5 Things To Do Today To Get Your Yard in Gear
The winter months provide excellent opportunities to tackle the clutter we have inside. For several long, dark and cold months we’ve had plenty of time to purge, clean, sort and organize inside and now that the nice weather is raising its weary head, it’s time to take it outside.
There are a lot of things we can do to create an outside space that is inviting and comfortable. Sure you could go all out and do a complete backyard overhaul but that’s not in the cards for a lot of people – especially me 
Here are 5 things you can do today to get your backyard a little bit closer to that summer time oasis you dream of.
1. Cut the grass. Whip out the lawn mower and trim the grass. Although it may be quicker to just run over the lawn and leave the clippings behind I think it actually look a bit nicer if you leave nothing behind. If you have a small enough yard use a bagger attachment for your mower or at least rake up the clippings after. Spend a bit of time going around the fence, flower beds and pathways with a weed whacker (or yes a pair of scissors) and finish the job.
2. Pull weeds. Flower beds and rocky areas look their best when there are no weeds to be found. Spend some time pulling the big obvious ones and then move onto the smaller ones. I find using a hoe is the easiest and quickest way to weed a flower bed. It’s fast and it really saves my back.
3. Instant color with flowers. If you’re free and clear of the frost date (ours is coming soon yay!) then plant some brightly colored flowers in prominent areas through out your yard. If gardens aren’t your thing or if you’d rather save the space for vegetables consider a few flower pots filled with annuals placed where you spend most of your time outside.
4. Wildlife. As I type this I can hear a dozen or more birds chirping away outside. It’s lovely. Wildlife is what brings a yard to life IMHO. Hang a couple of bird feeders in a tree and set up a bird bath. It won’t take long for them to figure out where the food is and become regular visitors. Do a bit of research on which flowers attract butterflies and plant some of these. Before you know it your yard and garden will be teeming with life.
5. Light it up. Make a fire pit, light some tiki torches or string up some patio lights whatever it is lighting can help set the mood and create a very welcoming environment. One of my favorite ideas is half filling a few glass jars with sand, rocks or rice and putting tea lights in them. Use some wire and hang them from tree limbs or hooks, or simply set them on your patio table, deck railing or stairs for nice soft glow.
These are just a few easy things that you can do today to make getting outside even more enjoyable.
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Photo courtesy of: Alvaro Carnicero
