Landscaping around fire pits
61 Fire Pit Landscaping Ideas Our Designers Love
Fire pits: we love them. So do a whole lot of other people – they’re among the most commonly requested features in Yardzen designs, and for good reason.
Most obviously, fire pits offer a way to extend the outdoor season by keeping you toasty when the weather turns cool. If outdoor living is your aim, fire pits are your ally, especially in colder regions. But fire pits offer more than just heat! They make for dramatic focal points in an evening landscape, and provide a prominent canvas to express landscape style. Unlit (and, in some cases, lit), they’re great as a footrest, drink ledge, or even an informal seat.
Above all, fire pits anchor and activate gathering spaces. Their greatest utility is in their power to bring family and friends together to enjoy each other’s company. So how does one best integrate a fire pit into their landscape design? The answer will vary depending on your functional and stylistic goals.
To help you develop your own design ideas, we’ve collected 61 of our favorite fire pit designs below, offering our take on what makes each of them shine (pun intended) along the way. Grab some s’mores and take a look!
Yardzen’s favorite fire pits
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01 Open Plan For Any Plan
This open plan deck can adapt to just about any event you throw at it. A nice-but-approachable sectional sofa seating and bench seating along the dining table stand ready for groups big and small. The fire pit makes sure the party can continue into the evening. The broad wraparound deck stair lets people of all edges flow on and off the deck to a lower play lawn – perfect for kids to ramble below while parents keep a watchful eye up above.
Herringbone brick paver patio with seating area around gas fire pit02 Lean & Green
To suit a long and narrow seating area, the design opts for a rectangular concrete fire pit, complemented below by a carpet of herringbone brick and above by a twinkling ceiling of string lights. Monolithic rows of planting frame the scene in green.
Casual fire pit area on gravel with square stone fire pit03 Rustic & Refined
The clean lines of oversized pavers and a modern square gas fire pit contrast with crunchy gravel and naturalistic planting to create a scene that is informal, welcoming, and stylish.
04 Embrace Color!
Sapphire blue furnishings take a color cue from the expansive sky views in the background, binding this tucked-away fire pit to the broader design through a common color theme. The pop of color is soothing and fun, and helps to activate the space by catching people’s eye.
Small backyard with fire bowl surrounded by wooden chairs05 Simple Backyard Fire Pit
Planting above, gravel below, fire bowl in the middle – sounds like camping! With plenty of framing from adjacent trees and planting, this space-efficient design is simple by design, minimizing clutter and maximizing openness.
Open concept outdoor kitchen with dining area, pergola, and fire feature06 Open & Interconnected
A large paver patio plays home to a sequence of spaces: kitchen, dining area, fire pit. You can envision the evening starting at one end and proceeding to the other. The pergola overhead offers shade for cooking while the fire feature remains exposed for evening stargazing.
07 Fresh & Clean
This newly-installed San Francisco fire pit positions trees at the corners of a paver pad, kept compact to preserve plenty of open space for kids and dogs to play. As the tree canopies fill in, the space will grow more enclosed (and cozy), and will be shaded by dappled light.
Outdoor room and fireplace in desert landscape design08 Desert Oasis
A pergola with shade sails and curtains creates a cool refuge in this landscape design. The white stucco fireplace and bench seating keep the look clean and bright, a compelling contrast with the dark greens and organic forms of the succulent garden.
Flagstone patio with lounge area in cottage garden09 Cottage Corner
A square fire put tucks into the nook of a corner sectional, ceding the spotlight to the lush planting in this cottage garden design. To minimize its visual impact, the fire pit matches the color of the flagstone.
10 Floor & Ceiling
This design calls upon a large in-ground deck and fiberglass pergola to establish a large outdoor room, in which the fire pit has pride of place. An outdoor rug defines a more intimate zone within the outdoor room. Adjustable louvers in the pergola adapt to cast shade through changing light conditions.
Outdoor fireplace and furniture on a side yard hardscape11 A New Room
A concrete driveway is transformed into an outdoor room by a pergola and a fireplace. Vines, perennials, and a spread of groundcover planting bring the softness, the fire brings the coziness.
Multiple outdoor rooms featuring a wood-burning outdoor fireplace12 Resort At Home
Choose your favorite spot: the cafe seating by an outdoor fireplace, a push lounge atop grass-laced pavers, or a crunchy path for strolling a perennial garden. You can’t lose.
Concrete fire pit with built-in seating for modern backyard design13 Clean Lines
Concrete and wood – a classic modern materials palette – express simple, elegant forms in this design.
The choice of gray concrete for the fire pit melds it with the surrounding floor, while the bright white of the bench and rosy hue of the wood evoke the warmth and comfort of Mediterranean patios.
