Handymen say these things are eyesores in your backyard & are so cheap & easy to fix

Dandelions and other weeds are a major eyesore in your yard. But Asif Bux, the co-founder of Comfort Union, says that this weeder tool “pulls them up with hardly any effort and without bending over.” It features a 45-inch bamboo handle for reach and a four-claw steel head to get the job done.

One way to spruce up boring deck railings or fencing is with these hanging planters. “They instantly bring a cheerful burst of colour to drab spaces, and you can swap out flowers seasonally for a fresh look,” explains Bux. The four included planters are made from durable plastic with metal hooks for hanging. There’s a self-watering feature on the bottom in case you don’t quite have a green thumb.

Sticking with Bux’s recommendation of livening up your deck, this plastic planter has a cutout on the bottom to sit perfectly on the railing. It’s 24 inches long to hold a large amount of greenery and the drain plugs in the bottom prevent overwatering. Choose from four colors in the listing.

If it feels like your backyard is overrun by clutter — like gardening tools, pool accessories, furniture cushions, and the like — then this storage box is the solution. “A weatherproof storage box keeps everything dry, organized, and out of sight while providing extra seating or storage,” notes Bux. This pick holds 31 gallons of gear, but larger options are available via the listing.

“For those wide-open backyards where you need a little extra privacy or shade, waterproof outdoor curtains work wonders,” explains Bux. These polyester curtains in particular block the sun’s harmful UV rays — but they are still breathable. One curtain panel is included — loads of colors and lengths can be selected in the listing.

According to Bux, brown spots in your lawn and wilting flowers can be due to overlooking the health of your soil. A soil moisture meter like this one is a must-have for correcting the issue. “Once you know the issue, you can add the right nutrients or adjust watering to bring plants back to their vibrant best,” he adds. It provides information about the moisture levels, pH, temperature, and sunlight.

As Bux explains it, “Many backyards lack proper lighting, making them feel uninviting at night.” However, these string lights are a simple fix. The 35-foot strand puts out a soft white light (there are three lighting modes, too), and since it’s powered by the sun, you don’t have to worry about hanging it near an outlet. Waterproof by design, the lights will last through the seasons. The strand comes with hooks, ties, and a remote.

These stake lights stick directly into the ground so you can utilize them pretty much anywhere in your backyard to follow Bux’s recommendation of adding light to boost your yard’s ambiance. They’re solar powered and the lights will shine for up to 10 hours at night.

“Unkempt shrubs and hedges can make a yard look wild,” describes Bux. Tidy them up using these 15-inch hedging shears. The high-carbon steel blades are strong and sharp for clean cuts, while the nonslip handles and lightweight design provide maximum comfort to keep your hands free of blisters.

Niki O'Brien, the operations manager at Custom Exteriors LLC, explains that rips on screens are not only a visual nuisance, but they also impact functionality since they “[prevent] you from using your screens and windows to enjoy outdoor breezes.” Luckily, you don’t need to fully replace your screens. Rather, you can repair them using this waterproof screen tape — it sticks on to fix holes and tears of any size.

Shlomo Cherniak, the owner of Cherniak Home Services, cautions that “broken, old, or worn-out fences may give your backyard a neglected appearance.” For a simple refresh, use this fence stain and sealer. The water-based formula can be sprayed, brushed, or rolled on, and it provides waterproof protection for all wooden surfaces, meaning it’d work for a deck, too. Pick from three finishes in the listing.

Fill in dead, bare spots in your yard with this pro-recommended mulch, seed, and fertilizer combo. Cherniak says, “Many homeowners have noticed a visible improvement in their lawn's condition within 2-3 weeks of application.” The product can work in sunny or shaded areas and is meant to be applied in spring or fall when temperatures are between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cherniak calls this tool organizer a favorite — you can use it to hang up all of your gardening tools (like shovels, rakes, gloves, and more) in one place for “an organized, neat, and clean appearance,” he says. The organizer has five slip-resistant slots that’ll automatically adjust in size for different handles. It also has six retractable hooks for hanging items.

Another idea if you don’t have a free outdoor wall to organize your garden tools is to use a freestanding organizer like this one. Made of heavy-duty plastic, it’s safe to use indoors and out to store up to 40 tools.

Hose always a jumbled mess? Cherniak recommends a storage pot like this one as an attractive yet functional solution. It can corral a hose that’s up to 300 feet long and the bottom opening provides convenient access for when you need it. The pot features a solid resin construction for durability — it’s weatherproof to last for years.

While AC units are a necessity, that doesn’t mean they look the best. This privacy fence allows you to “conceal them [...] while making sure that they remain accessible,” notes Cherniak. Included are two panels that can form an L shape or a straight line depending on your setup. They’re made from white vinyl that won’t rust, corrode, or discolor.

To cover a less-than-desirable electrical box in your backyard, per Cherniak’s suggestion, try this faux rock. It has a natural color and shape to blend in with the existing landscape, and despite being lightweight, it’s held securely in place using two stakes. The rock is 13 by 13.5 by 10.5 inches in size.

Josh Mitchell, plumbing technician and the owner of plumbinglab.com, says, “Dead patches in your lawn can be an eyesore, but they are often easy to fix with some grass seed and a bit of topsoil.” He has some advice: “Scotts EZ Seed Patch and Repair Sun and Shade is an excellent choice for quickly beautifying bare spots. It combines mulch, seed, and fertilizer to promote growth in difficult conditions.” This grass seed works super well in high-sun, high-traffic, or otherwise hard-to-grow areas of your lawn.

