Put in a Fire Pit
Nothing says autumn like roasting marshmallows over a backyard fire pit. Swap your sandals for a sweatshirt and head outside for some ghost stories and s'mores. Buy one, or DIY one. You won't regret it.
Related: How To: Build a Basic Backyard Fire Pit
Plant Fall Veggies
When summer harvests of tomatoes and cucumbers fade, plant some cold-weather veggies, such as kale, spinach, lettuce, peas, broccoli rabe, and more. Fall garden crops will draw you outside for tending and picking, and will extend the season's bounty on your dinner table.
Get a Patio Heater
Don't let 50-degree temps force you indoors. A patio heater makes sitting outside on a chilly fall evening not only possible but comfortable too. Whether you want propane or electric, tabletop or stand-alone, you can find a patio heater that will fit your needs and let you enjoy your outdoor spaces until the extreme cold sets in.
Create an Outdoor Room
An outdoor room can make or break the time you spend outside in autumn. Install a pergola or patio and fill it with comfortable furnishings, and you'll have a hard time tearing yourself away. Have a screened porch? Trick it out for cool weather with soft lighting, a patio heater, pillows, and throws. Who says the season's over?
Plant a Fall Bearing Orchard
Plant fall bearing fruit trees to create opportunities for outdoor activity as temperatures dip. Surveying and tending trees is a pleasurable pastime, and once the harvest is in, a DIY cider press, juicer, or canning equipment can make quick work of your crop, with plenty left over to share with the neighbors.
Install an Outdoor Kitchen
Grillin' and chillin' is not just for summer. If you upgrade your grill to an outdoor kitchen, you'll be more likely to keep on cooking outside, long into sweatshirt weather. The smells of autumn should include barbecue sauce!
Upgrade Outdoor Lighting
As the days get shorter and darkness arrives earlier, it's natural to retreat inside even when the weather is good. Keep your yard inviting well into evening by upgrading your outdoor lighting. Well-placed string lights, wall lights, and path lights can extend the time you spend outside before it's time for bed.
Put in a Spa
The pools may be closed, but you can still enjoy the outdoors in colder weather if the water is warm enough. A spa is great for soothing sore muscles after a long day of raking leaves, and there's no better place to sit and enjoy the evening stars.
Head Outside for Games
When the weather cools, you're not as easily drawn outdoors by games and activities, so make the time. Build a horseshoe pit, or make or buy other outdoor games, then grab a cup of hot cider and head outside. Your friends and neighbors will soon join in.
Prolong Patio Season
Get to enjoy more of your outdoor space for more of the year.
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