We’ve enjoyed a mix of sunny and rainy days this spring. Here are some updates from our front and back decks so far this season, what we’ve been working on, and what’s next on our outdoor to-do list. It’s a long list that will likely continue into summer.
Spring always brings a lot of outdoor tasks. We’ve had to slow our pace a bit after my husband injured his hand recently, so some plans have been postponed. We’re resetting expectations for what we’ll complete in the coming weeks and focusing on the most pressing projects for now.
Our lavender may need to be replaced at some point since it won’t last forever, but it’s still looking healthy for now (you can see it in front of the grass). Soon it should bloom and fill the air with its refreshing scent.
My dad helps with mowing and my parents pitch in around the yard, so maintaining the outdoor areas is very much a team effort. We’re happy we downsized—smaller outdoor spaces take less time to maintain, and there are plenty of parks nearby to enjoy without being responsible for them.
We’re excited to see peonies, roses, and hydrangeas open their blooms once the weather gives us a bit more sun. I’m surprised and delighted at how well the peonies are doing in pots—everything else seems to be slow to thrive, but these are flourishing. They make our outdoor rocking chairs look small by comparison. We also bought covers that worked well through the winter.
We planted the peonies in pots last year and left them out over winter. Now they’ve grown large and promise a season of many blooms. In Seattle we rarely saw such abundance, so I’m hopeful the rain won’t damage them and that they’ll open over the next couple of weeks.
Outdoor Project 1: Install Plant and Peony Supports
I added 24-inch plant supports to the peony pots last week. They come in sets of 12 and I used three supports per pot. They’re mostly hidden and can be removed after the blooms fade. These supports are an easy and effective way to keep heavy flowers upright, whether in pots or in the garden.
Our Eden Climber roses are thriving so far without much maintenance. I know I should be fertilizing and pruning—definitely need to learn more—but they seem happy for now.
Outdoor Spring Project 2: Add Trellises
I installed another trellis this week to guide the climbing roses away from the railing. They may have minds of their own, but trellises add character and help shape the plants. Eventually plant wire may be used to support heavier growth, but I love how trellises look.
The sunny side of the deck is clearly helping these plants thrive, especially the peonies. I hesitated to install a deck here at first, since it was one of the last sunny spots, but I pictured potted plants and it inspired the decision. The deck also keeps plants out of reach of smaller critters like bunnies and, usually, deer—though one did get into the yard recently and feasted on our hydrangeas. We’ll need to secure the entry point to protect the plants.
I’ll share more photos once the roses and peonies are fully in bloom so you can see progress (and what still needs work).
Over the next few weeks we’ll do simple updates on the back and side porches. I’m excited to try fresh pieces that better fit those compact spaces.
Outdoor Spring Project 3: Refresh a Porch
We refreshed the front door porch recently, adding a bit of spring cheer even on gloomy days. I also shared a short video of the porch on Instagram. It was fun to rearrange and update with a few spring items to create a welcoming entry.
We have several small porches and decks and are figuring out how to use each one. I loved the side porch at our previous home and hope to recreate that cozy sanctuary feeling here. I’m especially looking forward to porch sitting this summer.
Summer here is ideal—mild and comfortable. I’d gladly wear a sweater all summer rather than deal with hot weather. The dogs enjoy perching on the porch to watch the neighborhood and will keep their lookout spots even while we update these areas.
Outdoor Spring Project 4: Plant Window Boxes (Railing Boxes)
We planted trailing Bacopa in our railing boxes and left some faux greens in place for now to keep things simple. The new plants are small but should fill out over time. Bacopa and petunias are easy, dependable choices for trailing window boxes.
Outdoor Spring Project 5: Clean Window Boxes (Railing Boxes)
Before planting, we took the window boxes down and cleaned them thoroughly. They were left out over winter and still held up well. If yours sag, a carefully placed screw along the bottom can often fix the problem.
Outdoor Spring Project 6: Paint Railings, Doors and Trim
We’ll need to paint the house soon—spring highlighted how much it needs freshening. My husband has already refreshed the front door, porch railings, and ceiling with a lightened Wythe Blue (Benjamin Moore). Coastal weather means painting porches and trim is likely to be seasonal maintenance, but a refreshed look feels worth the effort.
We traded some yard work for painting when we moved here—there’s always something to maintain, but it’s rewarding to care for the home and yard.
We’re slowly learning how to care for our home and yard by the sea.
Can you believe we first toured this house four years ago in July?
We moved in that fall and have been settling in ever since.
We’ve never lived anywhere longer than six years, sometimes only four, so it feels wonderful to settle into a place we hope will be our long-term home. There are more projects underway, including a roundup of backyard work completed over the past year.
I’m grateful this will be our “forever home,” God-willing. We look forward to making it our own over many more years.
I’ll add a few sources for porch pieces and outdoor items I love below. Leave a comment if you have questions.
Our window boxes and related outdoor items are listed below as references for the pieces we used around the porch and decks:
Our window boxes (and similar styles available online)
Artificial topiaries
Blue rocking chairs and rocking chair covers
Trellises
Peony/plant supports (24-inch)
Blue and white pots on cart
Striped melamine dessert/salad plates
Hand woven wicker metal general basket
Outdoor doormat
Hostess tray
Striped napkin set
Outdoor 3-tier metal and rattan cart