According to a recent survey, 60 percent of respondents said backyard grilling was the summer activity they were most excited about. But if you’re worried about an embarrassing backyard when you’re entertaining guests, check out these simple solutions for avoiding common backyard problems in the first place:

Clutter

It’s easy for a backyard to become a catchall for anything that doesn’t belong in the house or fit in the garage, making for a real mess by the time spring arrives. Avoid it by using an organizational strategy. First, gather everything in your backyard in one place. Use the, “keep, donate, toss” method of deciding what stays and what goes. Look at what’s left and get an appropriately-sized storage container to corral everything. A wide range of attractive outdoor storage solutions are available, ranging from low cost deck boxes to more pricey sheds. Once you have a place to keep your things, it’s a lot easier to keep your things in their place.

Green swimming pool

A green swimming pool isn’t necessarily a sign of neglect. It only takes one sunny afternoon for a pool to go from pristine to unclean. Algae isn’t harmful to humans, but it can be a breeding ground for bacteria and can cause costly damage to your pool. There are different types of algae, but green algae is the most common. Other types include yellow (or mustard) algae, blue-green or black algae and pink algae. PoolForThought.com has some photos and tips for distinguishing which type might be infesting your swimming pool.

There are some fairly simply ways to remove and prevent future growth of algae in your swimming pool. With most algae, you can avoid it by maintaining minimum sanitizer levels and proper water balance. In pools that use chlorine, this means a chlorine level between 1 and 2 ppm (part per million). Also, make sure you regularly clean your filters and brush your pool. Check your water pH level often, it should be maintained between 7.4 and 7.5. Maintaining your pH level will help the chlorine be more effective.

Hot tub rash

There’s nothing more embarrassing than having your guests get a red, itchy “hot tub rash” from your hot tub or jacuzzi. Hot tub rash is caused by bacteria build up in your tub called Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is found in soil, water and plants, according to MedicineNet.com. This usually resolves itself within a few days, but you can avoid it by properly maintaining your spa. Pool and spa maintenance professionals recommend maintaining proper water balance and keeping adequate levels of sanitizer in the water at all times. Either shock the tub weekly or every other time you use the spa. If you’ve already got a problem, drain the spa and do a deep clean.

Gopher holes

You don’t have to be the greens keeper in “Caddy Shack” to appreciate how embarrassing and destructive gophers can be. Avoid gopher problems by using gopher-proof growing areas in your garden. Create them with raised concrete blocks with a chicken wire top, old bathtubs or old wine barrels. Gopher wire baskets are a good bet for protecting young fruit trees and perennials. Gopher wire can be used under sod lawns but care must be taken to use a brand meant to be buried and that is at least 18 gauge with 3/4 inch square mesh. Make sure there is one to two inches of soil between the wire and the sod for maximum effectiveness.

Animal excrement

A backyard full of pet droppings is both unsightly and unhealthy. Avoid the problem by using commercial cat and dog repellant around certain areas of your yard, which will help keep your pet from wandering out of a designated “potty area.” If you have a cat, natural repellants include orange or lemon peel, coffee grounds, lavender or cayenne pepper. Alternatively, you can place an upside down carpet runner with a little bit of soil over it where pets like to go.