Give your backyard a makeover in time for BBQ season.
Spring has finally hit Perth and already you can feel the warmer weather wrapping itself around the city. The days are getting longer (along with the weeds) and no doubt it’s only a matter of time before the mighty barbeque will be brought out of hibernation.
We all love a lazy Sunday afternoon soaking up the spoils of a backyard barbeque, but getting your yard ready for the season after the winter assault can be a daunting task. Here are a few tips and tricks to give your yard a makeover just in the nick of time.
Give the lawn some TLC
There really is nothing nicer than a freshly manicured lawn. Beware though; your lawn is still recovering from the dormant winter months, so be gentle with it. Care needs to be taken when mowing for the first time after a prolonged period. Wait until the lawn has approximately 5cm of growth before mowing it, this will ensure the roots remain protected. Depending on the state of your lawn you may need to give it a couple of light mows spread over a few weeks.
If you leave it too long before the first mow and all of a sudden your lawn is looking overgrown, chances are it will be brown and dry underneath. If you cut it right back in one mow then your lawn will look patchy. Instead, give it a long mow to reveal the undergrowth then allow the lawn to stabilise for a week or two before mowing again. As a general rule, you should only mow 1/3 of the length of your lawn at any one time.
Make sure that your mower blades are sharp otherwise your lawn will end up looking shredded and uneven. Spring is also a good time to aerate the lawn and give it a good feed with some slow release lawn fertiliser, but take care if you’ve got pets to make sure you’re not risking poisoning them.
So fresh and so green. Pic: Thinkstock
Give the barbeque a good clean
Salt + lemon = detox.
Get that barbeque looking and smelling fresh and clean (and not to mention, hygienic) with a few common household ingredients.
Repeat this process until the plate is clean. Salt and lemon form a great natural abrasive that won’t leave any nasty chemical residues on the plate.
Lemon and salt are also great accompaniments to barbequed chorizo, among other things. Pic: Thinkstock
Sun lounges, beanbags and beach umbrellas
This is an incredibly easy way to make a backyard even more inviting. Who doesn’t want to lounge under an umbrella with a cool beverage on a hot day? Placing a few lounges, beanbags and umbrellas around the garden will add an effortlessly cool feel to the space, as well as providing extra seating options for guests. Don’t forget to dot some drinks buckets around the yard too, in arms reach of a lounge is preferable.
Admit it, you're feeling relaxed just looking at this picture. Pic: Ikea
DIY cable drum tables
I’m a huge fan of repurposing items, and hands down one of the easiest repurpose DIY projects has to be converting cable drums into outdoor tables. Their shape is ideal for small table use and they have that wonderful rustic look that works particularly well in a garden setting. You can paint them in bright colours, stain them in your favourite wood finish or leave them as they are. Gorgeous.
Rustic, versatile and rediculously easy. Pic: Upcycled Wonders
Backyard games
You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy a backyard game (although having kids around is a great excuse to break out the Slip N Slide!). Backyard cricket is an institution in its own right, but if your yard space isn’t suitable then why not set up a few games tables around the yard? Depending on your crowd, you can opt for old classics like Scrabble, Monopoly or Chess for a civilised afternoon, or if you’re a bunch of big kid at heart, why not borrow the kids’ board games and indulge in some nostalgic fun. Hungry, Hungry Hippos, anyone?
Secretly wishing he was playing Mouse Trap. Pic: Thinkstock
Low maintenance catering
If you love eating barbeque food but aren’t so partial to actually cooking it, why not try a barbeque roast? Prepare it before your guests arrive and let it slowly cook while you are entertaining your guests, genius! The roast will still have that delicious smoky flavour synonymous with a good barbeque, without having to spend a good portion of your day hovering over the grill.
Deeelicious! Pic and recipe from beefandlamb.com.au
Enjoy the sunshine!
-Kath from the LookLocalWA team