14 Casual & Composed
The fire pit seating area is the hub of the wheel in this design – access it via a wide step down from the deck, a slanting path of grass-set pavers, or a humble gravel path lining the back fence. Open edges and a consistent planting palette keep the whole scene cohesive and flowing.
Outdoor living room with wood-burning fire pit and string lights15 Black, White & Wood
A black steel wood-burning fire pit gives a subtle nod to the material palette of this outdoor living room: white concrete, black cushions and wood seating. A margin of green softens things up.
Family enjoying S’Mores around fire pit in Yardzen designed backyard16 Don’t Forget Your Sunscreen
A cantilevered arbor and translucent curtain provide crucial shade from afternoon glare to this wide-lipped stone fire pit and wicker sectional.
Beyond the curtain: veggie beds, trellised vines, and neighboring tree canopy, along with rustic decomposed granite on the ground – a whole fleet of rustic elements to balance out the clean concrete paving of the fire pit area.
17 Campfire Retreat
This ADU gets a treat: a lush campfire zone, ringed in dense planting and furnished with easy-to-move seating.
Sloped backyard with stone retaining wall and modern wood-burning outdoor fireplace18 Separate & Connected
A double-sided fireplace divides the lounge and dining areas in this backyard design. Clear views above (and through!) the fireplace manage the trick of making the spaces feel both separated and connected at once.
Social front yard fire pit with seating area in Yardzen landscape design19 Spanish Patio
This desert design does well by using trademark Spanish patio details: white stucco, black metal, and earthy-red paving. Succulent planting with tan gravel mulch puts a desert twist on it, and makes for a fine pairing with the hardscape.
20 Poolside Lounge
A fire pit is the centerpiece of a poolside lounge zone, aligned on-axis with the pool to provide a focal point for night swimmers. The broad lip of the fire pit doubles as a tabletop for snacks and drinks during the daytime.
Large outdoor fireplace as the focal point of a backyard bbq and dining area21 Board Form Flair
The wood grain texture and parallel lines of a large board form concrete fireplace, flanked by a clean stack of logs in a minimal metal frame, set a stylish, minimalist tone for this modern outdoor dining area.
Hanging loveseat attached to pergola near outdoor fire pit area22 A Swinging Good Time
Swing benches are the best, gently rocking you into peaceful bliss as you enjoy an evening chat with family or friends. Among their many benefits, pergolas offer perfect support for hanging seating. This design doubles down on the swings, sticking to a tight color scheme of auburn wood and bone whites.
23 Gather In The Gravel
A uniform application of gravel stitches several distinct seating areas into a single flowing space. The style is rustic and casual across the board, from the dappled light cast by the mature tree canopy, to the wood farm table and metal fire pit.
Modern hardscaped area with propane bbq, dining table, and fire pit24 Bright Woods & Cool Grays
Like the sun amongst the clouds, blonde wood details shine against a backdrop of cool gray materials. The fire pit, aligned with the pergola and dining table, casts an inviting glow that beckons visitors to enjoy after-dinner stargazing.
Cozy fire pit with seating area in Yardzen backyard25 Simple & Effective
A horizontal wood fence creates a warm backdrop to this simple but cozy fire pit zone. Vines atop the fence offer softness and the rustle of leaves Spring through Fall. Flexible seating can scoot or be whisked away to adapt to various group sizes or functional needs.
The deep, small-diameter concrete fire bowl allows for a proper flame while keeping everyone close.
Yardzen’s favorite fire pits
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Waterfront backyard with circular river rock fire pit area
26 Water & Fire
With a view like this, the design just needs to get out of the way. A few Adirondacks, a welcoming circular layout, and your work is done.
Poolside geometric square fire pit and seating area27 Rusty Reds
A freestanding corten steel fire bowl commands the spotlight in this poolside patio. Tan decomposed granite complements the rusty red material, which is repeated poolside in a showpiece plant container.
Fire pit in a Yardzen client’s Palm Springs back yard28 Palm Springs Oasis
This low-maintenance landscape sets a rough-hewn fire pit and a plush, oversized lounge zone at opposite ends of a central pool – shade in one direction, crackling fire and the night sky in the other. The axial layout and strong sight lines link the spaces and create a seamless, flowing feel across the yard.
29 Marshmallow Time
A delicate pair of aspens shimmer in the background of this casually elegant fire pit lounge. Crunchy gray decomposed granite and dense planting allude to the earthy escape of camping, while modern furnishings in warm neutrals elevate the look.
Geometric wood-burning fire pit, deck, and plunge pool in small backyard30 Fire Nook
Space is tight in this compact yard, but a notch in a tiered deck lets visitors plunge into a cozy fire space, before or after plunging into the corner hot tub. The geometric wood-burning fire pit complements the modern deck design.
