50 Weird, Cheap Things You Didn't Know Make Your Backyard Look So Much Better

Tripping over the hose and leaving it snaking across the yard is messy. It’s easy to keep the hose handy but also out of sight by coiling it into this decorative wicker garden hose holder. A hole in the bottom lets you feed the hose in and coil it so you only need to lift the top to use it. This makes putting it away so easy that you will do it every time.

Build lighting into your landscaping by setting this solar rock light amid your flower beds or hardscaping. Use them to illuminate a pretty vignette or just to offer path lighting. A solar panel on the top of the rock soaks up the sun to charge its battery and the light turns on automatically at dusk. It is durable and waterproof.

You don’t need a lot of infrastructure or to spend all day building a fire pit. Whip out this outdoor fire pit, drop some wood onto it, and enjoy a fire wherever you are. The steel mesh keeps the fire contained and provides airflow to feed the flames. When the party is over, fold it up and stash it. It comes in three sizes.

Wrap these flower solar string lights around the patio furniture or a tree trunk to create whimsical lighting in your outdoor rooms. Spill them out of a flower pot. Get creative! A solar panel provides the power so you can put them anywhere and they will turn on automatically at night. They come in four colors.

Ever wondered how people hang potted plants and other decorative elements on a brick wall? This is how. This pack of four brick clips grabs the bricks and can hold up to 25 pounds. They take seconds to install and don’t require you to drill into the brick. “These things might just be the most ingenious invention ever!” said one reviewer. “So excited to be able to have décor on my brick walls!! Genius!”

Feed the birds and decorate the garden with some weird at the same time by mounting this tree face bird feeder to the trunk of a tree. It animates your yard when empty. Fill it with seeds, though, and it gets better as birds flock to it and jump into the old man’s mouth. There are three face styles.

Mount these solar flame post lights to the top of your fence posts and create a tropical look in your garden. They flicker like candles with an orange light that feels festive as if you are on a spa vacation in Thailand. They install with a couple of screws so they stay securely on the posts. “The flame effect is excellent,” said one reviewer. “The brightness level is perfect for my deck railing post tops, and installation is relatively easy.”

Drop this solar fountain pump into a bird feeder or pond and turn that small body of water into a fountain. With very little effort, you get the visual of a water fountain and the calming sound of moving water. The solar panel floats so just drop it in the water. It soaks up the sun to operate the pump and runs as long as it has power. It stops automatically if the water dries up.

Bring the tiki torches to the table with these glass tabletop torches that burn whatever oil you fill them with. Scent the oil with citronella to keep bugs away or use plain torch oil. The bubble glass is pretty and stylish and they light your outdoor events and bring the festive warmth of a flame. This is a set of three. There are three colors to choose from.

Create a mystical space to retreat to in your yard with these hanging lanterns that look like tea lights. Fill the trees with them, hang them from porch overhangs, and otherwise get creative. You never have to light the candles because they are solar-powered.

Clear your yard of pests by connecting your hose to the sprayer of this insect killer for lawns and watering with it. It’s easy. And it kills mosquitos, cicadas, ants, spiders, fleas, ticks, and more so you know it’s powerful. “I had SWARMS of flies in my yard destroying my grass,” said one reviewer. “I sprayed a light mist on my yard this morning and there are ZERO flies hanging around now.”

Create a garden path wherever you like with no tools or construction by lying this cedar garden walkway right on the grass or soil. It’s curved to create a charming, organic shape to the path and the resilient hardwood will withstand wet, muddy conditions and last for years. “[Perfect] for creating a cottage-like path alongside my flower garden,” said one reviewer. “I have received many compliments on it and it’s only been down two weeks!!!!”

With this outdoor projector screen on deck, you do not have to choose between enjoying the outdoors and the just-dropped episode of your favorite show. It’s compact and portable, comes with mounting gear, and lets you project your movie on a 120-inch screen. “This may be the best-kept secret in all of backyard-home theater ever!” said one reviewer.

