Make the yard a place for sensational summer fun
The family backyard is the ideal location to create a summer full of memories for family and community. Easy to access? Check. Affordable? Yep. Able to accommodate all sorts of activities? Absolutely.
A backyard’s potential is really only limited by imagination and willingness to create a sensational space for summer enjoyment.
According to a recent poll commissioned by the TurfMutt Foundation and conducted online by The Harris Poll, more than three-quarters of Americans who have a yard (76 percent), say the family yard space is one of the most important parts of their home.
The following are ideas to turn an ordinary yard into a summer oasis for fun and relaxation:
• Give the yard a facelift. The first step to establishing a summer fun zone, is to work with what’s on-hand. Clean out flowerbeds, clear the yard of debris, spread a fresh layer of mulch around trees and bushes, and keep the grass mowed. See what additional trees, shrubs and plants might be needed. Use outdoor power equipment to make even big jobs easier (a pole trimmer for pruning trees, a leaf blower to tidy flowerbeds, a riding mower for big lawns or a hedge trimmer for bushes).
• Identify activity zones for games, entertaining and relaxation. Can the lawn lure kids away from their screens and into the great outdoors for cornhole, soccer, bocce ball, croquet or a giant checkers board game? Is there a patio table or deck where family game nights can be held? Have a swimming pool for a “dive in” movie night, and invite neighbors to bring their favorite pool float? A memorable family staycation can also be planned in the backyard, with camping, parties and more. Get children’s buy-in by involving them in the planning.
• Bring learning outdoors. Just because school is out, doesn’t mean the learning should end. Avoid the “summer slide,” by setting up an area for outdoor learning, like a space under a shade tree where the kids can do summer reading. Create games and do experiments outdoors with TurfMutt’s lesson plans, which teach kids to be backyard superheroes like Mulligan the TurfMutt. The activities are so fun, kids will never know they’re learning science lessons.
• Don’t forget Fido. Pets are part of the family, too, so think about what backyard improvements will ensure they fully enjoy the dog days of summer. Add a water feature for them to cool off. Plant some bushes for napping in the shade. Use a row of hedges to separate their “business” spot from the rest of the backyard activity areas. Just remember when planting to check the ASPCA’s list of toxic and non-toxic plants.
• Make outdoors as inviting as indoors. Think about ways to make the outdoor living area just as comfortable as the indoor spaces. String lights add a warm glow, while a firepit is great for toasting marshmallows. A new deck or hardscaping could be just the ticket for taking the backyard oasis from boring to brilliant.
• Whether putting in a vegetable garden, planting pollinator- supporting shrubs and flowers, or creating activity zones, the family yard can do a lot – all at once the family and the environment. A grassy area is not only a field for play, but it’s also an excellent carbon-capturing and oxygen-producing space. Planting shrubs and flowering plants feeds birds, bees and butterflies. A leafy tree is a perfect perch for a relaxing swing in a hammock and it provides shade to combat the heat island effect. It also produces oxygen and captures carbon. A garden to grow some of the food the family will enjoy this summer, is proven to be good for immune systems and happiness.
• Put safety first. When working outdoors, always remember, no children or pets around operating outdoor power equipment.
To learn more about creating a dream yard, visit TurfMutt. com.
