Make Your Backyard the Envy of the Neighbourhood in Late Summer

With summer already in full swing, you've probably been hard at work trimming the grass and planting some flowers, making your patio more appealing by adding new furniture, and doing some landscaping around your pool. While this is a good start, there is a lot more you can do to enhance your backyard. Summer is an especially opportune time to have a barbeque or party, and you'll want your neighbours and friends to be impressed with your end-of-season bash. To help make your backyard the envy of the neighbourhood, here are some creative ideas for you to utilise.

Make a garden path 

Provide guests with an enticing invitation to your backyard with a garden path. The possibilities are endless in terms of how you can outline the path and the types of flowers you can add. Popular pathway materials include gravel, mulch, turf and stone. Popular flowers for garden paths include blanket flowers, veronica blooms, astilbes and poppies, and you can choose any variety of shape, size or colour that suits your fancy.

 
Spruce up your fence  

Ever notice how boring and bland a fence can be? Sure, it may keep your pets protected, keep wild animals out, and give you privacy, but it can look rather plain. Add more style to it and enhance the summer theme by painting it a different, brighter colour or hanging pots along the fence at intervals. Make sure to fill the pots with vibrant, cascading blooms for heightened effect.

Get a carport 

While a carport can serve to keep your vehicle protected from the elements, it also serves as a wonderful place for gatherings. The roof will keep the hot Australian summer sun from beating down on any guests, making it easier to hold a party at your home comfortably. Having a carport around also helps you avoid renting or buying a costly party tent, as well as the effort to put it up. Carports come in a variety of designs, are rather inexpensive, and last for many years, making them a versatile addition to your home.

Build a fire pit 

Fire pits are a summer must-have. You can use them to cook or simply to gather around with friends and family to relax and reminisce. If it's later at night, invite everyone over for a fun night of Australian-style s'mores (unless you've got enviable access to some graham crackers). Building a fire pit is quite easy, too. Simply lay out pavers or stones in a circle, about three to four feet in diameter. Next, dig a 12 inch hole in the centre and fill it with sand. Once you have filled the hole, finish stacking the stones so that they are 12 inches above the ground. Lastly, pour another layer of sand into the ring so that it covers the first layer of stone, about 4 inches deep.