As the wind blows, these wind chimes play a soothing song. But even on a still day, they bring beauty to your yard. The bells, horse charms, and chimes look as pretty as they sound. Choose from dogs, dolphins, and other shapes, and hang a chime that reflects your interests and affections. There are nine to choose from.

Invite hummingbirds into your life by hanging this glass hummingbird feeder outside a window. If you fill it with nectar, they will come. And, even when the birds are napping, it looks pretty. “In less than a minute I had a hummingbird checking it out and feeding,” said one reviewer. It comes in two colors.

Light up your Cornhole game with these color-changing LED Cornhole lights. It makes it easier to play at night and makes the game safer and more fun. They are designed to fit perfectly around a cornhole board. “These lights are awesome and work really well when playing corn hole at night,” said one reviewer. “They are easy to install and are pretty bright.” There are nine light colors.

Don’t let bugs ruin your evening on the patio. Hang this insect killer from a tree or overhang and the insects will head for it instead of for you. And when they do, they will get the zap, lessening their population in your yard. It attracts mosquitos, flies, moths, and other pests. Nearly 12,000 people give it five stars.

Create rooms in your outdoor spaces by setting this outdoor rug amid your patio furniture. It creates stability, keeps your feet clean, and looks welcoming. It is durable enough to survive the elements, too. And you can hose it off to clean it. There are 13 sizes and 21 colors.

When your deck is too hot, you get burned at the pool, or your parking space is exposed, string up this sun shade sail and make some shade. The high-density fabric blocks 95% of UV rays so you, your vehicles, and your pets can enjoy the outdoors without frying. “Finding a shade that will allow me to enjoy the patio without bursting into flames [was] essential,” said one reviewer. “Especially one [I can] put up and take down with ease. [This is] exactly what I needed.” It comes in six colors and lots of sizes.

Throw some light on your outdoor meals by mounting this patio umbrella light to the pole of your patio umbrella. It clamps on in seconds and acts like an overhead fixture for the outdoors with 28 battery-powered LED lights. You can adjust the brightness from an intimate dim to medium conversation lighting to super bright, “I want to see what’s on my plate!” mode. Over 34,000 people say, “Five stars!”

This pine scented citronella candle brings so much ambiance to your outdoor gatherings at such a low price. Light it to create a light scent and a slight crackling sound for your gathering. That scent is one that bugs hate, so it will help keep them away from your guests, too. It comes in a tin with a lid so you can leave it on the deck without worrying that it will drown in the rain.

Bring the outdoors in or create a transition from the lawn to the deck with this artificial grass turf runner. It’s big, durable, water and weather-resistant, and stylish. You can use it indoors or out. “Love, love, love this turf,” said one reviewer. “Love that it looks real. Love that my dogs can enjoy and not come back in all muddy. Love that I don’t have to mow — all I do is occasionally blow it to remove leaves and debris.” It comes in 149 sizes and seven colors so you can create your turf dream.

You don’t have to dig around in the cooler in the dark hoping to find the beverage you seek while your hands freeze. Drop this cooler LED light into the ice with the beverages and it will light the way. It is waterproof and rechargeable and has several lighting modes. “On the low setting, it doesn't get even the slightest bit warm,” said one reviewer. “Its bright setting is good enough for a deep woods flashlight for finding wood or using a privy. Its red light settings are solid, flashing, and SOS.”

This set of two globe lights makes terrific patio or garden lighting. They are waterproof and throw a warm, crackled, colorful light to create magical settings. Line a walkway with them. Set them on a deck or patio table. Use them to light a stairway or pool. Choose from three light colors.

When you are lounging in the yard, where do you set down your beverage? Stick this beverage holder into the grass and you have a cup holder wherever you need it. Each one holds two beverages or a beverage and your phone. “These hold drinks nicely and you can put your foot on the bottom and shove them into the ground quite easily, even when soil is hard packed,” said one reviewer. There are options for wine glasses and for clamping to patio chairs, too.

