If you’re a homeowner who has realized investing in your property leaves you with space to cook out, entertain and relax in your own backyard, let’s draft a plan and get started. The same design principles used in home building can be applied to landscaping. Sketch plans for landscaping, mapping out each feature of your yard. Mark property lines, telephone poles, water or gas lines, spigots, and other structures that influence where you locate plants, turf, and the outdoor patio. Taking panoramic photos of the yard may help if you can’t visualize the plan.

As you draft a plan, consider the function of different parts of the yard. When determining areas for plantings consider which parts of the yard will you view through windows? Give yourself a pretty view. Combine plantings with the patio hardscape and have focal points. For example, anchor the patio with an outdoor fireplace flanked by evergreens and annuals that bloom throughout the seasons. Beds with fall blooming plants and a cozy fire can extend the use of your outdoor space long beyond the summer. Next, do you want to reserve a spot for barbecuing, create a quiet spot for reading, or designate an area for the kids to play?

Outdoor fireplaces are not only an attractive focal point, but provide functionality. If entertaining is part of the plan, having a wood burning outdoor fireplace that you can also grill on provides additional cook space. Wood fired grilled foods taste different than those cooked on the gas grill, menus can be rounded out by the addition of a outdoor BBQ fireplace. My kids never turn down a roasted marshmallow! If convenience is high priority, a gas fueled outdoor fireplace is the way to go. If you already have gas lines, then half the work is done. Outdoor fireplaces can be placed along side the garage, shed or fence line and create a great focal point. Not only are outdoor patio fireplaces a worthy focal point, but when outdoor fireplaces are combined with plantings, like evergreen trees, they make a screen from unattractive views and add privacy. Considering the views beyond your own yard is another part of drafting a backyard plan.

The backyard is an additional room, so take some time to draft your plan. Before you contact the landscaper to implement your new plan, know what you want and how the space is going to function. Give Mantels Direct a call if you have any questions about an outdoor fireplace kit for your backyard.