With school out, temperatures heating up, and the 4th of July coming up, now’s the time to make sure you’re ready to have the best outdoor entertaining possible with my 4 summertime backyard living tips!

1Ready Your Pool.

Make sure your pool looks appealing to guests. Vacuuming, skimming, and treating will prevent any last-minute build-up and discoloration of the water before parties.

Pool toys play an important role in summer fun. Stock a variety of toys to please kids as well as adults. Safety first! Flotation devices, such as rafts, arm floaters, and kick boards will help keep everyone safe. Squirt guns, swimming noodles, and diving items, such as rings and sticks, make great pool party accessories. Water balloons and blow-up beach balls will add to the fun. A basketball hoop or volleyball net is also a great addition for guests of all ages. Be sure to keep stacks of colorful beach towels on hand, too!

2Prep Your BBQ.

If you don’t have your own barbecue yet, consider your options. While an electric barbecue grill is cleaner, easier, and more environmentally-friendly, it can’t provide the unmistakable flavor that charcoal or gas grills can. Since this is a good investment, you want to get a grill that will last you for years to come. Of course, if you are using a gas grill, make sure you have enough gas before the event; when the guests are ready to eat, a grill without gas will not be taken lightly!

You’ll also want to check your stock of some basic eating supplies: BBQ utensils; serving utensils; paper plates; plastic cups; easily-disposable plastic cutlery; napkins; salad bowls; pitchers, ice buckets; and tablecloths.

3Jazz Up Your Furnishings.

Consider how accommodating your outdoor furniture is. Weigh the factors of sturdiness vs movability. Weather-resistant wicker or aluminum is going to be lighter than steel and sturdier than plastic for moving around as needed.

Add a pop of color to your outdoor furniture with water-repellent pillows in bold colors or fun prints. Dress up your outdoor table with dishes, table linens, and other decor in vibrant shades. A large copper bucket is ideal for holding ice and beverages.

You’ll want to have some outdoor places where your family and guests can cool off and get out of the sun. If you don’t have a covered patio, add umbrellas, canopies, and other items to provide some protection from the sun. Burlap is 100 percent organic, dye-free, reusable, and best of all, inexpensive, and you can buy it by the foot, yard, or bolt. Add drama by hanging swags of burlap as drapes to create shade and define a space. And let’s not forget the fans and sunblock!

After sun protection comes bug protection. Even though New Mexico is hardly noted for its mosquitoes, we do get gnats and other pests. Be sure to stock up on bug spray and citronella candles. Consider some high-hanging bug zappers as well.

Easy entertaining is simple with a collection of no-skills-required lawn games. Set out a basket of frisbees, wiffle balls, and badminton rackets along with a croquet set.

Decorative evening lighting can make a big visual impact. Lanterns that hold pillar candles are perfect for lighting decks, patios, and other outdoor entertaining spaces. Or iluminate your backyard by adding strings of lights.

4Beautify Your Landscaping. A bit of backyard greenery can go a long way to creating an attractive and relaxing setting. Despite many backyards in Albuquerque utilizing xeriscaping for our arid climate, you can still enjoy a colorful, lively yard by making the most of plants and flowers. Shrubs are great for form, foliage-heavy plants for color, and sturdy perennials for reliability. Consider some tall-potted grasses (like wheatgrass) or fruits in metal pails or terra cotta pots. Accent with a trellis of Trumpet Vines or Carolina Jessamine. Ask your local garden nursery specialist about which plants require little tending and bloom throughout the growing season. Finally, a hummingbird feeder is always a nice added touch!

All in all, by utilizing even just a few of these outdoor living tips, you can add a lot of enjoyment to your backyard activities this summer!

If you’re looking to buy or sell a house in the Albuquerque area, contact me today!