Create a stunning night garden by sticking these solar garden lights into the ground. They soak up the sun during the day and light up at night. You don’t have to water them and they never stop blooming. “These flowers look good in the daytime,” said one reviewer. “At [night], they light up and change into a rainbow of colors. Alice in Wonderland in your backyard!”

The birds in your neighborhood will be clamoring to be the proud dwellers in one of these adorable hanging bird houses. With flowers at the door, a welcome sign, and a cute woodland fairy shape, they will move in and raise a family. A clean out plug in the bottom makes it easy for you to clean when the kids fly the nest. There is also an acorn cottage and a pinecone so you can create an entire neighborhood.

Create a pop-up bar on your deck by filling this beer and wine cooler with ice and beverages. The top offers a tabletop for setting plates and drinks on and everyone can help themselves to cold drinks from the open cooler. It looks stylish, too. A drain in the bottom makes it easy to empty when the party is over. It comes in two colors.

Outdoor lighting is so easy with this six-pack of outdoor landscape lights. Stick them in the ground and they will take it from there, soaking up the sun during the day and turning on automatically at night. Line a path. Stick them into planters to create lamps. Tuck them into flower beds. There are three styles and colors.

With this efficient, smokeless tabletop fire pit, you can enjoy a fire almost anywhere. Set it on an outdoor table and enjoy an evening under the stars. It burns wood or wood pellets and keeps the fire contained in the stainless steel housing for safety. Toast marshmallows in the flames or just enjoy the ambiance.

Bring music to your outdoor parties by building this rock speaker into your landscaping. You won’t have to scramble to find a party speaker because it is already there, a part of your outdoor decor. Connect it to your phone and play the tunes that match the vibe. It is solar-powered and can withstand whatever weather happens out there.

These solar wind chimes use the power of nature to create a mood in your yard. The wind moves the balls to create subtle magic while the sun charges the lights so they illuminate, changing color as they do. “Enchanting!” said one reviewer. “During the day, the spinner gently sways in the breeze, catching the sunlight and creating beautiful shadows. As the sun sets, [it] comes alive with vibrant, color-changing lights.”

Hanging a lantern to welcome guests and light the pathways in your garden evokes earlier times when someone lit the lamps each evening. This hanging solar light achieves that effect without a flame or labor. A solar panel is hidden in the cap. It charges the flameless flickering candle within. The candle turns on automatically at sunset and glows until the wee hours when it runs out of power.

Burying an empty wine bottle so the wind makes it hum to irritate gophers into leaving is an ancient method of ridding a lawn of these burrowing lawn destroyers. This solar-powered mole and gopher repellent is a much more effective way of achieving the same thing. The vibration it creates annoys the varmints so much, that they immediately start packing and looking for a new neighborhood. “I was skeptical at first but I have to say they work! I have a chipmunk problem, they dig around my house and under my porch. I put these in and after about a week I noticed they were not digging,” said one reviewer. This is a pack of eight.

This pack of four solar fence lights makes it fast and easy to light the dim areas in your yard. Mount them to the fence or a wall and they do the rest. They charge up with sunlight all day and throw warm, charming light all night. The Edison-style bulb gives them charm and character. There are three colors.

Are there fairies in your garden? There will be if you set this fairy garden figurine on a wall or nestle her among the flowers. She looks as if she flew in to have a think amid your blooms. There are three styles to choose from and each is beautifully detailed, charming, and able to withstand the weather.

If you want your grill to keep delivering tasty snacks for years, protect it from the elements with this BBQ grill cover. It is waterproof and helps to keep the grill clean so you can fire it up and get cooking faster. It cinches to prevent it from blowing off and comes in three sizes and three colors.

This cat yard statue brings the cute to your yard. And it throws a little light, too. Set it amid your flowers or on the porch to greet guests. It holds a lantern that soaks up the sun for power and turns on the lights every evening at dusk. There are five animals to choose from.

