Before you know it, winter snow will start to melt, and warm sunshine will be on the horizon. Gray skies will turn blue, and flowers will begin to bloom in your garden. It's time to get ready for spring weather and plan some backyard improvements for your home so you can enjoy National Backyard Day on March 19th.

National Backyard Day celebrates the love of outdoor spaces where you can relax, enjoy nature, and spend time with family and friends. Whether that means relaxing by the pool, taking a nature walk, grilling with friends, or digging in the garden, our real estate agents want you to make the most of this special day by spending time outdoors. Take a look at 7 ways to transform your backyard into a welcoming oasis where you'll love spending warm spring days.

1. Add a Deck or Patio
   Decks and patios add comfortable outdoor living spaces to any home. They provide spaces for relaxation, outdoor activities, outdoor dining, and entertaining. Whether you choose to relax with your morning coffee, dine with family and friends, or host a party, these spaces provide a comfortable place to gather. To provide shelter from sun, wind, and rain, you can add an overhead pergola or sunshade and outdoor curtains around the perimeter.

2. Install an Outdoor Kitchen
   Outdoor kitchens are popular features for outdoor dining and entertaining, and they also add value to your home. Kitchens vary in size and price depending on the features you choose. A basic kitchen usually includes an island with a gas or electric grill and a few storage drawers, but you can have a variety of extra amenities, including:

• Refrigerator
• Dishwasher
• Single or double sinks
• Cook burners
• Gas, electric, or wood-fired pizza ovens
• Wine coolers
• Extra storage bins for condiments, dishes, glasses, and utensils

3. Build a Privacy Hedge
   If you want to enjoy time in your backyard, you need a certain amount of privacy to screen out close neighbors, traffic noise, parked cars, and barking dogs. If you have a wooden fence or block wall that is in good shape, you may be fine. If you have a chain-link fence or just want to see more greenery, install faux greenery to create an artificial hedge. You can find faux greenery in different-sized panels that can be easily attached to fences and walls with zip ties and screws.

4. Spruce Up the Landscape
   A beautiful backyard starts with healthy green grass or an eco-friendly alternative like fake grass and native plants. To create atmosphere and visual interest in your landscape, you can add a variety of landscape features.

• Outdoor Fountains – Choose from a variety of great outdoor fountains that recirculate water, light up at night, create flowing waterfalls, and run on solar energy.

• Climbing Vines – Vines provide visual interest and color and create a quick privacy screen. Planting native trumpet honeysuckle vines will attract beautiful hummingbirds.

• Potted Plants – Decorative pots placed on the ground or in hanging containers filled with plants and flowers will quickly add pops of bright color and texture to your landscape.

• Bird Feeders – If you love nature, installing several bird feeders will attract a variety of beautiful birds to your backyard throughout the year.

5. Install Outdoor Lighting
   Good outdoor lighting is essential if you plan to use your backyard after dark for family activities, dining, and entertaining. To create adequate light, use a combination of outdoor fixtures, including wall-mounted lights on the house, pathway lights along walkways and perimeters, and downlights or spotlights placed in trees. For a festive, more intimate mood, install string lights in the trees so you can roll out your sleeping bags and camp under the stars.
   
   
6. Plant a Garden
   A backyard garden will quickly add beauty and charm to your home. Consider planting a colorful flower garden, an herb garden, or an edible garden.

• Flower Gardens – Perennial flowers bloom each year, but annuals only bloom for one season. You can find colorful flowers in each category to create a beautiful garden.

• Herb Gardens – Even if you don't have a green thumb, you can grow your favorite herbs in a garden bed, a raised wooden bed, or decorative pots.

• Edible Gardens – If you love to cook, plant an edible garden filled with your favorite vegetables, so you can enjoy fresh food from your own garden.

7. Build a Treehouse or Playhouse
   If you have a quiet corner in the backyard, build a playhouse, or a treehouse that you're kids will love. A treehouse with an attached ladder is great for older kids who love to climb and relax with friends. If your kids are younger, an on-the-ground playhouse with a door and windows will be a big hit.

If you're considering buying or selling a home in Northern New England, contact us for information on available properties in communities that fit your lifestyle.