After 8 weeks of lockdown, you’ve Marie-Kondo’d your home’s interior and binged on Netflix. As summer approaches, it’s time to move on to your home’s exterior. Warmer weather has you looking forward to summer barbecues and the small gatherings that will soon be allowed. It’s time to prepare your yard to be seen by people again!
Prepare Your Yard
No doubt you’ve been stressed and maybe stuck inside working remotely. Getting outside for a natural dose of Vitamin D is in your best interest; not to mention gardening can be meditative. Here are 5 ways you can DIY (or pay someone else) to make sure your yard is in tip-top shape for summer use.
Pull those weeds
Yes, it’s the worst part of yard maintenance, but having pride in your yard is the first step to making it look its best. When weeds take over your yard it diminishes the hard work you’ve put into it. Eliminating weeds is the first place to start. Play some music or a podcast and get in the zone.
You can do a bit each day for a week or do each area of your yard all in one go. Tip: the more help you have, the faster it will go – so enlist your family and anyone else that lives with you. If you choose to use chemicals to eliminate your weeds, consider using natural solutions like vinegar or other homemade natural weed killers to keep kids and critters safe.
Prepare your Yard to Plant a Garden
You’ve heard the connection between plants and wellness. Not only do gardens add beauty and depth to any yard – but gardening can also be a great hobby and a great way to relax in your yard (or in your home). It does take some preparation to plant a garden for the right season, so do your research and make sure to check out which fruits and vegetables will flourish in summer. Think tomatoes, melons, cucumbers, squash, and peppers.
Go low-maintenance
Maybe you’ve had a vision for how you’ve always wanted your yard to look. After being stuck at home for 8 plus weeks, you have realized you are worthy of having a beautiful yard to decompress in. Do it yourself or hire a company that specializes in landscape design to keep your stress to a minimum and consider going low-maintenance or drought-tolerant to keep the upkeep to a minimum.
Control ticks and mosquitoes
Hazards to both humans and pets, ticks, and mosquitoes are summer’s worst insects. For mosquitoes, eliminate standing water and utilize mosquito repellents like plants and citronella candles when working or enjoying time outside. To keep ticks at bay, plant deer-resistant plants to keep deer out of your yard. Deer ticks are the ones that spread Lyme disease
Add outdoor furniture and lighting
Now that your yard is ready for visitors, be sure they have somewhere to sit! Adding outdoor furniture like couches, tables, chairs, and hammocks provide a great way to enjoy your yard. Consider cheap DIY alternatives too, like bales of hay. Hanging some string lights adds the perfect touch of summer night ambiance and gives a better glow than your porch light.
Final Thoughts on How to Prepare Your Yard
Preparing your yard for the summer is easy if you follow these simple tips. From beautiful garden lights to natural pest control and from starting a garden to just eliminating the weeds, you can have the yard you have always dreamed of.