Have you ever walked by a yard and felt you were walking past an overgrown jungle? Maybe you’ve even seen a yard so cluttered that it made you wonder how people easily moved around? Unless these impressions are intentional, it’s most likely that the landscaping needs some work.
Fortunately, some good softscaping and hardscaping can make a world of difference.
Landscape Designing for Gardens
Having your own home is an important milestone in life, and moving into a house with a garden or a backyard can be a dream come true. So why not put some effort and resources into landscaping to make your garden the perfect oasis?
Landscape design for a home can be really exciting because of the many possibilities it offers. However, it can appear daunting if you are doing it for the first time. A lot of people aren’t familiar with the terms and concepts around landscaping. So, if you’re new to it, keep reading!
Features of Landscape Design
There are two main elements used in landscaping, and while both of these are the exact opposites of each other, it is their harmonious balance that makes your garden and backyard come alive.
Hardscaping
As the name suggests, this category refers to all the hard elements used in landscape design. Once placed in the landscape, these elements become permanent fixtures and can be removed only when going for a garden overhaul. Hardscaping includes all the nonliving elements like stone, cement, and concrete that can be used. Typically, in the form of gravel, water fountains, pavements, gazebos, and patios.
Some of the main characteristics of hardscapes include:
- These features are permanent and include inanimate objects.
- Hardscaping is generally done for beautification, but it can also be helpful. For example, walkways can be built around the garden for you to walk unhampered, and pavements prevent the water from running off and improve groundwater levels.
- If the garden includes too many hardscaping elements, it could look very artificial and lifeless.
- Once installed, the hardscaping elements require very little maintenance.
Softscaping
The difference between hardscaping and softscaping is right in the name. The name of this category represents the fact that softscaping includes all living elements, including trees, shrubs, grass, flowering plants, etc. However, softscape elements don’t necessarily have to be soft to the touch—tree bark and mulch, for example.
Some of the defining characteristics of softscaping elements are:
- Softscaping includes living elements that are either semi-permanent or temporary.
- These elements can be easily altered every year if desired.
- Since it involves living elements, softscaping needs regular maintenance.
- If overdone, softscaping can make a garden look rough and overgrown.
Get Your Dream Landscape with Jack’s Lawn Care & Landscaping
Now that you know about the elements involved in landscaping, you might be wondering how to best apply them. The best landscapes are created with a well-planned combination of both hardscaping and softscaping. Although it can sound difficult, it’s not out of reach. Especially with the experts at Jack’s Lawn Care & Landscaping, LLC in Charlottesville, VA.
Contact us today to get a free estimate to start building the landscape of your dreams!
