The sun is shining, birds are chirping, and Memorial Day weekend is right around the corner. It’s the perfect time to celebrate outdoors with your friends and family! It’s pretty traditional to have a big, delicious backyard barbecue over Memorial Day weekend featuring burgers, potato salad, fresh lemonade, and a sweet homemade pie. Of course you can mix it up with some chicken or ribs, corn on the cob, adventurous side dishes, and any dessert you can think of! But no matter what you serve, an important part of your Memorial Day barbecue is making sure your backyard is prepared for hosting.
We’ve had a month or two of nice weather, and maybe you’re completely on top of your landscaping care. Most of us are probably still a little behind. Hosting a backyard barbecue is a great incentive for getting your house and yard in tip-top shape for summer. Take a look at your backyard and assess which of the following steps you might need to take during the upcoming weeks to ensure that your backyard is barbecue-ready:
1. Lawn Care.
Your grass and landscaping is the first thing your guests will notice, so make sure it’s looking good! After months of cold and frozen winter, your grass may need a little TLC. Kill weeds, spread fertilizer, mow, trim and edge. Target your problem areas and adjust your water system as necessary.
2. Wash Down Your Concrete.
If you have a concrete patio or furniture pad, it’s important that you wash it down before hosting outdoor activities. Months of snow, ice, and dirt have accumulated and you need to wash it all away. Using a hose attachment or power sprayer, work from one corner to the opposite corner after removing all furniture and trash. Concentrate on crack and crevices. You can apply a concrete cleanser if you have oil or pet stains that need removing. If you have crumbling or damaged concrete you can have it quickly assessed and repaired by calling Hard Rock Concrete.
3. Set up and Spruce up Your Backyard Furniture.
If you’ve packed away your warm weather furniture, now is the time to bring it out! Launder the cushions and tablecloths, spray down and clean off the surfaces of tables and chairs, and rearrange for your party.
4. Add Finishing Touches.
Plant a new tree or lush bush near your patio area. Add pretty new flowers to your flower beds or buy a planter to station on your concrete pad. Lawn ornaments can be pretty and lend some interest to your yard. And it never hurts to put out a game or toy for the kids (and maybe adults!) to play.
5. Try A Simple DIY Concrete Project.
It may seem intimidating, but a simple concrete project can make your backyard barbecue more fun and impressive. Create concrete stepping stones to help your guests find their way to the backyard, or pour a small concrete pad that’s just for your fancy grill. Your guests will be impressed and you’ll get all the credit!
Have a happy and safe holiday weekend barbecue!
