Barbecue season has arrived!

My barbecue has already made the trek from my garage back to my deck for the summer season. And, while I knew there were loads of hardcore Canadian grillers, I had no idea just how many were willing to brave the snow, rain and cold for the perfect burger! According to a recent Harris-Decima poll (released by Home Depot), nearly half of Canadians - 46 per cent - barbecue all year round in any weather.

The survey also found there's no gender divide in all season grilling, with 47 per cent of men and 44 per cent of women grilling year round.

While Albertans ranked as the bravest grillers - with 61 per cent cooking year round and 55 per cent braving extreme weather conditions to do so - Ontarians were up there with 47 per cent saying they're all season cooks and 55 per cent braving extreme weather. 

If you're in the market for a new grill this summer, Home Depot suggests starting by asking yourself these three questions to help narrow down your choices:

            1. How often will you use the barbecue?

            2. On average, how many people will you be cooking for?

            3. What's your budget?

If you're just sprucing up your space for summer, consider what furniture you're missing for your most common functions - do you need a dining set for family meals? More chairs for entertaining friends over cocktails? Also consider adding a splash of colour with potted plants and herbs (which you can then also use in your cooking), some fun outdoor cushions and even outdoor area rugs for some added pattern and comfort. 

To help prolong your parties, consider taking the chill off those cool spring and fall evenings with a patio heater and check out solar lights (there are loads of amazing options at big box stores this summer) to help create a mood and light your path without eating up any electricity.

Get more tips for maxing out your outdoor space.

(Toronto Star file photo)