Picking up dog poo is an unpleasant task but this pooper scooper makes it a lot easier on your back. It’s fast, too. Walk through the yard, raking the poo into the tray, and dump it all at once into the trash. The kit stands ready with the rake clipped to the handle to do it all again another day. It’s useful for picking up pine cones and other yard debris, too.

This garden sprayer is a backyard essential. Fill it with water, insecticide, vinegar, or whatever you need to spray and pump it to pressurize the tank. When you walk through the yard, watering or treating plants, you just point the nozzle and pull the trigger. It’s fast and easy on your hands. It comes in 1- and 2-gallon sizes.

Transform a patch of dirt into a riot of flowers that will bring butterflies and birds to your yard with this bag of wildflower seeds. It’s a fast and cheap way to turn a bad patch into beauty. Just toss the seeds, add water, and enjoy poppies, sage, nasturtium, snapdragons, and much more. There are 25 species. Choose from a 1-ounce bag or a 1/4-pounder.

Installing this charming butterfly and dragonfly rain gauge is simple: Stick the stake into the ground. It will measure rainfall, look beautiful, and light up at night. One reviewer says, “The light lasts all night. It's beautiful, accurate, and worth every penny!” This is a pack of two.

Lighting your yard does not have to be expensive or a big project. Stick these solar ground lights into the ground — around the pool, adjacent to paths, in plant pots, or right in the grass — and you are done. They soak up the sun and throw light upwards all night long. All you do to install them is push them into the ground.

Keep your pool pump running by protecting it from small debris that sneaks through to clog it. These pool skimmer filter socks catch even those tiny bits of leaves and drowned bugs so they never get to the pump or filter. All you do is replace the sock occasionally. “A game-changer for keeping my pool clean, especially with a dog that sheds a lot,” said one reviewer. “The ultra-fine mesh catches all the dog hair and small debris before it clogs up my filter, making maintenance so much easier.”

Enjoy the company of birds every morning and evening by luring your avian neighbors close with tasty snacks. Fill this wild bird feeder with their favorite morsels and you will have plenty of new friends. It hangs from a tree or porch overhang and is easy to fill. The roof keeps the seed — and the diners — dry.

Hang this beautiful sunflower tray from a tree and watch the birds enjoy a snack of suet or other treats. At night, after the birds have gone to bed, it lights up and illuminates your yard. It is beautiful 24 hours a day. “We had orioles as soon as we put it out,” said one reviewer. “Many other birds are attracted to it too. So much fun to watch who is visiting and enjoying a sweet treat.” There are two styles.

Want more privacy on your deck? That’s easy. Mount this privacy screen to the railing and no one can see in. It filters out UV rays and slows down the wind, too. The durable polyethylene fabric can withstand the weather and allows air and light through. “I still get light but, my creepy neighbor can't watch me every minute I'm in my backyard,” said one reviewer. “It only takes a few minutes to install.” It comes in 115 sizes and 13 colors.

Nothing gets a party started faster than lighting a tiki torch. And these are the real deal. Fill the metal frame with lamp oil and light the long-lasting fiberglass wick. You get real flames. “Perfect for an outside night time party,” said one reviewer. “The flame and smoke definitely keep the bugs away and they are so pretty. My only regret is not buying more!!”

If you want your outdoor space to be festive, livable, and well-illuminated, these string lights are the way. Hang them from trees, roofs, decks, railings, and pergolas and plug them in. They are durable enough to leave up year-round and light up the yard like it is indoors. Choose from seven sizes and three colors. “Easy to install, waterproof, easy operation, long-lasting,” reported one reviewer. “I light them up every eve so it’s not just for the holiday season!”

Anywhere you find a hook, a branch, or a flat surface is a good place to set one of these hanging solar lights. The metal frame gives them a charming industrial vibe and turns them into a table lamp when needed. The hook on the other end loops over anything. “I can't say enough good things about these lanterns,” said one reviewer. “I have had eight of them for two years and they still light up brightly at night even after being outside for two Colorado winters.”