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When the sunshine and warm weather finally returns you want to make the most out of your garden. When the weather is beautiful you don’t need to go far to have a great summer. Here are 10 of our favourite ideas for summer backyard activities. Some ideas require more preparation than others so pick your favourites and add it to your spring cleaning to-do list for an unforgettable summer.
Alfresco dining sounds glamorous but you don’t need to go on vacation to get the cozy experience of eating outdoors. Setting up an outdoor dining area in your own backyard is a decision you will never regret. Nothing gives you that summertime feeling as having dinner in the backyard. Go shopping for comfortable outdoor dining sets and clear a small area on the back porch or on the grass – that’s all you need for many cozy nights.
Nothing says summertime fun like a BBQ – it is a mandatory summer backyard activity. What is also great about barbecues is that there are endless grill options ranging from lightweight portable designs, BBQs on a cart and amazing permanent outdoor kitchen units. When choosing a new grill there are a few important elements to think about. Determine how often the grill will be used, how much space is available in the yard, which type of fuel source is most suitable and easily available and of course, your budget.
Hot tubs are a great way to feel like you are on a vacation in your very own home. They are the epitome of luxury yet thanks to portable hot tubs it has become an affordable one. There are different sizes and designs available so measure the available space in your backyard before browsing for the perfect one. The best part is that portable hot tubs are easily drained and folded away in a storage bag so you disassemble the unit whenever the weather turns cold again.
Not the biggest fan of a barbecue but do love spending late nights outdoors? Perhaps a cozy and romantic fire pit is more your scene. Just like choosing a grill, there are many different kinds of fire pits and countless available designs. When picking out your favourite fire pit consider what type of fuel it runs on, its size, how to install the unit and what the safety features are, especially if you have pets and young children running around.
Outdoor garden lighting completely transforms the ambience of your backyard and front yard. If you are looking for an affordable way to upgrade your outdoor space and landscape lighting is the way to go. Solar-powered path lighting is very popular because it is super easy to install and does not add to your electricity bill. Outdoor rated string lighting is also very useful and can be used in many different ways such as hanging from trees, covering bushes, creating a canopy above the porch or wrapped around fences – the inspirations are everywhere.
Want to create a cozy outdoor space that is less permanent but everyone can enjoy? Then go browsing for teepee ideas and how to make your own DIY teepee. Building a teepee is a wonderful activity with kids as it is relatively simple to set up and leaves lots of opportunity for creative expression. They are also just as easy to disassemble so you could move it at any time and even place it somewhere indoors if there is more rain than the teepee can handle.
The more permanent alternative to a teepee is an outdoor reading nook. This can be a small scale or large scale as you would like it to be. Creating an outdoor reading nook can be as simple as laying down a large mat with cushions, buying a few comfortable lounge chairs or more elaborate by building an actual patio. Consider how much time you are willing to spend on the reading nook, what your budget is and what would be the ideal space in your backyard.
Another fun summer activity with kids (but adults will enjoy just as much) is a slackline. It has become somewhat of a trend and the good news is that it costs very little and can be set up in less than 5 minutes. All you need is two sturdy pillars on either end which could mean a tree, a fence or a pole, as long as it is stable. Make sure that the slack is taut enough to balance on and not too high up from the ground – then let the laughter and competitions begin.
Planting your own spices is a brilliant idea for several reasons. It adds lots of colour to your backyard, releases wonderful scents, can ward off certain insects, is a fun activity and sure beats the dried powders from the supermarket. Growing spices is easier than growing plants because they generally require less maintenance and are more resilient. You also don’t need to create a vegetable patch, a few potted spice plants are enough.
Springtime is when the pretty animals start to appear again and you can enjoy them all throughout summer by placing butterfly feeds and bird feeders in your garden. Both are very simple to set up and you could even DIY a feeder in just a few minutes. Butterflies like a sugar-water mixture which you can make yourself by boiling 10 parts water and 1 part granulated sugar into a light solution. Birds have different diets so check which species are common in your area and put together a bird feeder with their particular diet.
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