Now that Spring is officially here, we can look forward to gathering with friends, family and loved ones outdoors, sharing a meal and a laugh with those that we have been away from for far too long. We all look forward to a return to normalcy. As the excitement to see our friends and family grows, so does the to-do list of ways to prepare your garden and outdoor spaces for enjoying with visitors.
The following 7 tips will help you prepare to safely gather outdoors to make your first get-together comfortable and fun for everyone who will be visiting your home.
Plenty of Seating Space
It’s important to make sure you have plenty of seating for all of your guests. Part of gathering safely means spaced out chairs and enough options so that no one is uncomfortable. Making your friends and family feel comfortable to gather means enough places for everyone to take a load off and enjoy themselves. Ample seating is a main ingredient in a successful gathering.
Since spring weather can sometimes be unpredictable, purchasing weatherproof outdoor furniture will ensure that the seating you provide will last for years to come. If you know a spring snowstorm or rain shower is headed your way, try and get your furniture covered for added protection.
Find yourself wanting for more designated or updated outdoor patio space? Let the experts at R&S Landscaping take care of this for you. We can renovate your existing outdoor patio space or install something new all together so that your next outdoor party goes off without a hitch - with room to spare.
Checking Plants and Landscape For Winter Damage
Walk around your garden and checking over your trees and shrubs to make sure winter weather didn’t harm any of your existing landscaping. Broken or cracked branches from snow load allows disease to enter your plants. Look for egg masses of insects that will soon hatch. If you’re wondering how to spot something wrong with your plants or trees, R&S Landscaping is here to help with a full guide to prepping your yard for spring.
Seasonal Color
One sure fire way to make sure your home is inviting is to add in pops of spring color with annual flowers. Not sure what annuals are best? At R&S Landscaping, we know what plants grow best in our zone, where and when to plant them.
Annuals are a great option for front and backyard color as they provide pops of color from May until October. Annuals do not survive the frost, and are typically removed to make way for installing fall color.
Some colorful annual varieties that work well in our area:
- Sweet alyssum
- Begonias
- Primrose
- Pansies
- Geraniums
- Marigolds
- Impatiens
- New Guinea Impatiens
- Sunpatiens
- Salvia
- Cosmos
- Vinca
- Lantana
- Ageratum
- Pentas
- Verbena
- Bacopa
- Angelonia
- Coleus
R&S Landscaping are your experts on annual pops of color. Don’t let planting flowers be another stress on your to-do list. Let the experts help and take care of this for you. Request A Free Annual Color Estimate
Landscape Lighting
Nothing quite improves backyard ambiance like landscape lighting. Not only does landscape lighting make navigating your backyard safer by illuminating pathways, it also highlights the beautifully landscaped areas of your yard. At R&S Landscaping, we specialize in Path and Step Lighting, Moonlighting, Accent Lighting, and Up Lighting effects.
With well - positioned and proper lighting, your backyard will remain a hot spot for your outdoor gatherings even after the sun sets. The experts at R&S Landscaping are trained in the art of landscape lighting installation. If you are unsure what type of lighting would work best in your yard, leave that to us.
Check Your Grill
Before your guests arrive, do a full check on your grill to make sure everything is in working order. After all, your grill has been sitting outside in the frigid temperatures for at least 4 months. If you have a propane grill, make sure your main tank and backup tank is full. If you don’t have a propane grill, make sure to turn each knob to make sure everything is working properly. Be sure to get your gas tanks filled. Nothing is more embarrassing than running out of gas in the middle of a cookout.
The Perfect Playlist
No gathering is complete without a playlist to keep everyone enjoying themselves. There are many bluetooth speakers on the market that are made for outdoor use, but some even prefer to have their speakers integrated into their backyard landscape. Whatever option you go with, music is sure to keep your friends and family having a good time.
Enjoying The Time Together
Finally, the most important aspect of planning your get-together: enjoying the time spent with the ones you love. Gatherings look different for everyone, now more than ever, but what will always remain most important is cherishing the time spent together. After almost a year apart, seeing the smiles of the ones we love will forever be the most important part of being together.
As we all prepare to get back to the new normal, R&S Landscaping would like to wish everyone a very happy spring. If you need help getting your backyard ready to entertain your family and friends this summer, reach out to the outdoor entertainment experts at R&S Landscaping today to help you create the perfect retreat.