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6 ideas to clean up your backyard

Image of tidy backyard with great looking grass

Overview

Here are 6 ideas for a backyard clean up. It’s a whole lot easier to tidy up when you know where to start and how to break up a big cleaning task into smaller, more manageable ones.

Safety tip: Always wear the appropriate safety equipment (safety glasses, gloves, ear muffs and a mask, for example) and always follow the instructions for the product or equipment.

Steps

1Clear the clutter

Start your backyard clean-up by clearing the clutter—gather up loose tools, old toys, plant pots, and outdoor furniture that have been left around. Sort them into piles for donation, recycling, garden waste, storage, or trash. Once sorted, return any gardening tools and planter pots to their proper spots in the shed or garage. Clean outdoor furniture, kids’ toys, and other items with a hose or cloth before placing them back in their spots, and consider donating any excess items to keep things tidy.

Next, invest in a weatherproof storage box to neatly store items like gardening tools, furniture cushions, and kids’ toys. Choose a storage box that fits your space and style—some options even double as extra seating, making it both a practical and stylish addition to your clean backyard. By organising these items and reducing clutter, you’ll instantly refresh your outdoor area and create a more inviting space.

Placing a pillow in a weatherproof storage box

2Trim the hedges

It’s recommended to trim the hedges once or twice a year to keep your garden looking great and your plants healthy. When left overgrown, your garden can look messy and a lot smaller than it actually is. To trim the hedges, use sharp pruning shears or a hedge trimmer for a clean cut. Start by removing any dead or overgrown branches, then shape the hedge by trimming from the bottom up, keeping the top narrower than the base for even sunlight exposure. For a fun twist, try creating topiary shapes—like spirals or animals—or trim the hedge to follow the natural contours of your garden beds.
Trimming the hedges with a Ryobi hedge trimmer

3Tackle the lawn

Nothing boosts the appeal and value of a backyard more than a well-kept clean lawn. If your lawn is overgrown, don’t panic. Start with mowing to get a uniform grass height that will eventually promote better growth and keep your lawn healthy with maintenance. Next, tidy up the edges with a string trimmer. To keep weeds under control, remove them by hand or with a weed puller. Then apply a selective herbicide or natural weed suppressant to keep them at bay. Lastly, you can apply a slow-release fertiliser for some nutrients to really get your lawn looking lush and inviting.
Mowing the lawn with a Ryobi brushless lawn mower

4Clean the patio area

If you’re into entertaining, then cleaning up the patio is a must. Start by removing any outdoor furniture from the area so that you can sweep away dirt and debris, or you can use a leaf blower instead to make this quick and easy. Then, use a mixture of water and mild detergent to scrub away at the surface before rinsing well with a hose or pressure washer.

For decking, follow the same steps, focusing on any stained or grimy areas. Rinse well and let the deck dry completely before applying any sealant or stain to protect the wood. If you’ve got any outdoor furniture that’s collected dust and cobwebs, now’s a good time to lay it on the lawn for a good rinse or wipe down.

Cleaning the patio with a pressure washer

5Clean your windows

To clean your windows, start by removing any dust, cobwebs, or dirt buildup around the window frames using a brush or vacuum. Then, mix some soapy water in a bucket and use a sponge or soft cloth to scrub the windows, making sure to get into all the corners and edges. To tackle stubborn dirt, a squeegee works wonders to achieve a streak-free finish. If you’re dealing with a lot of grime, you might want to use a pressure washer on a low setting.
cleaning the window using a Karcher squeegee

6Top up garden beds and add lighting

It's the little touches that make a garden truly shine, and adding mulch is one of them! Mulching not only keeps your soil moist, reduces weeds, and enriches the soil with organic matter, but it also adds a neat and polished look to your garden beds. Spread an even layer of mulch, like wood chips, straw, or shredded leaves, about five to seven centimetres thick across the soil, being careful not to pile it against plant stems to avoid rot and ensure proper air circulation.

For an extra touch of charm and functionality, consider adding some solar garden lighting along your pathways or among your garden beds. Solar lights provide a soft glow that highlights your plants and creates a welcoming atmosphere, all while being energy-efficient and easy to install.

Adding solar garden lights in the garden beds

7Keep in mind...

It’s easier to maintain your backyard regularly than to start from scratch! Once you’ve got this first round of tidying done, try to set out a day in your calendar every few months to prevent overgrowth and make future clean-ups less daunting.

8Want to know more about lawn care in depth?

Health & Safety

Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.

Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer.