Get Your Backyard Ready for a Great Summer

Now that the days are getting longer, you’ll be spending more time outside with friends and family, enjoying those warm summer nights. Here are some tips to make sure your backyard is ready to go and everyone’s favourite place to make some memories over the next few months.

If it’s been a long winter and you leave your patio furniture out through all seasons, you want to take a moment to give it a once over. Make sure no little pests have made their home in them, give any furniture frames a good hose-down and maybe take a vacuum to any fabric surfaces.

Nothing brightens up a yard like some flowers, and if you didn’t plant those seeds back during the spring, have no fear! Many local hardware stores and nurseries will be bursting with summer blooms that are ready to be transposed into your backyard. Tall planters can add some great decoration to the side of doorways, hanging baskets are good for shaded patios, or you may want to create a bright flowerbed – as a bonus, these are a great way to help pollinators!

Just because the sun sets later doesn’t mean you want to go inside when it’s dark! While many homes have some basic outdoor lighting, it’s often utilitarian and not very ambient, so take the time to research some good lighting options. Strings of Edison bulbs are a popular option that lend form and function or consider using smaller strings of battery-operated lights in mason jars to resemble fireflies. You might want small ground lights staked into the ground to illuminate paths. Before you add any lighting, however, be sure you know where each of your exterior outlets are so that you’re not left in the dark!

If it’s been a rough winter, your lawn may need a refresh. If it’s developed bare patches, this may be a prime spot for weeds, so consider reseeding these spots. You can find a seed mix that matches the rest of the lawn or look specifically for a seed blend that stands up to high traffic areas if you anticipate a lot of people walking over it. Add in some fertilizer and keep things watered until the patches fill in, and you’ll have a lush and healthy lawn to be proud of!

A great backyard feature that helps nature is a bird feeder! If you enjoy lounging outdoors and doing some bird spotting, a feeder will help bring in colourful hummingbirds and cardinals (location dependent.) These feeders are great for local wildlife without causing disruption to ecosystems, and it’s a great way to pass the time while relaxing on a peaceful summer day.

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