Decluttering The Side Yard s3e6
You know that narrow strip between your house and the fence?
The one where broken pots go to retire, garden hoses go to tangle, and old lawn chairs go when you feel too guilty to throw them away? 👀
That's your side yard ~ and it's basically the junk drawer of your outdoor spaces.
Today, Julie and Janis are helping you reclaim it AND your whole yard, so it becomes a place you actually WANT to spend time in.
Picnics, backyard campouts, fairy gardens (yes, really) ~ it's all possible when the clutter is gone!
Why the Side Yard Becomes a Dumping Ground
- Out of sight, out of mind ... and that's exactly the problem
- Common culprits: compacted mulch bricks, mismatched pot saucers, expired garden chemicals, and reusable bags that somehow migrate outside
Important Safety Note
- Old garden chemicals, paint, and batteries do NOT go in regular trash
- Search your local hazardous waste disposal site ~ it's often required by law!
Keep or LETS GO — Outdoors Edition
- Keep: Do I actually use it?
- LE Lives Elsewhere: Does it belong in the garage or house?
- T Trash: Broken beyond saving?
- S Sentimental: Need more time to decide?
- GO Goes Out: Can someone else use this?
The Two Decluttering Dozen Method
- Session 1 (12 min): Sort everything into Keep or LETS GO categories
- Session 2 (12 min): Execute = trash goes out, donations pile up, 'keeps' get organized
- Pro tip: Use a tarp as your sorting surface ~ when you're done, just bundle it up!
What Should Actually Live in Your Side Yard
- Garbage & recycling bins on a hard surface
- Garden tools in a wall-mounted organizer or galvanized bucket
- Garden hose on a proper reel or wall hook ... that's it!
What's Possible When It's Clear
- Picnic-ready yard = just a blanket, food, and clear space
- Backyard campouts kids remember for decades
- Simple intentional decor: bistro table, a few planters, a birdbath
- Fairy gardens for the grandkids (Julie may or may not have tiny friends hiding in her flower beds right now 🧚)
Your Outdoor Action Plan
- Pick ONE outdoor zone this week
- First #DeclutteringDozen: Sort
- Second #DeclutteringDozen: Execute
- Stand back and ask "well ... what could this be?"
Ready to stop doing this alone? The Clutter Crushers Club meets live on Zoom The First & Third Tuesdays & the opposite Wednesdays each month at 4pm Pacific. That's 6+ hours of dedicated decluttering every month with people who genuinely get it.
👉 ABCDeclutter.com
If this podcast made you laugh, think, or finally pick up a timer ~ please leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It takes 60 seconds and genuinely makes our day! 🌟
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Keep it Simple, Keep it Intentional, and - as always - Keep Decluttering!!
