10 Ways to Get Your Backyard Ready for Spring and Outdoor Living

Spring has officially sprung. As the temperatures get warmer and the days get longer, it’s a great time to evaluate your backyard. It’s also a good time to walk around your entire property to look for winter damage. Take the time to assess what needs to be repaired, removed, replaced, or upgraded. 

Here are 10 things you can do to get your backyard ready for spring and outdoor living:

1. Do General Spring Cleanup

Go through your yard and pick up any fallen branches or twigs. Dispose of any trash that blew into your yard over the winter and clean up any dog messes you missed in the colder months.

2. Rake and Trim

Now is a great time to rake leaves out of garden beds, and trim shrubs and perennials that may have been left standing over the winter. Take care when raking the yard, however, so as not to pull up young grass. 

3. Add Spring Color

You may already have a bunch of blooming bulbs, but you can always add more color in decorative pots on the porch or patio, as well as garden beds. Choose varieties that can tolerate a sudden cold snap, or be prepared to cover tender young plants if cold weather threatens. Now is also a great time to plant (or divide) summer bulbs such as lilies and gladiolus.

4. Put Down Mulch

Whether you do this yourself or hire someone may depend on how big your yard is and how strong your back is. Putting down a new layer of mulch in the spring will help keep weeds down and add curb appeal. 

5. Pressure Wash the Patio, Deck, and Sidewalks

Snow and rain can cause discoloration of your patio, deck, and sidewalks. If you don’t have a pressure washer of your own, you can rent one or hire someone to come clean up hard surfaces for you. You’ll be amazed at the difference before and after. 

You can also use this time to restain a deck. For a patio, consider adding an indoor-outdoor rug for a splash of color. Clean and bright outdoor living spaces are a welcoming site for guests.

6. Take the Patio Furniture Out of Storage

If you’re lucky, you have a storage shed or garage where you keep your patio furniture in the winter. Now is the time to bring it out. Or, if you simply cover your patio furniture, remove the covers. Take a good look at the furniture, and clean, paint, or stain it as necessary. Now is also a good time to upgrade your patio furniture.

7. Clean Up the Grill 

If you use your grill a lot during the winter months, you may have cleaned it each time you used it. Now is a good time to give it a full spring cleanup. Clean the grates as well as the exterior to get it gleaming and ready for your next gathering. 

8. Open the Pool

The beginning of April is not too early to open your inground pool. The temperatures are well above freezing, and by opening early, you can save on the labor and costs involved with cleaning the pool and balancing the chemicals. That’s because it isn’t warm enough for much algae to form under your pool cover. 

9. Check the Fences

If you have a pool fence or fence around your backyard, take a close look at it. If you find any holes, rotting wood, or missing pickets, make repairs or hire someone to do it for you. Springtime is also a great time for new fence installation.

10. Plan Outdoor Living Upgrades

Spring is also a good time to think about making upgrades to your outdoor living spaces. Decide what options you want most and make sense for your family and your budget. 

Last but not least, enjoy your time outside. Get the whole family to pitch in and the work will go faster, leaving you more time for fun.

Make It Exceptional. Make It Woodfield.

If you’re looking to upgrade your landscape design or outdoor living spaces beyond the basic spring cleanup and mulching, contact the professionals. The design-build team here at Woodfield can take your ideas and turn them into reality. To get started, just fill out the online form or call us at 443-299-6500,

We work with discerning homeowners throughout the Baltimore area, including Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Cecil, Harford, and Howard counties.