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Once winter rolls in, many of us stop using our backyards, but you can still enjoy this outdoor space during these colder months. Here are a few ways to get the most out of your backyard in winter.
Invest in some outdoor heating and shelter
Most of us don’t fancy sitting outside in 40 °F, but with some outdoor heating it could be a cosy way to spend the winter evenings. Chimineas and fire pits are a popular means of providing some natural outdoor heat. If you don’t have the patience to deal with firewood, another option could be to invest in an electric patio heater – some of these are solar powered, so you don’t have to connect them to mains.
As for the wind and rain, there’s always the option of putting up a gazebo or a marquee. For a more permanent form of shelter, you could even build a canopy sticking out from the side of your home and put a table and chairs underneath (this canopy could also provide shade in the summer).
Cook winter foods on the barbecue
You could also consider getting the barbecue out in winter. There are lots of winter foods that taste great grilled on a barbecue such as turkey and lamb. Winter barbecuing is best suited to barbecues that have lids – by having the option to put the lid down you can stop your food getting soggy if it does rain. It’s also a good shout for the person manning the barbecue to wear some weatherproof clothing and potentially take an umbrella (you may not have to dress up too warm as the barbecue will provide some heat).
Grow your own winter vegetables
Winter can also be a great time for growing vegetables outdoors. When it comes to sowing plants in winter, onions and garlic are a good choice – the harsh winter conditions can actually make these vegetables taste more flavoursome, although you won’t be able to harvest them until summer. As for vegetables that can be harvested in winter, try the likes of spinach and sprouts and parsnips and potatoes (these will need to be sown in Spring or Summer).
Growing these vegetables in a greenhouse could make life much easier as you won’t have to put in as many measures to fight off the frost. You’ll find plenty of greenhouse kits for sale online. Those savvy enough could even take on the project of designing and building their own greenhouse.
Encourage winter wildlife
The winter could also be a time for spotting unique wildlife in your backyard. Birds such as robins and waxwings are popular across the North of the US in winter – by buying a birdfeeder for your backyard, you could help to attract some of these animals. Birdfeeders can be placed on poles or hung from trees and you generally won’t have to worry about squirrels stealing this food in winter as they will be hibernating.
