Topic:
Hardscape
A key benefit of adding hardscape to your home is improving the functionality of your outdoor space. Yes, hardscaping projects often add spaces for lounging near an outdoor fireplace or outdoor dining next to an outdoor kitchen, but adding a few unique landscape elements can create a true backyard haven for rest and relaxation. The right hardscape design can also naturally incorporate elements to promote preferred activity, such as gardening. Taken together, the right hardscape adds functionality for outdoor living and increases the value of your home.
Incorporating hardscape into your landscape design is a surefire way to improve your home’s curb appeal. To start, consider elements that can function as a focal point of the design: a pergola, water feature, gazebo or structured flower bed. These focal points automatically add character to your home and distinguish it from your neighbors' properties.
This type of focal point should draw the eye, but not overwhelm the space. You will also want to take into account the maintenance costs necessary for each element — for example, the cost to maintain a large garden bed or to supply water to a running water feature.
Hardscape can also add splashes of color to your landscape design. This can be achieved through some of the more basic hardscaping project elements, such as pavers, mulch, or gravel paths.
Be sure to consider what colors will best complement your home’s exterior. This includes the colors of exterior paint or siding, but also the colors present in existing plantings.
Here are just a few hardscape design ideas that many homeowners choose to add significant “wow” factor to their home:
Go beyond the basic flower bed and explore ways to add flower beds into your hardscape design. Flower beds can be added to the tops of retaining walls or the ridge of a fire pit to add a pop of color. Walkways or steps can be lined with flower beds for a more structured look. A “potted” flower bed featuring pots of various shapes, sizes, and colors adds visual interest and is beneficial when starting several new plantings at once.
Designing the right interplay between flowers and stone or man-made hardscape materials can be one of the most interesting aspects of a hardscaping project. Be sure to consider seasonality and the balance of annuals and perennials when planning your flower bed design.
Vegetable gardens can be thoughtfully incorporated into any hardscape design — whether working around existing beds or designing new ones. Vegetable gardens may be at ground level, or in raised, tiered, or terraced beds that maximize space and connect the natural to the man-made.
Choose materials for your vegetable garden beds that will add color and texture to your hardscape design. For example, if your garden is near a stone patio, a wooden or galvanized steel bed will provide a nice contrast. And, as with flowers, vegetables and herbs can be planted to yield a pleasing color palette when fully grown.
Walkways are a basic feature of hardscape design, yet the possibilities for design are nearly endless. In addition to the array of materials that can be used — brick, pavers, flagstone — there are choices to be made to achieve your desired look.
One consideration is the size of the material you use; a walkway constructed of large stone slabs will have a different feel from one made of gravel. To create a more wild look, the hard material used in your walkway can be interspersed with grass or mulch. You’ll also want to think about how your walkway will interact with varying elevations in your yard and whether you plan to level the space or use the walkway as a natural set of steps.
If your outdoor space is used for many different purposes (kids and pets playing, gardening, or outdoor dining), preserve a space for quiet reflection by designing a meditation area. Meditation areas can be designed within a larger hardscape project or with their own separate entrances to find true seclusion.
Meditation areas do not have to be large to be both beautiful and functional. Rock gardens, water features, or pathways and plantings can be used individually or collectively to create the perfect calming space.
With so many options to create a hardscape that augments your lifestyle, hardscaping projects are essential to a comprehensive landscape design.
For more information about adding a custom hardscape to your own home landscape, please download our free ebook, The Expert Guide to Building the Custom Home Hardscape of Your Dreams. And if you're ready to start planning your new hardscape project, contact our team for a free consultation.
