Outdoor Living: How to Spice Up Your Yard This Season

It’s time to get to work on revamping your yard for warmer months. Whether you like your current layout or are hoping to change things up completely, it’s a good idea to shake things up at least a little. There’s a whole range of things you can do to sustainably refresh your yard, and luckily, some of them are very simple to carry out.

Add Container Plants

Adding container plants is probably the easiest way to change your garden. If you already have container plants, add more, and make them colorful. Containers are perfect for bright annuals that require no overwintering care, and smaller pots are very portable; you can place them anywhere you want. Consider using containers for smaller edible plants like strawberries and cherry tomatoes as well.

Build Arbors and Trellises

You can increase the greenery in your garden by adding a trellis for vines. You can either buy one or make one; just be sure that whatever you plant will be within the weight limit of the trellis. Be sure to get a strong one because heavy plants such as melon, squash, and other vining vegetables do very well on trellises. You want the structure to be able to hold everything up.

Of course, you’ll want to sit and enjoy all that new greenery, too. What better way to do so than by lounging under a leafy arbor? Place some comfortable chairs and a table there, and you’ve got yourself a lovely spring and summer outdoor dining area.

Hang Feeders and Install Pollinator Plants

If there are sections of the garden you want to redo entirely, look into making them pollinator gardens. You can attract birds, bees, and butterflies, depending on your chosen plants. Consider adding a hummingbird feeder and a bird bath, along with feeders for other birds in the area. Remember that the sugar solution in the hummingbird feeder should not contain dyes.

Increase Privacy With a Shrubbery Privacy Screen

If you’ve got gaps in plantings between your yard and your neighbor’s, fill those in with fast-growing shrubs. If you prefer to block your neighbor’s view of your yard, look for varieties that grow tall and grow out. These can also muffle sounds somewhat. Some shrubs are perfect for screens between your property and busy roads. You won’t be able to block out all traffic sounds, but the shrubs may take the edge off the constant noise.

Make at Least Part of Your Garden Edible

Along with planting strawberries and tomatoes in those containers mentioned before, consider transforming part of your garden into a mini orchard, vineyard, or even a vegetable patch. It can take a few years for fruit trees to produce fruit, but it’s worth it in the end. Imagine being able to go into your backyard to pick the apples you need for a pie or crumble instead of having to drive to a store, or being able to harvest a bunch of peaches or cherries; the taste of freshly picked fruit can be amazing.

By: Katherine Robinson, a writer for Gabion Supply