Alright folks, it’s time to start getting prepped for summer, also known as BBQ Season. It’s true, BBQ Season is upon us and we want to help you throw the best backyard BBQ possible. BBQs are a great way to reconnect with neighbors after a long winter, tighten your family bond and just have some fun with friends. Don’t worry, you won’t have to go through planning the perfect backyard event alone.
Your friends at TruGreen have your back! Let’s fire up the grill and see how you can make this summer your best BBQ summer yet.
Step 1: Plan, Plan, Plan
Although some of the most fun BBQs often have little agenda or itinerary, BBQs take a lot of up-front planning. First and foremost, you’ll want to pick a date — a good tip is to check with your friends and family to see what date will work best for most people (and checking the weather is a good idea too). Once you have a date set, you’ll want to start “formally inviting” your guests. Of course, “formally inviting” could mean dropping off a T-Bone-shaped invitation card on their doorstep, or it could mean sending a text.
Step 2: Check on Your BBQ Supplies
This beginning stage is a great time to think about items you don’t have that you’ll want to purchase or rent for your BBQ – things like seating, shade canopies, tiki torches and lights. Plus, this is an important time to check on your grill. The last thing you want on the day of your BBQ is to have a busted grill that could have been fixed in time with a little planning. So do a test BBQ for just yourself to make sure your equipment is up to your standards.
Step 3: Decide on Your BBQ Menu
Now, it’s time to set the menu! This is when the fun really begins. There are an endless amount of options for a BBQ menu. Let’s look at some more fun options, but if you need some traditional BBQ recipes, we recommend checking out some of these brilliant BBQ recipe lists like this one.
Build-Your-Own BBQ
This is a great option if you know many of your guests would enjoy putting their own personal touch on whatever you want to grill. For example, you could do a build-your-own hot dog bar. You focus on grilling the dogs; your guests focus on topping them. Make sure you provide a nice selection of toppings aside from the classic mustard, ketchup and relish.
Consider setting out things like chili, cheese, baked beans, dill pickle spears, onions, coleslaw, pineapple (controversial, we know!) and fresh vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers or peppers. With the toppings listed above, your guests could build a variety of popular hot dogs like Hawaiian Dogs, BBQ Sundae Dogs or Chicago-Style Dogs.
Remember, you can do this with any popular BBQ main courses, like burgers, wings, ribs and more.The Vegetarian BBQ
Our vegetarian and vegan friends need to BBQ too. Here are some ways you can create a memorable and enjoyable Vegetarian BBQ. First and easiest, copy a meat BBQ but swap out the meat for plant-based “meat” or fresh veggies (eggplant, cauliflower, cucumbers, tomatoes, etc.) This way you can simply swap out the meat but keep everything mostly the same.
The second option is a little more daring, the Peanut Butter & Jelly BBQ. Have you ever had a grilled PB&J? If not, you’ll definitely want to give it a shot! If you decide to take this route, you can provide a completely new experience for many folks while still getting your grill on. It’s a pretty simple setup too. Just grab an assortment of fun options for the three ingredients — bread, nut butter and fruit spread.Don’t Forget the Sides and Drinks!
Once you have your main menu item set, you’ll want to make sure you have a good mix of sides and drinks for your guests. Pull up some of your favorite recipes for side dishes and make sure you’re ready to prep those before or while you are grilling.
Step 4: Plan for Some Fun!
Next, you’ll want to have some fun activities ready for your guests. BBQs are a great place for kids to let out loads of energy, but they’ll want a little guidance in how to do that. Some great options are backyard volleyball, cornhole, spikeball and bocce ball. It’s also good to have an assortment of footballs, baseballs or soccer balls to make sure everyone has something to do.
Step 5: Clear Out the Mosquitoes
Last but not least, we know you take pride in your outdoor living space and want it to be a comfortable place for your family, friends and even your pets. You might be thinking, “Wow, it would take me forever to get rid of my mosquitoes with my fly swatter.” And, you’re right. That would take a long time. Fortunately, TruGreen’s Mosquito Defense® is perfect for this job.
We want you to enjoy your backyard BBQ with significantly fewer mosquitoes bothering you and your loved ones. TruGreen’s Mosquito Defense® is a fast and effective solution to help control mosquitoes in your yard so you can enjoy your favorite summer traditions without fretting about those pesky biters. All you have to do is schedule a visit with your TruGreen specialist and have those mosquitos taken care of as quickly as possible!Don’t Do It All Alone
Our final piece of advice for throwing an incredible backyard BBQ this summer is to ask for some help. That could be asking friends to bring sides or a neighbor to bring their grill, beverages or fun backyard games. Whatever you feel like you need help with, it never hurts to ask.
If you need help getting rid of unwanted BBQ guests, such as mosquitoes, TruGreen is just a call away. Call your local branch to get advice on keeping your lawn pest-free for your BBQ adventures this summer.
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