Staying Safe While Enjoying Your Outdoor Living Space This Summer
Summer is a great time to get out and enjoying your landscaping, hardscaping, and water features, but you have to stay SAFE!
Hey, guys – It’s HOT out there! This summer is really heating up, and we know a thing or two about spending time outdoors in the heat. While we encourage our Rock Hill customers to get outside to enjoy their custom landscaping, hardscaping, and water features installed by our experts, we also want you to be safe.
Landscaping & Outdoor Summer Safety Tips
The fact is that, when temperatures get up into the 90s, you really need to be careful about how much time you spend outside, where you spend your time, and how you care for your body. To help you stay safe while still getting the most from your landscaping this summer, below are some tips from the team at Ground FX Landscaping & Water Features:
Stay Hydrated and Cool
The summer heat in Rock Hill can be intense, and it's crucial to stay hydrated and cool. Dehydration and heatstroke are serious risks during hot weather, and you may not realize there’s a problem until you start to experience symptoms like dizziness, extreme fatigue, and confusion.
Staying hydrated means drinking water in small amounts frequently during your time outdoors. While it can be tempting to gulp down water when you’re drenched with sweat, the body processes hydration at a set rate. Drinking little bits all throughout the day is usually the most efficient way to stay hydrated.
Even dogs know to get in the shade when it’s hot. You should do the same when you’re outdoors for long periods of time.
Seek Shade When Possible
Shade may not be very cool when we’re dealing with extreme heat, but it’s better than sitting in the blazing sunshine. Use umbrellas, canopies, or pergolas to create shaded areas where you can rest and cool down.
Take frequent breaks to sit in the shade when possible. Our landscapers can design shaded solutions for your outdoor living space that allow you to enjoy your landscaping, hardscaping and water features while keeping cool.
Wear Appropriate Clothing
Light-colored, loose-fitting clothing can help keep you cool, but dark-colored clothing absorbs heat and sunlight. Also, keep in mind that long sleeves can protect your arms from the sun's rays, and although pants may not be the most comfortable in the blazing heat, they can provide added protection. Just keep an eye on your core temperature to be safe.
Use Sun Protection
We can’t stress this enough: Wear sunscreen! Sunscreen protects against sunburns, but it can also keep your skin from getting wrinkly while protecting against UV-A rays that may lead to skin cancer. You don’t have to go crazy with a super-high SPF sunscreen, but something like an SPF 50 is usually good enough for most people in the Rock Hill sun. As always, if you have questions or concerns about your skin, consult with your doctor.
Safe Use of Fire Features
Fire pits, outdoor fireplaces, and grills are popular features in many outdoor living spaces around the Rock Hill area, but watch out! - These hardscaping features can be dangerous!
Look, we know you want to get out there and spend some time putting marks to meat, but you have to be careful. Aside from the outdoor heat, we don’t want you getting cooked too.
Maintain a safe distance from any open flames, and always handle fire with care. You should take the time to be sure all fires are out when you’re done for the day or night, meaning you should pour water on any areas where an open flame was in the last few hours. This includes ash in a fire pit or outdoor fireplace.
Keeping safe around water features is critical, especially if you have pets or young children
Water Feature Safety
You may not be able to jump into your koi pond to cool off, but there’s nothing like relaxing by a water feature on a hot summer day. We enjoy watching the fish swim around or just listening to the bubbling of a backyard fountain to relax. What’s important to remember is that you need to keep these areas safe as well.
Supervise at All Times
Never leave children unattended around water features. Constant supervision is essential to prevent accidents as kids can get curious and may try to jump into a water feature to cool down.
Install Barriers
Depending on your water feature you may be required to install some type of fencing or barrier to prevent unauthorized entry. We’ll work with you during the installation of your water feature to cover these details, but you should still check with local authorities and any HOA you’re a part of.
Hardscaping Safety
Hardscaping elements such as paver patios, walkways, and retaining walls can be great scenery in an outdoor living space, but they need structural maintenance to keep everyone protected.
Landscape lighting provides protection and security while enjoying your outdoor living spaces at night
Adequate Lighting is Essential
Ensure that walkways, stairs, and other high-traffic areas are well-lit to prevent accidents during the evening. We design and install landscape lighting across the Rock Hill region to enhance the safety of your home or business.
Consider Non-Slip Surfaces
Use non-slip materials for patios and walkways, especially around pools or water features, to reduce the risk of slipping when surfaces are wet.
Contact Ground FX Landscaping & Water Features for More Tips to Stay Safe This Summer
At Ground FX Landscaping & Water Features, we want you to stay safe and enjoy the great outdoors. For more safety tips and to discuss your outdoor living area, call our team at (803) 371-2324, or schedule a free consultation on the web using our contact form.
