Your landscape may be one of the reasons you fell in love with your home in the first place. If there’s room for improvement, there are many ways to update your landscape, including the greenscape and outdoor living spaces. From tuning up the parts you already love to adding exciting new features, fall is the ideal time to set the wheels in motion. Here are some ideas in fall landscaping: what to include in your landscape design project in the Long Island, NY area.
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A Pavilion
Don’t let Mother Nature keep you from enjoying time outdoors. When the sun beats down, or the skies open up with cold rain, you could be very comfortable in an airy pavilion. This solid-roofed, open-sided structure acts as a protected outdoor living room - especially with the addition of an outdoor fireplace. You could enhance your pavilion with festive string lights, which create a welcoming atmosphere just right for fall parties.
Native Perennials
Although the growing season is coming to an end, the early fall is still a wonderful time to add some plants to your landscape. The plants we recommend are those that are native to Long Island and the Mid-Atlantic region, since they’ve evolved over millions of years to fit perfectly into the environment and withstand the region’s often unpredictable weather. Adding native color will be a much appreciated transformation of your landscape. From trees and shrubs to flowers and ferns, there are many native plants that can be planted before the first frost, so they become established and reward you next season with glorious color, fragrance, and visual interest.
A Hot Tub
Nothing is more enticing in a fall and winter landscape than a hot tub. As the summer haze gives way to crystal clear autumn skies, you can enjoy stargazing from the warmth of your hot tub - which is another reason you’ll want to go outside.
A Fire Feature
Adding the element of fire to your landscape is another great way to welcome the colder weather. While fire pits, fire tables, and outdoor fireplaces are cherished year-round, they’re especially charming during the fall and winter. Choosing the right fire feature for your landscape depends on how luxurious you want things to be. A fire pit evokes the feeling of camping while an outdoor fireplace makes you feel like you’re warming up after some ski runs. A fire table is likewise a luxurious addition, perfect for entertaining on transitional-weather days.
Permeable Pavers
If you’re considering renovating your patio, ask us about permeable pavers. This style of pavers features pavers that are impervious to water, but have larger joints between them to allow surface water to seep into the ground instead of collecting on the surface, preventing slipping hazards. It’s an eco-friendly choice as it helps the groundwater replenish itself naturally. Permeability also protects your pavers from rough freeze and thaw cycles.
Masonry
If your landscape is sloped, consider adding a masonry retaining wall - not only to hold back soil but to add usable outdoor living space. Low masonry walls can also serve as borders around a patio where they act as overflow seating. If you want to install a privacy fence on uneven ground, a low wall will level the base onto which you install the fence. The look will be clean, crisp, and very elegant.
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