People who don’t have a backyard often dream of the day when they will have their own yard so that they can invite family and friends, crank up the barbecue, turn on some good music, and enjoy their home as it was meant to be enjoyed.

Then you have those who do have a backyard yet neglect it. Especially during the colder months when the weather makes maintaining their yard a difficult chore. And then what happens? The yard falls into such a dismal condition that even attempting to get it to some semblance of order becomes a task fraught with dread.

Image via: Landscape East & West

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Let’s assume that your backyard has reached the stage where you would rather not look at it. Following are five tips for organizing your backyard so that it will take pride of place in your home:

1. The Big Cleanup:

It has got to be done, so time you pulled out your finger, recruited the kids, and gathered all the items strewn about your garden in one location. You know what to do next – the garbage goes to the garbage, what you want to keep gets placed in a separate corner or in storage, and what you want to sell or donate needs to be sold or donated.

Image via: Steve Tsai

2. Storage:

if you don’t have enough outdoor storage then it’s time to invest in some. Plastic sheds are a great idea as they are weatherproof, easy to assemble, come in different colors and sizes to suit all spaces and color schemes, are relatively inexpensive, and usually don’t require a permit from the city.

3. Tend to the Garden:

once your backyard is tidied up, the time has come to either put on the gardening gloves, get out the gardening equipment, and get to work cleaning your garden, or ring up your trusty gardener and invite him to do the job for you.

By now your backyard should be starting to resemble its old self, so perhaps it’s time to spruce it up a bit more.

4.  Outdoor Furniture:

Some new outdoor furniture or a coat of paint on the old outdoor furniture will add a touch of the new to your backyard. And don’t we all love the feeling of something new?

5.  Build a Deck:

How about investing in a deck? They look great, make it easier to maintain the yard, and add another storage dimension if you buy deck boxes. Talk about a win-win-win.

This list is not extensive but following it will set you well on your way to truly enjoying your backyard, Enjoy!

For more outdoor activities for you and your family click here.

How to Keep Pests Out of Your Swimming Pool

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How to Keep Pests Out of Pool

No matter if you have a small, inflatable pool or an in-ground model constructed from imported Italian marble; you’ll still deal with insects, including mosquitoes, bees and midges. Insects are attracted to your pool for several reasons. Some feed on algae, while others make a meal from the dead insects floating on the water’s surface. Whatever the case, there are several methods, some more expensive than others, to keep bugs away from your pool.

• Install brighter lights at least 30 yard away from your pool and turn off any underwater pool lights when no longer in use, especially at night. It may look glamorous, but many times the insects are attracted to your lit pool as much as the neighbors. Turn off your pool lights once the sun goes down.
• Cover your pool when not in use. If you have a small inflatable pool, drain it completely after each use and allow it to dry before storing. Never allow your kiddie pool to remain in the backyard overnight, unless you want to wake up to a watery insect graveyard.
• Hang bug zappers around the perimeter of the pool. These inexpensive, low-tech devices are highly effective and will keep the insects away if you wish to enjoy your lit pool at night.
• Regularly trim any shrubs, bushes or grass around the pool. The shorter foliage isn’t as attractive to insects, making your pool a less desirable destination.
• Finally, keep your pool clean! It cannot be stressed enough that decaying leaf matter, dead insects and algae are a major attraction to several varieties of insects, so never skip your weekly or daily pool maintenance.

How to Keep Mice Out of Pool

• Keep the area around your pool clean. This especially means moving any garbage cans out of the vicinity and generally keeping the area around the pool tidy.
• Remove anything from around the pool that the rodents could use as shelter, such as a small shed or wood pile. This also means keeping the shrubs and bushes neat.
• Cover your swimming pool. Once again, this is the best way to keep any unwanted invaders, including mice, away from your pool when not in use.

How to Keep Frogs Out of Pool

• Cut down any tree branches that hang over the pool. Many times the frog will hop to the end of the branch and accidentally fall into the water.
• Examine your pool fence and repair any damage. If your pool’s fence is falling into disrepair, consider replacing it with a model that features small gaps between the slats. These will keep almost every unwanted visitor, including frogs and rodents, from accessing your pool.
• Skim your pool consistently, paying attention to remove any frog eggs or tadpoles that are now calling your pool home. Often times a frog will see this undisturbed body of water as an excellent place to further their species.

How to Keep Animals Out of Pool: Racoons

Aside from being a destructive menace, raccoons can actually pose a major health risk to your family. The animal’s fecal matter harbors a roundworm called Baylisascaris, which is spread when an individual swallows the parasitic egg. This disease is extremely dangerous and completely preventable by ensuring raccoons do not enter your pool. A pool cover and maintaining your fence are the most effective ways to ensure raccoons don’t access your pool. If you see a raccoon in the area, call your local Animal Control agency or a pest removal company immediately. These agencies will humanely capture the raccoons and relocate it to a more desirable area.

Don’t get too worried about the dangers that surround inflatable pools (or any kind), if you take proper care of your backyard swimming hole and practice vigilance, you will be okay.

For more backyard ideas on Stagetetcture, click here.