What's the difference between softscape and hardscape?

Hardscapes are design elements that are solid and immutable over the years. Soft landscapes are elements that are fluid and change as they mature. The ideal landscape is a balance between hard landscape and soft landscape. Hardscape refers to the solid and hard elements of landscape design that stay the same for years.

Outdoor living space offers an oasis in which to enjoy life. Your exterior design must include both hard landscape and soft landscape elements to make it a comfortable place. The difference between the two is quite simple.

Gardening elements

are non-living things, such as pavers, rocks, concrete, fences, doors, fountains and more.

Soft landscape elements are living things such as grasses, flowers, vegetation covers, shrubs and trees. You should consider the following differences between the two when designing your outdoor spaces. Hard landscaping is the non-living elements of the landscape made of stone, bricks, concrete or metal. Soft landscaping is living elements such as soil, trees, flowers, grass and shrubs.

A well-balanced landscape design will include an attractive combination of gardening elements and gentle landscaping. Hard landscaping is the basis of soft landscaping. A gentle landscape consists of all the living elements of a landscape: trees, flowers, grass, shrubs and other plants. It also refers to other aspects that are included in gardening, such as weed management, the use of mulch and other tasks such as cutting, trimming, sorting and planting.

Known as the growing components of landscape design, soft landscape elements often change and evolve. Compared to the characteristics of hard landscapes, the components of the soft landscape are softer to the touch and adapt to the climate and other conditions. Softscape requires regular care, making it a high maintenance job, while Hardscape is a one-time investment. Gentle landscaping elements will add color and beauty to your landscape, and gardening elements will add focal points, access and practicality to the design of your outdoor life.

A backyard with heavy hardscaping can look too much like a commercial property and emanate a barren environment, while overdoing it with a soft landscape gives your backyard an unintentionally messy look. To better understand how to design a landscape, the two main elements that make up outdoor living spaces are known as hard landscape and soft landscape. Unlike most gardening elements, gentle landscaping requires constant management by the homeowner on a monthly, biweekly, or even weekly basis if you want your garden to maintain its beauty and appeal. Softscape's functions are designed to surround the elements of the hard landscape to complete and complement the design.

With intelligent planning, even the smallest patio can be well designed and incorporate areas of hard and soft landscape. If you're not a fan of meticulous, high-maintenance gardening, it's better to focus more on hard landscaping than on soft landscaping. Harsh landscape elements may seem empty in a courtyard that lacks soft landscape elements, while an excess of soft landscape may seem jungle. Unlike the harsh landscape, the soft landscape refers to the horticultural elements of a landscape that have no permanent qualities and are constantly changing.

Flower pots and raised pedestals (hard landscape) with potted gardens (soft landscape) attract attention upwards and save space. Unlike soft landscapes, the costs and labor involved in building hard landscapes prevent them from being changed frequently. Well-planned landscaping should create an optimal balance of living plants within hard landscape structures. As the name suggests, hardscaping refers to hard elements of landscaping, such as pavements, walkways, wall coverings, while soft landscaping involves more living elements such as soil, trees, flowers, grass and shrubs.

Landscape Solutions is proud to offer expert landscapers the ability to create beautiful, eye-catching landscape designs that include balanced elements of hard and soft landscapes. Without expert knowledge of landscaping, achieving the right balance between hard landscaping and soft landscaping can be a challenge. .