Now that we’ve tackled the inside of the house, it’s time to focus on sprucing up your yard. By now, it should be warm enough to take care of the lawn and plants and cleaning your outdoor furniture. To make the most of your backyard, it’s essential that you decide the reason you use it and divide it into zones. We’ll show you tips for getting your lawn and garden ready, cleaning your lawn furniture, and using the best outdoor storage. Prepping Your Lawn Now is the time to sprinkle fertilizer and grass seed to grow fresh grass, especially in areas where your pets may have wrecked during winter. Water your grass early in the morning so the roots can soak up the water before the sun comes out. Planting a Garden You have several options for planting a garden and making your backyard look beautiful. I’d recommend starting by planting perennials since they come back each year.  You do it as part of your landscaping or you can decorate your backyard and patio with various colorful planters and flowers. As another idea, you can display a vertical garden, where everything is displayed and contained. Create Zones in the Backyard You don’t want your backyard to become a chaotic nightmare so divide it into zones. The deck area is for entertaining and the kids’ area is by the swing set and trampoline. There’s a hammock among the flower garden and trees for those needing a minute alone. Organize Furniture to Your Needs You don’t have to spend a ton of money on outdoor furniture. If you want, you can clean your existing furniture and use some new spray paint to freshen it up. Alternatively, you can use a storage bench, cover it with fabric, and add some pillows and it will look trendy. However, if you want a larger outdoor sofa or a fire pit for entertaining, it’s wise to only buy one large item at a time. Add Lighting to Pathways Add some lighting to your backyard and pathways. Using LED string lights helps you to see pathways in the dark and sets the mood for romantic evenings to watch the stars around a fire pit. Use Outdoor Storage If you don’t already have one, it’s time to invest in a shed. They are the perfect spot to store your lawnmower or weed whip.  Stash your tools standing up in a tool rack, where they’re easily accessible.  To make things easier, you may want to consider vertical storage to hold some of your children’s toys, including jump ropes, balls, and pool noodles.  Add a potting bench to your patio to display your plants and hold your gardening shears and gloves. These are just a few tips for sprucing up the backyard. We hope you’ve enjoyed our Spring Cleaning and Organization series. If you would like more tips, please contact Refresh Organizers & Designers at (510) 570-1292.