How to Maintain Your Outdoor Space Pristine
We all have a certain picture of how we would like our patios and gardens to look. The problem is, many people tend to think that keeping your outdoor space pristine at all times is next to impossible. The truth can’t be further from that though! In fact, in most cases, your patio is only a couple of tweaks away from being elevated to the next level. All you need is to know what aspects are vital and how to assess them.
In this article, we are going to be talking about various aspects regarding outdoor space maintenance and improvement. Let’s dig right in!
High Priority Maintenance
There are some aspects to the maintenance of outdoor spaces that just can’t be overlooked. We will talk about some optional do’s later, but for now, let’s focus on the things that are high priority. If you are just starting to get familiar with garden maintenance, the following tips are a great way to start!
Annual Decluttering
Nothing makes an outdoor space look less inviting and polished than clutter lying around everywhere you look. Having that in mind, it should be noted that clutter easily gets out of hand. Especially if you don’t have a habit of decluttering regularly! This is why it is vital that you take the time to do so – at least once a year.
The best way to do so is to start by grouping all the clutter into one place. After you have done so, assess every item that you’ve gathered and assess whether you really need it. If you haven’t used it for a year, the probability is high that you should either store it away or get rid of it altogether. Trust us – decluttering makes a huge impact on how space looks. Not only will it look fresh and clean, but the probability is high that you’ll be feeling better as well.
Clean your Patio at Least Once a Week
People tend to overlook the importance of cleaning outdoor spaces. One might think that, because it’s outside, it won’t make that big of a difference. Well, we wouldn’t be talking about cleaning right now if that were to be true. In fact, a clean patio makes a huge difference. Using a patio cleaner is generally recommended as it enhances the efficiency and ease of the cleaning process. You can use water as well, but due to rough surfaces and specific elements that you want to get rid of – you should prepare yourself for quite a workout. Especially if you didn’t clean your patio for some time now.
Tend to Grass Appropriately
The overall look of your yard is heavily impacted by how your lawn looks, in fact, many landscapers would argue that a lawn is a base to a beautiful garden. That being said, it’s very important that you do everything that you can in order to tend to it properly.
If you have some spots that are missing grass, you want to patch them up first. Planting grass seeds is extremely simple and it will grow out quite soon. Now, when it comes to having a perfect lawn, the trick is in watering your grass properly. Experts generally advise that you should ensure that your lawn is watered with an inch of water every week. The way in which you can ensure that you have done so is by putting a can next to a sprinkler and keeping track of how full it is.
Small variations in the amount of water aren’t going to cause any serious harm. But, you should know that major underwatering or overwatering can be quite problematic.
Don’t Forget to Prune
A lot of people don’t understand the importance of pruning, which is why they overlook doing so seasonally. The reason why you need to prune is that overgrown, problematic branches can cause some serious problems down the road. The most common problem that is caused by broken branches is property damage. Another one is the entire tree or a bush getting sick just because a diseased branch was overlooked for so long.
Now that we got that settled, let’s talk about when you need to prune. There are some trees that are exceptions, but as a rule of thumb, you should prune your trees either in late winter or in early spring.
Taking Your Outdoor Space to the Next Level
After you have all of the things that we have been talking about under control, you can start working on additional things. The following tips are there to help you elevate your outdoor space even further. We will focus on decoration a bit more in this section.
Introducing Hardscape Elements
Not only are such elements very effective when it comes to decoration, but they are also incredibly low maintenance. Some objects that you can consider are various shapes and sizes of stones, as well as pebbles in various colors. Paving the way with such pebbles is a great way to introduce something new to your garden. Even randomly placing such elements throughout your garden will elevate the way space feels and looks. Other popular choices similar to stone are those made out of ceramic or metal.
Small Changes Can Go a Long Way
Not all of the effective touches need to leave a hole in your wallet. In fact, the trick is, most often, in the details. One of the great examples is how a good color scheme can transform the space in question. The same applies to materials! So, investing in new cushion fabric, new planters, or new pillows here and there is a great way to introduce small changes. An outdoor area rug is also a great way to change things up.
What About Water Elements?
If you have the possibility to do so, adding water elements to your outdoor space is a great thing to do. It will ensure that your garden feels way more alive and vibrant. The thing is though, you want to make sure that you keep your water elements as clean as possible. No matter whether we’re talking about a pond, fountain, or a swimming pool – it’s important that you remove debris every day.
In the end, it all boils down to being vigilant about details. The more aspects you have assessed properly, the more polished the full picture. Of course, everyone has their own preferences when it comes to our outdoor spaces. The things that tie all of them together are rooted in maintenance. No matter what your vision of the space is, if you maintain it properly – it will surely look fantastic.
