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Ever wish you could have your own fire pit in your backyard landscaping to roast marshmallows over when you get the urge? Well here’s some tips from Landscaping with Nature by Jeff Cox about creating one:

-in a natural landscaping you would want to create a fire in a natural clearning, so look around your home and try to find a somewhat sheltered spot. If you have water on your property, look for a sheltered spot near that. After all the urge when camping is to be near water.

-Jeff says to place larger rocks on the downwind side of the spot you choose so that any sparks the prevailing winds might blow that way would hopefully hit these big stones. We’re not talking itty-bitty rocks but some good sized ones that can also reflect back the heat of the fire pit and provide something in your landscaping project to sit on or lounge against.

-make sure the fire pit has clear space overhead.

-surround the fire pit with cobblestone set in mortar and that all this cobblestone is sloped away from your landscaping fire pit.

-and your landscaping should include trees, shrubs and other plants that will give a natural woodsy feel to the area around the fire pit. These plants in mass should balance all the cobblestone and other rocks immediately around the fire pit.

For a list of plants that Jeff Cox considers the best for your fire pit landscaping, check out his book.