As soon as the snow melts I start getting antsy about being back outside. This year’s never ending winter just about drove me insane (in fact, I ended up setting up the kids trampoline two snowstorms too soon). Over the past couple of years we’ve taken a basic yard, and turned it into a backyard oasis the entire family can enjoy.
We spend every night above 16 degrees back here. Every week I plan my menus around the weather forecast, BBQ-ing every night it isn’t raining. The whole family will be barefoot and sprawled across the yard, some kids on the swing-set, some on the trampoline, and usually one running all over the place with a water gun. Me, I’m laying down on our outdoor daybed, under a canopy, flipping through a magazine while keeping my eye on the food. Bo’s over under the gazabo, sometimes with the fireplace on, yelling at the kids to not spray him with those water guns (which you knows only means they’ll do it more).
It’s a nice picture isn’t it. That’s our family time, after a long day of work for Bo, and school and sports or the kids, this is where we come to unwind.
Once the kids are in bed for the night, it switches to our time. On a Friday night Bo and I will be out here enjoying some alone time. A little radio on the table shuffling through our spotify playlist, the fireplace roaring, and the chandelier hanging from the top of our gazebo flickering with candle light. It’s the perfect place to sip a glass of wine and just enjoy each other’s company.
How to create a backyard oasis
Are you thinking we must be one of the lucky ones, with a giant backyard an acre away from our neighbours? We aren’t. We’ve got a 40′ lot, cookie cutter backyard in the middle of a giant subdivision, on a slightly too busy street. It’s all about finding a balance that works in the space you have. Size doesn’t matter, it’s about building a place we can all be happy spending hours together without getting bored.
It doesn’t have to be as elaborate as ours currently is either. A few years ago our section was a tiny little glass table with a couple of chairs, some candles, and a hammock is the corner. The kids had a jungle gym and a bunch of little games, and everyone was still just as thrilled to be there.
The one thing I haven’t mentioned yet though is the foundation to all of that – our grass. You can’t run around barefoot unless you has a nice lawn to do it on. I am a barefoot girl, I hate wearing shoes if I don’t have too (unless they are very, VERY cute and brand new). Soft grass without barespots all over the place is a war we’ve been fighting for years ourselves and coming up nothing but frustrated. We have literally even dug up our backyard, re-graded, added soil, and put down fresh sod. It made about a 50% difference, but it’s still looking too bare. It’s time to trust the professionals.
Lawn Care Options for Every Household
If you’re in the same boat as us, TruGreen has an amazing promotion going on right now where your first application only costs $29.95 in Ontario and Quebec (Alberta is$34.95)! They have a program for everyone, from basic lawn and tree and shrub care, to full season lawn programs, and tree and shrub programs. They even offer all natural and organic services if that’s your preference.
The oasis part? That’s the fun part. Making the backyard pretty with some candles and a rug is just like decorating inside your house. Putting together a fun space for the kids just makes me feel good, I love seeing them happy. Worrying about our lawn? Getting rid of bare spots, seeding, fertilizing, getting rid of the grubs and crab grass, making sure our shrubs out front are flourishing. That is nothing but a headache to me (as I lack any kind of a green thumb), and I hate Bo having to come home after a long hard week of work, only to spend hours fiddling with spreaders and trying to research how to fix our problems online.
Here, request a quote from TruGreen, and see how affordable it is to be able to just enjoy your backyard oasis. Leave the frustrating side of yard work to the people who really know what they’re doing!
Backyard Drive-in
If you want to go really bananas with your backyard oasis, check out our favourite thing to do in it: MOVIES! We are a major movie loving family, and a couple of years ago we splurged on a projector and giant screen. On nice nights we set it up outside with a couple of outdoor speakers, and bring the feel of the drive-in right to us. You might think that you won’t get a lot of use out of it, but we’ve surprised ourselves! The kids love having an outdoor movie night as their birthday party, and in the winter, we just set it up inside.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of TruGreen. The opinions and text are all mine.
Comments submitted may be displayed on other websites owned by the sponsoring brand.
Dan H.
Great ideas Katrina!!! Inexpensive is good!!!
Michael John
Sandboxes are wonderful places for creativity as are piles of dirt with rocks and small logs. Make a formal sandbox area using 2×4’s or pile a mound of dirt in a corner of your yard. Kids will love the freedom creating their own messy worlds using items from nature. This is one backyard project that doesn’t need much to be awesome.
Regards
Mj
Lucie Prunier
Great ideas Katrina!! I need to keep my kids busy!!
Fabric escudro
Excellent ideas for lovely outdoor parties Thank you so very much.
Neili
Awesome. I love them!
Michael Norman
Great KATRINA, Big backyards are perfect for games like cornhole, kickball, and badminton, but you don’t need to give up the games when all you have is a patio.
-Michael Norman
johnnkelsey
amazing KATRINA , Games like corn hole, kickball, and badminton are best played in expansive backyards, but you don’t have to stop playing them if all you have is a patio.
johnnkelsey
https://fitprinters.com/best-printers-under-200/
Anonymous
Your backyard oasis looks amazing! I’m currently swamped with my hausarbeit, and seeing this beautiful space makes me dream of a relaxing break. The design and setup are truly inspiring. Thanks for sharing these lovely pictures!