New Jersey’s Morris County is an idyllic place, with plentiful natural beauty nestled among its hillsides and wooded parkland. It’s a great place to live, and the ideal landscaping for this area will blend local greenery with a flair for fun that will make outdoor living a joy.
Morris County Landscape Considerations
When it comes to landscape design ideas in Morris County, NJ, it’s important to remember that just because something looks amazing in a photo on Instagram doesn’t mean that it will work well in your backyard. Morris County lies in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 6A and 6B, meaning that wintertime temperatures can drop as low as minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit. You may be in love with a Pinterest pin of an Arizona backyard, but desert plants won’t survive here.
In addition to the weather, it’s important to consider the soil as well. The farther north in New Jersey you live, the more likely you are to have rocky soil to deal with. This can make excavation and hardscaping projects challenging for the inexperienced.
To make sure you get a landscape design that looks great, functions well and will survive the weather conditions of Morris County, it’s always best to work with a professional landscape architect. An experienced New Jersey professional understands which plants will thrive in the local climate and how to deal with the soil and underlying rock on your property during construction. They also have excellent landscape design ideas that will bring out the best features of your Morris County, NJ property.
Ready to get inspired? Check out these three creative looks and think about how they can be adapted for your property.
1. Backyard Bocce Center
Bocce is hugely popular across the state, and it’s the perfect low-key summertime game that players of all ages can enjoy. If you love this lawn sport, you may be surprised to learn that it’s best played not on a lawn at all, but rather on a dedicated court. Adding one to a corner of your property will add hours of fun and creates a modern look to be enjoyed all year long.
This bocce court is raised several inches above grade to create a focal point and terrace the slight slope. The short retaining wall is edged in metal, which creates a step down into the main patio area. The seating area centers around a metal-edged fire pit, where guests can relax after a round of play.
The bocce court and patio feature processed oyster shells as a playing surface. This is similar to gravel but is preferred by serious bocce players for just the right amount of give for the balls. It also looks great in New Jersey, as shells are a local product used for paving for hundreds of years. A low stone block wall adds seating and creates a barrier to protect the perennial plants edging the play area. These will eventually grow in to soften the look of the on-trend horizontal cedar fence.
2. Separate Outdoor Rooms
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Who says you have to make one patio do everything? Instead of trying to pack a dining area and conversation space into the same small area, try creating two outdoor rooms separated by an expanse of lawn.
The outdoor living room in the foreground is tucked into one corner of the property, with a full suite of furniture resting on a patio. A flagstone path also serves as the edging for the patio and creates a lane that connects the two outdoor rooms to the main house. Layered hedges of arborvitae and lower evergreen shrubs line the property and connect the small lawn to a wall of greenery.
The outdoor dining room in the background is anchored by a large stone fireplace connected to a stone wood storage shelter. This second patio is also edged by the same large flagstones for a cohesive look. A dining table and chairs are balanced by an outdoor sofa facing the fire for evening comfort.
3. Sheltered Outdoor Kitchen
New Jersey can face some harsh winter conditions, so any outdoor kitchen needs to be sheltered from the elements. This beautiful design places it squarely under the permanent roof of an attached porch, and the grill, cabinets and counter areas are well protected from rain and snow. The kitchen accouterments flank a stone fireplace that creates a warm gathering place that extends the season. The large stone chimney continues past the porch roof and blends so seamlessly with the home’s architecture that it looks original.
Large, rectilinear stone pavers line the floor beneath the porch roof and on the adjacent exposed patio, creating a slightly terraced effect. The patio and porch are currently styled with living room furniture beneath the roof and dining furniture out in the sun, but there’s plenty of space to switch them depending on the entertaining you have planned.
Getting Started on Your New Jersey Landscape Design
If you love these ideas, the first step to making them work for your property is to call a professional for a consultation. They’ll help you translate your ideas and dreams into a layout and materials that will work best in Morris County so that your outdoor rooms will stand the test of time.
