by Lloyd Glasscock, CPH
More and more often homeowners are trying to find a way to use their garden spaces (or landscape) more effectively for entertaining. This is a great way to keep the cost of entertaining down (after all, you own the space already) and to create a more comfortable setting for your guests.
The first step is to think of this area of the garden as an outdoor living room rather than as a simple patio or lawn area and how it can best function for entertaining. Think of how many people might be using the space at any one time and what occasion they might be there for. Think also of how often the space might be used and at what times of year. A good outdoor living room is adaptable enough so that four people are as comfortable as twenty or more.
The patio area is central to making this all work. The surface should be fairly even and uniform with few if any gaps. If the patio is flagstone it may need to be mortared to prevent shoes or chair legs from getting trapped between stones. Size is important as well. A person sitting in a chair on your patio will require 10-12 Square feet of space (or 9 people per 100 sq. ft.). One way to increase your sitting area without increasing your patio to absurd proportions is to allow wall space around the patio (if the design allows) to be available as seating, which only takes up 3-4 sq ft of space per person.
When looking at the patio area and deciding how and where to enlarge it, always look at the lawn. Besides being a water hog, turf grass is just not conducive to most entertaining, especially as families get smaller and children get older. Maintenance is always an issue and a well planned patio can look as attractive as a lawn, especially with the creative use of planters and other props.
Planters are a must. Besides filling the living space when people aren’t there they give the patio area more structure. A couple of larger ones would be fine, but the majority of the planters should be relatively simple to move around by up to two people with a minimum of fuss. They also need to look great when planted. Don’t skimp in this area because it can make or break your event. A mix of seasonal annual color and perennials usually works well. In winter add heathers or other woody evergreens that might have some color. The key when working with planters is simple. Keep them full and make sure the colors go together somewhat. Most of your guests aren’t going to know one plant from the next, but be sure you know what you have planted in case someone asks you (you’ll be a star!).
Once the patio area and planters are decided on look into the furnishings you want to live with. Benches and tables are an integral part of what you’re trying to achieve so make sure they mix well with everything else that is going on in the area. Benches should have ‘wide’ or ‘sled-like’ legs rather than pegs for ease of movement on the patio surface. As with the planters the tables should be something that can be moved by up to two people. Barbeques are another matter. These are functional units and should have a dedicated space away from the new ‘living area’. Built in units are best kept around the corner or somehow out of site unless they are part of how you regularly entertain. Units that can be rolled around the corner are great because they can be rolled out of site, something that should be allowed for in the patio design process.
Last comes whatever finishes you would like to put on your new space. These can be ‘permanent’ items like fountains or statuary, or they can be seasonal / occasional things. Think green lights in the trees & shrubs for St Patrick’s Day dinner or Chili Pepper lights for a summer get-together. When using fountains think of the sound or splash they might create and allow for that. Also keep them clean, because nothing would be worse than to have everything for a function perfect and then end up looking at green water all afternoon. Okay, except for St Patrick’s Day.
It all sounds simple because it really is. Start planning your space now because the sooner you have finished, the sooner you can start celebrating!
Lloyd Glasscock is a partner in Pacific Stone Co, an outlet specializing in Natural Flagstone & Wall stone, Concrete Paving Stone and other landscape features in Everett. He has worked in the local landscape industry for over twenty years in the areas of retail garden center, landscape supplies, landscape design & consultation and is a Certified Professional Horticulturist through the WSNLA.
