Decks and gardens are a great place to relax and spend time with friends and family. When you have a durable, well-constructed deck, you won’t have to worry about spending hours of your time worried about its maintenance. Instead, you can focus on spending quality time with your family.

1. Enjoy Meals

How about dinner on the deck? If you enjoy cooking and don’t already have one, you may want to invest in a BBQ or other outdoor cookware, and get the family together to cook, talk, and share stories over a good meal.

2. Play Games

A garden is a great place for outdoor games and activities. If you have enough land to run around in, split up into teams and play sports like football or baseball. If you have a smaller space, then something more stationary like beanbags or a board game may be a better choice.

3. Share Gifts

Everyone has a talent. Connect with and encourage your family members by making your garden a place to practice and show off everything from painting to instruments. Hold recitals and art shows from time to time as they improve.

4. Make Crafts

Have crafty kids (or just love making things)? Collect things from the outdoors to make wreaths or flower crowns, or just move your current craft project to a suitable outdoor space where everyone can join in.

5. Plant Vegetables

Planting and growing a vegetable garden is a healthy and relatively simple way to get the whole family together – and everyone can enjoy the good food and sense of accomplishment that comes along with it!