Spring is almost here, and that means nights out on the patio. With more sunlight in the evening, your patio is the perfect place to grill, eat dinner, sit by the fire, and play with the kids. But it’s likely been a while since you used your patio! Don’t worry, we have a checklist on everything you need to do to get your patio ready for spring!
- Clean it all.
It’s probably been a while since you gave your patio a good cleaning. Take the time now to clear off the patio. Get trash, leaves, sticks, pinecones, or other debris out of the way and make sure everything is in its place. Once your patio is cleared off, you can blow off any excess dirt or debris or give it a good sweep. Next, pressure wash all the stains from last patio season off and clean any patio furniture. You can wash furniture cushions in your washing machine and take soapy water and a rag or scrub brush to everything else. - Add a fresh coat.
Your furniture or patio covering may need a fresh coat of paint or stain this year. Once everything is nice and clean, take a good look and see if anything could use some more TLC. You want to make sure your patio and everything on it can withstand lots of use over the next several months. - Cozy things up.
Now that everything is clean and freshly painted or stained, it’s a good time to add some cozy touches. You may want an outdoor rug for the space, new cushions for the chairs, or blankets or pillows to make things even cozier. - Add some shade.
If you don’t have a covering or patio umbrella on your patio (or it’s needs replacing), now is a great time to do that. While it may still be a little cool in the early mornings and late in the evenings, we all know the sun will be sweltering before long. Get the most use out of your patio with something that can offer some shade. - Take care of your plants.
Are there any flower beds nearby or potted plants on the patio that need a little love? Water them, weed them, repot them if needed, and lay down some fresh mulch. If a few too many plants didn’t survive the winter, it might be time to head to your local nursery or hardware store to pick up a few new ones. Plants and greenery help to add layers to your patio and can make things even cozier and homey. - Let there be light.
What’s cozier than some bistro lights and a fire on a spring evening? We can’t think of anything else! If you don’t have trees or a patio covering to hang the lights on, anchor wood posts in planters to hang the lights from. This offers a convenient, mobile option in case you decide you want to change your patio layout at some point or if you’re renting. - Get the grill ready.
Before you host friends for a get-together on the patio or even cook hamburgers and hotdogs for the family this weekend, you want to make sure you get your grill ready. Remove the grates of your grill and clean out any debris from the charcoal basin if you have a charcoal grill. You can also sand lightly to get rid of any rust. Be sure to clean out any drip pans your grill has. Use a stiff wire brush and steel wool to remove rust and build up from the grates, and then wash in warm soapy water. After they’re completely dry, coat them in a thin layer of cooking oil. Don’t forget to take time to clean your grill utensils too! - Take care of your firepit.
If you have a wood burning fire pit, remove any ashes leftover from last year and check for any cracks that need to be patched. It wouldn’t be a bad time to get some firewood ready too. If you have a gas girl, make sure the burners are clean and have proper gas flow from the fuel lines.
That's it! Now it's time to sit back, relax and enjoy the beautiful spring days and nights from the comfort of your patio.