The return of warm weather calls us all outside to listen to birdsong, enjoy the fresh air and soak in the sunshine. Follow our tips to get your patio ready for another season of weekend brunches, backyard BBQs, fun and games with family or just a little hang-time with your furry best friend.

Give your patio, including any surrounding walls or fences, a good sweep to knock down cobwebs and gather up any remaining fall leaves. Get more patio maintenance tips, below.

Once you get the hang of it, a pressure washer is a quick way to remove years of built-up grime on brick, stone, concrete, tile and unstained wood surfaces that are in good condition. For a deep clean without the worry of storing a machine year-round, your local hardware store likely offers daily rentals and will even walk you through tips for proper use and important safety info — like never use a pressure washer around kids or pets. Learn more about pressure washing with our guide, below.

Durable and oh-so-stylish, outdoor rugs have come a long way from their early (and often plasticky) incarnations. Today's outdoor rugs, like this beauty from Ballard Designs, are soft underfoot, are available in a wide range of colors, patterns and sizes and are incredibly weather-resistant so they'll pretty up your patio for many springs to come.

BUY IT: Ballard Designs, $399