c/backyard-living

Best backyard day in years happened last Saturday

We finally got that fire pit built after months of planning, and I grilled burgers while the kids roasted marshmallows until 9pm. Has anyone else found that string lights completely change the feel of a backyard?

I finally used that expensive soil test kit I bought last spring

Bought a $60 soil test kit from the local farm supply in March because my tomatoes kept coming out small and bitter. Ran all the tests and turns out my pH was perfect but my nitrogen was through the roof from over-fertilizing. Has anyone else gotten results that made you scratch your head?

My $400 misting system was a total flop

I dropped $400 on one of those fancy misting setups for my patio in Phoenix thinking it'd make summer bearable. Hooked it up to the hose and tested it, but the water pressure is too low so it just dribbles on the concrete. Anyone else get burned by a backyard gadget that sounded good on paper?

Had a chat with my deck builder that changed how I think about pressure washing

Last summer my guy Mike from Apex Decks in Portland told me I was blasting my cedar deck way too close with the pressure washer. He said 12 inches away max or you're basically sanding the wood down with water. Ever since I backed off and used a wider tip the wood looks way better after 8 months. Anyone else ruin a deck board from holding the wand too close?

Just realized I was overwatering my hydrangeas all summer long

After losing three plants to wilting and yellow leaves, I finally tested the soil moisture with a cheap $8 meter. Turns out I was drowning them every day when they only needed water twice a week. Has anyone else killed a plant by loving it too much?

Finally had to pick between a gas fire pit and a wood burning one for my patio in Portland

I was back and forth for weeks about which to get for our little backyard hangout spot, ended up going with the wood burning option because my buddy said the smell of real smoke makes the evening. First time we lit it, the flames were huge and unpredictable and it took forever to get going plus the ash got everywhere on the concrete. Anyone else regret not going with gas when they have to deal with cleanup every time they want a fire?

My neighbor told me I was overwatering my tomatoes (she was right, I was drowning them)

For two seasons I thought more water meant bigger fruit. Then my neighbor Sue (she's 70 and grows prize-winning beefsteaks) walked over and said my soil looked like swamp mud. She showed me how to check moisture by sticking my finger in 2 inches deep, only water when it's dry. I switched to twice a week instead of daily and my plants actually look happier. Anybody else get called out by a neighbor for something obvious?

My plastic patio chairs melted in the sun last July

I left my cheap resin chairs out in the backyard during that heatwave last July in Phoenix and came home to find they had literally warped and sagged from the sun. I had six of them and three were totally ruined, the plastic got soft and just folded over itself. Now I store them in the shed when the temp hits 105 and I'm looking at getting some aluminum ones instead. Has anyone tried those outdoor aluminum chairs and do they actually stay cool enough to sit on?

Appreciation post: my shady backyard finally grew grass

I spent about $200 on different seed mixes over 3 years and nothing took in my shady corner... then I tried a fine fescue blend from a local nursery in Portland. After 6 weeks of just keeping it damp and letting it be, I've got actual green patches back there. Has anyone else had luck with a specific shade mix that actually worked for them?

Neighbor gave me a half-dead rose bush 2 years ago - it finally bloomed this morning

My neighbor Mrs. Garcia saw me struggling with bare dirt along my fence line back in spring of 2022 and just handed me this scraggly rose bush she was gonna toss. I stuck it in the ground on a whim and pretty much ignored it. This morning I walked out with my coffee and saw 3 big red blooms on it - felt like she gave me a gift twice. Has anyone else had a plant surprise you way later than you expected?

Finally swapped my gas grill for charcoal after 10 years of stubbornness

My neighbor in Austin let me taste a brisket off his offset smoker last month, and I couldn't deny the smoke flavor difference anymore. Anyone else make the switch and feel dumb for waiting so long?

Just visited a neighbor's backyard and saw they put their fire pit right under a low-hanging oak branch

I was over there for a cookout last Saturday and asked if they ever worried about sparks catching the leaves, and they just shrugged like it never crossed their mind, so has anyone else had to bite their tongue about a neighbor's dangerous setup?

