With spring reaching the end of its bloom and summer right around the corner, it’s crucial that your backyard is prepped and ready for a season of fun in the sun. Whether it be researching the best plants suited for the heat or deciding which type of shade is best for your backyard, there are a plethora of actions you can take to give your yard the boost it needs for the best summer ever.
Mowing Right Along
Summer is high time for outdoor entertainment, and the last thing you want your patio guests to see is a yard full of unkempt, overgrown grass. While letting your grass grow unchecked is an easy trap to fall into, it’s important to get a head start on mowing maintenance for both an aesthetically pleasing yard as well as a healthy one.
If you don’t already mow your lawn on a regulated schedule, now is the time to start trimming your greens on the regular. Be thorough in your trimming but be sure not to cut your grass too short. Trimming too close to the ground can damage your grass and prevents it from shading the soil and maintaining moisture. Sticking to your mowing schedule will soon be second nature, and your yard will be ready to entertain at the drop of a hat.
Best Laid Plants
Properly maintaining a backyard garden means swapping out your plants as the seasons change. While your spring blooms may have thrived in the past few months, integrating summer friendly flowers into your garden is crucial for cultivating a thriving garden in the warmest months of the year.
Do some digging to see which seeds are best suited for high heat. Green thumb experts recommend sticking with durable plants that don’t require excessive watering, such as Black Eyed Susans, Lantannas, and the summertime classic sunflower. Whether you end up purchasing pre-grown plants and transfer them to your backyard soil or start from scratch with seeds, it’s vital that you get a head start on planting before summer hits its prime.
Deep Clean Duties
A plethora of pollen and other spring allergens has no doubt been plaguing your patio. A deep clean is necessary in order to give summer the proper welcome it deserves.
- Start by gathering up an arsenal of cleaning supplies including rags, soap and cleaning solution, a bucket, and a hose.
- Your outdoor furniture deserves a thorough cleaning for when it’s not being protected by a table cover or outdoor pillow and cushion covers. Using your rags and cleaning solution, wipe down any and all hard surfaces in your backyard, from dining tables to kid’s playsets. Getting these pieces clean as a whistle early on in the season will save you a good bit of maintenance stress in the long run.
- Break out a bristled brush and give your barbecue the summer prep scrub down it needs. Gristle and bits of char have been building up over the course of spring, but the combination of a strong brush and soapy, warm water will wash away any trace of barbecues past. And to ensure a clean grill all summer long, consider adding a grill cover to your patio kitchen essentials.
Light up Your Life
With the nights growing longer and more pleasant, it’s prime time for backyard owners across the country to reassess their patio lighting setup. A dimly lit backyard is far from the inviting atmosphere you want to cultivate for a summer dinner party or bonfire bash, as well as posing a significant safety hazard.
Prep your patio for nighttime leisure with ample lighting features throughout your yard. Delicate but bright string lights are perfect for creating ambiance in your seating and dining areas, while heavier duty flood lights are better suited for keeping the wide expanse of the backyard safely lit. Consider installing motion activated lights to save on power while making safety and security a top priority.
Patio Perfection
In the midst of cleaning, planting, and lighting, don’t forget to factor design schemes into your summer backyard prep. Updating the aesthetics of your backyard living space is simple enough when you have a solid creative plan in place ahead of time.
- A changing season calls for a refreshed look for your patio, so shift away from the pastel shades of spring to more summer friendly pops of color.
- An easy way to freshen up the look of your patio is to swap out pillow covers to fit the vibe of the season. Outdoor pillow and cushion covers come in a wide variety of colors and styles that provide the flexibility you need for stress free patio updates.
- A custom table cover opens a world of creative possibility for your patio design schemes. Between color pallets, printed patterns, and summer inspired graphics, there’s no limit to what you can dream up.
- Sources of shade are a summer backyard essential. You can easily integrate shade options such as pergolas, umbrellas, and outdoor curtains into your design overhaul. Just be sure to balance aesthetic with function, as a nice looking but ineffective shade provider is more or less useless come a bright summer’s day.
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