Fall is a great time to enjoy a fire pit. Here are ideas for landscaping around a fire pit, plus safety tips.
Surround the fire pit with non-flammable material such as pavers or gravel to provide a level seating area and to protect plantings from catching fire.
Choose plants that look interesting in the season(s) that you most use the fire pit. Ornamental grasses and late-blooming native perennials, such as ironweeds (Vernonia spp.) and black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia spp.) are good choices for fall. As with all fire-pit plantings, be sure to take into account their mature size and site them well back from the fire.
Choose plants with variegated or light-colored foliage and/or light or white flowers. These will show up best when the fire pit is used in the evening. This might be a good place to try making a white garden.
Enclose the area with a ring of shrubs to create a secret and cozy spot. Be sure to leave a clear exit somewhere in the ring.
For safety, create safe, smooth walkways to/from the fire pit. Line the path with lighting or keep flashlights handy for trips to and from the fire. Keep a bucket of water or sand, a hose and/or a fire extinguisher nearby when the fire is lit. Before creating a fire pit, check with local authorities for any regulations regarding outdoor flames.
Also be sure to use fire pit covers when the fire pit is in use and not in use. You don’t want sparks jumping everywhere!