A MUM has shared how she has turned her drab garden corner into a little slice of heaven for just £6.43 – all while she was seven months pregnant.
Annika Jones used a variety of bargains from discount stores like The Range and One Beyond to build a “sweat pea teepee” for her three-year-old son.
Sweet peas are beautiful and flouncy flowers – typically in pinks, lilacs and whites – that are super easy to grow from seed.
Annika wanted to inject “more colour and character” into the corner of her garden for her nature-mad son.
The 22-year-old spent just £2.99 on some bamboo to build the teepee shell and 99p on garden wire for her freshly planted sweet peas to gradually grow up.
She bought five packets of sweet pea seeds for 49p each at The Range, bringing the total to £6.43.
When the sweet peas begin to bloom up the bamboo, it’ll created a shaded teepee – hence the name.
“I saw the teepee idea on Pinterest and knew my son would love it as he’s a massive fan of insects and bees and this would encourage them,” Annika tells Fabulous.
“After planting the sweet pea seeds, my son was eager for them to grow straight away, which made me want to add more around the teepee itself.
“My dad was a landscape gardener so I knew what I was doing.”
To further elevate the corner, the Wrexham-based mum dug shallow trenches to build little flower beds around her teepee.
While this step isn’t necessary for creating a budget “sweet pea teepee”, it certainly adds to the charm while you wait for your flowers to bloom up the bamboo sticks.
Annika spent a further £75 on plants and flowers for the decorative beds, which she purchased from B&Q, B&M, Home Bargains, The Range and Asda.
She also bought six bags of top soil from B&Q for £20 to give her new plants a home, as well as spent £16.50 on wooden edging.
“A few of the plants I saved from the reduced section as they were dying,” she says. “But I quickly brought them back to life.”
Executing the garden project was a slice of cake for Annika, despite her being seven months pregnant.
How to transform your garden on a cheap budget
How to preserve your favourite flowers at home – 5 easy tips explained
Which plants should I be wary about my dog being around?
When is the best time to prune roses?
When should I start planting daffodil bulbs?
How high can a garden fence be and can it be taller than my neighbours?
What colour of fence paint makes a garden look bigger?
Will my garden plants still grow if my backyard doesn’t receive any sun?
“I’m a really hands-on person, I always like to keep busy,” she adds.
“I’ve always got people telling me to stop and take it easy.
“I took several breaks during and needed my partner to help me wheelbarrow the turf away.
“But other than that, I really enjoyed it and I hope to squeeze another smaller project in before our baby arrives.
“I’m currently taking a year off my joinery course in college to have my second child but will be returning in 2026.”