A Yardzen client’s country club-like backyard with fire pit area31 Organic Lines, Traditional Feel
Even without the putting green, this space would feel like a lovely country club pool deck. Natural stone paving and gracefully curving pool and paving edges embrace a flowing, traditional feel.
Lounging area with large fire table overlooking a swimming pool32 Footrest For The Panorama
A broad, arcing bench takes in a sweeping view of this large yard.
A wide rectangular fire pit lets you kick up your feet and enjoy the view.
33 DIY-Friendly
DIY projects succeed or fail based on their complexity (and the brave installer’s experience!). Here, prefab elements, gravel groundcover, and low maintenance native and climate-adapted planting make for a relatively simple install.
Backyard fire pit area under modern pergola built for a Yardzen client34 Constructed Canopy
A custom cantilever pergola will soon be overtaken by lush vines, leaning over this simple wicker couch and fire pit table like a luxurious green awning. By only extending the pergola part-way over the seating, the design keeps the space feeling expansive and well-connected to the surrounding yard.
Stone paver patio with fire ring35 Green Wall
A robust hedge of West Coast native Pacific Wax Myrtle gives this cobble-floored fire patio a nice green hug, setting a verdant, cozy vibe.
A potted olive tree and a handful of succulents toss in some Mediterranean flair, pairing well with the European feel of the paving.
36 Embrace The Axis
The landscape architecture for this long, narrow yard embraces the linear form, aligning one space after another along a common central axis, parallel to the back of the house. The fire pit glows as the terminus.
Casual tropical outdoor fire bowl area with privacy fence37 Get Tropical!
A patinated fire bowl, beachy seating, low-key string lighting, and chunky green plants set a charming tropical vibe. Who wouldn’t want to hang out here?!
Modern round fire pit with concrete and wood built-in seating38 All In On Brutalism
Brutalist design is famed for its embrace of concrete and clean, unadorned forms. The abundance of concrete in this design establishes a unifying palette, but it also makes the teak bench and row of fruitless olives pop with intensity.
39 Traditional Charm
Floral planting, sweeping curves, and a handful of Adirondacks demonstrate how the classics never go out of style.
Waterfront backyard with lawn and hardscaped fire pit and seating area40 Bask In The Scenery
If you’ve got a view, use it for all it’s worth! A stunning lakeside panorama sets a foolproof scene for a brick fire pit area, furnished with classic white seating to complement the nearby white picket fence.
Outdoor fire pit area with comfortable outdoor couch and club chairs in a Yardzen backyard41 The Classic Yard
Here we see how the removal of barriers enables spaces to flow seamlessly into each other. A basket weave brick patio, a patch of lawn for the kids and dog to play, and, one tier up, a well-composed array of drought tolerant grasses – that’s all there is here, and yet it all clicks together perfectly. Comfortable, approachable furnishings and a fire table with a family-friendly heat shield round out the picture.
42 Dappled Light
The shade of a mature oak is hard to beat. This fire pit sets up shop beneath a mature canopy, doubling as a cool seating area by day.
Large Joshua Tree backyard with private outdoor living room43 Modern Desert Retreat
An expansive Joshua Tree backyard takes on the feel of a desert resort, complete with custom bench seating around an elegant stone fire pit.
Couple enjoys wine near outdoor fire pit in their Yardzen-designed backyard in Napa, CA44 Fire Where You Fancy
A portable fire bowl lets these young homeowners set up camp wherever they please. A grid of concrete pads provides an upscale but flexible surface for entertaining. Further back, a modest-sized dining table nestles between a pair of leafy trees, achieving a cozy sense of enclosure while commanding long views of the open plan yard.
Small backyard with stone paver patio and fire pit surrounded by Adirondacks, raised garden beds, and privacy fence45 Fun In The Flowers
A delicate array of flowers layers up to a row of fine-leaved privacy trees, with a stone patio plunked in the middle to soak in the beauty.
46 Fixed & Movable
Fun, flexible seating complements a long built-in cantilever bench in this backyard fire pit design. A potted lemon tree announces the boundary of the space while keeping circulation in and out wide open.
Yardzen client enjoys outdoor fire pit area in Miami backyard47 Safe & Stylish
To keep kids safely restricted from the pool or fire pit, this young family settled on transparent glass safety fencing, which preserves views and a sense of connection between the spaces. A cluster of lush palms looms above the fire pit, while tall hedges run parallel to the pool. In either case, the ambiance is lush.
Tall privacy hedges surrounding modern backyard with concrete pavers, fire table, and plunge pool48 Green Curtain
A massive existing hedge envelops this modern backyard design. With so much green in the background, the design can lean into minimalism without becoming cold.
