11 Outdoor Essentials Our Editors Are Loving This Summer

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The next time you receive the news that a storm or strong winds will likely soon hit your area, you won't want to be scrambling and wondering what exactly you will need to do in order to prepare your outdoor space for impact. It's much easier to stay calm by having a list of steps that you will need to take readily available to you ahead of time. That's why we're sharing the below five hacks that professionals use to prepare their outdoor spaces for severe wind and rain.

The Summer Olympics are here, and for the ninth time, Ralph Lauren has dressed the U.S. competitors in his All-American designs, including jeans, a navy blazer with white and blue piping that’s emblazoned with the iconic Polo logo, a blue and white striped shirt, and a navy knit tie for a timeless—and truly American—look.

More greenery means more oxygen! But did you know some plants even filter out contaminants and allergens? They create a space that is easy on the eyes, lungs, and mind. We share the best outdoor plants that improve the quality of the air you breathe!

Dunkin'

Summer isn't over yet, and there's still plenty of time to update your backyard space so you can enjoy it for the rest of the season—and beyond! Design experts are weighing in with their top project recommendations that you can easily tackle this weekend or in just an afternoon. They'll make all of the difference!

Eating al fresco is one of the highlights of summer and being able to cook outdoors is an added bonus. Whether that’s having a barbecue, firing up the pizza oven or turning on your gas oven, having a dedicated area for your kitchen has never been easier. There’s a huge range of kitchens to choose from. To keep it simple there are barbecue tables, which can be wheeled out next to your cooking area to make serving easier, or with a full-scale kitchen you can have almost every convenience you’d have indoors, including a fridge.

Gardens are abuzz and harvest baskets are full. Here’s how to soak up the last of the season while prepping for the next.

Without a doubt, there is one pot of flowers that is the most colorful on my patio right now. The surprising news is we just recently potted it despite the hot summer heat we're experiencing. I’m in steamy Alabama, with record humidity, so it’s a soupy, sticky, kind of hot here outdoors. Daily watering of many of my plants in the summer heat is simply is a must.

Southerners love their gardening and landscaping, but if you really want to make your outside space feel welcoming and ideal for entertaining, it's time to figure out a hardscape plan. Unlike landscape which refers to the living elements like grass, trees, and flowers in your outdoor design, hardscape is the «non-living» elements like concrete, stone, and more.

Aldi; Design: Better Homes & Gardens

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