What You Can Do To Enhance Your Outdoor Living Area

Ontario and the Greater Toronto area have some extreme swings in our weather patterns. Those harsh cycles can wear down your landscape over time, especially if you don't do much to maintain it. Several things can vastly enhance the quality and appearance of your outdoor living space, elevating its feel with a little effort.

Pressure Washing

Dirt, dust, water stains, animal tracks, and overall wear can cause your outdoor space to discolor over time. The boards may start looking grey, the siding on your shed may appear worn down, and the overall appearance can seem old. There's a simple solution that can immediately fix that: pressure washing. You'd be surprised what a huge difference it makes to get off that top layer of dirt.

Re-Applying Polymeric Sand

Weeds have a way of sprouting up through even the smallest cracks and holes. They'll even create them on their own in their search for sunlight. Of course, that can take quite a bit away from the appearance of your walkway, driveway, or patio. Eliminate the problem by pressure washing the area and then topping up your polymeric sand. The sand is fortified to prevent growing weeds and helps reconnect the interlocked pavers, so they don't shift around. That's especially helpful because our weather systems can cause pavers to expand, shrink, and move around if they aren't sealed well.

Re-Painting or Re-Staining

One of the quickest ways to make your outdoor living space feel brand new is to give it a fresh coat of paint or stain. We highly recommend using a stain like Cutek Extreme for wooden decks or fences. It's a highly efficient way to bring the material back to life and even gives it a bit of character. New paint on a shed or outdoor furniture can also liven the space up. Even applying spray paint to touch up Muskoka chairs makes a massive difference.

Augmentations

In some cases, a property's hardscaping may be tip-top, but the rest of the landscaping might look a bit lackluster. A simple addition can go a long way to make the space feel brand-new. You may consider adding a firepit as a centerpiece, giving you a place to gather year-round. Having a landscaper build a small water feature can also make your outdoor living space look and feel brand new. 

Minor adjustments to the plant life can make a difference too. Spruce things up with a few shrubs, swap out the flowers lining the area or plant a few trees that you can watch grow over time along with your family. Or maybe add a few fruit trees, pears, plums, apricots, and nectarines that grow well in this area of Canada. Grapes flourish here, too, so you could consider looping vines through a decorative fence, giving you something to look at and encouraging you to spend more time outside.

Pruning

Sometimes, you may not need new plants, but you could do with some pruning. Trimming back overgrown branches or cutting down ones that have died off can immediately freshen up the space. Clearing the clutter can also prevent accidents since you don't have to worry about branches falling onto your house, pergola, or car during a storm.

Adding an Outdoor Rug

One of the simplest changes you can make to your outdoor space is adding a rug, and you'll be astonished at what a difference it makes to the look and feel of your landscape. Make sure to purchase one resistant to mildew and won't lose its color. It'll add a quick pop of life with almost no labor.

Adding a Privacy Wall

Your outdoor living space may be your perfect retreat and the exact haven you've always wanted. If your neighbors are peering straight in, it can make it difficult to relax and feel like you're alone. Adding a privacy wall solves that issue. 

The other fantastic thing about privacy walls is that they're very variable. Rather than a classic fence, think about using alternating sizes boards, lattices with greenery, or even faux hedge panels. You can pick one that fits the character of your landscape or use the change as an opportunity to adjust the feeling of your living space.

Lighting Your Outdoor Space

We saved the best for last. You already have the deck, patio, and hot tub, so what you need now is some lighting to set the mood. Outdoor lighting lets you use the space to its fullest potential. A professional can install low-voltage fixtures, path lights, or overhanging bulbs. A well-designed outdoor living space can extend the available area you have to use on your property, whether day or night, no matter the time of year.

Making just one or two of these changes can drastically impact your landscaping. However, that statement comes with a caveat: Additions to your outdoor living space should be built by professionals. Trying to do things yourself to save a few bucks can put you at risk of drainage issues or causing structural pressure on your home, which can cause costly damage. Instead, work with a company you know you can trust: Luke's Landscaping. Luke included his name in his business because he's proud of the work he and his team do. Set up a consultation today for an estimate.