A single focal tree, open layout, and low-slung furnishings cohere into a clear design vision.
49 Woodsy In New Jersey
This newly-installed New Jersey design rings a crisp paver patio with upright evergreens and a pair of Japanese maples. In time, the space will take on the feel of a woodland clearing, albeit one with clean modern styling and a gorgeous urn-shaped fire pit.
Small backyard with gravel, concrete pavers, lounge seating and natural gas bbq50 Big On Benches
For this big family, an extensive built-in bench was just the thing, offering space for large groups, not to mention some fun ledges for young rascals to play on. The central fire pit helps to justify the U-shape, and sets the scene for social nights outside.
Backyard remodel with large dining area and graveled fire pit seating51 Woodsy Option
Tucked beneath a stately tree canopy, this stone fire pit zone offers a rustic alternative to the more polished gathering spaces elsewhere in this large back yard.
52 Curated Materials
Knowing what to leave out of a design may be even more important than knowing what to include. This design keeps tight control on materials, sticking to a palette of white, black, and a few roughed-up grays. Even the wood looks aged like it was pulled from the ocean. The texture from the fire pit, plant containers, and seating create a pleasing contrast with the clean surface of the concrete paving and fiberglass pergola.
Garden design with citrus trees, concrete pavers, and Adirondack chairs surrounding fire pit53 Garden Party
Situated at the end of a quiet, verdant garden path, and tucked to the side of the main action in this large backyard, the fire pit zone in this design has an air of privacy to it, like a secret garden only the lucky few know to visit. The sense of escape is a pleasant contrast to the other, highly interconnected spaces in the design.
54 Break Up The Expanse
Large paved expanses of a single material can feel uncomfortable and cold. The fire pit zone defines a distinct zone within the paving simply through its furnishings. This breaks up the scene into smaller, human-scaled spaces, creating a more comfortable feel across the backyard.
TimberTech deck with modern fire pit and outdoor lounge area in a Yardzen yard55 Fire Bowls On Deck
This gorgeous scene uses teak furniture and a warm neutral rug to imply a room within an expansive TimberTech deck. A black fire bowl strikes a strong contrast with the furnishings and makes for a compelling visual anchor, night or day. Stainless steel cable railings are the secret sauce, preserving clear views and a sense of connection with the forested surroundings.
Multiple outdoor living spaces created by hardscaping and pergolas56 Set A Rhythm
Pergola – open fire pit – pergola: the rhythm in this layout is clearly defined.
Open edges and a unifying paver path allow each space to flow seamlessly into the next. With no ceiling to rely on for spatial definition, pockets of attractive, drought-tolerant planting step in to distinguish the fire pit as a zone in its own right.
57 Pool, Putt, Pitt
This yard is all about relaxing: a dip in the pool, a few putts on the green, or feet up with friends around the fire pit. Boxwoods, mondo grass, and a large container tree keep the planting palette centered on true-to-deep-greens to support a tranquil feel.
Tree-filled backyard with graveled fire pit seating area and pool58 Separate By Design
Safety fencing and a grade change separate the fire pit from the pool area, and that’s ok! Fire pits’ strong appeal and compatibility with rustic spaces make them well-suited to further-flung, hard-to-activate parts of a yard. This example isn’t exactly distant from the action, but even if it were, the fire pit would hold its own.
59 Outdoor Living Room
A comfy sofa and matching lounge chairs surround a wide rectangular fire pit, while full planting and graceful curving edges evoke the softness of the furnishings. The hogwire fence keeps kids and dogs contained while maintaining sightlines through to the adjacent forested area.
Large terraced yard with multi-level outdoor living spaces60 Terrace Lounge
A clean and simple fire pit commands a terrace in this large yard, one of several outdoor living spaces for visitors to choose from. Massed planting and abundant tree canopy establish a lush, wooded setting, which the minimal terrace design wisely cedes attention to.
Small backyard with lawn, concrete pavers, and graveled seating area with fire ring61 Corner Pocket
Space efficiency is a priority in small yard designs, and this one achieves it with grace. The fire pit tucks compactly but comfortably into the corner, and space is afforded for ornamental planting and a prefab water feature, which while not purely functional, play a key role in establishing a tranquil, inviting atmosphere.
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Front yard fire pit in Tempe, Arizona Yardzen landscape designCreating Fire Pit Landscaping Ideas Tailored To Your Yard
Yardzen’s award-winning online exterior and landscape design service is tailored to homeowners with both large and small yards in all fifty states in the U.S. Our design process begins with understanding your outdoor space, style, and a discussion of your budget and vision to minimize surprises when it comes time to build.
