Spring is the perfect time to get your backyard ready and looking great for all of your upcoming summer activities. If you love DIY projects, there are lots of fun and cheap ways to upgrade your backyard to make it a place you’ll want to spend every afternoon. Here are four DIY projects you should tackle to make your backyard the envy of all your neighbors.
Walkways
Backyard walkways are an easy way to upgrade the look of your backyard while keeping your flowerbeds, garden, and shrubbery safe from wandering feet. Installing a walkway in your backyard is an easy weekend project, and can be done for cheap depending on the type of material you decide to use:
Concrete. Concrete pavers are an easy and cheap material to use to build out a custom walkway. You can either buy pre-molded pavers or pour the concrete yourself. If you have a large backyard, pouring the concrete yourself may actually be cheaper and can be done easily with just a few tools. You may need to rent some larger tools from your local construction company, but often that is still cheaper than hiring a whole crew. Make sure to have extra concrete sand to use as a base underneath the pavers and to fill in the joints.
Flagstone. The rough and asymmetrical edges of flagstone make it a popular option for outdoor designers looking to build a path that looks modern but also blends into the natural landscape. Make sure to get flagstone pieces that are at least 3/4 inch thick so they don’t crack under the weight of people walking.
Gravel. If you want a more informal feel to your backyard walkway, gravel is an inexpensive material to use. You can buy it in bulk and use larger stones as edging to keep the gravel from spreading into your garden or grass.
Mulch. Mulch is one of the cheapest materials to use for your walkway. Since it’s lighter than stone, it will be easier to haul and spread across your backyard. Keep in mind that mulch is an organic material and will decompose over time. You’ll have to replace the mulch every few years to keep it looking good and draining well.
Gardens
Planting and taking care of your own garden can be one of the most rewarding hobbies out there. It’s great exercise, you learn a lot, and you get to harvest deciduous crops at the end of the season. You don’t have to be an expert gardener right from the beginning; you just have to have a few basic tools, some seeds, and a lot of patience. If you need extra storage you can research sheds for sale near me.
Before you can plant your first garden seeds, you have to properly set up your backyard garden so it’s the right environment for your crops to grow. You’ll want to keep in mind:
The size of your garden
The type of plants and crops you want to grow
Its orientation to the sun and how much shade it will get
How exposed to the wind the location is
Irrigation needs
The slope of your backyard
The preferred soil of your crops
Patio
Backyard patios are the perfect place to hang out with friends, spend time with family, and take an afternoon snooze. Building one from scratch is a big DIY project but will be more than worth it by the time summer rolls around.
If you’re building a patio from the ground up, you will need to buy gravel, sand, and your preferred patio building material. Most patios use bricks, flagstones, or pavers for the base. If you don’t want to set each individual stone and don’t mind a more industrial feel to your patio, you can also pour a concrete slab. The actual process is relatively simple:
Outline your patio and remove the sod. The final area should be around five inches deep plus the thickness of the flagstone, brick, or paver you’re going to be setting.
Add landscaping fabric to the patio ground. This prevents weeds from sprouting in between the stones.
Add gravel and sand to the patio area. This layer should be around four inches deep. Make sure to tamper it down to create a firm and smooth base surface.
Place your stones. You can get creative with this step and make your own stone design like a jigsaw puzzle. If you’re using pavers or bricks, get creative with your placement: herringbone, pinwheel, or running bond are popular placement designs that can make your patio look professionally placed.
Top with sand. After everything has been placed, use a broom to sweep patio sand into every crack. Spray with water to make sure everything is settled in.
BYOBF (Build Your Own Bird Feeder)
Bird watching is a fun and relaxing way to spend your free time. If you want the birds to come to you instead of having to hike into the mountains to scout them out, bird feeders are an easy way to attract local wildlife from the comfort of your own backyard.
There are lots of pre-made bird feeders out there you can buy, but if you want to make this a DIY project, you can build one at home. This is a project you can really get creative with and even let your children help. Attracting birds to your backyard can also be a great learning opportunity for your children—buy a birdwatching book and make it a game for your kids to identify as many birds as possible.
