Get Your Backyard Summer Ready with These Tips

Summer is a time for backyard play, get it ready!

Spring is here which means summer is just around the corner. Soon, the kids will be out of school and outdoor play will be just what they need to blow off some steam. Is your yard ready? If you’ve had a pretty rough winter with snow storms, freezing rain, and high winds, chances are you need to make a few improvements to get things in order.

1. Clean-Up

The first thing you want to do is clean up the yard. The kids can help out with this task. Have everyone grab some gloves and garbage bags. Walk around each inch of the yard and throw away anything that could prove to be a hazard. Get rid of trash, broken bottles, twigs and sticks, and whatever else you might find out there.

2. Get Rid of Bugs

Just because you’re outside doesn’t mean you have to deal with pests all summer long. Now is the time to get rid of common backyard pets like mice, fleas & ticks, ants, snails, wasps, and cockroaches. Contacting a company such as Joshua’s Pest Control can help you get a leg up on ridding your yard of those pests. Then your kids can have fun outdoors worry-free.

3. Check the Gates

Gates are an important security feature to have in your yard, especially if your kids are going to be playing out there a lot. Inspect the gates in your yard to make sure that they are still intact. If you notice your gate needs to be repaired, you want to do this prior to allowing the kids to play outside. Also, if you have a pool in your backyard, make sure that you’ve inspected the security gate around it to keep the kids out of the pool when you’re not around to supervise.

4. Add Some Furniture

Now that the yard is clean, safe, and pest-free, you’re ready to decorate it to make it kid friendly for the summer. Find comfortable yet kid-friendly patio furniture to add to the backyard. When choosing pieces to add to your yard, be sure that you keep the kids in mind. Is the furniture easy to care for? Is it safe for kids to sit in? Could they get hurt easily? Choose furniture that is fun, easily accessible and difficult for kids to get hurt on.

5. Add Fun Stuff

You can’t stop at having cool furniture, you want to create an outdoor space that makes kids feel like they’re on vacation. Add some fun things to your yard for fun and adventure. A swimming pool, swing set, sand box, trampoline, or tree house would be a great start. Ask your kids what they’d like to have fun with. If they give you pretty affordable ideas, why not add them to your yard for an awesome summer they won’t soon forget.

Get a head start on family summer fun by completing each of these tips. Once you’ve created a clean, safe, and fun yard for your kids to have fun in this summer, all that’s left to do is stock up on burgers, hot dogs, and snacks. You’re probably going to need the grill to as hyper kids tend to work up a serious appetite.

Written by Natalie Bracco for Working Mother and legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@getmatcha.com.

Featured image provided by Shaun Montero