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Yard work can be difficult and overwhelming. As such, many people tend to focus on what’s happening on the inside of their house, and devote less attention to what’s going on outside. This encourages us to spend more time inside instead. However, there are simple tips you can take to make your yard beautiful and encourage outdoor play.

There is no finer way to spend a summer’s morning that sitting outside, drinking coffee, and looking out over your beautiful yard. Getting your yard in shape doesn’t have to be difficult work – quite the opposite, in fact. These simple tips to beautify your yard can create an additional living space in your home that the whole family can enjoy.

Clearing Away

You’ll be surprised at just how much better your yard will look after you’ve taken the easy step of clearing away any old debris and items that don’t belong. Weeds, dead plants, old leaves and pine needles, can be cleared, allowing a beautiful space for your grass, and other plants to thrive!

Clearing away and then continuing to stay on top of yard maintenance is a must if you plan on using the space, let alone enjoying it.  If it has been some time since you gave your yard space some TLC, then it has probably picked up a fair amount of debris and other belongings. You’ll be able to see the potential once everything has been removed.

Related: Non-toxic Weed Killer

Simple Beauty

One of the reasons why people are put off when it comes to getting their yard in shape is because they don’t fully understand how to care for plants and flowers. It’s a common misconception that, if you want to have a dazzling arrangement in your yard, then you have to spend a lot of time caring for all the plants. Although there are many landscaped yards that take many man hours to maintain, it isn’t always the case.  What’s important is that you are putting the right plants in the ground. Take a look at the plants that are native to your area, and go with them: they’ll require only minimal TLC, or perhaps even none at all.

For instance, aspen and pine trees are native to Colorado. Planting them ensures that they will be successful in growing and it will require minimal work on my part to maintain them. Native plants also encourage a healthy eco-system and help native wildlife flourish. It’s one of the best choices you can make when landscaping your yard.

Related: Planting and Caring for Irises

Outsourced Maintenance

Of course, you might have the time to get your yard area into shape when you first get going, but do not have the time to commit on a long-term basis. This is one of the primary reason why people don’t bother with their yards — they don’t want the additional responsibility. It’s important to remember that there is help available. If you need your hedge or tree trimming, then you can hire a company like Lineage Tree Care to do the job for you. For things like cutting your grass? That’s just an opportunity for your children to earn pocket money, or a local neighbor who needs some extra cash.

It may not be in your budget to outsource the landscaping of your home. This is why it’s so important to choose simple, native plants for your outdoor space. This will minimize your outdoor responsibilities and allow you to enjoy your yard instead.

The Patio and Porch Area

Finally, remember that a beautiful yard is a start, but you’ll also want to create a space that allows you to enjoy your creation. The patio and porch can be wonderful places to gather during the summer months. We spend a lot of time outdoors with our children, and creating a fun space encourages them to continue playing outside. Consider what you and your family enjoy doing and invest in those things. For instance, some ideas could be to invest in some  outdoor furniture, play equipment for your children, a vegetable garden, and things like a BBQ or jacuzzi; they will allow you to spend many a happy hours outside.

Related: 50 Easy Ways to Start Living A Sustainable Life

However you want to use your outdoor space, clearing your yard and building something that brings you joy will only encourage you to continue to use that space. Planting native bushes, flowers and trees will encourage a low maintenance yard so that you may spend more time enjoying and less time working. These simple tips to beautify your yard will help to create an outdoor living space to enjoy for years to come.