As you carry out a renovation on your landscape, there are many projects that you can perform as a DIY-focused homeowner. Beautifying your landscape is one thing, but you can also look into some functional design to improve the aesthetics and practicality of your backyard. Before you get started, check out these recommendations from the garden supply store for backyard designs in Lancaster and State College, PA.

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A Cozy Fire Pit

Nothing brings folks together in a backyard like a warming fire in the cooler nights. Fire pits are fairly rudimentary structures made of masonry blocks and burn a wood fire, though some use natural gas as fuel. Fire pits can be built in either circles or squares. They can play a central role on your patio, be tucked away in a quiet corner, or even act as a “destination” spot in your landscape.

You could take cues from the color and texture of the masonry used in your home and existing hardscape features. Then, browse around your local garden supply store. You may choose a fire pit kit, which includes everything you need to put a fire pit together in a weekend, or you could build one from scratch if you want custom features you can’t find in a kit. Our friendly experts can assist you in choosing the right materials and accessories for your fire pit.

A Comfortable Stone Bench

Every outdoor living space needs a comfortable place to relax and chat with friends and family. A stone bench, also known as a high-backed seat wall, is a great opportunity to create that comfortable place, and it’s especially wonderful around a fire pit. This bench could be on the windward side of your fire pit, protecting the heat of the circle inside. Another opportunity for additional seating could also be on the edge of a patio, providing respite for those who have stood for too long at a party. Or it could be a standalone part of your landscape that looks over a beautiful view. Make sure to include space for secure storage underneath the seats for essentials such as blankets, cushions, pillows, and more.

A Raised Garden Bed

For every gardener, time spent on hands and knees can be tiring and hard on the body. Building a masonry raised plant bed will allow you to tend to your flowers or vegetables in a way that will put the plants at a comfortable height whether you’re sitting on the edge of the planter or standing beside it. This way, your plants will also be much more prominent in your landscape views and easier to access for watering and maintenance.

Plan the raised garden bed to include a system for automatic drip irrigation. This system will take the pressure off consistent watering and can be calibrated for individual plants. That way, you can mix and match various plants depending on their watering needs. Aside from this system, a raised garden bed can also house various landscaping necessities such as lighting fixtures or even provide bench seating as well.

A Priority for Native Plants

As you fill out your raised garden bed and other parts of your landscape, there will be so many plants to choose from. While you visit the garden supply store and local nursery, you’ll probably want to prioritize native plants. These plants have been evolving in the local climate for millions of years and are much better adapted to the challenges than exotic imports. They will mark a huge reduction in watering needs as well as seasonal maintenance, plus they can produce an array of dazzling color throughout the year.

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