3 key landscaping tips this autumn that work all year long

“You don’t want autumn to signal a move indoors and less time spent in your outdoor spaces – you ideally want to adapt and tweak your spaces to make them right for the season and to keep maximising their potential.”

1. More protection when you leaf inside

The key to autumn landscaping is to bring inside’s warmth to outside areas to create a sense of invitation, which can be done by increasing the amount of protection to outside areas.

“You might look to introduce some enclosed walls around some key outdoor areas … especially the likes of outdoor living rooms, patio areas and outdoor kitchens, which often get used less in the cooler months,” Mr Leacy said.

“If you’re considering built forms at the bigger end of the spectrum, backyard pavilions can be a great option, offering loads of covered space for tables, chairs, pots and plants – and lots of protection for outdoor entertaining.

“Covered pergolas, retractable awnings and gazebos can also be really good autumn additions – and you can style the space internally to inject warmth, and then rethink the look and accents as you move into other warmer seasons.”

2. It’s the pits

If you have the space, a fire pit really embraces the feeling of autumn, and can be quite the social experience for guests, Mr Leacy said.

“You can sit by the fire and chat with friends and family, cook food – and they’re great for disposing of branches that may have fallen from your trees.

“The warmth and light generated by the pit means you can continue to make use of all your beautiful outdoor furniture pieces in autumn.”

After autumn and winter roll around, it is also important to note that fire pits do not necessarily have to stay as fire pits; they can also double as coffee tables.

“The important thing is to look at your outdoor space and consider what will work best both for you in terms of functionality, budget and look,” Mr Leacy said.

“In addition to a fire pit, I’d also consider installing some heating or strip heating in key outdoor entertaining and living areas – they will boost heat and keep the spaces inviting throughout the autumn months.”

3. Using warmer, paletteable colours and textures

Mr Leacy also recommended to make areas feel warmer by using warmer colours, such as browns, and darker reds and blues, along with neutral tones.

Also helpful is the use of wood- and bricked-based décor.

“Introducing timber into your spaces is also a great way to enhance warmth and organic tone; … you might look to add some timber to part of your bench seating or your fire pit area.”

“Exposed brick is another great material for autumn with an abundance of warmth and texture … And stacked fire wood is one of the easiest ways to add the appearance of warmth, as well as serving a practical purpose as you start using the fire pit again.”

“You can also use plantings to team with the autumn theme,” says Mr Leacy. “Deciduous trees provide some spark as everything else is turning – and something as simple as a beautiful red maple in a small courtyard can make a world of difference.”

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