Our top-notch designers then develop a personalized vision for your yard, shared through 3D renderings, 2D plan drawings, and plant and material lists. Your design will capture the look, feel, and function you are hoping for, all while keeping costs within range.
Once your design is complete, we’ll help you connect with a local contractor from our Pro Network of vetted professional contractors to install your new design.
Ready to enjoy some s’mores around the fire pit in the outdoor living space of your dreams? Create your design profile or explore our professional backyard landscaping and exterior design packages today!
Fire pit landscape ideas from designers
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The Heart of the Backyard: Fire pit landscape ideas from designers
Premier landscape designers agree that a fire pit is an essential part of an inviting backyard.
Designers Mike Pyle and Scott Shrader both think of fire pits as opportunities to create magnetic moments in the backyard landscape. Scott explains, "fire is that one visual connector and attractor that can really get someone interested in going outdoors. If you're inside and you see a cozy fire moment outdoors, it's a great way to get you outside."
Mike agrees, "the firepit is the heart of the backyard. It pulls people together. There's not a lot of elements in a backyard that can do that."
(above) Russian sage, dwarf fountain grass, and kangaroo paw were used to frame the view from this inviting fire pit in the hills of Pasadena. Find a detailed description of the landscaping around this fire pit below.
Whether you're working with a custom-made masterpiece, a simple fire bowl, or a rock-lined hole in the ground, your backyard fire pit landscape design is worthy of your time and attention. We talked to some of the best outdoor room designers in the country to deliver design tips for your backyard fire pit landscape and pulled together professional examples to deliver clear design lessons, inspiration, and plant recommendations to take to your local garden center.
Have a backyard fire pit that you love already? Share it with us @MonroviaPlants.
- Let your specific site conditions and "sense of place" inform your fire pit landscape design. Choose plants that will reflect your style, and are appropriate for your climate, conditions, and size of space.
- The fire pit itself is an important part of the landscape. Consider what role you want it to play before committing to a specific fire pit style. If it's part of a casual dining space or lounge, for instance, choose a fire pit that also acts as a coffee table, with at least 12" of tabletop around the fire for people to set their food and drinks or put up their feet.
- Keep guests comfortable once they're around the fire by providing cozy seating. Designer Scott Shrader recommends seating that is at least 31" deep and allows room for soft pillows to lean back on.
- Use hedges or tall plants around your fire pit to create the walls of your outdoor room.
- If you have a view to enjoy, take a pass on the green walls and optimize the view with plantings that won't obstruct it.
- Especially in smaller landscapes and spaces, stick to a simple plant, color, and material palette. This approach will create a more soothing feel.
- Use soft-textured, low-growing plants to soften the transition from the fire pit landscape to the rest of the backyard.
- Plantings should be far enough away from the fire to allow for fire safety as well as ample seating space.
- Use containers to add depth and soften your seating space. Containers also provide opportunities to experiment with color, structure, and types of plants.
- If you have the room, site your fire pit further away from your house to create that magnetic outdoor moment that pulls people in.
Expert Fire Pit Landscape Design Lessons
Soften Lines with PlantsOverview: When it comes to this upscale firepit landscape design, Mike Pyle had a clear goal in mind.
"There are a lot of hard lines in that area and I use plants to soften them up, as well as hide the neighbor roofs and telephone poles behind." He accomplishes this with a wall of bamboo behind the semi-circle seating. He anchors either side with the statuesque Euphorbia ammak. He uses fescue grass at the base of the towering Euphorbia to soften the transition from the striking vertical succulent to the pavement.
Mike uses freestanding firepits of his own design and surrounds them with equally sophisticated outdoor furniture and hardscape materials. In the lounges pictured above, he softens the straight lines of the fence or wall with a simple plant palette that sets the seating area against a backdrop of lush foliage.
In the sitting room pictured above, Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae) is paired with Senecio decaryii, which turns green when not in full sun. Banana plants or cannas paired with Mt. Everest Blue Chalksticks Senecio would achieve a similar look.
Design advice: Use plants to soften transitions, hard angles, and straight lines. Tall plants like bamboo are perfect for providing privacy and hiding the realities of urban living, like telephone poles and electric lines. Choose plants with large leaves to surround seating areas with a serene lushness that invites visitors to sit back and relax.
Love Mike's approach to outdoor design? See more of his designs on the HGTV show, Inside Out.
Design: Mike Pyle
Photo: Jake Lamons
3 Plants to Get This Look
Golden Goddess
Bamboo
A well-mannered clumping bamboo that is easily maintained to a modest 8' tall. Excellent for containers, and has a graceful, arching form. Zones 8-10.
Hardy Fiber
Banana
Use as a cold-hardy tropical foundation planting or in large containers around a sitting area to get a serene, upscale look. Up to 15' tall and 10' wide. Zones 5-11.
