Today's column is a public service for anyone who lives near neighbors who treat their driveways and yards like barns, mountains, or road stations. (Note: You may be his neighbor.)
This is a plea on behalf of those who suffer from rusty tricycles, broken dogs, broken ladders, plastic slides, last year's Christmas lights, and every faded Schottke that doesn't end up in the trash.
Reluctant onlookers joined the call to end pollution from balconies. We don't care how you feel in your home. (Well, it seems.) We need to look beyond, and we're asking you to clean it up.
The idea for today's post came from a weary reader a few weeks ago:
“Marnie, you once wrote an article on how to decorate your entryway, and the article on how to decorate your entryway got out of hand, frankly. In my area, the entrance is "decorated" with signs, chairs and tables. , lamps, benches, tables, pillows, rugs, planters, planters, wreaths, lamps, mini fridges, grass sculptures, fake trees, wicker deer, swings, hammocks and more, sometimes all in one yard.
“Can you tell the reader to throw away half of what's on the porch, then come back and take a closer look and throw away the other half? Thank you, Marlene."
So, Marlene, how are you feeling? I'm still a kid, but email In this column, we talk a lot about getting dirty inside our homes, but we shouldn't neglect our outdoor spaces.
In fact, keeping our driveways and patios clean and tidy may become more important the more people see them. If your interior is messy, you can at least close the curtains.
"Taking care of your yard shouldn't be any different than taking care of your living room," says Tony Evans, a landscape designer in Orlando, Florida. - Don't throw. In other words, don't put wicker chairs near watering cans and manure bags.
She adds that editing is important for creating open spaces that not only look good to others, but also make you want to be there. Ideally, your outdoor space should look like an extension of your interior.
New York architect Jimmy Crisp, author of On the Porch (Taunton Press), echoes this view. "When you look at a lot of neighborhoods in America, people need to be a little more careful about what they put on their doorsteps.
"Many people leave their porches open to gather with friends and chat with neighbors because the space is so inviting."
In other words, if people aren't stopping by because you have a baby potty and plastic garden gnomes in your house, you're missing out.
Here's what Evans and Crisp offers to help you and your neighbors reduce lawn and yard pollution:
1. DO NOT USE FOR STORAGE. Stop the temptation to use your patio or deck as a substitute for a garage, shed or basement. Evans said just because he's not home doesn't mean he's in the yard.
2. START WITH A GOOD CHAPTER . Because outdoor furniture needs to withstand the harsh elements of children's and teenagers' furniture, be sure to bomb-proof it.
"Change your patio furniture to look like your favorite room in the house," says Crisp. “When I bought outdoor furniture, I was shocked at the price, but I invested and it has lasted me 20 years. As a result, we are often outside."
3. PLACE THE FRYERS FIRST. Since no one wants to lie on a hard plastic chair, choose a soft, comfortable chair that will make you want to sit in it for a while.
Add a coffee table or dining table and a table or two for drinks and books. If there's room, add a rocking chair or rocking chair. do not collect. Let space be your guide.
4. USE TO SEND TIPS. Edit, edit, edit. We all tend to add, but not subtract. Constantly critique your space. Try to see as others see. If you feel too busy or full, stop.
5. LEAVE YOUR POLICY. If Crisp had his way, he would ban political yard signs. "They are my real strength," he said. "You see opposite views side by side. It's like a never-ending battle."
6. MAKES MURDER EASY. dirt is permanent outside. The smaller your yard, the easier it is to clean. Since the trees in Chris' yard shed leaves, seeds, pollen, and debris into his yard year-round, he provided a hose and cordless leaf blower to clean the deck and seat cushions. "It would be more difficult to have many children."
7. PURPOSE OFFER. Reduce clutter on your patio or yard by decorating with only the things you will use. Apart from the living plants that actually exist, it contains only functional elements.
In the outdoor seating area, I keep a few glass lanterns on the table with the candles I light while eating.
A woodpile, a bench with built-in storage for disposable items, a heat lamp or a mister can be other useful decorations. But think twice before heading out with that fake tree or wicker reindeer.
