5 things that make your backyard look messy — and how to quickly fix it

Spring is here, and as we all take in deep breathes of fresh air and absorb some lovely sunshine on our skin, it's the perfect time to spruce up your backyard or any outdoor space you have. After all, spring really is the best opportunity to shake off the cobwebs and get ready to start hosting guests.

But, while our yards have been somewhat neglected over the winter months, given they don't need much maintenance work in the cold weather, it's time to get back out there and tackle any mess.

And there's a few simple things you might've been doing that make your backyard look really messy (and I'm certainly guilty), but there's also some really easy ways to fix it. Here's what you need to get rid of and what you should avoid doing if you want your guests (and you) to enjoy your outdoor space.

5 things that make your yard look messy

I'm a sucker for a spot of spring cleaning and by a spot, I mean I clear out my entire house. All of a sudden, the sunlight shows me where the dust has been landing. And then my attention turns to my backyard and I start to notice things I've done that make it look messy. Here's five things I've spotted and how to fix them:

1. Overgrown shrubs and plants

As spring begins to breathe abundant life back into your shrubs and plants, you'll quickly notice that they can get a little out of control. Pruning them back to the shape you desire and taking care of any old plants that have died over the winter months is a great first step in making your garden look a lot less messy.

But, Garden Project Academy, advises: "Don't go on a plant-removing spreed too fast. I recommend identifying the plants you have and learning a bit about them, first."

While it might not fit in with the aesthetic of the tidy garden you're looking for, it's worth assessing what the plants are before totally removing them from your garden. A trim and prune will at least tidy them up though.

2. Clutter

When you're not using your yard as much over the winter, it can easily become cluttered with unused, broken, or displaced items. There'll certainly be obvious items of clutter to remove from your yard or place back where they belong. Then, you'll want to focus on the pots.

Over the winter months, plants may have died and now appear cluttered. Empty out the plants that are no longer thriving and replace them with intention.

But, it's important to reiterate what you'll hear a lot of gardeners saying: "Leave the leaves." Leaves aren't clutter and they can actually be really great for fertilizing, becoming free mulch, or creating a lovely ecosystem for your garden critters to live in.

3. Neglected areas

It can be really easy to neglect your patio area or a quiet corner of your backyard when you're focused on trimming the bushes and keeping the grass even, but don't sleep on creating a space to relax in.

And, fortunately, it really can be as simple as repurposing things you already have in your yard. Design with intention, set up a Pinterest board, reposition furniture and plant pots, and even create your own plant pots with tin cans (really).

When you create a cohesive look throughout your backyard, it'll all look a lot less messy and a lot more like you've shown your backyard some real love.

4. Plastic garden furniture

Now, there's nothing wrong with saving money on garden furniture, but what you might want to avoid is plastic garden furniture and that's because it degrades easily over time, especially when living outside. There's a risk of easy wear-and-tear, as well as staining and fading in the sun over time.

Fortunately, there's a cheap kitchen staple that'll bring your garden furniture back to life or you might want to think about reinvesting in a more durable material like rattan, teak wood or powder-coated aluminium.

5. Messy edges

This one's totally down to preference as you may like a messier look, but a lot of people suggest neatening your edges is a great way to clean up your messy yard.

Garden Project Academy explains: "A crisp, clean, and visually defined edge is a landscaping superpower – it creates an almost instant sense of order, intention, and polish. Even a chaotic garden bed can look intentional if the lawn edge is neat or the pathway is very defined."

And to create a definition between the edge of your lawn and the edge of your flower beds, they recommend using a flat shovel as well as using shears to trim down the grass for an even neater look.

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