Spring Cleaning for Your Backyard

Spring is in the air, which means it’s time for spring cleaning and tidying up that backyard of yours! Particularly during this time of social distancing, our backyards serve as our relaxation zone, fitness zone and, well, pretty much our everything zone! With that said, it’s a good idea to not only do regular maintenance tasks in your yard, but also to add things that will help make your time outdoors more enjoyable.

Check out our list below of essential spring-cleaning tasks that your summer self will thank you for!

Clear Away Dead Plants and Weeds

Some of your favourite flowers may not have survived the brisk winter months. Make sure to remove them from your flowerbeds in order to make room for new blooms. Clearing away these flowers will also enable you to closer inspect the soil for weeds – remove these before planting anything new.

Finally Rake the Fall Leaves

It happens every year… we always think we’ll have “tomorrow” to get out the rake and gather up the leaves at the end of fall. And every year, the first frost and snowfall somehow catch us by surprise, ruining our plans on the day we SWEAR, we were really going to do it! Now that the warm weather is here, you’ll want to gather up those leaves as soon as possible to allow the sun to get your grass looking green again.

Clear Out the Gutters

Speaking of fall leaves, your gutters are likely pretty full of sticks and leaves. Make sure to remove everything that may be stuck in your gutters in order to allow them to work at peak performance.

Clean the Deck

Depending on the material, gently brush or power-wash your deck to clean away dirt and other debris. If required, re-stain or paint your deck to get it looking as good as new.

Clear Out the Garage

Perhaps the most dreaded of spring tasks is to clear out the garage. A year’s worth of “I’ll put it away later” and “I’ll use this one day” are suddenly staring you in the face. It can be daunting but remember – the tidier your garage, the easier it is to find the things you need. Donate or throw away things you won’t use (admit it, you are never going to need those paint cans) and put everything you’re keeping back where it belongs.

Now that your backyard is in tip-top shape, it’s time to make it more inviting! Spend some time thinking about what would make you eager to spend time in your yard, and make it happen.

Here are some ideas we love.

Start a Vegetable Garden

Are you one of the many people who are now attempting to grow their own vegetables in empty jars? Why not give yourself a new hobby and start a vegetable garden in your backyard. It’s a great way to spend time outdoors and hey, if you’re patient (and very lucky), you just might get some home-grown veggies out of it!

Add Some Furniture

Comfortable furniture makes all the difference when deciding to stay inside or venture outdoors. If you don’t have any, consider investing in some. A nice seating arrangement also makes for a great opportunity to make more use of your BBQ! Hammocks and rocking chairs are also a great addition if you enjoy relaxing outside to read, listen to music or even just hear the birds chirp.

Plant Flowers You Love

A garden takes a lot of work, but it’s so rewarding. Choosing flowers you love and watching them bloom is a relaxing pass-time and is a great way to beautify your home.

Add a Firepit 

Looking to extend your time outdoors into the evening? Why not start a new project and build your own firepit. The addition of a firepit to your yard creates a cozy atmosphere and gathering area for your family. It also ensures you can make the most out of your yard by staying outdoors for as long as possible. Of course, if you’d rather skip the project and get straight to the result, you can always purchase a firepit from your local fireplace store.

Make it Kid-Friendly!

If you have young children in your home, you will probably want to consider creating an outdoor kids-zone. Not only will this ensure your children spend time outdoors getting some fresh air, but it will also give you some down-time to enjoy the other areas of your backyard. Swingsets, miniature jungle gyms and trampolines are a few of the many popular outdoor activities for kids.

We hope this list has made your backyard somewhere you genuinely enjoy spending time in. At Smart Home Improvement, we want you to enjoy your home to the fullest! If you require any exterior home renovations to make your home more comfortable, give us a call. We would love to discuss how we can help.