Summer is quite swiftly on the way and all this sunshine and warm weather won’t let us forget it!
But before it actually hits, and you’re covered in grass stains, being swarmed by wasps, and needing to apply your 5th coat of sunscreen, there’s some work to be done.
After all, the garden might not be in the best shape right now. Winter can do a number on the scenery, and spring is the time to get these things under control.
But seeing as you want a habitable, beautiful space to enjoy once we reach May and June, what kind of things should you focus on?
Well, we’re here to help with the list below! Get these tasks out of the way while you’ve still got the time and your back yard will be the best place to be this summertime!
The Patio
Let’s start with the area likely to be closest to your house and back door: the patio.
It’s the part of your back yard that’s entirely for you. No wildlife is really meant to call it home, and you’ve put down stones, tiles, shingle, bark, and decking to prove it.
It’s a safe base to sit back and relax, and you’re more than happy to do so when it looks warm, inviting, and taken care of.
And we can bet that it doesn’t quite look like that right now… So, what do you need to do?
Clear it off
First thing’s first – if there’s a lot of old plant life, broken pots and vases, and simply just a bit of garbage around the patio, clear it all off.
Take an hour and just sort through the waste. Can anything be salvaged and used somewhere else in the garden? Or should you just throw it out, either in the general refuse or organic waste cans?
Cut plants back
There’s probably been a lot of overgrowth in the subsequent seasons since last summer. Now you want to use the patio again, you’re going to have to cut it all back.
And don’t try to convince yourself it’s perfectly OK for that lavender to brush against your legs whenever you try to get in and out of the patio area. It’s going to annoy and/or scratch you up over time, and you should simply cut it back and be done with it right now.
Make sure garden furniture is in good condition
It could have been rained in since you last used it (multiple times), or it could have been chewed on by insects, or even be covered in bird poo from where droppings have landed in just the right spot.
No matter what might have happened since you last used your garden furniture, check if it’s genuinely something you want to sit on or lounge against this summer. Because if the answer’s no, you need to go shopping for a new set!
The Lawn
Now you’ve tackled the patio and all the troubles it might have, it’s time to move onto the giant that lives in your garden: the lawn!
Home to all kinds of critters, plenty of plants, and even a few water features that’ll need some upkeep, here are the tasks to get out of the way right now:
Clean the pool and/or hot tub
If you have one or the other, or both, now’s the time to get them deep cleaned and properly prepared ahead of their peak use seasons.
If it’s been a while since you last cleaned them out, or you simply don’t have the time or energy for it, you can easily call out a hot tub cleaning service to get the job done. And if you do, you’ll know it’s been done to that professional standard you always aim for!
Check for fence holes
Fence holes don’t seem like they’d be an immediate concern, but the risk is in where these holes are actually located.
For example, if you have pets that you like to let out into the yard, could any of them get under the fence because of a hole that’s appeared there?
You don’t want to let your dog out to enjoy the sun, only to have to go searching for them across the neighborhood because they didn’t come back in again after 10 minutes.
Mow the lawn
Naturally! The lawn has probably gotten pretty overgrown since the spring started. The winter was a bit harsh on it, but if you were able to apply a bit of mulch to the soil to keep it moist, it’s probably in a very healthy condition right now.
So get ahead of the summer mowing schedule by getting the worst of the grass growth taken care of in the next couple of weeks or so.
You want to be sure there’s nothing growing too long, as that’s when the grass seed shoots start coming up and getting stuck on clothes and fur alike.
Set up some wildlife friendly decor
Bee hotels, upside down plant pots, plenty of diverse flowers and plant life – these are all lovely, wildlife friendly things to have in the back yard.
And if you don’t have them out there right now (or much of them), it’s time to set them up and start encouraging the critters into the spaces made for them!
Have a Sunny Back Yard Summer This Year!
If you’ve got a yard to make use of during the summer, it’s nice to actually be able to make use of it! So when you’ve still got the time, and it’s still a nice mild spring outside, make sure you get around to the jobs above.
You don’t want to have to deal with them when the lounger is already calling your name, or the kids are pestering you about when the pool is OK to jump in! Get them done and sorted out well ahead of time, so you’ll be able to relax and enjoy the sunshine when it comes around.
