7 Inexpensive Ways to Spruce Up Your Backyard

When summertime hits, you’ll find yourself wanting to spend more and more time outside. If you have a backyard showing signs of neglect or wear, the beginning of summer is a great time to revamp so you can enjoy your yard for the majority of the summer. Here are seven inexpensive ways to spruce up your backyard.

Improve Your Backyard with 7 Easy and Affordable Projects

Extend your patio

Extending your patio can make a huge difference in your back yard. To pave a patio there are 6 steps:

Select your patio area. This could be an extension of your current patio or a whole new space in your yard.
Clear the grass and soil. Grab a couple friends and dig! Mark your boundaries for your patio and dig out all grass/soil/rock in your area.
Add paver base. This is the first layer you lay down for your patio.
Add and level paver sand. This is different than regular sand. It acts as a cushion to the pavers. It also helps to prevent the growth of weeds.
Place the paver stones. This is where you get to lay the stones in whatever pattern you wish. You can also decide if you want your pavers touching or with space in between each one.
Pour leveling sand on top of the pavers and sweep into crevices. A long broom does the trick of spreading out the sand.

Add outside furniture

Having some patio furniture can make your backyard inviting. Many home stores have sales all throughout the summer, so you and your family can choose the best set to fit your lifestyle. In some cases, an umbrella is necessary to shield the sun, in other cases a fire pit would be the perfect addition to invite your neighbors over to have a s’more or two. If you have furniture designated for your yard, you’ll be more likely to spend your summer time soaking up the sun.

Plant

The summer is a great time to not only plant fruits and vegetables, but also enjoy eating them. Strawberries, raspberries, sugar snap peas, and tomatoes are just a couple plants that do well in the summer sun. This list of produce is also refreshing and a treat to eat in the summer heat. Be sure to check with your HOA about the restrictions regarding planting.

Light up your yard

Christmas lights and string lighting adds a glimmer of light without being too harsh. Draping your lights across your patio will give your yard some light even when it’s pitch black outside. You could also install waterproof rope lighting along your path or on the outside of your patio to give your yard a subtle glow.

Create your own stepping stones

This is a fun activity to do with your entire family. All you need is a cereal box, quick dry cement, and marbles.

Cut off the front side of the cereal box so you have an open faced box.
Pour the cement into the box.
Place marbles in desired pattern. You can also use your hands and fingers to carve desired designs.
Let dry and cut box off of stone. Voila! You have personalized stepping stones.

Use your old wine bottles/beer bottles for décor and games

Remember the ring toss game at the fair? This game is easy to recreate in your own backyard. Take empty beer bottles and place them in a square or triangle on your lawn. You can buy jute rope and cup it into pieces and hot glue the ends together making it into a circular shape. To add more color to the game, spray paint the bottles. Your old wine bottles can be made into vases to hold long grass or other plants to place in your yard. You can hang these bottles on wood or you can leave on an outside patio table.

Bring back the “glow in the dark” paint

Glow in the dark paint can turn plant pots into glowing wonders at night and serve as a very unique decorative piece in your backyard. Glow in the dark pebbles add a mystic vibe to your backyard too. If you go the glow in the dark route, it’s a smart idea to add glow in the dark paint to the edge of each stair so you and your guests stay safe in the dark.

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