What is considered a hardscape?

Hard landscaping refers to any man-made structure within garden design that is made of inanimate materials such as gravel, brick, wood, pavers, or stone. Any solid structure in an outdoor area other than plant life is considered a harsh landscape. Simply put, the harsh landscape is any of the non-living elements in your landscape design. As the name suggests, these are the toughest design elements in your space, such as concrete, rocks, bricks, cobblestones, stone and wood.

Hard landscaping also includes man-made structures, such as decks, pergolas, or patio covers, that are specifically used in your gardening. Hardscape refers to the solid and hard elements of landscape design that stay the same for years. Some examples of hard landscapes are rocks, hallways, retaining walls, cobblestone patios, outdoor kitchens, water fountains, terraces, and driveways. Hardscape revolves around brick and mortar.

Roofs, pools, berms, patios, pergolas and driveways use hard gardening materials. Often, the soft landscape exists in or around a harsh landscape. Flowers, plants, and other materials can shape the overall design of a harsh landscape. A hard landscape encompasses all the inanimate elements of a landscape, including cobblestones, bricks and concrete.

In addition to providing a sense of organization to the natural features of the exterior, it can also define the use of a given space. For example, patios and gravel roads establish spaces to gather or guide people through different areas of outer space. Before deciding on a hard landscape installation, you should consider the “feel” of the surrounding landscape of a house. When planning and choosing gardening materials, design and design, it's important to consider how they will affect the efficiency, flow, and appearance of your landscaping.