Refreshing the Patio for Spring

I'm proud to announce that I've teamed up with Tuesday Morning to share some creative tips for whipping your garden into shape this spring. This post was originally published on their blog yesterday but I'm also posting it here so that I can show you how to do things like turn bird suet feeder baskets into vertical gardens or make some eye-catching container combinations.


If you’re like me, there is a lot to accomplish in your garden this spring.  There’s no way to tackle it all at once, but the good news is that in one or two afternoons, I’ve for once managed to make my backyard the kind of place I’d actually sit in and enjoy for a spell. All it took was a little bit of effort and a few cool things that I scored at Tuesday Morning. If you also want to give your garden a refreshing makeover in an afternoon, here’s how to turn your backyard from garbage-ridden and weedy to gorgeous and wonderful.

Furnish
Your deck or patio is like the extra living room you never knew you had. It can also be a kitchen, dining room and even a bedroom (but never a bathroom, hopefully) with the right outdoor furniture, so outfit it with outdoor dining tables, wood seating, shelving and side tables like this beautiful blue accent table that I picked to coordinate with an existing metal table that I had spray-painted turquoise.

Garden Close to Home
What good is a garden if it’s been relegated to the back of your yard where it can’t be seen or enjoyed? Plant garden beds near your doorways, patio, deck and windows so that they can be appreciated on a regular basis. I made a cool little container combination by filling a wire basket from Tuesday Morning with sphagnum moss and planting it with succulents and bromeliads. Now it sits right outside our patio window where it can brighten my day from indoors.

Decorate
To really make your outdoor living space feel like an extension of your home, decorate it with outdoor rugs, wall art, ornaments and candle holders. There are cool decorations at Tuesday Morning to fit any decorating style, but I was particularly drawn to a heavy bell that reminded me of childhood dinnertimes. Since I usually have a hard time time getting my wife’s attention when dinner is ready (especially when we’re eating outdoors) this little gem will come in handy.

Gussy up the Garden
You would be amazed what a little mulch and elbow grease will do to abandoned garden vignettes. I was surprised to find an excellent assortment of gardening tools and accessories at my local Tuesday Morning, and was sure to pick up a nozzle, weeding tool, pruning scissors and soaker hose to assist in my gardening chores.

Reuse and Repurpose
I’ve never had much luck getting birds to eat from the suet baskets, and they always turn into a yucky mess when the seeds start to rot. I have, however, found that they make excellent frames for vertical gardens, so you can imagine my excitement when I found them at Tuesday Morning for just $2.99 apiece!  All I did was fill the frame with sphagnum moss, insert stems of succulent plants in the gaps and tuck in some more sphagnum moss to keep the plants secure. Then I watered the plants and hung my little vertical garden on a tree trunk!

Plant Container Gardens
Whether you’re short on space or just want to bring the garden right onto your patio, planting flowers and foliage in containers is just the solution. These glazed ceramic pots match my color scheme and were a steal at $19.99 and $12.99. To plant your own container combos, fill the pot with potting mix, leaving just enough room for the potted plants. Arrange the plants inside and fill more potting soil between the gaps before watering to help the soil settle. There are no hard and fast rules regarding design – just use your decorating sense and pick plants that work with the colors in your décor.

Dine Outdoors
I always want to eat outside under the shade of my maple trees, but doing so never seemed quite as nice as I would have expected – until I cleaned up and decorated my patio, that is.  Now my and son can finally join me in the garden to see what all of the fuss is about! Make your outdoor dinner date extra special with quality patio tables and chairs, as well as accessories like citronella candles and hurricane lanterns.

Give the Patio a Clean Sweep
This step is crucial… so very crucial. Don’t you hate tracking in leaves, dirt and debris every time you venture outside? If the outdoor room is truly to be treated as an extension of the home, it must be cared for as such; sweep up leaves, hose off muddy footprints and do away with all of the trash and clutter that somehow ended up out back.

To see more cool stuff from Tuesday Morning, check them out on these social media outlets.
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