You don’t need conveniently spaced trees in your yard, or even a yard, to experience the pleasures of hanging around and taking it easy. All you need is a hammock, and there are plenty to choose from. At Hammocks.com, the bestselling Island Bay extra-large basic rope model is on sale for $90 or $100. Made of thick, soft cotton or polyester rope cord, it fits two people comfortably and comes with a money-back guarantee. In South America, where ham- mocks often serve as beds, the styles include the Brazilian hammock ($59), a strong, brightly colored fabric hammock 6 feet, 5 inches long, and the Mayan family hammock ($79), a comfortable 14-foot-long “sleeping sack” hand woven by Mayan craftswomen. Both are available at Outer Banks Hammocks. Here in the U.S., a favorite style is the quilted fabric hammock, and Swings n’ Things has an extra large, high-quality model for half off retail ($99). The two layers of fabric are fade-, mildew-, and stain-resistant and are filled with polyester batting. If insects are an annoyance where you live, try the ultra-light Skeeter Beater ($54) from Seaside hammocks. It lets you zip yourself in to a podlike sack, the top half of which is made of extremely fine mosquito netting. And for a luxurious way to relax by the pool, try the poolside hammock from Brookstone ($140, pictured). For whatever hammock you choose, you’ll need a stand, unless you really do have those afore- mentioned trees. Over at Twin Oaks Hammocks, the stands are reduced. A single, standard large or premium large stand, available in green or black, will hang you up for $99 to $129. Be sure to get the right size for your hammock’s length and weight limitations. Wheel kits are also available to help you move it around on your patio, balcony, or the grass. Speaking of stands, take a look at the Roman Arc before making your decision. It’s substantially more expensive than the others ($495 or $795, depending on size), but it’s an architectural beauty made of American cypress.

It’s that time of year. Rain, snow, hail and all kinds of gunk are blowing through your yard, and will be for the next few months. There’s nothing worse than discovering dirt and mildew when spring - the season for outdoor entertaining - returns. So be sure that your patio furniture is well protected from the elements with the right covers. They should be secure and watertight, durable but not an eyesore. At Koverroos, there are four types of material to select from—to go with your climate and budget–and a great selection of covers for every need. They’ll also create custom covers for nonstandard furniture and they’ll special order Sunbrella fabric for folks in sun-drenched climes. At Patio Experts, the large selection of covers includes those for chimeneyas, lawn mowers/snow blowers, bicycles, and outdoor heaters. The Cover Store manufactures CoverMates Classic and Elite grade products and sells them factory direct to you. Classic is more affordable, constructed from 12 gauge PVC and laminated with an inner polyester lining. Elite is a high grade, polyester material designed to make moisture bead up. These covers include built-in vents. Take care of your patio furniture now and find it all looking unblemished this spring.

As you fantasize about your backyard becoming a Polynesian paradise this summer, you may decide a tiki bar should be the centerpiece. And if the tiki bar is well stocked, who cares what the rest of the yard looks like? Porches & Yards has a 55-percent off special on Cabana Joe’s Matahiva Collection made of PVC for $1,395 (pictured). Now if that’s too rich, you can steal the look with Target’s Mai Tiki Bamboo Bar for $259. It’s made of natural bamboo so it’s maybe not as perfect or permanent (it will split and crack) as the PVC, but the difference in price would stock the bar pretty well.

We’ve been scouring the web for outdoor patio rugs as we count down the days until we can lounge outside with our cabernet and pasta. We like the one pictured here by Dimensions available from Porches & Yards, because its not the same ole’ beach or colonial styling. It is stain and UV resistant; made of 100 percent Olefin (which means you can put it out in the sun) and available in cranberry, loden, beige and blue in a range of sizes ($26-$442). Other suggested sites for outdoor rugs: Plow & Hearth and Grandin Road.