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A landscape design is composed of multiple things, all of which can be divided into two categories: softscape and hardscape.
While the softscape features encompass everything planted with its roots in soil (your lawn, flowers, shrubs, trees, etc.), the hardscape elements are mostly man-made, manufactured, and/or installed - and require zero water, soil, or sunshine to survive.
Some examples of the items that comprise a hardscape are:
A well-designed landscape balances all of the living, growing things with all of the hardscape features, to create a finished product that offers intentional spaces for sitting, walking, playing, gardening, or whatever the homeowner/business owner feels suits their outdoor spaces and functions best.
Rather than go through each example of hardscape elements listed above, let’s look at the broader and categorical ways you can use hardscaping to enhance your landscape design: Function, Safety, and Fun!
If you have a small backyard or patio space, hardscaping needs might look very different from the elements used in a larger outdoor footprint. So, the overall function will drive what goes where, and which materials work best for their use and your architectural/design style.
At this juncture, we’ll be looking at:
A low-maintenance landscape has a higher-proportion of hardscape elements and fewer plants, trees, and shrubs. Patios, pavers, and walkways never have to be watered, mulched or fertilized.
Is there someone with mobility issues in your family? Or, are you planning to age in place? This information will shape how we create walkways or pathways, as well as any stairs or multi-level areas, ensuring things are smooth enough, wide enough, with a small enough grade, and enough railing or handholds for walkers, wheelchairs, or shuffling feet to move safely through the space.
Speaking of safety, hardscaping takes accessibility - including visibility- very seriously. We want to make sure the outdoor lighting covers all of the bases. Walkways and stairways should have ample lighting for good visibility no matter how dark, moonless, or overcast a Bay Area night maybe.
Of course, lighting also is designed to showcase landscape features, support nighttime activities, and to create ambiance. Read Benefits of Outdoor Lighting… for a more comprehensive approach to create a multi-functional lighting design.
If you have pets or small children, hardscaping can become a part of their functional needs as well. From divisions between play areas and off-limits areas to structural toys, game areas, or easy-to-clean surfaces, there is a wide range of hardscape options out there specific to the needs of kids and pets.
Visit our posts, Things to Consider for a Pet-Friendly Landscape, and/or, 8 Kid-Friendly Landscape Ideas, to help guide the design process for you.
Here in the Bay Area, we are often living in pretty tight quarters. Even if you have ample yard space, your neighbor in the two- or three-story building(s) next to you may have visual access to your yard space. Then there is the traffic or late-night business noise to contend with.
If privacy or sound is a concern for you, let your landscaper know about it. From both hard- and soft privacy barriers and boundaries to bonafide sound walls, our hardscape design can help maintain a tranquil sanctuary - even in the midst of a city.
We’ve touched on a few of these in the “functional hardscape” category. However, walls, fences, motion-sensitive lighting - all can be installed to make sure your outdoor space is safe and secure both day and night, and that you and your guests can navigate the landscape without the risk of tripping, falling, or injuring themselves.
Once you’ve established a foundation of function, safety/security, and fun, it’s time to have some fun. This is where you get to uniquely influence what will be where, and why, to support your lifestyle, daily habits, and future dreams.
We use hardscape elements to create all kinds of different fun, useful, and usable areas for our clients. These include things like:
The team at Bay Area Landscapes thrives on creating the perfect balance of softscape and landscaping elements to design customer-driven landscapes that improve their living and workspaces. Contact us to schedule a consultation or your first design appointment.