Tips and Tricks from Landscape Designers

Not only does fire encourages conversation, but it creates intimacy and an ambiance for the area. It's certainly used for warmth and elongates the amount of time you can spend outdoors, but it's also aesthetically beautiful from a light standpoint.

When planting on a slope, use drought-tolerant plants because they're on an angle and get a lot more sunlight. Some examples of plants that landscape designer Scott Cohen uses on slopes are hibiscus, canna lily 'Tropicana', and lantana.

While most people may think a solid cover is the best choice for outdoors, it actually traps in more heat. While open shade bars give you 50 percent less covering, they allow more of the heat to escape, creating a more comfortable outdoor experience.

Fireplaces are the cornerstone of any party, creating a very social vibe. There are lots of different kits and systems to use when building one. In addition, there are self-contained unit that don't require flutes, making it easier to install and not as restricting.