwind, too.
So, think about what additions would help you make this space the best it can be. Focus on temporary features like moveable furniture or pieces you can assemble and disassemble easily.
If you want to decorate further, add a few accessories like cushions or outdoor rugs to make it feel more homey. You can even use a mix of artificial hanging plants around your seating area to create an impromptu curtain and increase the degree of privacy.
Add Temporary Shelving
If you’re dealing with a small garden, you’ll likely run into numerous space-related issues. But, instead of getting frustrated and wishing you could just make the space bigger, you could do something about it.
For example, you can look into a good shelving unit. Skip the drill and opt for freestanding shelves or lean-to racks for your small plants, herbs, and other knickknacks.
This way, you’ll get enough vertical space to use for storage, which will also help you create a layered, textured look that fills dead space in a garden.
Use Freestanding Hedges
Last but not least, we suggest finding a spot for a nice artificial hedge. This is a great option for smaller gardens that could do with a little more privacy, as freestanding hedges are common solutions for a lack of privacy outdoors.
As such, freestanding artificial hedges are a renter’s best mate. They’re flexible, low-maintenance, and perfect for increasing the intimate feel of your outdoor space. Many of our clients have used freestanding hedges to border their yards, delineate pathways, and block out unwanted glances from passers-by.
Plus, they’re super easy to put up — we even have guides and videos to help you out step-by-step.
Wrapping It Up
Creating a renter-friendly garden doesn’t have to be a challenge as there are numerous cheap backyard ideas for renters.
With a bit of imagination and some renter-friendly solutions like artificial plants and other small decorative options, you can turn any temporary outdoor space into a semi-permanent sanctuary.
Plus, you can take everything with you when you eventually move out.
If you need more advice, talk to our team or watch our tutorial videos to find out how to best work with different types of artificial plants.