When planning for your new outdoor space, you come across terms like landscaping and hardscaping. While you have a general idea about them, you still get confused about which word means what. Hardscaping and landscaping go hand in hand, and knowing how to balance both in your designs provides you with the most beautiful and breathtaking results.
After contacting landscape designers, like those from Stone Solutions Maine, they will have a consultation with you where you can discuss and landscape architecture plans and you will have the opportunity to relay your vision in depth. Professionals will be able to guide you on the balance of landscaping and hardscaping and how to create a beautiful flow and design, resulting in an outdoor living space that you and your family will love.
The Difference between Hardscaping and Landscaping
Hardscaping
As the name suggests, hardscaping revolves around the ‘hard’ landscape elements such as stones, bricks, tiles, metals, concrete, and wood. Too much greenery tends to dampen the look of your space and needs some structured life. Using the hardscaping materials, the landscapers build exquisite stone patios, walkways, fireplaces, fountains, accented stone gardens, and even driveways.
Adding these natural yet man-made structures to your space also serves to draw attention from the visitors and give your curb a classy look. Also, maintaining the hardscaping designs is quite manageable because of their sturdy features.
Landscaping
Landscaping involves maintaining all the soft, earthy, living things in your landscape design. Different soils, grass, trees, shrubs, vines, and flowering plants include the outdoor landscaping. When combined together, the colors incline to give your space a boost of quality with a refreshing look.
Unlike hardscaping, the landscaping needs to be maintained more regularly and with diligent care, since each living aspect has its own particular need and care requirements.
How Hardscaping and Landscaping Work Together
The ideal landscape is acquired by setting up an optimal balance between hardscaping and landscaping. The landscaping furnishes your place with an appealing, colorful theme and gives your outer area a soft and spirited quality. At the same time, hardscape add some freshness and promotes flow with crips lines and brilliance.
When creating a landscaping design, different colors are chosen for the plant flowers. However, it would be best if you made sure not to overdo it unless your landscape is an actual garden. Too many colors can cause the view to look more animated than necessary. Instead, focus on texture and depth to create balance and dynamic to the area.
The purpose of incorporating hardscaping is to add value and contrast to the softness that landscaping provides with an edge of hardness. It gives your space a more comfortable and homey look where people can gather and enjoy each other’s company. However, small details can have a significant impact, and using hardscape materials that go along with your home is one of those. If your house’s outer walls have patches of stones in them, use that material for your hardscaping designs as well. Choose materials that go with your house’s architectural style to give your landscape a natural tone.
It is also necessary that the landscape is designed before the actual hardscape installation to get its comprehensive feel. This helps the landscapers and designers to fill in the space that looks empty and change the designs for the areas that need space. Each bench placement, tree, centerpiece, and patio, play its part in the overall landscape. The planted greeneries are also meant to praise and highlight the hardscape’s features.
One of the factors the landscapers make sure of is a proper drainage system. The constructed design should have an appropriate means for the excess water to drain, preventing forming puddles of water in the landscape. It also protects the plants from ruining because of the water overflow.
Ultimately, the atmosphere of your landscape should have a natural feel to it. Nothing should look forceful and must assist the surrounding permanent structures. Also, it is essential to change the hardscapes every few years with the evolving time. Adding a little bit of creativity to your landscape once in a while will be good for your outdoor space to get up-to-date and fit your family’s lifestyle needs.
Landscaping Maintenance
The work isn’t finished after you get your dream landscape. Landscaping requires consistent maintenance and management. Not attending to the landscape will leave it looking unsightly, and it could prevent the greenery from coming back or flourishing.
Some of the maintenance that your landscape needs include:
Watering and Fertilizing
All living things need water and food to sustain. Just the same, grass, plants, trees, and flowers also require water and fertilizer to grow and bloom adequately.
Planting
Taking care of plants is necessary for your landscape. However, you need to plant new ones from time-to-time to maintain the landscape’s look.
Drainage Maintenance
It is essential to keep a check on your drainage and see if it is working properly. If it doesn’t work as it should, you will find your landscape in a puddle-like mess sooner or later.
Mowing
The grass is part of every landscape and needs constant mowing, leaving the grass to grow wild will affect the overall look of the landscape terribly.
Aerating
The sole purpose of aerating is to alleviate the soil compaction of your landscape. You need to perforate the soil every few weeks to provide your landscape with the proper nutrition and water.
Hardscaping Maintenance
The hardscapes require much less attention and maintenance than landscapes. However, only a few factors take a toll on hardscape structures like changing weather and seasons.
Fresh Coating
A fresh coat of sealants helps to polish and fill in the cracks in your outdoor materials. It gives the hardscapes to have a renewed and clean look.
Cleaning
Out in the open, materials like wood and tiles tend to grow mold and mildew. Cleaning up the outdoor furniture from time to time can help prevent them from getting stains and dirt figures.
Power Washing
Mold and algae grow on paving stones, bricks, and concrete when left neglected, which causes damage. That’s why it is better to pressure washing your patios and other hardscapes and keep them free from all kinds of dirt and growing bacteria. Ask about sealing your hardscape work as well to maintain a fresh look and preserve the material from Maine’s harsh and ever-changing elements.
Now that you know all the facts about hardscaping and landscaping, you can research great landscape ideas on Pinterest and from a few local magazines such as Maine Home + Design or Better Homes and Gardens. You will be able to tell your landscape architect what it is that you love about the design and collaborate on your vision together! Hit the ground running and call to consult with the Stone Solutions Maine to get your dream landscape handcrafted in anywhere in Southern Maine.