The outside of a mobile home can look cold and bare compared to those architectural wonders with brick facades and Victorian designs. Especially if you’ve got nothing but paving, sand, or grass surrounding it. Luckily, you can give your home a warm and inviting feeling, add some curb appeal, and create a relaxing outdoor space. All you need is some elbow grease, some items you may have lying around, and these mobile home landscaping ideas on a budget.
1. Container Garden
If you want your garden to be as mobile as your home, containers are the way to go. They’re budget-friendly and perfect if you’re renting or your mobile home is placed on hard ground, like concrete or paving. And if you’re not planning on staying in one place for long, simply pack them up and go when you move. A container garden can be made with anything from clay pots and plastic tubs to wood barrels and upcycled buckets. Plant flowers, herbs, shrubs, or even succulents in them for some greenery around your mobile home and rearrange them as needed.
2. Hanging Baskets
Mobile homes are all about portability and affordability, so it would make sense if you lean towards a landscaping option that gives you the same benefits. With hanging baskets, you get to brighten up your porch or entryway without having to sacrifice any of your ground space. You can move the baskets around as you wish and bring them inside during storms to prevent damage. They don’t break the bank and you can hang them with wire or rope that you have lying around. Fill your baskets with colorful trailing flowers like petunias or ivy for a lush look.
3. Flower Beds Around Skirtings
The skirting at the base of your mobile home may look bare if you haven’t done anything to it yet. Soften those cold edges and create a polished finish by adding flower beds around them. Perennials like hostas and daylilies provide lasting greenery and you can mix in some seasonal flowers for pops of color. To keep the beds neat and prevent weeds from taking over the space, fill them with mulch or place stones around the edges. You also don’t have to stick to the skirtings when it comes to flower beds. You can grow them anywhere in your garden, from the curb to your backyard.
4. Wildflowers
Some mobile home landscaping ideas on a budget don’t require any skill or creativity. There are options that are cheap and low-maintenance yet beautiful and natural-looking. Scatter a packet of wildflower seeds all over to create a colorful meadow that’ll attract pollinators and give you that country feel. The mix of colors will change with the seasons and the flowers will keep reseeding themselves.
5. Gravel Walkway
A walkway gives structure to your outdoor space and it keeps your shoes mud-free when entering your home. You can choose any material (cobblestones, bricks, paving) for the job, but gravel is a practical and inexpensive option. It’s much cheaper than poured concrete, for example, and it’s easy enough to install, so you can do it yourself. Frame it with plants, bricks, or large rocks, or leave it as is for a rough yet defined look.
6. Pallet Deck
If you love the idea of an outdoor sitting area but a full deck isn’t in your budget, pallets are an affordable yet stylish alternative. Stack and secure some cheap pallets to create your own small deck or patio area. It doesn’t have to be as big as your mobile home. It just needs to take a couple of chairs and some potted plants. Leave them rough for a natural look, or sand and paint them if you want your deck to be polished and more welcoming.
7. Rock Garden
Of all the mobile home landscaping ideas on a budget, a rock garden is one of those that requires very little upkeep and even less water. It adds interest to your yard without giving the appearance of something you barely spent anything on. Combine small, medium, and large stones to add texture and decorate it with hardy plants like succulents and creeping groundcovers. If you’ve got children, the rocks don’t have to stay brown/gray because you can turn your landscaping into a fun activity and let them paint them.
8. Window Boxes
Window boxes are easy to build with cheap pallet wood, but you can also buy them at a reasonable cost. Add charm to your mobile home by stuffing them with bursts of colorful flowers or timeless natural greens. If your windows are close to your kitchen door, create your own herb garden right at eye level. You’ll always have a fresh supply of your favorite ingredients and it’ll add pleasant aromas to your outdoor and indoor spaces.
9. Succulent Garden
There are a lot of great things about a succulent garden. A succulent is hardy, drought-tolerant, easy to care for, and one of the best options if you’re looking for mobile home landscaping ideas on a budget. They’re also affordable and you can create a full garden with just a couple of plants. Snip off some cuttings and plant them in different spots in the soil. They’ll start growing into new succulents immediately. Succulent gardens look great when planted in large pots, combined with rock gardens, or even just scattered around beds of mulch.
10. Edible Gardening
Window boxes with herb gardens aren’t the only edible gardening options you have. You can create a budget-friendly edible garden with some raised beds, containers, or repurposed crates. Grow vegetables like tomatoes and cucumbers, or herbs such as rosemary and mint, right outside your mobile home. You can also plant some miniature fruit trees in pots or in rows in your yard. It creates a beautiful and functional landscape, keeps the pollinators happy, and saves you money on groceries.
11. Mailbox Garden
While you’re thinking about landscaping around your mobile home, don’t forget your curb. The best way to upgrade your curb appeal, without spending too much, would be to turn your mailbox into a focal point. Plant some colorful annuals, wildflowers, a herb garden, or some succulents around your mailbox. Add some whimsical charm with a trellis and some climbing plants.
12. Trellises or Arbor
Add a cozy, enchanting feel to your beautiful garden by framing it with trellises or arbors. They add height and structure to your yard and you can cover them with climbing roses, clematis, morning glories, or any other climbing plants. If you can’t find affordable trellises or arbors, you can make your own with scrap wood or other repurposed materials.
13. Lighting Accents
You can never go wrong with lighting. Not only do some well-placed lighting fixtures upgrade the entire look of your landscape, but they also add safety. Solar lights are inexpensive and more cost-efficient in the long run, but there’s no need to go out and buy some if you already have electric bulbs that you can use. Line your walkways, frame your porch, or highlight your flower beds with lights. You can also hang fairy lights around your mobile home or trail them over trellises.
14. Tire Planters
There’s no need to get rid of old tires and you should never say no if someone offers you some. Even broken tires can be transformed into creative planters. Paint them in bright colors to match your home’s look or keep them rustic. Truck and tractor tires work for large beddings with a lot of flowers and car tires can be stacked for added dimension. You could even hang some bicycle tires with climbing plants and fairy lights trailed around them.
15. Potted Plants and Shrubs
Don’t overlook classic potted plants and shrubs when looking for mobile home landscaping ideas on a budget. With potted plants, you get flexibility because you can move them around as you wish. With shrubs, you get a fuller look that adds structure to your exterior. Plant tall, leafy plants or pretty shrubs in pots and line them around your entryways or along walkways.
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.