Get Your Backyard Summer Ready!

For me, prepping a space starts well before picking up a tool or shopping for furniture. It begins with measuring the area and dividing it into “spaces” that fit your needs and interests. For this particular backyard, I wanted to create a space my friend would come and enjoy this summer. I noted her love for gardening, her need for an intimate entertainment/grilling space, a bonfire area to enjoy the cool summer nights, as well as a fun play area with family-friendly games for her family to enjoy now that school is almost out! I wanted to tie it all in with string lights that will allow for fun during the warm summer nights, bold patterns, and modern furniture.

With Summer fast approaching, it’s important to clean your space to have it feel fresh and new. With the dirt and grime from the previous winter and pollen and algae from the spring, the fence and ground were looking rough. I removed the excess leaves from previous seasons with a Ryobi leaf blowerso I could move on to the next phase of cleaning up.

My friend and her husband are very conscious about what they put on the soil (under the gravel) and want to choose something not laden with chemicals. I opted to use the EcoLabs solution, which is professional grade, yet, not harsh on the environment. It’s safe to use around plants and pets.

Using the Ryobi pressure washer was so easy. Just look how clean that fence looks! I pressure washed from top to bottom, so I was able to wash away the dirt as it flowed down from the fence. The neighbor was so impressed that he asked me to do his yard next! Ha.

Moving onto the garden area was one of my favorite parts of this project! I assembled the raised beds according to the space. I really love these since they’re modular and can be configured and tailored exactly how you need them. I then filled up the beds with a combination of cardboard, leaves, sticks, potting mix, and garden soil. I then added the veggies and herbs my friend frequently cooks with.

With the theme of spaces, I created a designated area for all of the plant and potting needs. I cut the wood down to size and created a custom potting bench to fit this space perfectly! I stained it with a combination of Behr decking stain in blackand chocolate and sealed it with Olympic clear sealer.

I assembled the bench with my framing nailer, which made it incredibly easy to complete.

There’s nothing quite like gathering herbs and veggies straight from your own garden during the summer. This gravel area was the perfect place to add garden beds! Keep reading because I share my favorite fresh summer salad later in this post.

Veggies and Herbs Planted:

• Peppers
• Sweet Mint
• Tomato
• Rosemary
• Basil
• Thyme
• Oregano

For the patio area, we opted to go with a modern conversation patio set along with a gorgeous outdoor rug with bold prints. The banana leaf pillowand green throw also give it a pop of color that just says summer is here!

We also used theOFF! Outdoor Foggerto keep mosquitos at bay. There’s nothing worse than constantly swatting away mosquitos and other bugs while trying to enjoy the outdoors!

To have lighting for the nighttime, I added fast-setting cement to someblack plantersand 2x2 pressure-treated lumber I ripped down on my table saw. I suggest adding two 50-lb bags of concrete for extra weight, and if you want to add flowers as I did, drill some drainage holes above the cement line.

I stained the poles the same black color as the potting bench and added cup hooks to the top of the pole and added the LED string lightsto complete the look! This Werner 22 Ft. Reach Aluminum 5-in-1 Multi-Position Pro Ladder came in so handy! The homeowner is already excited to do some front lawn work with it.

I came up with a Simply Summer Salad recipe that’s savory, sweet, has a slight kick, and is all-around delicious!

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 Cups Shrimp, shelled and deveined
• 1 Zucchini, sliced
• 2 Bell Peppers, chopped big enough for a skewer
• Mango chopped big enough for a skewer
• Diced tomato
• Chopped Basil, Thyme, Oregano, and Rosemary (about 2 tsp combined herbs)
• 1 tsp Mango Habanero seasoning
• 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
• Salt, to taste
• Scallion, thinly sliced
• Your favorite leafy greens

SAUCE INGREDIENTS:

• ⅓ Cup canned coconut milk
• 2 Tbsp Mango Habanero sauce
• 2 tbsp Chili Sauce
• 4 Tbsp Sugar

INSTRUCTIONS:

In a bowl, season zucchini, bell peppers, mango, and shrimp with mango habanero seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, and fresh herb blend. On a skewer, alternate shrimp, zucchini, bell peppers, and mango then grill until shrimp is cooked through, making sure to flip midway.

In a separate bowl, mix the coconut milk, mango habanero sauce, chili sauce, and sugar. Mix until combined.

In another bowl, add leafy greens, tomato, and cooked ingredients from the skewer. Top with freshly sliced scallions and add as much sauce as you would like and enjoy!

My friend has nieces that frequently come over in the summer, so she wanted a gaming area. The artificial grass along with backyard Jenga, Dominos, and putting green was such a hit!

To make the giant Domino, I cut down a2x6 into 12-inch pieces (I cut 28 pieces in total) and scored them in the middle using my table saw. I then added circle stickers for the dots.

For the Jenga, I cut down 2x4s into 10.5-inch pieces (I cut a total of 54) and sanded them down. I placed them in the gaming area along with the putting green and the kids loved it!

This area was a last-minute addition, but I must say it was a hit for everyone. I built an L-shaped bench along with my friend, Sam from DIY Huntress following simple plans I found online. It didn’t take much time at all, and it works so well for the chilly summer nights. The kids especially loved roasting marshmallows by the fire.

The Home Depot has everything needed to create this backyard oasis from the decor, patio furniture, games, garden needs, and the firepit, too! It’s seriously a one-stop shop for all your summer needs!