Temperatures are rising all over, and your garden will soon be in need of serious repair. Spring is the perfect time to remodel your yard, starting with something fresh and beautiful. As you go about your updates, here are some things you might consider.
1. Plant Herbs
Who doesn’t love fresh herbs in a summer stew or delicious salad? If you’re proactive this year, you can grow your very own.
An herb garden isn’t exactly difficult to manufacture, but it does require care. Do thorough research on the types of herbs that grow best in your area. The easiest herbs for beginners include chives, parsley, mint, basil, cilantro, thyme, lemongrass, and oregano.
2. Clean Up Your Patio
The best yards have a beautiful patio where you can sit outside and enjoy your garden. However, most patios easily fall into disarray after a long winter. The cold weather can crack concrete and create somewhat of a mess.
A patio update is a great start to remodeling your garden. Basic cleanup and maintenance may not be enough if your winters are particularly harsh. This is a good excuse to redo your patio.
3. Create Garden Boxes
Garden boxes are useful for both decoration and successful gardening. If you live in an area with unsuitable soil for a backyard garden, fill a garden box with good, store-bought soil. You can grow everything from fruits and vegetables to flowers and greenery.
It’s also great for a drab yard. Garden boxes make beautiful decorations, particularly if your yard is built on a slope. It adds visual interest without taking up too much space.
4. Improve Lighting
Sitting outside in your garden during the cool of night is one of life’s simple summer pleasures. However, it’s not a pleasant experience without adequate lighting. Consider your current lighting and make a few updates to match modern trends.
Start by using downward-facing light fixtures to reduce the harsh glow of a naked bulb or upward-facing lamp. Small light posts dotted throughout your flowers or post lamps on your deck will add a whimsical element to your yard. Plus, you’ll be able to view your garden day or night.
5. Plant to Scare Away Deer
If you live in the midwestern or southern states, deer are a constant problem for the average garden. They’ll eat your plants, leaving your beautifully-landscaped garden somewhat bare.
Other than putting up a giant wall, you probably won’t be able to keep all wildlife out, but you can plant a few specific greens to ward them off. A few low-maintenance deer deterrents include:
- Ageteratum
- Ballota
- Zinnia
- Cleome
- Verbena
- Asparagus fern
- Caladium
- Heliotrope
- Perilla
6. Create Shade
The sun can be a nuisance. If the front of your house faces west, you’ll probably have high air conditioning bills to cover. If the back of your house faces west, you’ll have a shade problem on your back porch.
Creating shade is a huge advantage to your backyard. A simple umbrella built in your table might create sufficient shade for a small patio. If it’s larger, install a covered pergola or a retractable sun shade.
If you have the money, an awning extending from your house would be the most effective shade. You can also plant large trees to supplement shade where necessary.
7. Install a Wet Bar
Since you’ve spent so much effort on a beautiful, comfortable backyard, entertaining is a given. Install a wet bar that can handle everything from food preparation to serving refreshing drinks in the heat of the summer.
A wet bar can be somewhat of a complicated installation because it requires plumbing hookups. Before you do everything on your own, get a consultation from a plumber. Unless you’re experienced with plumbing, that’s not something you want to mess with.
The current beautiful weather is ideal for updating your yard. Consider these suggestions and make the most of this time to create a gorgeous outdoor entertaining space.
