Keeping your backyard clean and tidy is just as important as the interior of your home. But it doesn’t have to be a chore that you come around to once in a while, like before a BBQ or Christmas gathering.
If you keep on top of it, you’ll have less work to do and, with the right tools, it can even be fast and fun! Here are five easy ways to transform your backyard so that it’s visitor-ready all year round.
- Get Rid of Debris
First and foremost, start by picking up any debris on the ground. This includes dog poo, litter, leaves, branches, pinecones, etc.
Put it all into a reusable garbage bag and then separate the compostable materials for using as a natural fertilizer. The next section will talk about what materials are ideal for a compost heap.
You’ll want to wear a good pair of gloves before you get down and dirty. A rake will also be useful for picking up leaves if your yard is small. For those of you with a big yard, you have a few options – mulch them with a lawn mower, mow them, or blow them into a pile and then bag them.
The tools you need to clean up your yard ranges from leaf blowers, leaf grabbers, and leaf scoops, to root assassin rakes, tarp tuggers, lawn sweepers, and leaf skimmers.
- Create a Compost Heap
Once you’ve collected all the compostable debris, you need to create a compost heap. Get ready to build a fence that measures about three by three feet. This is where you’ll store the compost matter that you can later use to nourish your garden.
Good compost materials include leaves, animal faeces, egg shells, dead plants, grass clippings, fruit and vegetable peels, twigs, tea bags, and more.
- Trimming and Pruning
Keeping your plants, trees and shrubs pruned is vital for keeping your yard looking its best.
Some plants may require frequent pruning while others, like flowering trees, shrubs and vines, just need a touch up in the early spring or late winter. Fruit trees and berry plants need to be pruned when they’re dormant.
Evergreens, such as blue spruce, pine, hemlock and red cedar need pruning in the early spring or not at all. Perennial plants like tomatoes, onions, basil, sage, garlic, rosemary and oregano need pruning in the fall or spring.
- Enhance the Appearance
There are many different ways you can improve the appearance of your backyard. These include mowing the lawn and hiding pipes, septic covers, holes, utility boxes and ugly posts with weather-resistant fencing.
The best time to mow the lawn is in the late afternoon or evening. After all, you don’t want to mow the lawn when the sun is too hot or when the grass is still wet.
Don’t rush the process as that may leave some areas of your lawn uncut. Instead, follow a pattern when you’re mowing. For example, mow around the perimeter, then mow in a spiral pattern depending on the shape of the yard.
For the sake of improving the visual appearance of the yard, use pretty decor like water fountains, wind spinners, and statues.
- Clean the Patio
Aim to keep the yard clean and welcoming for guests by washing the patio furniture cushions and covers regularly. Wipe down any dirt that builds up on the furniture.
In an effort to go green, use natural products to clean your patio furniture. Use a solution of water, vinegar and baking soda in a spray bottle to clean it. Don’t forget to mop the patio floor, and wipe down anything else that needs a good polish.
What’s more, clean your gardening tools after you use them and store them in the shed or out of sight.
The Final Word
Once you’re done cleaning all the essential parts of the yard, you can proceed with planting some new flowers and plants. Form a master plan before you start planting so that your yard looks organized and neat.
Don’t wait until the last minute to clean your yard. Do it often and you won’t have to think about it.
If you have a swimming pool, hammocks, swings, an outdoor BBQ, trampoline, and other fun items in your backyard, you’ll need additional care to maintain them.
At the end of the day, you need a clean and beautiful yard where you can relax after a long day of work. Make sure it’s a good one!