While applying a fresh coat of paint to your entire exterior will freshen up the look of your home, that solution can be costly. Instead, Mike Falahee, the president of Marygrove Awnings, recommends putting up these metal trellises like these “to distract and camouflage less-than-pretty exteriors.” He adds that you could “incorporate evergreen vines on [them] to provide year-round foliage and even more dimension.” The two trellises in the set stand 46 inches tall when pushed into the ground and the powder-coated finish provides protection against the elements.

Don’t underestimate the power of paint. “A fresh coat of outdoor spray paint can revitalize metal or wood furniture,” notes Mitchell. He recommends this specific flat white paint as an ideal first coat — it’ll adhere to wood, metal, wicker, plastic, and other surfaces, plus it dries in a snap.

“When you're considering cheap and easy improvements here, I would recommend exterior lighting,” explains Dan Bailey, the president of WikiLawn Lawn Care. He specifically calls out adding lighting to fencing as one solution and these four solar-powered lights put out a warm white glow for ambiance. They’ll turn on automatically at dusk and flip off in the morning. They’re waterproof and can be installed with included tape or screws.

Another perk of utilizing more lighting in your backyard? “Adding some exterior lights can really help your home look well-kept and inviting for guests in the evenings—especially important in the short days of the winter months,” notes Bailey. This 16-pack of lights is specially designed to rest on your deck rails. The lights are solar powered, flipping on and off on their own depending on the time of day. A color-changing option is also available in the listing.

Another idea to follow Bailey’s suggestion to boost lighting in and around your garden is to add these swaying lights. They have a flexible wire body that allows them to gently move in the wind, imitating fireflies. The pair of lights are heat- and moisture-resistant (plus solar powered) so you don’t have to worry about plugging them into an outlet.

For a more whimsical approach to Bailey’s lighting suggestion, these twinkling lights will do the trick. The pair of 33-foot strands can be wrapped around plants and other features. The eight lighting modes — including twinkle, steady on, and more — provide a custom experience. The lights are solar powered and waterproof.

"You can give your fence a low-cost makeover by incorporating decorative lattice panels,” explains Tanner Hamby, the director of operations at Stand Strong Fencing. Each panel in this pair of trellises expands up to 75 inches wide and they’re both constructed of treated wood that won’t corrode or fade — even when positioned directly in the sun.

“Having long grass, dead grass, or crab grass can make a whole lawn look unkempt and dilapidated,” says Josh Rudin, the owner of ASAP Restoration. However, if you don’t quite have the budget for a mower (or your yard is too small to warrant one), then this lightweight trimmer is another suitable option. It converts from a lawn trimmer to a wheeled edger with ease. And the adjustable handle makes it comfortable for anyone to utilize.

Rusty furniture is a no-no. It “makes a backyard space look like it hasn’t been visited or kept up with in a while,” notes Rudin. However, this budget-friendly can of spray paint can help with this — spray it directly onto the furniture (no sanding necessary), and it’ll convert the rust into a paintable surface. It leaves behind a flat black finish that can be painted in just 24 hours.

Deborah Lamberton, the general manager at ASAP Restoration LLC, calls out overgrown vegetation as a backyard eyesore. She recommends using a hedge trimmer to clean up larger branches and thicker shrubs in order “to get the best results and cleanest lines.” The trimmer has a 5.5-inch hardened steel blade for trimming hedges, and even has a smaller 3.25-inch attachment for cleaning up your lawn. It’s designed to be easy to hold and wield, making the job that much more comfortable.

If your fence is stained from mold, mildew, or algae, Hamby suggests power washing or applying a fence-cleaning solution like this sprayable cleaner. The packaging features a built-in hose adapter for spraying power, and the commercial-grade formula cleans and brightens in only a few minutes.

Another way to spruce up your fence according to Hamby? Utilizing decorative post caps. They’re made from weatherproof and UV-resistant plastic for durability, though they have a wood-grain finish that looks like the real thing. The caps can also be used on deck posts.

Taylor Olberding, the founder of Heroes Lawn Care, says that while weeds are common eyesores, they’re also simple to eliminate. For this, he recommends a weeding tool like this “for precise grooming that keeps your lawn looking tidy.” It features a sturdy stainless steel blade outfitted with different edges (including a serrated one and a sharp, flat edge) and a concave shape that’s designed to fit into tight spaces like cracks and the gaps between pavers. The grippy handle is comfortable to maneuver.

While Paige Warrington, the project supervisor at ASAP Restoration LLC, acknowledges that having a pergola, lanai, or other similar wooden structure can be a plus, they tend to get run down without proper care. “When those structures are dilapidated, with chipping paint or deteriorating wood, then they can be more of an eyesore than anything else,” she adds. To restore these structures, you can use matte chalk paint. When swiped on, it self-levels for a flawless, smooth finish (no sanding necessary). Choose from 50-plus colors in the listing.

If you have a pond in your backyard, Warrington recommends installing this submersible pump in it (or replacing an old one that may not work or is filled with vegetation), which “looks gorgeous” when running. There are three nozzles included for different water flows and the high-efficiency motor runs shockingly quietly.

Wood is necessary for fire pits and bonfires, but towering stacks of it don’t look the best. Al Ruggie, the marketing director at ASAP Restoration LLC, says that a firewood rack like this one can “make a firewood pile look like a feature rather than a mistake.” It’s made from stainless steel to hold up to 175 pounds in the main section (there are smaller brackets on the sides for tinder). The powder-coated finish makes it waterproof, rust resistant, and nearly impossible to dent.

If your home utilizes a well, then you know that the well cap could be positioned somewhere that’s undesirable — like the middle of the yard. If that’s the case, Ruggie advises using an attractive cover like this one to disguise it. It’s made from heavy-duty resin but looks like a realistic oak stump to blend in.