Elijah Blue
Fescue
Icy-blue coloration to this clumping ornamental grass holds up even through the heat of summer.
Up to 12" tall and wide. Zones 4-11.
Overview: This sophisticated backyard lounge is one of three outdoor rooms in designer Scott Shrader's own backyard, where he "divided the small backyard space into three separate zones, which are all used to entertain." Above is a shot of the lounge, where people hang out before or after dinner. A Ficus nitida hedge forms the walls of each outdoor room. Scott says, "rather than using block or stucco or fencing, I like to use green walls because they help your eye recede into nature, versus looking at something that stops the eye at the property line." A White Fragrant Himalayan Champaca spreads like an umbrella over the corner of the banquette, and vintage stone pots are filled with echeveria, stonecrop, and a dwarf olive.
Scott loves using containers (he has an affinity for old concrete or stone orchid pots) in his designs because they allow for constant experimentation.
He puts small trees like Japanese maples and dwarf olives in them, and when he has a party, "rather than cutting flowers, I'll bring them inside." As long as you're matching your plant choices with your growing conditions, you can achieve just about anything with your containers.
Design Advice: When you're in a small space, it's important to create a calm feeling with a simple plant, material, and color palette. Even in containers, Scott recommends sticking to a small number of plant types. Making it more simplified can create a more relaxing space, especially when it's small. Create green walls for your outdoor rooms with an evergreen hedge of ficus or Schipka cherry laurel. Prune annually to maintain clean lines and control vigorous shrubs.
Love this outdoor room? Check out Scott's book, The Art of Outdoor Living, and learn all about how to create serene outdoor rooms.
Design: Scott Shrader
Photo: Lisa Romerein/OTTO
3 Plants to Get This Look
Angelina
Stonecrop
A great waterwise groundcover that adds a punch of color to a neutral pot with chartreuse needle-like leaves.
Turns orange in winter in cool climates. Up to 6" tall and 36" wide. Zones 3-11.
Little Ollie®
Dwarf Olive
A fruitless dwarf variety that is heat-, drought-, and salt-tolerant. The graceful multi-branching habit can be trained as a single trunk tree and makes a beautiful container specimen. Up to 6' tall and wide. Zones 8-11.
Schipka
Cherry Laurel
A beautiful, reliable option for an evergreen hedge or green wall in an outdoor room. Fragrant white flowers appear in spring. Can get up to 10' tall and wide over 10 years. Zones 6-9.
Frame the ViewOverview: Judy Kameon of Elysian Landscapes designed this beautiful backyard garden around a mid-century home that's situated high in the hills of Pasadena. The aspect of the home offers stunning views of the city and mountains around it. With her design, Judy celebrates these views by framing them with plants. Tall Russian sage and kangaroo paw act as a colorful and upright frame on the side, while also providing privacy from neighbors.
Lower growing plants like lavender, fountain grass, agave, and succulents add softness, visual interest, and beauty without interfering with the expansive view.
Design advice: You can use plants to "frame" anything, from an expansive view to a water feature or the fire pit area itself. Site plants with their mature heights in mind, placing the low-growing plants in front of, and leading to, the view, space, or object that you want to accentuate. Site tall plants on the edges of a view, or behind the celebrated space or object.
Design: Judy Kameon of Elysian Landscapes
Photo: Courtesy of Elysian Landscapes
3 Plants to Get This Look
Blue Glow
Agave
Perfect for hot, sunny, and dry gardens, as well as humid Mediterranean-like climates. The cool blue-green leaves have distinctive yellow-edged red margins. Each leaf tip bears a short red spine. Up to 18" tall by 24" wide. Zones 8-11.
Dwarf
Fountain Grass
A waterwise, bird-friendly grass with fluffy plumes that arch above a lush green fountain of foliage, which turns a golden russet color in fall.
Up to 3' tall and 2' wide. Zones 4-11.
Lacey Blue
Russian Sage
A vibrant, reliable, easy-care and drought- and heat-tolerant perennial that adds height and color to the garden. This more compact variety also doesn't flop. Up to 28" tall and 26" wide. Zones 4-10.
Celebrate the SiteOverview: Located in the same jaw-dropping property as one of our favorite pool landscapes, it's not a surprise that this simple yet stunning fire pit landscape caught our eye. Located on a terrace beside the pool, this vibrant fire pit nook is nestled against one of the many native oak trees on the property. The designers at Arterra named this property design "Close to the Land," and it's evident that the landscape design and plant choices are meant to celebrate the natural setting. Feather reed grass, fountain grass, and New Zealand flax offer soft structure to beardtongue, lavender, hebe, and other perennials surrounding this naturalistic fire pit setting.