Dropped $80 on a cheap fire pit and it rusted through in 3 weeks

I got excited and bought a $80 fire pit off Amazon without reading the fine print about the paint finish. Three weeks later, after two rainy nights, the bottom was completely orange with rust spots. I tried to cover it with a tarp but the damage was done already. Now I'm looking at spending around $200 on a proper steel one from a local hardware store. Anyone else get burned by a cheap backyard purchase that didn't hold up?

Hit 50 different bird species in my backyard this year and I'm kind of shocked

I started keeping a list back in March just to see what showed up at my feeder in Phoenix. Last week I spotted a hooded oriole and that put me over 50 species which felt crazy for a standard suburban yard. Anybody else track this stuff and find way more variety than they expected?

Just found out my compost pile hit 160 degrees last week and I'm weirdly proud

My dad told me to plant my new maple tree 15 feet from the house, but my neighbor said 10 feet was fine.

I listened to my neighbor and planted it 10 feet out, and now the roots are starting to push up my patio stones after just three years. Has anyone else had a tree cause damage because it was planted too close to a structure?

I was watering my vegetable garden every morning for months and it was a total waste

I mean, my plants were just okay, not great. Then my aunt visited from Tucson and saw me doing it. She just said, 'You're watering the leaves, not the roots.' I felt so dumb. I got a soaker hose and put it right on the soil, and everything perked up in like a week. Has anyone else had a basic watering mistake that took way too long to figure out?

Update: Saw a neighbor in Milwaukee use a kiddie pool for a fire pit base

They just put a cheap plastic pool under their metal fire ring to catch all the ash and embers. I tried it in my own yard last month and it made cleanup way easier, plus it protects the grass. Anyone else have a simple hack for keeping a fire pit area tidy?

Appreciation post: I went with a fire pit instead of a grill and everyone thought I was nuts

Last spring, my wife and I had to pick between a built-in gas grill or a simple stone fire pit for our small patio. Everyone said the grill was the smart choice for cooking... but I chose the fire pit for about $400. We've used it almost every weekend since, just sitting around it talking. The grill people are still just flipping burgers alone. Anyone else go against the grain on their main backyard feature?

Pro tip: a simple string of lights changed my whole patio vibe last week

I hung up some basic solar string lights across my patio fence on a whim last Tuesday, and now my evening coffee outside feels like a mini vacation. It cost me maybe $25 at the hardware store and took 20 minutes to set up. Anyone have other cheap ideas to make a small backyard feel more cozy at night?

I bought a cheap plastic composter from a big box store and it fell apart after just 8 months.

I'm out about $80 and now have a pile of half-rotted kitchen scraps to deal with, so what's a better compost bin that can handle a Midwest winter?

My string lights kept going out until I saw a neighbor's setup

I had my outdoor string lights hung from the fence to the house for about a year, and they'd always flicker or die when it rained. I just figured the brand was bad. Then last week, I saw my neighbor's lights were still on during a downpour. I walked over and saw he had wrapped every single plug connection with electrical tape. I went home and did the same thing, and now mine work fine in any weather. What other simple fixes have you all found for outdoor lighting?

Pro tip: check your local soil before buying a whole pallet of sod

I wasted about $400 on a full pallet of St. Augustine grass last spring because it looked great at the garden center. My backyard clay soil was way too compacted and wet, so half the sod just rotted in place within a couple of weeks. I should have tested a small patch first or even just aerated the area properly. Has anyone else had this happen and found a grass type that handles heavy clay better?

My neighbor told me to plant my tomatoes in late April, not May...

He's been gardening here in Cincinnati for 40 years and insisted our last frost date is earlier than the seed packet said. I planted on April 22nd and now my plants are a foot taller than last year's. When do you all put your warm weather stuff in the ground?

Pro tip: I finally found a way to keep my patio umbrella from tipping over in the wind.

I was so tired of chasing it across the yard every time a storm blew through. I filled a 5-gallon bucket with concrete and sunk the base pole into it, and it hasn't moved an inch since. Has anyone else tried something like this, or is there a better way?