It's Summer Party Time! Get the Yard Ready

May marks the beginning of outdoor party season for lots of homeowners. From weddings and graduations to a fun Memorial Day weekend, there are lots of reasons to spruce up the yard and have your best summer entertainment season ever.
Here are some tips on preparing your lawn, patio or deck and yard for some fun.

• Start preparing early.
  At least a week before your gathering, sit down and make a comprehensive list of all of your to do's, then assign them to family members. Everybody can help out, even the kids. Kid- friendly tasks include picking up toys and other items from the lawn before you mow, watering potted plants, helping to make party decorations and more.
• Clean the deck or patio. This is a great week-ahead project. If you have a pressure washer, this task will be easy. Read Five Ways to Use Your Pressure Washer Now to get started. When you finish cleaning, arrange your patio furniture to allow enough room for guests to walk around the table. Also, keep the grill safely away from guests, especially children.
• Fix unsightly areas.
  Now that the grass is growing, it is easier to see bare spots. Buy a roll of sod to make some quick patch-ups where needed. If you find that an area of your lawn is consistently beaten up year after year due to foot traffic, you may want to consider a permanent fix. In the meantime avoid a muddy trail by spreading wood chips to create a pathway. Wood chips or bark mulch will also freshen up the kids play area around swing sets and slides, as well as your flower beds. Other unsightly items, such as the garden hose piled up next to the house or that row of empty flower pots can be hidden in the garage or somewhere out of sight for your special weekend.
• Brighten up your party area with color.
  Annual plants are a great choice for adding color to your patio or deck. There are so many varieties to choose from. No matter where you live, you'll find plants that will add color and beauty to your party area. Simple clay pots are fine as containers - they are inexpensive and adapt to any decor. Grouping pots of different sizes along the side of a stairway or along your deck railing will create a striking statement. A low pot filled with flowering plants and a few trailing vines will create a beautiful centerpiece. Remember to water daily and use a potting soil that contains fertilizer.
• Mow your lawn and trim.
  Groom the yard a day or two before your gathering. Take the time to trim carefully along flowerbeds, sidewalks and fences (especially any areas that are visible from your patio or deck). If you are going to "spot kill" a few weeds, do so two weeks before your party date to avoid wilted or brown weeds dotting the backyard landscape.
• Quick Fix to Green Up the Lawn
  If your lawn needs a quick boost of color for that special weekend, you can CAREFULLY apply a fast-release fertilizer such as urea. Carefully is the key word. You do NOT want to apply too much fast-release fertilizer or you may burn your lawn! Urea is a common synthetic fertilizer. The bag will note: 46-0-0, indicating that nitrogen is all you are getting. Apply at a rate of no more than one-half pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Water the lawn after application. Within two-to-four days your lawn should respond. The intense green color will last two-to-three weeks.