We made it to July. This month's challenge is to go outside and clear out the messy areas of your backyard. I have broken this challenge into 5 mini challenges so it's not as intimidating. Good luck!
Here are the mini challenge zones to help you get your backyard super organized.
First, start with your tool zones. I call these areas the "Tool Zones" because as you know there are many tools in the backyard and they may be stored in different areas of the backyard.
1st mini challenge: The Tool Zones (shed, cabinet, and other tools): Go through and gather your tools and place like items together.
Are your tools in the same place? Do you have specific tools for specific tasks? What tasks do you do and what tools do you use for those tasks?
Here are some of my posts to help you with this part of the challenge:
Outside cabinet storage organizing on a shoe string budget
2nd mini challenge: Gardening and flower bed zone: Go around your gardening and flower beds and see if there are any changes you can make to help you save time with your tasks.
Is the hose nearby? Does it need to be closer to certain frequently watered areas? Should there be extra mulch or rock in certain areas? What areas need work? Write down the list of areas that need to be modified. Then, determine what is the priority.
Here are some of my posts to help you with this part of the challenge:
Fun Cheap and easy practical outdoor gardening ideas
Organizing a Raised bed garden
3rd mini challenge: Cleaning the items outside: There are many pieces of furniture that need to be cleaned before use. Chairs, tables, kid's play set, grills, etc... are some examples.
Walk around your backyard and pretend you just came outside. What areas need the most attention? Now, let's make a list of the areas that need to be cleaned.
Here are some of my posts to help you with this part of the challenge:
How to easily clean your grill - the complete guide
Winterizing your home (free checklist)
4th mini challenge: Outdoor toys zone: This area includes the pool toys, balls, bats, etc... that may be stored outside.
How are those pool toys? Are they worn out or torn? Do they function any more? Have the kids or adults, for that matter, used them? Look for all the balls in the backyard from inside the outside cabinets and on the ground just lying around. Are there any you can get rid of? Do they all have homes?
And finally, the 5th mini challenge: Relaxing and sitting zone: This is for the grownup areas. The conversation areas, the dining areas, and the areas to just relax.
This area is your fun area. Your reward for a job well done. Add a new fountain or a pretty fire pit to the area. Outdoor area rugs are great too. Make this area an oasis you want to visit each evening after work.
I am so excited to share with you these awesome Professional Organizers posts that will also help you with organizing your backyard. Feel free to click-through and check out their posts and their blogs as well.
Spring Cleaning Outdoors by Hazel at Organized for Life
Organizing Our Backyard Deck Box by Hilda at From Overwhelmed to Organized
Organizing Outdoors for a Relaxing Summer by Daria at Your Organized Life
Well, that's it for this month. I hope this helps you make your backyard a relaxing and fun place. Please leave a comment or question so I can help you with your obstacles in your backyard. I would love to help.
Hazel Thornton
Breaking tasks down into "mini-challenges" is a great idea! (I'm looking out my office window at my backyard as we speak.) Thanks for including my Spring Cleaning Outdoors blog post!
Autumn Leopold
Great post! Way to make a lot of work seem like smaller tasks! I need to round up all of our garden tools and create a garden storage zone in the garage...thanks for the motivation!
Janet Barclay
I love the way you broke this project down into five smaller ones. Your readers can do one a week, or blitz them all in one weekend, whatever works best for them. I don't have a backyard, but I would love to see a future post about organizing balconies!
Susan Cooper
Hi Sabrina, I love my backyard and patio. It's one of my favorite spots for relaxing. But Wow, it really takes a lot of work to keep the yard beautiful and the furniture clean and the flowers all blooming. It seems like every day there is something that can be done. 🙂 YOur tips are great.