With the prospect of cooler weather in the not-so-distant future, I’m hoping we will all find ourselves spending more time outdoors enjoying the garden, and our family and friends. At Plant-A-Plant, we are very excited to introduce you to a few of the new products we have added to our extensive pallet to help make that time outside even more enjoyable. First, we have added a new paver manufacturer to our patio, walk, and wall product line.  And, who could resist sitting outside on a cool, crisp autumn evening by the warmth of a fire, enjoying the fall color in the garden? To help you make that dream a reality, we are also offering outdoor kitchens and fireplaces which give the idea of outdoor living spaces a whole new meaning. 

We have recently started using the Techo-Bloc line of pavers and retaining wall block with great success and positive feedback. While offering virtually any look or finish you may desire from a paver, we feel Techo-Bloc has done an exceptional job with their Elena, Athena, and Olympia product lines in offering an aged and distressed look in a random layout. Elena and Athena are five piece systems and Olympia offers four, lending a truly unique look to each specific project. All three of these pavers are both textured and tumbled, which really adds to the feeling that your patio has been there for ages.

Techo-Bloc also offers a beautiful line of segmental retaining walls (SRW). Two of our favorites are the Mini-Creta Plus and the Quarry Stone lines. The Mini-Creta Plus (my personal favorite) is a double-sided wall offered in both 3” and 6” blocks. This allows for building both retaining walls and seating walls out of the same product. By using the different sized blocks within the same wall, we are able to achieve a much more natural and elegant look. The Quarry Stone wall is a single sided retaining wall block offered in 4” and 8” stones, and has the look of chiseled stone, allowing them to blend beautifully with existing natural stone, or stand-alone.

If you have been thinking about an outdoor kitchen or fireplace but are not sure about whom to call, we now offer both. The fireplaces are actually pre-cast systems offered in sizes ranging from 30” to 48” (finished opening of actual fire box). They can be veneered using natural stone, cultured stone, and brick, with stone or wood mantle (virtually any type of wood), and with brick or stone hearth. They can also be made in an array of different configurations (i.e., arched opening, single or double-sided wood box, recessed panel on the back, etc.). These fireplaces can be made to any height you desire and are approved to comply with local building codes (some restrictions apply). Also keep in mind that by being pre-cast systems, they are significantly less expensive than a traditional “block” fireplace. Our new line of outdoor kitchens can be made as simple or as elaborate as you desire. With features such as refrigerators, 2, 3, or 4 burner grills (infrared burners available), drop-in ice chests, warming trays, smokers, and sinks, you can have virtually all of the comforts of the inside of your home, outside on the patio. The islands can be veneered with either natural stone, cultured stone, or can even be equipped with options such as granite countertops or social bars. We can also build covered structures to shield you from the elements.

Whether it’s the addition of a stone fireplace and cooking island with a 4 burner grill and granite countertop to your existing patio, or a patio built using some of the wonderful new products available from Techo-Bloc, we would be more than happy to help you design your own outdoor living space. If you are interested in learning more about any of the new products that we now offer, give us a call. It is our pleasure to help make your space one that you will enjoy for many years to come.