Buds and blooms are back! Weather is warming up and you know what that means- it’s time to dust off the patio furniture and get going on the yardwork. Read on for 6 tips to prep outdoor spaces for summer!
Thanks to Maria from Pure Happy Home for organizing this Summer Porch Blog Hop! As you will see below, I don’t have much of a porch so I cover the refresh of a few outdoor spaces. Make sure to visit all of the other posts at the end of this article.
If you are new here, we have been working on our 1929 Tudor Revival style home for the last few years. The backyard space got a pretty major overhaul and I documented some of it as part of the One Room Challenge. Hope you enjoy taking a peek around our yard and hope you will subscribe to follow along for more DIY projects and home decor!
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6 Tips to Prep Outdoor Spaces for Summer
Clean hardscapes.
Sweeping and power washing, scrubbing away mildew and other remnants of winter, to make way for the summer season.
You may opt to hire someone to power wash for you or do it yourself. In our area there are high school and college students who pass out fliers offering their services for reasonable prices. If you want to diy but dont have a power washer, Home Depot usually offers them for rent. Best to call ahead of time to confirm they have the machines on hand.
Oh my sweet little sweeper. He also helped me move pots, entertain his sister, and carry a bag of potting soil.
Mulch your garden.
Late spring is a great time to add mulch to prevent weeds from taking hold and to retain moisture as temperatures rise.
If you have a large area to cover, it may be best to order bulk and haul yourself or have it delivered. Or order through a landscape service that will also apply it. For small flower beds, these bags of mulch are great.
I love how our yard looks after fresh coat of mulch!
Reseed your lawn, but…
Check which months are actually best for your state and garden zone.
In Washington, April and May are good months for reseeding your lawn. August, September, and even October in mild areas are also appropriate times.
We had an irrigation system installed and part of the front lawn was dug up to lay pipes. It was a great opportunity to level out the wonky surface and reseed the lawn.
Take inventory of your pots.
Temperature fluctuations, roots and other mishaps can cause plant pots to crack or completely break.
Whether you are replacing broken pots or just want a new look, make sure to check sites like Craigslist, Nextdoor and Facebook Marketplace for containers. I have found amazing urns, and large pots for bargain prices.
Add seasonal flowers
Speaking of new flower pots, fill them up with in-season flowers to get in the summer spirit!
Our small porch was looking a bit cramped with lots of small containers, so I opted to pare down. I bought one new pot to match the tall planter I already have, and kept two smaller terra cotta pots in varying heights.
Front porch ready for summer!
Try playing with a single color palette or mix it up and play with different color combinations. I let my son pick some flowers and he chose a rainbow palette!
Refresh outdoor furniture and cushions.
I try my hardest to cover furniture as best I can, move items into the shed and/or pack in plastic containers. Not matter how careful I try to be, it seems something is always damaged or gets dirty. This outdoor furniture cover looks like it would definitely get the job done.
Crazy winds whip off covers and I don’t notice until mold has set in or stain has worn off. Or maybe a plastic tote cracks and spiders crawl in and decide to set up a new colony amongst all of my cushions- gross but true!
Whatever the case may be, stain your wood furniture, wash cushions, paint the sun bleached or rusty metal things.
Of course it’s fun to shop for new furniture and throw pillows and other accessories too! Later in the article I link to some items I already purchased and some outdoor accessories in my carts.
Pin 6 Tips to Prep Outdoor Spaces for Summer.
More outdoor inspiration!
Have fun visiting each of my friends! Let me know in comments if you are visiting from one of these lovely ladies’ sites.
Shop for your outdoor refresh!
Click on the photos below to shop. I bought these lanterns last year and they have survived a Seattle winter unscathed! Hope you like my other finds too.