Garden Design for Under $10,000

With a budget of $10,000, you can substantially change the look of the yard and make it more functional. These homeowners wanted an area for a table and chairs near the lawn, as well as steps that lead to the grassy space where their kids play. Carex Design Group expanded an existing retaining wall and designed the patio and steps, using concrete block pavers from Belgard.

Use a continuous design, from the garden beds to above the garage and along the side of the house, for a put-together exterior. The use of white and purple flowers gives this Mediterranean-style home in Florida a romantic feel and sets it apart from other homes on the street.

For a $10,000 budget, you can redo your landscaping (for an average-size lot). This well-manicured Georgia entryway offers ideas for sculpting a setting and incorporating boxwoods, hydrangeas and a beautiful vessel as a focal point.

A new water feature can bring a dramatic touch and natural background music to a garden. You will need to consider the topography for the design, says Bob Graves of Carex Design Group in Knoxville, Tenn. He created this natural babbling brook for a client.