Design advice: Every outdoor space has something to celebrate. Let your specific site, climate, conditions, wants, and needs inform your design from start to finish. When you're in tune with your land and your needs, you are always able to create something beautiful and purposeful. Surround your fire pit in a landscape that celebrates a "sense of place" by choosing a simple palette of perennials that thrive in your area and reflect the form and color palette that you see in similar natural settings.
Design: Arterra Landscape Architects
Photograph by Michele Lee Willson; Courtesy of Arterra Landscape Architects
3 Plants to Get This Look
Harlequin™
Magenta Beardtongue
A colorful, waterwise, and easy-care choice that also offers dependable vertical interest. This Monrovia exclusive is showy, hardy, and effortless. Up to 22" tall and 16" wide. Zones 5-9.
Indigo Pearl™
New Zealand Flax
A Monrovia exclusive, with outstanding foliage that has deep plum centers and creamy pink edges.
The sturdy, stiff leaves don't flop like other flax varieties. Up to 4' tall and wide. Zones 8-11.
Overdam Feather
Reed Grass
A striking upright grass that thrives in sunny, dry climates. Green foliage has yellow margins and plumes turn a rich gold in fall. Sterile. Up to 2' tall and wide, with bloom stalks that reach 6' tall. Zones 4-9.
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2021-11-16 18:05:00
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5 interesting ways to build an outdoor hearth
Country rest is associated not only with working in the garden, but also with a pleasant pastime in the fresh air by the fire. For convenience and safety, this place must be properly equipped.
When planning to build a fire pit, it would be useful to make a life-size model from an old cardboard box and place it on the site. After the place is determined and the dimensions are clarified, you can proceed to the choice of design and technology for building the hearth.
General construction rules that apply to fire pits of any design:
- The first stage is marking.
- Then a layer of turf is cut from the allotted area and a hole of the required depth is dug.
- The bottom is then carefully leveled and compacted.
- Further, the order of construction will be determined based on the design and material.
Round fire pit made of stone
Stone is probably the most suitable material that will look completely natural in the country house. Having decided on the choice, they get to work. First, a mixture of sand and gravel is poured onto the bottom, compacted and moistened.
The next step is to lay a mortar of clay, cement and sand with a thickness of about 15 cm and stone paving stones on the prepared base. The composition of such a solution is determined in the ratio: 1:2:16; 1:1:12; 1:0.4:5, where the first number indicates the proportion of cement, the second - clay, the third - sand.
Then the walls of the pit are gradually laid out, which should rise slightly above the ground - you determine the height yourself. Between the stones, it is recommended to lay steel pipes with a diameter of about 5 cm, through which air will be supplied.
The gaps are filled with mortar and leveled by adding it or removing its excess. Along the perimeter, the cylindrical surface can be trimmed with tiles cut into strips or decorative stone. The bottom can be tiled.
Simplified version
If necessary, a brick fire pit can be built quickly. Within the boundaries of the intended circle, a hole is dug, the depth of which should be approximately one and a half times greater than the height of the brick. On the bottom covered with pebbles or expanded clay, bricks are placed vertically as tightly as possible.
Please note! Refractory fireclay bricks are suitable for arranging the hearth. If you take an ordinary clay one, then such a fire pit will collapse after three or four uses.
When laying out the walls, make sure that the outside diameter is slightly larger than the inside. To do this, the bricks are slightly tilted outward. After they are installed, small stones are again poured to the bottom and carefully compacted, for example, using a piece of timber.
If you wish, you can build a rim - lay bricks in beams along the outer circumference of an impromptu hearth. The gaps between them are covered with earth or rubble.
Hearth made from scrap materials
It is even easier to make a hearth with an old steel barrel without a bottom. To do this, you need to dig a hole of a suitable depth, install a metal cylinder in it and fill the bottom with a gravel-sand mixture.
Outside, the part of the barrel protruding above the ground is lined with stones. To fasten them together, use a clay-sand-cement mixture.
Square concrete hearth
A solid concrete hearth will look completely different.
It differs from the previous ones not only in appearance, but also in manufacturing technology. After a recess has been dug and a pillow of sand and gravel has been created, formwork is made. Unnecessary trimming of boards, plywood or hardboard is suitable for it.
External and internal dimensions correspond to the wall thickness of the hearth. Usually 15-20 centimeters are enough for such structures. The assembled form is installed on the prepared base, aligned and fixed with pegs.
Before concrete is poured into the formwork, it is advised to reinforce it - with a step of 20 centimeters, hammer several pieces of reinforcement into the ground. The bars are deepened by 15 centimeters, while the upper end should be approximately 5 centimeters below the level of the formwork.
