Firepit Area Ideas – Make A Safe And Beautiful Outdoor Space

Everyone these days seems to want a backyard firepit. With its warm and welcoming atmosphere, this feature has become an indispensable part of many outdoor spaces. Yet, you’ll find so many firepit area ideas that choosing the right design becomes overwhelming. Landscape Solutions & Design, Inc. can help you plan the perfect outdoor space with these fun ideas for your fire pit.

Considerations For The Surrounding Area

Generally, safety concerns for people, structures, and plants require particular design restrictions. For example, you must locate your feature away from any other structures. Furthermore, the surrounding area must be free from overhanging tree branches.

Additionally, the area immediately surrounding the firepit should be fire-resistant. A patio is nonflammable while providing an area for seating. Moreover, Landscape Solutions can design and install a patio to match your firepit.

You can choose from the following options:

• Gravel
• Concrete
• Flagstones
• Bricks

Of course, keeping your backyard firepit area clean is crucial for preventing an uncontained fire. Usually, sparks and embers naturally occur when burning wood. Embers can travel when caught by the wind, landing on dry vegetation or debris a few feet away.

In addition, the heat generated from the fire can affect nearby plants. Depending on your fire, the surrounding temperature can reach 800 to 1200 degrees. This type of high heat can easily damage some plants turning them into a fire hazard.

However, this doesn’t mean your area must be uninteresting and bland. Plants can make your area more welcoming and aesthetically pleasing. Some species can tolerate the high heat and drying aspects of your fire feature.

Landscaping Firepit Area Ideas

Many different specimens can exist near your outdoor feature:

1. Yucca

Native to deserts, yucca plants can survive the high temperatures generated by your fire pit. They’re available in a variety of colors including variegated varieties. A few are native to North Carolina and some others have adapted to our cooler climate making it a perfect choice.

2. Agaves

Cousins to the yucca, agaves are also a great choice. Agaves have wider, thicker leaves with spikes along the edges. Unlike yuccas, agaves only bloom once, right before they die.

3. Lavender

This plant originated in the dry, hot climate of the Mediterranean. Its high tolerance for heat and fragrant flowers makes it a perfect plant to beautify your firepit area.

4. Ice Plant

A hardy succulent, the ice plant produces daisy-like flowers that bloom in a variety of colors. This plant can tolerate a wide range of temperatures including the high temperatures produced by your fire feature.

5. Annuals

While perennials form the foundation of your plantings, annuals add beautiful, showy blooms. Typically, perennials bloom for a short time while annuals will flower almost constantly. You can choose quite a few annuals suitable for our climate that can withstand the high temperature of a fire:

• Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan)
• Petunias
• Sweet Potato vine
• Hamelia (firebush)
• Acalypha (copper plant)
• Lantana

Container Gardening Is A Great Option

Another option to beautify the area around your firepit is to use container gardening. Using planters and pots gives you a simple method of creating an attractive planting scheme. If you don’t like the arrangement of plants, you simply move them to a different location.

Moreover, container gardening allows you to manage the growing conditions of the plants easily. Plus, planters can add height, color, and drama to any spot creating a beautiful focal point. Finally, you can use container plantings to separate space and direct foot traffic.

However, not all planters are safe to use near a backyard firepit. For example, plastic can melt from the heat of the fire, and wood planters can catch fire from flying embers. Yet, many suitable materials do exist:

• Terra cotta
• Metal
• Concrete
• Fiberglass
• Clay

Firepit Area Ideas – FAQs

Are you considering a new outdoor space, but still have questions about your backyard retreat? Below, we answer a few commonly asked questions.

Which Is Better, A Wood Burning Or A Gas Firepit?

The answer to this question depends on your needs and budget. Each type has both pros and cons that you need to consider before making your choice.

A wood burning firepit gives you the smell and sounds of a crackling wood burning fire. You can also cook over it and it’s generally cheaper to install. However, you need a place to store the wood and periodically clean the ashes out of the pit.

On the other hand, you can easily start a gas firepit with the flip of a switch. Plus, you never have any ashes to clean out. However, this fire feature tends to be more expensive because you need to run a gas line. Moreover, it can’t produce the smell and sounds of a wood burning fire.

What Is The Best Size And Shape For My Firepit?

Generally, linear firepits always use gas as their fuel. Round shapes can be either wood or gas burning. Typically, the round shape distributes heat evenly around the feature and encourages more interaction between guests.

Usually, the size depends on the dimensions of your backyard and the number of people you plan to entertain. Of course, a larger size can accommodate more guests around the fire and it also generates more heat.

Do You Landscape Commercial Properties?

We do! Typically, we have a 60/40 ratio of residential to commercial properties. In fact, several of our residential customers also trust us with their commercial property.

Likewise, we offer other services as well including fireplace design, pool installation, aquascaping, retaining wall installation, landscape design, patio installation and more.

So, stop dreaming about a new outdoor space! Call Landscape Solutions & Design, Inc. at 336-442-0160 t to discuss your firepit area ideas. From design to installation and maintenance, we can transform your property.