If you live in the south, you know that fall brings a much welcome respite from the incredibly hot summer temperatures we face. Unlike our northern neighbors, the fall season is when we get to enjoy temperatures in the mid 70s, which they might get more toward the summer. What this means is that now is the perfect time to turn your backyard into a haven you get to enjoy after a day at work all on a shoestring budget!
Mow the Grass
This simple tip will keep bugs at bay and make walking through your yard much more enjoyable. Nobody likes being bitten by bugs or having their legs scratched by long grass. Simply ensuring your yard is trimmed will make heading out there exponentially more appealing.
Add Tiki Torches
Tiki torches help keep mosquitoes at bay and also help add lighting that is affordable and romantic. No need to purchase expensive outdoor lights that suck up energy. Tiki torches add character to your space without sucking your wallet dry.
Add a Fountain
For about $100 bucks you can get a nice fountain from the Home Depot or Lowe’s. A water feature provides a relaxing atmosphere that keeps you calm and at peace as you relax. As a bonus, birds tend to congregate around water features because they like the free water and bath source!
Use Planters
Pick up a few attractive planters with low maintenance flowers to add some color to your space. Mums are in-season right now, easy to care for, and hardy, which means they can withstand any front or cooler temperatures that might rear their head in the evening. Who doesn’t love relaxing around cheerful flowers?
Clean
Nobody likes this word, but unfortunately it’s a fact of life. If you’re looking for space to relax in, nothing says relaxation like a clean space. Use a power washer to clean your deck or bricks, weed your yard, and make sure the dog has a separate space to do his business, so you don’t find yourself worried about stepping in doggy land mines!
Photo Credit: By Thomas R Machnitzki (thomasmachnitzki.com) (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons