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You’ve spent a lot of money acquiring your property, so it’s best to work on making full use of it. All too often, homeowners leave a big chunk of their private land —their backyard — mostly unused, which is simply a waste.
No matter the size, your yard will have tremendous potential to transform your quality of life. And the best part? While it does require some time, effort, and money, it’s not an overly complicated will. The main driving force that’ll turn your yard dreams into a reality will be your willingness to make it happen.
If you’re determined to make your backyard a space that you’re proud of, then take the following tips on board. If you get started today, then you’ll have the perfect place to unwind once Spring rolls around.
Clear It Out
If you haven’t touched your backyard in years, then it’s probably looking a little worse for wear. And when it’s in that state, it can be difficult to see the potential of all that it could be. Instead of seeing a happy place where you, your family, and friends are hanging out, you’ll just see overgrown bushes and a sense of wildness that belongs in a state park.
Step one is to put on your gardening gloves and clear the yard. If you know that you’ll have a lot of garden waste, then consider hiring a bin — it’ll make the job much easier. Once you have a clear canvas, it’ll be time to start thinking about what you’ll do with the space.
Create a Vision
Putting together the vision for your backyard is the fun part of the project. After all, it’s at this stage that you really get to dream about all that it can be!
A word of caution, however: while it’s easy to get lost in the pictures of the dreamy yards you’ll find online, remember that you’ll need to stay realistic. It’s not necessarily about putting together a yard that looks right at home in the Chelsea Flower Show (or MTV Cribs), but about creating an aesthetically pleasing yard that supports a happy lifestyle.
Take a Gardening Course
Some homeowners hire a landscaper to get their backyard in shape, but there’s no need to. You’ll only be paying them for something that you can do yourself — plus, aside from saving you money, you’ll have a much bigger sense of satisfaction once it’s done if you know you’re the one who made your yard beautiful!
Don’t worry if you have no gardening experience. It’s one of those things that anyone with a little time can learn. Take a look to see if there are any gardening courses taking place in your local area. There probably will be! Failing that, turn to YouTube, which is a fountain of knowledge. You can learn just about everything on that website, including how to garden.
Creating an Outdoor Living Space
Your primary goal might be to put together a yard that looks good. But when spring and summer roll around, you won’t want to just look at your yard from afar. You’ll want to be out there enjoying it in a more direct way.
And while you can do that by simply buying a lounge chair, you’ll find that you can enjoy the experience much more if you work on putting together an outdoor living space. That includes buying a range of outdoor furniture, adding a dining table, and all-around preparing the space for outdoor entertaining. When the sun is shining, you’ll be out there as much as you can.
Keeping Things Trim
Remember that you’ll need to commit to keeping your yard in tip-top condition. Happily, this doesn’t require that much time, provided you have the right equipment. By investing in power tools such as string trimmers and leaf blowers, you’ll be able to keep your yard looking its best in next to no time. It’s best to commit to spending an hour or so each week on your yard’s maintenance — a little bit of regular work is much easier to manage than waiting until everything becomes overgrown.
Consider a Water Feature
A water feature isn’t an essential feature that your backyard must have, but it’s worth considering, simply because it adds such a special ambiance to the space. There’s something extremely calming about the sound of running water, especially on those lovely spring mornings. Plus, adding a pond or other water feature will help to make your yard more attractive to wildlife, which means that you’ll receive plenty of visitors!
Add Some Shade
You’ll spend more time in your backyard during the height of summer. Not only is that when your yard will be at its best, but you’ll also be more inclined to stay at home when the temperatures are so high.
To ensure that you can make the most of your yard during July and August, it’s best to look at incorporating some shade, either by adding a tarp or planting a large tree. In a pinch, a sun umbrella can also be effective.
Tempted to add a swimming pool? Unless you live in a part of the country that gets a lot of sunshine during the summer, it’s usually best not to, since they cost a lot of money and can actually have a negative impact on the property’s value.
Lighting Options
Adding some lighting to your property can make a big difference to your backyard since it’ll allow you to stay out there even after the sun has set. Take a look at adding solar-powered lighting, since that’ll ensure you can have light without worrying about batteries.
Summer Fun
Finally, consider adding some fun touches that can really make summer living all the more enjoyable. You’ll positively love your yard if you have an awesome hammock, for instance. If you have plenty of space to play with, then look at adding an outdoor project and starting your own summer cinema club — it’s easier to do it than you might think.
