When you gaze out over your Orland Park, Il backyard, are you happy with what you see? Integrating a fire pit for warmth and curated plantings can change the way your outdoor spaces look and function. Enhance the aesthetic appeal of a fire feature with built-in seating and planting beds that entice your guests outside.
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Natural Stone Fire Pit with Native Wildflowers
With a fire pit of natural stacked stone, a rustic fire pit can complement traditional or transitional landscape designs well. Whether you place the fire pit in the main patio when there is space or it sits on its own paver surface as a destination, enhancing the look with wildflowers and perennials can create a carefree, low-maintenance look that invites you to spend time there.
Wildflowers and perennials are best planted in the spring or fall when the weather is mild. Watering and fertilizing your plants regularly, especially during the first growing season, can boost the root growth for hardy plantings.
Surround the fire pit with a mix of native wildflowers, such as black-eyed Susans, coneflowers, and native grasses, to create a natural and colorful contrast. Include New England aster, showy goldenrod, and lavender to make cut flower arrangements for your patio.
Modern Gas Fire Pit with Succulent Garden
Installing a modern, rectangular fire pit of smooth stone and topped with a flat granite surface can maximize the space by the fire. The flat top is perfect for propping feet and the rectangular shape will work well with the angles, lines, and geometric shapes of the house design.
Simple plantings can add visual interest without competing with the fire pit as the focal feature. Plant low-maintenance succulents in various containers for the warm months and a succulent garden bed nearby to add a touch of greenery that complements the modern design.
Some hardy succulents such as Hens and Chicks, stonecrop, and prickly pear can even survive the winter outdoors. While these succulents are hardy and can tolerate cold temperatures and snow, it is important to protect them from the wind and sun during the winter by covering them with a tarp or burlap.
Sunken Fire Pit with Drought-Tolerant Plants
Install a sunken fire pit to create a cozy and sheltered atmosphere. Sunken fire pits are typically installed 12-18 inches below ground level, creating a more intimate and inviting space for people to gather around the fire. They are typically larger than traditional fire pits, which makes them ideal for entertaining groups of people.
Many sunken fire pits are surrounded by seating, such as built-in benches or chairs which allows people to sit comfortably and enjoy the fire. Made from a variety of materials, including brick, stone, concrete, and metal, the design will depend on the overall aesthetic of the backyard and your budget.
Installing built-in planters along the top surface of the fire pit allows for a vertical garden on the walls with cascading plantings like ivy, ferns, and other trailing vines to add a lush, living backdrop. While the perennial vines will return each year, adding seasonal flowers to the planters brings a pop of color and plantings associated with that time of year. Expanding the irrigation to water the planters ensures they can thrive as noteworthy accents to the outdoor space.
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