Simple Summer Updates for Your Backyard

Image by Gr8 from Shutterstock

Summer is a great time of the year. Long sunny days, short warm nights, and clear weather that stretches across the sky. Summer is a season to savor. An excellent way to enjoy summer is by taking your living outside and relaxing in the backyard. If your backyard is cringe-worthy rather than show-stopping, it’s time for a makeover. Upgrading your backyard does not necessarily mean you will need to spend a hefty sum of money; there are some uncomplicated ways you can improve your backyard this summer without breaking the bank.

• Shine up the area: Scrub the tables, chairs, and other furniture in your backyard. Simple cleaning is enough to give your yard the facelift it needs.

• Get rid of some stuff: Sort through your gardening tools, plant pots,  toys and bikes in your backyard. Give away or sell the things you don't use. Invest in a storage unit to hide occasional or seasonal use items like lawnmowers, snowblowers, that edger, and the rototiller.

• Invest in furniture: A comfortable patio chair, table, and even a hammock can all help make your backyard more attractive and ready for entertaining. Look for mid-season discounts and specials to find the best deal.

• Put in a pathway: Consider installing a path with gravel, sand, or stone. Use the trail to indicate the specific areas of the yard, such as a play area for corn hole or bocce, a dining spot to entertain guests, a fire pit or a garden.

• Eliminate bugs: Hanging out in your backyard during summer is a beautiful experience, but that experience can turn sour when bugs come around. Invest in deterrents such as citronella, lavender, lemon-grass, marigolds, rosemary, or sage to ensure your space is a bug-free.

• Be decorative with the lights: If you have a tree in your backyard, wrap string lights around the trunks to get a soft glow or hang fairy lights from the branches. The soft light is ideal for a summer get-together. You can also install solar-powered fixtures around your patio or deck give your backyard a fresh look.

• Fix the fence: If your fence is intact, a simple cleaning or coat of paint may do the trick. However,  if boards are coming loose or it’s missing a few rails, installing a new fence or doing some repair will create the perfect backdrop in your outdoor entertainment space.

Upgrading your backyard is easy and budget-friendly. Most of these projects you can do yourself, but for your fence installation ensure that you contact a professional fence installer for the best possible results. If you’re preparing your home to place it on the market, ask your realtor which outdoor projects will provide the best impression.