Strange-But-Genius Backyard Hacks Sure To Get The Neighborhood Talking
Spring marks the time most plucky amateur gardeners take a deep dive into the way back of their sheds only to find themselves hopelessly unprepared: No gardening supplies. Rickety old furniture. A bunch of useless odds and ends lying around. Without a trip to the hardware store, the season is as good as lost.
But instead of shelling out big bucks to turn your yard into a fair-weather paradise, everything you need is actually sitting right in your house. With these DIY hacks at your disposal, you'll have your backyard looking like a million bucks without ever having to reach for your wallet.
1. Instead of mulch or rocks, try laying your flowerbeds with pinecones. Not only will the cones insulate your plants, but they'll also prevent your pets from digging up the dirt and ruining your garden.
2. Sick of those tacky tiki torches? With an empty wine bottle, some lamp oil, and a wick, you can turn your recyclables into beautiful outdoor light fixtures to mount or even for use on a table as a centerpiece.
3. Every kid dreams of having a water slide in their backyard, and with just a tarp and hose, they can! Just lay the plastic sheet against a play set slide and hose it all down for slippery fun to last the whole summer.
4. Wooden pallets are a common garbage item, but with a little elbow grease, you can transform that dirty scrap into a cozy swing. Just remove any jutting nails, sand and paint the wood, and then hang from a sturdy branch for a seat even your pup will love.
5. Say goodbye to tossing towels over a nearby chair and hoping they dry: using PVC pipes, you can construct a high-quality towel rack that'll have your swimwear ready for your next dip in no time.
6. No — this isn't a suggestion to swap your hydrangeas for a nice stack of Pampers. But to help your plants retain moisture and keep them fresh longer, stick a diaper — clean, of course — in the planter before putting your flowers inside.
7. A game of horseshoes is the perfect compliment to a summer barbecue, and now, the fun doesn't have to end once the sun goes down. With a glowstick and a few glow-in-the-dark necklaces, you can keep the party going all night long!
8. No summer get-together is complete without a few cold ones, but who wants to bother walking back and forth to the cooler to get them? With a saw and some plastic for insulation, an ice cold beer will never be too far out of reach.
9. Use a hula hoop and spare blanket to create a cozy outdoor hideaway. Simply secure the blanket to the hoop and suspend it from an overhanging branch for a shady hangout spot the kids will never want to leave.
10. Why spend hundreds on an expensive solar cover when a few hula hoops will do the trick? Just wrap the hoops with black plastic and toss them in the pool — the plastic will absorb heat from the sun and then transfer that heat to the water.
11. String lights have somewhat lost their charm over the years, but a quick trip to your grocery store's baking aisle is sure to change that. By placing paper cupcake holders over the bulbs, you've just created artsy shades guaranteed to be the life of your next backyard party.
12. Swing sets and slides are a great way to keep kids busy, but why not exercise their minds along with their bodies? A simple piece of slate secured to a wooden board will make the perfect canvas for your child's imagination.
13. Garden gnomes and bird baths not cutting it? Spruce up your garden decor by spray painting small objects with metallic paint and scattering them throughout your yard — just make sure not to trip over them!
14. Everyone has at least a few old keys that don't open anything, but instead of leaving them in your junk drawer, why not string them up into a wind chime? Plus, you could also hang a spare along with them and no one would ever know!
15. Tired of your back patio looking that depressing shade of gray? With a little latex paint, you can add a pop of color to any outdoor seating area, taking it from drab to fab with just a few coats.
16. You might have licked those tin cans clean, but your feathered friends are just about to get started. That's because with a little birdseed and a small wooden dowel, you can create a feeder that'll have birds lining up for a bite.
17. A garden can brighten up any space, yet with all that greenery packed together, an already tiny yard may wind up looking even smaller. To give your garden the illusion of greater space, place a mirror or two and watch your yard open up.
18. Wait! Don't chuck out those old tires just yet! Instead, apply a few coats of colorful paint to create a set of funky planters that'll make your garden the talk of the town.
19. Metal folding chairs may get the job done, but, boy, are they ugly. A few coats of spray paint are sure to brighten things up, and if you want to get really crazy, a little upholstery can turn those $10 chairs into works of art.
20. Solar lights aren't just for lining your walkways or brightening the area around your pool. Try sticking a few in your outdoor fixtures for soft-glowing lights that'll shrink your power bill too.
When the cold months come, however, you'll need a completely different set of hacks to weather the winter. A cheap and easy way to keep the heat inside your home and your energy bill low is to use a low-cost insulator. Bubblewrap is inexpensive and can be placed over non-insulated areas like windows and door frames.
2. DIY texting gloves: It's incredibly frustrating trying to use your phone in 20° weather. This simple hack can make any pair of gloves touchscreen friendly. Just sew some conductive thread into the glove tips and never miss a call again.
5. Electric plug insulator: It's not commonly known, but mishapen electrical outlets can be the culprit when it comes to drafty homes. If you cut a packaging envelope into the shape of the outlet cover, it's a great way to eliminate drafts and provide a little extra insulation.
No comments: