Enjoy Your Backyard This Summer

With the weather hotting up it’s always nice to be able to get outside and enjoy the sunshine safely. Many people have vacations booked, but even if you’re staying at home, you can enjoy fun and relaxation. Your own backyard can be a great place to spend lazy days, or even to enjoy something a little more active. Perhaps you’re planning on entertaining some friends or family? There are plenty of ways to enjoy your backyard this summer. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

 

Gardening

Gardening isn’t for everyone, but it is a really good way to beat stress and keep fit. You might have a passion for beautiful flowers. Or maybe you want to grow your own fruit and vegetables? There is so much scope for all sorts of things. From prize-winning marrows to gorgeous displays of peonies, you can create anything you want. Growing things from seeds is hugely rewarding too. Of course, there is plenty of maintenance to keep up with, but it’s all part of the fun!

Fun & Games

Your children would love their own patch of the backyard to enjoy. You could install some great play equipment like a Little Tikes Treehouse or a trampoline. This will keep all your kids active, and will make them quite popular with the neighbor kids too! You can use artificial grass as a play surface. This won’t get muddy so is suitable even if it has rained. It’s also ideal for that low maintenance garden you’ve always fancied! Best of all the kids will wear themselves out for a great night of sleep!

 

Zen

A Zen garden is very simple but can be very effective when you’re looking for a great place to relax. You could meditate beside it or even practice your Yoga. Perhaps you’d like to try some Tai Chi? Of course, you may just enjoy sitting there reading your favorite novel in the peace and quiet. There are lots of different designs. They certainly don’t need to be boring. There’s nothing stopping you changing the patterns from time to time either. They can become quite ornate.

 

Water Feature

A water feature is another way you can make your garden more relaxing. The sound of running water can be quite therapeutic. Alternatives to this could be a pond with fish and lily pads. Why not install a hot tub? While it may not be suitable for all the family, it could certainly help you unwind at the end of a hard day. For a water feature on a grand scale, why not try a family sized swimming pool? You’ll need to add some railing and a lockable gate to stop the little ones or pets wandering in. But what a great way to cool off in the summer!

 

Dining

A decking or patio area is ideal for outdoor dining. You might want to invest in a beautiful gazebo to provide enough protection from the insects and sun. There are many beautiful rattan dining sets to choose from. They’re easy to maintain and keep clean too. Best of all, they’re really comfortable for sitting outside or enjoying an al fresco meal. You could build your dining area up to become more of an outdoor room. There may be a roof and a couple of walls. You can install your outdoor cooking grill and even find space for your outdoor crockery.

Party

One of the best things about summer is all the time you get off school and work. You might choose to throw a party or two. You’ll need to put together some great recipes for a barbecue to keep everyone well fed. A big cooler full of ice and cold drinks will help keep you all hydrated too. Why not install a garden bar with a mains connection so you can keep your supplies in a fridge? It’s a fun way to entertain. You’ll also need a Bluetooth speaker for the music and plenty of great tunes to keep the party going.

 

Lighting

After the sun sets, the party doesn’t need to stop. You can find plenty of great solar lights on the internet now. Because they’re solar-powered, they cost you nothing to run. Many of them last for at least four hours after dark too. You can hang them from your gazebo, light up your marquee and even illuminate your paths and deck. They’re great for creating the right party atmosphere or some romantic mood lighting.

 

Sports

There are lots of companies out there offering a resin based surface or a kind of tarmac that is ideal for a small home sports court. You might like basketball. This surface reduces that irritating ping that comes with the concrete you might have on your drive. It also means you can paint up the surface too and have some friendly competitions with all the family. If you have a big enough lawn, you might even be able to enjoy a mini game of football or soccer too.

 

Reading Nook

If you have a quiet little nook in your garden, why not use it as your own personal reading space? It is a wonderful way to wind down at the end of the day. All you need is an area the size of a park bench. Choose your seating, and add an arbor or small gazebo. This will provide all the shelter and privacy you need. You could train some climbing plants to provide the leafy canopy and side walls too. Add a tall, cool drink and you’ve got the perfect little reading nook.Sunbathing

Many of us use our gardens for some private sunbathing in the summer. You might prefer to choose a spot where the breeze isn’t too intense, and you’re not overlooked by the neighbors. You could create this space with some clever placement of a canopy or shade. A wind breaker could also help. Bamboo is great for creating a natural wall. As it swings in the wind, it makes a marvelous swooshing sound that is very relaxing.

 

Backyards are always best in the summer. Of course, you could use it all year round. How do you like to enjoy yours?