Making Your Fire Pit The Centerpiece Of Your Yard
Backyard fire pits have become one of the most popular landscaping features in recent years. Whether you are looking for portable fire pit ideas that you can move around your patio or something more sophisticated that will be your central entertaining space, the options are endless. But don’t be overwhelmed. Read on to get the best landscaping and fire pit ideas for making sure your fire pit is the focal point of your yard.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
In deciding where to locate your fire pit, it’s important to determine the type of use it will get. For example, is it primarily for you and the kids to roast marshmallows in the evenings or will it be a special entertaining space for a potentially large crowd? Answering these questions will help you gauge how large the area needs to be.
Space for seating and the other living elements in your yard also need to be taken into consideration. Most fire pits don’t have a great deal of protection from the wind, so you want to make sure there is nothing near that might catch fire from a floating ember.
Place the fire pit far enough away from any large trees in your backyard. Experts suggest keeping overhanging branches at least 10 feet away from the fire pit, even branches that might be 20 feet or more above ground. A strong enough gust of wind can still carry the hot embers high enough to catch those branches on fire. You’ll also want to keep an area of about seven feet around the fire pit clear of any living elements, so those floating embers don’t ignite anything. Experts also advise keeping a fire extinguisher, hose or bucket of water nearby in case the wind picks up any embers.
DESIGN OPTIONS
Once you’ve figured out the location for your fire pit, now you need to decide the seating elements and further define the area. A wonderful way to do this is through pavers and natural stone. You can define a walkway to your fire pit using the same ground cover that you choose to surround the pit. Options include river rocks, gravel, brick or stone pavers.
Use decorative grasses or blooming annual plants to further define the area. Many popular backyard designs include terracotta, metal or ceramic planters surrounding the edges of the fire pit area. You can fill these planters with perennial shrubs and grasses which aren’t as flammable. Make it a point to change blooming seasonal flowers regularly to keep the area beautiful and in season.
You’ll also need to decide what type of seating options you want for your fire pit. Again, you’ll want to think about how many people the area will typically hold. Options include wooden benches or Adirondack chairs, but you can also utilize large stones as seating to bring in a natural element. Just make sure you keep seating at least three feet away from the fire pit for safety. The stones and pavers will work to complement the fire pit design and set the area off, making it the focal point of your backyard.
While used mostly after dark, the fire pit can naturally become a gathering place in your backyard. The right complement of fire pit design, plants, decorative paving and comfortable seating will make the area a natural space for entertaining and relaxing, a space your family and friends will enjoy for years to come.
FIRE PIT IDEAS WITH PIONEER LANDSCAPING CENTERS
Offering unrivaled customer service and products, Pioneer Landscaping Centers offers a wide family of landscaping and hardscaping materials to supply you with everything you need to transform your yard into the retreat you’ve envisioned.