As the weather begins to warm and the days grow longer, the space outside your back door becomes one of the most popular areas of the home. You may use your outdoor space to serve as an extension of your dining area and hold evening meals, sit alone with a book, or spend quality time with family and friends on a weekend. Summer is just around the corner and now is the time to get your outdoor space ready for long, lazy summer days. In order to be able to use your outdoor space comfortably throughout the season, there are a few key areas to focus on in order to get your space ready for summer.
In addition to sprucing up your outdoor living space to improve looks and bring a higher value to your property, there are many ways to make improvements that make a difference and not have to go through the pains of a complete backyard makeover. Start by thoroughly cleaning up the backyard by removing all of the natural debris that accumulated during the cold weather, such as dead tree branches and any type of weeds. As you are cleaning up make sure to clear a path through your backyard, to include through your garden, by removing any type of debris that may have fallen into the beds.
Start With a Thorough Backyard Cleanup
Fall cleanup is also a great time to improve your backyard outdoor living space by adding new plant life as well as clearing out yard debris. Remove any fallen leaves, branches, weeds, and additional debris to allow for easy access through your backyard. This is also the time to clear out garden beds, clear and clean patios and other outdoor hard surfaces, and prune back any overgrown shrubs and trees and remove any dead plant life.
To make your home’s exterior as clean as possible, power wash the harder surfaces like your patio, deck, steps, or pavers. Pay special attention to areas with tons of organic material, like corners or heavily shaded sections. These are typically where mildew or mold might begin to accumulate and can leave unsightly black spots behind.
Also, inspect the gutters and downspouts that empty near your deck or patio to make sure water is not flowing toward your deck or house foundation.
Inspect and Refresh Your Deck
It is also important to inspect your deck before the summer season begins. Many common issues can be repaired relatively easily when they are identified early, including loose boards, raised nails, damaged railings, splintered wood, and signs of moisture-related rot. Addressing these problems promptly can prevent them from becoming more expensive or potentially dangerous later.
If you are unsure which repairs you can safely handle yourself, an inspection by an outdoor living professional can help distinguish simple maintenance tasks from problems that require expert attention. Homeowners researching backyard outdoor living services may also find it useful to understand the basics of deck cleaning, inspection, sealing, and ongoing upkeep before deciding whether to take a DIY approach or hire a contractor.
Prepare Outdoor Furniture
Clean out patio furniture and check for any damages. Tighten loose screws on metal frames and wipe down frames and other components with a solution of bleach and water to kill any mold and mildew. Clean out cushions and covers and wash them according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If you can’t find replacements for worn-out cushions, consider getting washable covers for them to make future cleaning easier.
Look for torn areas or missing material on the seats and replace as needed. Consider purchasing new, weather-resistant furniture covers. If you don’t want to invest in new covers, look for washable covers for your furniture. You can store items such as BBQ tools, gardening equipment, and pool supplies in weather-resistant storage containers. These containers will keep items protected from the rain and add to your backyard’s organized look when the space is not in use.
Arrange furniture in a way that allows people to move comfortably through the space. Leave clear paths between the house, seating areas, cooking areas, and the yard.
Create Comfortable Shade
To create comfortable shade to allow for use of your backyard in the hot afternoon sun, add an umbrella, a shade sail, or a pergola, or cover a patio or deck with a permanent roof of slats to plant vines on. Consider where the sun falls during the afternoon in your backyard prior to deciding on where to place things. Also, create a natural “sail” with trees that are already growing and provide additional greenery with tall flowering plants to grow in borders, corners, etc. Take note that this will take a few years for growth to achieve the shade for you but can provide wonderful natural structure as well in the meantime.
Improve Outdoor Lighting
For improving the outdoor living space, consider putting up outdoor lighting, which will allow you to utilize your backyard at night. Path lights made of solar power are the ideal solution for lining your borders and yard. And there is nothing that brings as much ambiance to your outside living area as string lights placed above your seating area or around your outdoor dining setting. Outdoor-rated sconces or wall brackets placed by your entries and stairs will provide just the right amount of light. And be sure to place them in areas that will allow you to see well. Also, try to keep the cords from the light fixtures away from water and heavy foot traffic.
Make sure entrances, stairs, cooking areas, and changes in elevation are clearly visible. Use outdoor-rated fixtures and keep electrical cords away from wet areas and heavily traveled paths.
Check Your Lawn and Garden
Check your lawn and fill in bare spots and check for weeds, pests, and disease. Once you have determined the needs of your lawn, use the appropriate seed to fill in the spots, and adjust your watering to suit the needs of your yard and local weather. Deep and less frequent watering encourages deep root growth, increasing the lawn’s ability to handle drought.
Adding fresh mulch to the beds around trees and flower and vegetable gardens can help retain the right amount of moisture for healthy growth. It can also serve to starve weeds of light and moisture before they get a chance to germinate. When using mulch, be sure to keep it several inches away from the base of trees and from wooden structures, such as decks and patios. This is because, when mulch is packed up against these items, it can become saturated with moisture. Eventually, this can lead to decay.
Get Ready for Summer Entertaining
Before preparing your yard for the long summer ahead, plan out how you will be utilizing your newly restored Backyard Oasis. Whether it be for the casual dining of two or for a large gathering of family and friends, there are many ideas for furnishing your space. A few examples of newly found uses for backyards are dining sets, grills, temporary rugs, and play areas. Whatever your new usage is for your newly restored outdoor space, be sure to leave ample room for creative freedom and movement by avoiding over-decorating your newly restored Backyard Oasis.
Make sure your tools and gadgets are conveniently located but not cluttering up your yard. And be sure that your well-prepped and maintained backyard is open, usable, and fun for you and your family to be enjoying throughout the year!