The mixture for pouring is prepared from the calculation:
- cement M150 - 1 part;
- sand - 3 parts;
- crushed stone (screening) - 4 parts;
- water - ¾ parts.
After completion of work, the concrete is left for approximately a week. After this period, the formwork can be dismantled, but it will be possible to use the hearth in another three weeks - the concrete is gaining strength for a long time.
Please note! If you cover the formwork with plastic wrap, the walls of the hearth will be smooth. To give them unevenness, you can use a steel profiled sheet or other embossed material.
Block fire pit
It is possible to decorate a fire pit with concrete without formwork. The use of blocks that remain during construction greatly simplifies the task. As in the previous case, the bottom of a square pit is poured in the first stage, only instead of formwork, its walls are laid out in blocks.
The recesses in the blocks are filled with crushed stone or sand - this will increase their mass, which means it will prevent displacement and increase the heat capacity of the hearth.
So that the blocks do not subsequently move, they are connected with a solution of clay, sand and cement. Laying continues to the estimated height.
The top layer can be decorated with colored marble chips, and the bottom can be tiled, which can also be used for cladding the outside around the perimeter.
The area around the hearth
When you finish equipping the fire pit, it will be useful to think about how to equip the area next to it. This is important not only from an aesthetic point of view, but also from a practical point of view - additional fire safety is provided, and besides, there is room for imagination. To begin with, the site is leveled and rammed.
Then spread with terrace boards, paving slabs, covered with small stones. Benches, tables or folding deck chairs are placed here in order to spend long evenings by the hearth in a cozy atmosphere.
Yes, there is.
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No and no need.
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..
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how to turn a party into a romantic trash burn
Everyone who lives in the countryside or spends a lot of time in the country knows about the problem with garbage. Yes, in the age of high technology and space victories, oddly enough, for a person living in the outback in the most wonderful country in the world, a real problem is how to get rid of simple household waste. And okay - cans or plastic - but no garbage truck will pick up the branches (and the fallen leaves too). So summer residents have to burn all this in the backyard of the site, constantly waiting for a fine and fearing a fire. Today we will solve this problem once and for all.
Content of Article
- 1 Where to burn garden garbage
- 2 bonfire of brick
- 3 focus with concrete walls
- 4 stone focus - perfect solution
where to burn Garden garbage
We can start with the main thing: trash can be started: garbage burn only in a place specially equipped for this.
Therefore, we need a fire pit, or a garden hearth - whichever term you prefer. What is important in the arrangement of this facility:
- Location away from buildings and plantings prone to rapid fire.
- Protected against the spread of sparks and fire.
That's it, just a couple of conditions - and you don't have to worry about the consequences. As for the long distance, there are no problems here. Ideally, if the fire pit is also near a natural or artificial reservoir. This way, if you need it, you can quickly put out the fire. In addition to the presence of a reservoir, you need to think about the distance to the neighboring windows. The smoke from the fire, if it enters the neighbors' house, will force them to deal with your issue.
As for protection, there are only two options: stone-brick or metal.
In the first case, the pit will have to be lined, and in the second, a metal barrel will be placed inside it. Both options are available and easy to implement.
Brick fire place
If you have bricks left from the construction site, why not? It's simple: you go deep into the ground by about 40 cm, pour a concrete slab in the dug hole and build brick walls on it.
In order for the brick pit to work well, metal pipes must be trimmed to the bottom with an outlet to the outside - this way you will provide the draft necessary for combustion.
It is possible not to pour a concrete pad, but simply fill the bottom with expanded clay or pebbles.
PHOTO: piroclub.ruFor a garden hearth, it is better, of course, to use refractory bricks. This way you will get a guarantee of a long-term life of the fire pit PHOTO: beton-house.com In principle, you can build a fire pit from blocks, cinder concrete or foam concreteConcrete-walled hearth
And this is an easy option for setting up a garden fireplace.
For the manufacture of a concrete structure, it will be required, as for the foundation, a sand and gravel cushion and formwork for pouring.
For formwork, use any material at hand, especially since the casting area is very small.
The width of the hearth wall is 15-20 cm, gravel, crushed bricks or even glass bottles can be added to the concrete for filling.
PHOTO: firepits.abchomerenew.com As in the manufacture of the foundation, it is better to reinforce the concrete hearth with at least one reinforcement loopAfter pouring concrete, it will take at least three weeks for the concrete to gain strength - at that time a fire cannot be lit.
Stone hearth is the perfect solution
Natural stone is a free and reliable option. To fasten boulders or pebbles, it is ideal to use tile adhesive - this composition will tightly fasten even non-professional masonry.
PHOTO: keywordsbasket.com But the appearance of this hearth, perhaps, will be the most organic for the garden Thus, you will equip a neat and safe place for burning garden waste.
