If your backyard is looking a bit worse for the wear, there are some easy and inexpensive ways to make it shine. You don't have to hire a designer and start from scratch, just take what you have and give it a little makeover.
A big clean-up is a great first step. Chances are you have some weedy areas, some ugly overgrown shrubbery and maybe even old toys and junk littering the yard. Spend a weekend ripping out the weeds and ugly plants and remove anything that is an eyesore. This alone will make a huge improvement in your lawn.
If you are fortunate enough to have a deck or patio, even if it is a plain cement patio, then this gives you an edge over a yard that is just dirt or grass. Clean up the patio or deck and re-stain the wood if that is needed. Then add a careful selection of patio furnishings, perhaps an umbrella-shaded table and some comfortable chairs or an outdoor sofa with coffee tables. An outdoor rug also will spruce up the area, and these can be purchased at many home improvement stores.
A big clean-up is a great first step. Chances are you have some weedy areas, some ugly overgrown shrubbery and maybe even old toys and junk littering the yard. Spend a weekend ripping out the weeds and ugly plants and remove anything that is an eyesore. This alone will make a huge improvement in your lawn.
If you are fortunate enough to have a deck or patio, even if it is a plain cement patio, then this gives you an edge over a yard that is just dirt or grass. Clean up the patio or deck and re-stain the wood if that is needed. Then add a careful selection of patio furnishings, perhaps an umbrella-shaded table and some comfortable chairs or an outdoor sofa with coffee tables. An outdoor rug also will spruce up the area, and these can be purchased at many home improvement stores.
For those that don't have a patio and also don't have thousands of dollars to spend on hiring someone to build one, don't worry. You can create a simple and cost effective patio with a little hard work, some gravel and a bunch of bricks. First, designate an area for the patio and remove all of the grass. If the dirt has some roots or big rocks, it is best to remove all of those, too, leaving a level surface. Then top the entire area with gravel and place the bricks on top in an attractive pattern. That's all you have to do to create a quick and cost-effective patio area.
Adding a special water feature, such as a bird bath or a fountain is always a great idea. For a birdbath, find a level area and remove a circular spot of grass about two feet wider than the birdbath itself. You can even plant flowers around the base of the bath to increase its beauty. You have probably seen pictures of bird baths surrounded by flowers and a tiny white iron fence.
Both of these features should be cleaned thoroughly prior to placing in your yard. Be sure to clean using only water, as the residue from chemicals and even soaps can harm wildlife. It is always best to use natural products in your yard whenever possible to limit harm to people, pets and wildlife.
Once you have rinsed the water feature and filled it with clean water, keeping it clean is very easy using a safe, natural product such as the Healthy Ponds fountain or birth bath cleaners. These cleaners contain a mix of beneficial bacteria that are veterinarian-approved and will keep the water fresh and free from sludge and algae. The bacteria pack is placed inside a reusable dispenser and the bacteria dissolve over the course of 30 days. After that, simply remove and refill the dispenser with a ne
Adding a special water feature, such as a bird bath or a fountain is always a great idea. For a birdbath, find a level area and remove a circular spot of grass about two feet wider than the birdbath itself. You can even plant flowers around the base of the bath to increase its beauty. You have probably seen pictures of bird baths surrounded by flowers and a tiny white iron fence.
Both of these features should be cleaned thoroughly prior to placing in your yard. Be sure to clean using only water, as the residue from chemicals and even soaps can harm wildlife. It is always best to use natural products in your yard whenever possible to limit harm to people, pets and wildlife.
Once you have rinsed the water feature and filled it with clean water, keeping it clean is very easy using a safe, natural product such as the Healthy Ponds fountain or birth bath cleaners. These cleaners contain a mix of beneficial bacteria that are veterinarian-approved and will keep the water fresh and free from sludge and algae. The bacteria pack is placed inside a reusable dispenser and the bacteria dissolve over the course of 30 days. After that, simply remove and refill the dispenser with a ne
Adding a special water feature, such as a bird bath or a fountain is always a great idea. For a birdbath, find a level area and remove a circular spot of grass about two feet wider than the birdbath itself. You can even plant flowers around the base of the bath to increase its beauty. You have probably seen pictures of bird baths surrounded by flowers and a tiny white iron fence.
Both of these features should be cleaned thoroughly prior to placing in your yard. Be sure to clean using only water, as the residue from chemicals and even soaps can harm wildlife. It is always best to use natural products in your yard whenever possible to limit harm to people, pets and wildlife.
Once you have rinsed the water feature and filled it with clean water, keeping it clean is very easy using a safe, natural product such as the Healthy Ponds fountain or birth bath cleaners. These cleaners contain a mix of beneficial bacteria that are veterinarian-approved and will keep the water fresh and free from sludge and algae. The bacteria pack is placed inside a reusable dispenser and the bacteria dissolve over the course of 30 days. After that, simply remove and refill the dispenser with a new pack and put it back into your fountain or bath.
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Both of these features should be cleaned thoroughly prior to placing in your yard. Be sure to clean using only water, as the residue from chemicals and even soaps can harm wildlife. It is always best to use natural products in your yard whenever possible to limit harm to people, pets and wildlife.
Once you have rinsed the water feature and filled it with clean water, keeping it clean is very easy using a safe, natural product such as the Healthy Ponds fountain or birth bath cleaners. These cleaners contain a mix of beneficial bacteria that are veterinarian-approved and will keep the water fresh and free from sludge and algae. The bacteria pack is placed inside a reusable dispenser and the bacteria dissolve over the course of 30 days. After that, simply remove and refill the dispenser with a new pack and put it back into your fountain or bath.
About the Author:
Roland Stockwell likes writing about natural products. To discover some great products for pond algae treatment, or to learn further about other products like fountain cleaner, please check out the Bioverse website today.