 |
Fence, water wall, retaining wall planter,
with plantings and organic mulch, wooden
deck, concrete steppers and sand. |
During landscape installation, besides irrigation and drainage, there are two main categories of landscape that are installed around the exterior of the home - Hardscape and Softscape. Sometimes there is some confusion as to what these two words mean.
 |
Paver Driveway, planting and
gravel as mulch |
Hardscape includes the items that are durable for years and years and never change. Usually with hardscape, the upper soil profile is no longer exposed to the actual surface of the Earth- Concrete, patios, paved walkways, sidewalks or paths, brickwork, retaining walls, pavers, stones, boulders, large fountains, etc. *
 |
Large Concrete Steppers, artificial
turf, stucco wall, fountain
and gravel. |
Softscape on the other hand is all the "natural" areas of the exterior of the home, the elements of the landscape that comprise live, horticultural elements. Planting beds, lawns & ground covers, plants, shrubs, trees, organic mulch and other more transitory elements that continue to change. The purpose of the softscape, from a design perspective, is to lend character to the landscape and create an aura and ambience that reflects the sensibilities of the owners of the home. **
 |
Rock and gravel riverbed with plantings, Stabilized DG
walkway, concrete patio, plantings and organic mulch. |
However, there are elements that seem to drift between the two categories. Gravel walkways, stabilized decomposed granite paths/patios, gravel used as mulch and artificial turf to name a few.
I usually think of it this way, if one needs a jack hammer or heavier equipment to take it out, it is Hardscape. Everything else is softscape. You can beg to differ if you like.
For more on the definitions:
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardscape
**http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softscape
 |
Rock and gravel riverbed, plantings, organic
mulch and a Rock wall.
|
Comments