How to Upgrade Your Yard This Spring (2017)

Are you (and your yard) ready for summer?

If not, it’s time to get ready!

Spring is one of the best times to prepare your yard for summer fun. We understand it can be overwhelming to take on an entire landscaping project, so we put together a few cheap landscaping ideas below to help you get started.

Wait.

Before you get started, there’s something you should know:

You will be able to get more done if you break down your landscaping job into smaller projects.

Start Here: 10 Cheap Landscaping Ideas

You will find ten smaller projects you can do to improve your yard.

Whether you’re interested in fixing up that old fence or replacing your lawn with synthetic grass, you’ll find plenty of ideas here.

We recommend you start with one.

Once you’re finished, move on to the next one.

Ready?

1. Give Your Patio A Good Rinse

It doesn’t matter where you live – your backyard needs a good rinse around this time of year.

High and low temperatures alone will give your yard a run for its money, so it’s a good idea to check in on the condition.

If you have a stone or concrete patio, it may be a wise investment to rent or purchase a power washer to clean and brighten your patio. On the other hand, if your deck is wooden, regular cleaning with a chemical cleaner and a fresh coat of paint or stain will do wonders for its aesthetic appeal.

It’s best to do a cleaning and staining in the cooler months, so thinking ahead and completing this step in spring will be gentler on the wood and ensure a longer life for your deck.

2. Replace Your Old Patio Furniture

Once your patio is clean and fresh and ready for hosting, you should reevaluate the deck and patio furniture you currently have – or may currently need.

Your outdoor furniture should be comfortable but durable.

People will be sitting on it, but it will likely be living outside for the season and should be able to withstand the summer weather, be it rain or sun.

If you currently have patio furniture that you love, you may want to consider cleaning it, purchasing new cushions or coverings, or – in cases of extreme wear and tear – refinishing it. Whether it is wooden or metal, you can pick up a can of paint or stain to breathe new life into your furniture.

Make sure, too, that you have ample seating and eating spaces for all your summer gatherings.

3. Give Your Grill A Deep-Clean

If you are planning to grill during your barbecues (and who doesn’t love the smell and taste of a fresh grilled summer meal?), a critical component of your yard readiness is making sure your grill is in working order and you have all the grill tools you’d need.

Make sure your grill lights properly, doesn’t smoke too much and has new charcoal briquettes (if necessary).

Take some time to dry-scrub the interior before washing all surfaces with a mild dish soap and warm water.

Now is also the appropriate time to make sure your propane tank is full and your grilling utensils – tongs, spatulas, and skewers – are clean and still in working order, too.

4. Touch Up Your Fencing

Your fence will probably last for years, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t need care every now and then.

Here are three things to look for:

• Broken fencing
• Holes near the base of the fence
• Areas of the fence that have faded from sunlight

Let’s break this down:

Before you do anything, you want to evaluate the overall health of the fence.

There’s a good chance your fence is probably fine, but you might as well take note of what needs some work if you plan to improve this aspect of your yard.

Walk along the fence and mark areas you think need a little more paint.

Once you’ve done this, you’re ready to make the necessary repairs and finish the job with a fresh coat of paint and sealer.

5. Maintain Your Plants

Winter can be hard on your landscaping.

Flower beds and bushes can be filled with the fallen fall foliage, mulch can be faded or discolored, and bushes or perennial plants can be overgrown or misshapen.

Take the time to trim plants, relay mulch, and maintain your landscaping.

Once the threat of frost is gone, it’s also time to start planting your annual flowers. Have a neat, tidy, and colorfully landscaped yard will be the best way to welcome guests to your home.

6. Grow A Garden

Nothing is tastier than homegrown fruits and vegetables – they’re the perfect complement to your barbecue menu.

Consider planting a garden with the foods you eat most in summer.

Squash, zucchini, peppers, and onions are excellent choices for grilling – they are ideal accompaniments to a summer grilling menu.  Even if you are a beginner, growing a vegetable garden is an easy and homey addition to your outdoor living space.

7. GatherAround the Fire Pit

Add some extra pizzazz to your outdoor barbecue space with a fire pit.

Fire pits are a gathering place in your outdoor space, an area for friends and family to gather in the evenings after you grill and eat – or a place to make and enjoy a tasty dessert treat (like S’mores).

You can purchase a freestanding fire pit or build a stone or brick fire pit insert into your patio, deck, or lawn.

8. A Putting Green Is Fun for Everyone

Everyone loves miniature golf.

Installing a small putting green in your backyard doesn’t take long. With a little planning, and maybe the help of a professional, you can have your very own putting green at home.

Enjoy a quick tournament with your guests, entertain your neighbors, or brush up on your game on your own.

Adding a putting green is a great way to make use of your entire yard.

And you know what …

You can even customize your putting green to accommodate the features of your yard.

9. Upgrading Pools, Fountains, and Waterfalls

Pools are expensive.

However, there are a few things you can do to upgrade your pool, fountains, and waterfalls.

The concrete, tile, or stone surrounding your pool likely feature a specific color or color combination. Replacing these materials might help you breathe new life into your pool.

You can apply this same idea to fountains and waterfalls.

Start by exploring different materials and the available color options.

10. Do Away With Mowing, Watering, and Fertilizing Your Lawn

If you’re like most homeowners, we’re pretty sure you’ll agree with us when we say yard work isn’t easy.

Look:

It doesn’t have to be a pain.

You can do away with mowing, watering, and fertilizing your lawn altogether if you want. You can replace your lawn with rocky terrain, succulent plants, or synthetic grass.

It will look great year-round and you won’t have to spend time maintaining it.

Awesome!

What Do You Think?

Setting out to improve your yard is overwhelming – it’s a huge project when you look at it as a whole.

Here’s the thing:

You don’t have to tackle your entire yard all at once.

By approaching one aspect of your yard at a time, you’ll find it’s much more manageable. If you’re looking for cheap landscaping ideas, we’d love to know which of these 10 ideas you plan to explore with your own yard.

Let us know in the comments below!