4 Great Backyard Additions to Make this Summer

Your yard can be a massive asset for your home if you know how to take advantage of it. There are a lot of little additions that can make it fun and useful for the whole family. Some of them are essentially toys, but others also have a variety of practical benefits that can make your family healthier. Even improvements that are just for fun can have practical value, because they get your family outside and encourage people to get some exercise. They can even add to your home’s value and help you recoup your investment if you decide to move to a new home!

A Basic Garden

Even a small garden can be incredibly useful for people who want to stay healthy. It will provide plenty of healthy fruits and vegetables at a low price, which can improve your diet. Working in the garden also gives you a regular source of light exercise, and that is also great for your health. You do need to follow some basic safety rules, but most people can do that without any trouble.

Start planning the garden by checking your hardiness zone so you know which plants can grow in your area. Use that to narrow down your options, and then select your plants. Leafy green vegetables are very easy to grow, as are most peppers, tomato plants, and some melons. Fruit trees are also fairly easy, but it will take a year or two for them to bear fruit.

You do not need to plant all of your vegetables at once. Planting them at regular intervals will spread out your harvest over time, so you can have fresh produce for more of the year. It also means that you won’t get a huge crop all at once and need to find ways to store or preserve it. You can also get a similar effect by choosing plants with different growth periods.

Permanent Shade

You need to be able to beat the heat to take advantage of your yard, and installing some shade is a great way to do that. It will give you a place to relax outside on hot days without overheating, and make sure that kids have a place to cool off when they are playing.

A small pergola design is usually the best bet. They are fairly quick and easy to build, and the lack of walls will make sure that your yard still seems open and inviting. You can improve the space by putting some permanent furniture, such as a table and a couple of chairs, under the pergola to make it more useful. You may also want to install an outdoor light or two so that people can use it when it is dark. Be sure to plant a few flowers around the structure, or otherwise decorate it to make sure that your yard looks as good as possible!

Fire Pits

Fire pits are a great choice for people who want to feel like they are camping without having to travel out to a campsite. They’re also a decent choice for DIY enthusiasts, since most people can build one on their own. The most basic design is little more than a lined pit with all the flammable materials moved away from it, but you can also buy fancier outdoor fireplaces, which can serve double duty as sculptures.

You should also consider pairing this with a few chairs to make it more comfortable to use. Be sure to use non-flammable materials to keep it safe, and try to ensure that they have a casual, rustic appearance to go along with the fire pit.

Gaming Areas

Backyard gaming is a great way to have fun when it is too hot for sports. The most basic configuration is a table, a couple of chairs, and some shelter from the wind. You can combine with table with a chess board or other game if you have one that you particularly like and want to save some space. You can also add other games, such as a couple of holes for miniature golf, if you are willing to put in some extra time and effort to make the space special.