Simpson
Summer is quickly approaching, which means it’s time to prepare your yard for the hot weather. Most people focus on the inside of the house for the summer, but it’s just as important to make sure your yard is ready. Here are 9 ideas to get your yard ready for summer:
1. Add a patio or deck
Adding a patio or deck is a great way to enjoy the outdoors during summer. Not only will it provide a place to relax and sunbathe, but it can also be used as a dining area or for entertaining guests. Before constructing your patio or deck, you should make sure that you are using the best materials available. For instance, WPC decking boards and railings can offer a highly durable and aesthetically-pleasing surface. These boards are made from mostly recycled materials and do not require much maintenance at all to keep looking their best. Further, they do not require much in the way of special care and will not warp or crack in hot weather.
2. Use mulch to protect your grass and plants in the summer months
One easy way to protect your yard during the summer is with mulch. Mulching can help keep weeds from growing, which saves you time and money on weed control. It also prevents the soil from becoming too hot for plants and grass to survive, while still allowing sunlight to hit the ground, so your yard can grow. Remember that the mulch needs to be around 2-3 inches thick, which means you may need to purchase mulch or gather extra supplies before summer starts. This is a great way to save money and also keep your yard looking beautiful during the hot months of summer.
3. Clean out your rain gutters, so they can work properly this season
It’s important to clean out your rain gutters on a regular basis, but it’s even more important to do so before summer begins. During the winter months, leaves and other plant material can collect in your gutters and prevent them from working properly. When you remove all of this blockage, you allow water to flow freely down your gutters without any problems. If you want your gutters to work properly this season, then you should remove all of the plant material in them before the warm weather hits.
4. Plant a small garden
It’s easy to plant a small garden in your backyard during the summer months. Garden centers have plenty of fresh produce available at this time of year, so finding supplies and seeds won’t be difficult. If you don’t want to do any planting yourself, then consider asking a neighbor or family member if they would like to share the crops with you later in the year. Why not get your neighbors involved and enjoy some free produce together?
Gardens can also benefit the environment because they allow you to grow your own food. According to NASA, 1/8 of atmospheric carbon dioxide can be absorbed by gardens each year, which leads to cleaner air for everyone. It only takes 15 minutes a day to maintain a garden, so what do you have to lose?
5. Clean off your porch and deck furniture
This might not seem like an important task, but it is. Your porch and deck furniture are two of the most used items in your yard during the summer months. If these pieces are not clean, then they can be teeming with bacteria and other harmful materials. You should wash them down to make sure that guests don’t spread germs around your home. Furthermore, you should also make sure that they are completely dry before you use them. You don’t want to risk being attacked by mosquitoes while relaxing in your backyard, so this is a very important task.
6. Get new patio furniture
If your patio furniture is starting to show its age, then consider buying some new pieces for the summer months. Your outdoor furniture is likely to be some of the most used pieces in your home, so you want to make sure they are clean and comfortable. Determine how much you have to spend on new patio furniture before shopping for supplies, so you don’t go over budget. There are a lot of different patio sets available, so you shouldn’t have a problem finding the perfect pieces for your yard.
7. Make sure your lawn is healthy
Healthy grass can really make your lawn look good during the summer months, but unhealthy grass will just make your yard look brown and unappealing. You should make sure that your lawn is healthy before the weather gets warm because this will help it grow during the summer. If you don’t feel like doing any yardwork yourself, then consider hiring a professional to take care of everything for you.
Some of the best ways to make sure your lawn is healthy to include mowing the grass on a regular basis, watering it as needed and fertilizing it during the appropriate months of the year. You don’t want to fertilize your yard until late spring or early summer because this can damage the soil. If you’re not sure how to make your lawn healthy again, then consider asking a professional for some advice.
8. Fix any leaks
Leaks are common during the spring, but they can be avoided if they are fixed before summer begins. You should fix any leaks you find because not only will it keep your yard healthy, it will also prevent mold from forming. You can fix any leaks yourself, or you can hire a plumber to do the work for you if necessary. Just think of how much money you’ll save if you can stop leaks before they happen.
9. Plant some trees or shrubs
Trees and shrubs will make your yard look more beautiful, but they can also benefit you as well. They can provide shade during the summer months, which is perfect for those hot days when you want to relax outside. This will prevent your grass from getting fried by the sun and dying prematurely, which will save you a lot of money in the long run.
If your yard isn’t ready for summer, then don’t worry because there is still plenty of time to prepare it for warmer weather. Try to get all of these tasks done within the next couple of weeks so that you are ready for summer in time.
