Everyone has a different way of enjoying the backyard. Some want to play or engage in sports. Some want to relax with a good book or take a nap. Some want to entertain friends. Some want to tend their gardens. To keep everyone happy, here are 4 ideas for dividing your yard for separate activities in Glen Cove and East Hampton, NY.
Retaining Walls
Certain areas could be segregated using low masonry walls. These walls can do double duty as overflow seating. They could be the ideal choice for surrounding a play area or garden. They can also be used to define a patio and give it a sense of enclosure from the surrounding landscape.
If any part of your landscape could benefit from a privacy fence but your landscape is not even or flat, a low masonry wall can be used as the base for the fence. It’s an attractive look that provides a level surface to mount the fence on, and prevents even the most adventurous pets from digging under the fence.
Of course the primary function of a retaining wall is to hold back soil - which could be an opportunity to add usable space to your landscape. Imagine a fire pit area with seating built into the retaining wall (what better setting for a summer’s evening outdoor movie night?) or a play area that’s its own space, away from the patio.
For best results with retaining walls that aren’t used to hold back soil but rather to define spaces, make sure they are comfortably seat-height, which will allow parents to watch their kids play, or for friends to gather to discuss gardening strategies.
Raised Bed Planters
Like low walls, raised bed planters can be used to define and separate spaces. And, walls not only provide overflow seating for large gatherings, but they also offer a convenient place to indulge in gardening passions.
Placed next to an outdoor kitchen, you could plant culinary herbs in the planter to enhance your meals - and at the same time, separate the busy kitchen space from a lower-activity area such as a lounge space or fire pit.
Planters divide up very large patios, creating a series of outdoor rooms. They can also add privacy to your outdoor living space - say, around a quiet corner where you might want to relax with a book - if you add tall ornamental grasses or shrubs.
Planters could be small focal points but they can also be as long as you want - completely encircling a patio, or defining just one section of it.
An Outdoor Fireplace
An outdoor fireplace is a major focal point, and it can also be used to create separate spaces. The best approach for this is to add a double-sided fireplace. This could offer warmth and ambience to both a dining space and a sitting area, effectively creating two distinct outdoor rooms, each with their own atmosphere.
Modern fireplace designs could even feature exposure on three sides (with an open fire box on the side of the fireplace). With custom fireplaces, the possibilities are endless!
Masonry Pillars for a Fence
Combine the best of both worlds - the rugged charm of stone with the more lightweight privacy of a fence - by using pillars instead of wood posts. Masonry pillars can be used to support privacy fencing, or even smaller garden fences that create distinct spaces.
Related: THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO HOW MASONRY IS USED IN LANDSCAPING ON LONG ISLAND, NY