Your mailbox is the very first thing your guests, neighbors, and passersby notice about your house. Yes, even before they step through your marvelous garden or into your magazine-worthy home. Fortunately, you don’t have to drain your savings or landscape until you have bunions and blisters to give that glorious first impression. Here’s a list of 9 cheap ways to landscape around your mailbox so you can go ahead and check curb appeal off your to-do list.
1. Herb Garden
You can grow herbs anywhere in your garden or home because they don’t require a lot of maintenance. Most varieties can handle full sun, which makes it a perfect option for the space surrounding your mailbox. Not only will a charming herb garden come with incredible aromas, but you’ll also have access to fresh herbs right on your curb. If you’ve got a good relationship with your neighbors, they’ll all enjoy some rosemary or thyme from your garden and the pollinators will also be very grateful.
2. Climbing Plants
This idea is a little different than the other cheap ways to landscape around your mailbox. Instead of landscaping around it, you’re going to be landscaping over it. Your mailbox doesn’t have to stick out above your beautiful plants if you don’t want it to. You can make the entire thing a part of your garden at almost no cost. Train a climbing plant, like a mandevilla vine or clematis, to trail over your mailbox. Or, you can add a hidden trellis behind the post or mesh wire around it for the same effect with more support. The good news is that many climbers require little maintenance, but you may have to give it a trim occasionally. Especially if you don’t want the vines to cover the opening.
3. Wildflowers
If you’re not up to a big landscaping job or your budget is extra tight, a packet of mixed wildflower seeds may be the answer. Most mixes include daisies, coneflowers, poppies, yarrow, etc. Scatter the seeds around your mailbox for a soft and wild meadow look. The alternative would be to give it a more polished look with stone or wood edging. This will prevent flowers growing all over the place and getting out of hand, but it depends on your yard and curb setup. The best part is that the look will change over the seasons and the flowers will reseed themselves.
4. Flower Bed
A flower bed is one of the most simple and classic ways to bring life to the area around your mailbox. You can go for an array of colorful annuals, like petunias or marigolds, or choose your favorite and stick with it throughout. For long-lasting greenery, throw some perennials like daylilies and hostas into the mix. If you’re imagining a flat bed of flowers with your mailbox awkwardly towering over it, think again! You can layer flowers of different heights, with tall blooms in the back and the shorter varieties around the edges. Mulch will retain moisture and give the bed a neat look.
5. Planters
There are a couple of reasons why you may not want to commit to planting directly in the ground. Perhaps you’re renting or moving soon. Or maybe the ground surrounding your mailbox isn’t suited for the plants you want to grow. Luckily, there are other cheap ways to landscape around your mailbox without breaking ground. Planters are versatile and you can move them around or swap them out with the seasons. Fill them with bright geraniums, mini evergreens, or even mums. Then place two matching pots on either side of the post, place a big one in front of it, or cluster a few different sizes together.
6. Artificial Grass
Do you struggle to keep grass alive or do you want the clean, green look without the upkeep? Maybe your curb just isn’t suited for growing natural grass. This could be the landscaping answer you’ve been looking for. Lay a small patch of artificial grass around the base of your mailbox to instantly freshen the space. You can border it with bricks, rocks, or planters to make it look intentional and balanced. Artificial gives the natural look, but it can also handle a lot of traffic and it doesn’t need watering or mowing.
7. Lighting Accents
Lighting makes deliveries after dark safer because it makes your mailbox easy to spot. It also prevents unfortunate accidents and theft. With a couple of lighting accents, you can improve your curb appeal and give it a soft, welcoming look. To achieve the right aesthetic, you can plant lantern stakes around the mailbox or wrap fairy lights around the base. You can also place lights on either side of the post or line a short path leading up to the mailbox with lights. Solar lights are affordable, eco-friendly, easy to install, and they don’t come with the hassle of cords and plugs.
8. Brick or Paver Edging
Whether you choose artificial grass or a flower bed, the space around your mailbox can still benefit from this idea. Edging adds a much-needed structured, finished appearance to any landscaping. It adds polish and prevents grass or weeds from creeping in. It also helps to separate your mailbox landscaping from the rest of your garden or curb. Create a small square, oval, or circle border around the area around your mailbox. Think of it as framing your artwork and fill it with flowers, gravel, mulch, or even shrubs to finish it off. Bricks and pavers are affordable and durable, but you can also use rock or cobblestones.
9. Rock Garden
You don’t have to go for green if you don’t want to. A rock garden can be just as stylish, but without the watering, weeding, and general maintenance. If you’ve got a way to source rocks for free, your mailbox landscaping won’t cost you a thing. You can also work with what you’ve got or buy some cheap rocks from a garden center or nursery. Use large boulders or cover the ground surrounding your mailbox with gravel or decorative stones. For a touch of green and a modern yet natural look, succulents go well with rock gardens. Over time, this type of landscaping will not only create a neat eye-catching feature, but it’ll also save you money and trouble.
Jamie is the founder of The Backyard Pros. When he was 15 years old he started working at a garden centre helping people buy plants, gardening products, and lawn care products. He has real estate experience and he is a home owner. Jamie loves backyard projects, refinishing furniture, and enjoys sharing his knowledge online.