9 Things to Declutter from your Backyard
Is it time to declutter your backyard?
Summer is winding down. And, perhaps you’ve got a few outdoor projects that didn’t quite get off the ground, and you’ve been storing the materials in the yard. Or, maybe you’ve procrastinated about removing the broken tools and ornaments that are lying around. You keep telling yourself that you’ll do it “tomorrow.” And, well … you haven’t gotten around to it.
Remove the excess and declutter your backyard. The time is now.
Cleaning up the yard will put you in better stead for next summer. Let’s delve into 9 things to declutter from your backyard.
1. Broken plant pots
Half-cracked and broken plant pots are not an unusual sight, especially when they’re stacked inside of each other. With weather elements and tipping over, the pots can get damaged.
Have you been storing plant pots for a special outdoor project? Or did you purchase them on sale with plans to use them? Regardless of the reason, now that they’re not in the best condition, dispose of them.
When getting rid of them, be sure to handle the broken pots with care to avoid injury. And, if any of them contain growing plants, re-pot or re-plant them.
In the future, preserve your extra pots, by storing them in the shed or garage.
2. Dried-up plants
Some of you may notice that a few of your plants die off, or simply just end up with dead or dying leaves and flowers. Depending on where you live, you will see more of this as fall and winter approach. You can clean up the look of your garden by clipping or pulling out these dead or dried-up plants.
For annuals at the end of their life cycle, these may simply be disposed of in the trash or according to your municipality’s guidelines.
When it comes to perennials, you will want to follow guidelines for trimming and caring for each particular type of plant. See this Perennial Maintenance article for more specific information.
3. Damaged garden hoses
When garden hoses are not stored properly, they can get tangled and leak. On top of that, the rubber can deteriorate over time.
Let’s face it, garden hoses are left on the grass plenty of times instead of being put away. If you’ve ever tripped over your hose in the backyard, you know what I’m talking about!
Occasionally, you may have more garden hoses than you need for your property, and not all of them are in good working order.
When it’s time to dispose of your garden hose, do not recycle it. Discard your damaged garden hose in the trash.
Make a habit of rolling up the hose properly and storing it on a hose reel or hose hanger.
4. Cracked ornaments
Not all outdoor ornaments and accessories can withstand the test of time or weather.
If they’re broken or cracked, it could potentially be unsafe for kids, as they could be pierced by sharp objects while playing in the backyard.
Also, the ornaments may have become rusty over time, which can take away from their overall aesthetic.
Inspect them regularly to determine which ones you need to declutter.
At the end of the day, your backyard’s appearance will be boosted if the ornaments and accessories add to rather than take away from the look you are trying to achieve.
4. Broken solar lights
Exposure to weather can lead to the wear and tear of your solar lights. This can also impact how well they work.
So, if they are broken or no longer working, the actual light fixture can be recycled, after you remove the batteries and bulbs.
5. Pieces of wood lying around
You plan to use the wood for an outdoor project, however, haven’t gotten to it yet.
Unfortunately, the wood is lying in the backyard – unused. Declutter your backyard from the wood pieces. Remember to wear gloves when handling the wood, to avoid getting splinters.
So, if the wood is in decent condition, store it in the shed or garage. If it’s weather-beaten, it can be disposed of in the trash can.
6. Broken garden tools
If you have broken garden tools, such as hand shovels or rakes, or they’re rusted over to the point that they’re no longer functional, it’s time to get rid of them.
Metal tools or ones with wooden handles can be recycled. Certain tool companies will accept your old tools, take them apart, and recycle them.
Similarly, if you or your spouse are skilled in separating the metal component from the tool, the metal can be sold for scrap metal.
7. Outdoor playhouses, swing sets
Even though your kids have outgrown the outdoor playhouse and/or swing set, these items are still in your backyard taking up space.
Think about what you could do with the extra space.
There are plenty of options when it comes to removal, such as selling online, giving the set away to a neighbor with a young family, or contacting a local junk removal service, to get rid of it.
8. Patio furniture
If your bistro set is on its last legs, your patio umbrella is damaged and torn, or your chaise lounge no longer unfolds, it sounds like it’s time for them to be discarded.
Patio or deck furniture can be taken to your recycling center or placed at the curb for trash pick-up. Check your local guidelines for the appropriate removal process.
Maintain and preserve your patio furniture by covering it with a waterproof, outdoor furniture cover during the off-season.
9. Bricks, flagstones
If you have extra bricks, flagstones, or patio stones leftover from previous landscaping work, you will want to consider decluttering the extras from your backyard.
You can probably find a friend or neighbor that will appreciate a donation of bricks or stones for their next project.
In addition, bricks can sometimes be re-purposed to make attractive borders for gardens.
Your backyard will stay attractive if it only has the items you need.
Recap
Every step you take in decluttering adds up, even in your backyard. Look around your backyard and use these tips as you work through this process. From cleaning up dried plants to getting rid of old tools and patio furniture, they’ll all work together.
When you declutter your backyard, you’ll enjoy the extra space.
