Softscaping vs. Hardscaping: Contractor's Guide
There are two key elements of any successful landscape design—softscaping and hardscaping. Understanding the difference between them, and how they work together to bring your yard to life is essential in communicating your goals to your softscaping and hardscaping contractors. You can always speak to professionals like our team at Enviroscapes for a better understanding of the two, but why not start by going through our guide here? We cover factors to consider, mistakes to avoid, and more.
What is Softscaping?
Softscaping encompasses all of the living, organic components in a landscape design. So really, the parts you most likely think of first when you think about landscaping. We’re talking plants, trees, shrubs, flowers, grass, and any other vegetation within the limits of your property. Softscaping offers a natural aesthetic featuring texture, color, and life. Unlike hardscaping, it’s dynamic, and will change with the seasons and evolve over time. Softscaping services for your yard provide improved air quality, water management, shade, and natural habitats for local wildlife.
What is Hardscaping?
As you might have gathered by now, hardscaping includes all the non-living, man-made elements of a landscape design. This can be driveways and walkways, patios, decks, retaining walls, fences, stone, water features, and even outdoor kitchens and firepits. While softscaping does provide some functions, that’s hardscaping’s main benefit. You can work with hardscaping contractors to transform the natural elements around your home into spaces you can utilize and enjoy.
Factors To Consider in your Landscape Design
Your design will surely integrate both softscaping and hardscaping, so you must consider these factors:
Climate and Environment: Here in the Denver area, the air is dry, and temperatures are turbulent. Consider drought-tolerant plants and weather resistant materials.
Functionality: How do you want to use your outdoor spaces? Do you want a full outdoor kitchen and lounge area? Or maybe softscapes are your focus, and you only need a stone pathway to some Adirondacks in an alpine garden.
Maintenance: Every landscape requires some amount of maintenance, but the level of care can vary greatly depending on the design. A low-maintenance design may involve using native plants or choosing materials that can withstand the local environment with minimal upkeep.
Budget: There can be surprising cost variances in both softscaping and hardscaping choices. Get a strong idea of how much you’re looking to spend, and your softscaping and hardscaping contractors will help to make choices that fit your vision without breaking the bank.
Finding Balance Between Softscaping & Hardscaping
Though polar opposites, seamlessly blending softscape and hardscape elements is essential for a balanced design. Your contractor will focus on scale and proportion to create a harmonious landscape, ensuring that hardscapes and plants complement one another. For example, larger trees provide a solid foundation for expansive hardscapes, while low shrubs fit perfectly around patios. Color and texture also play a key role, as flowers and foliage can either fit in with materials like wood or stone or stand out in contrast.
Functionality and maintenance are equally important considerations. While durable hardscape materials may need only occasional cleaning, non-native plants generally require more upkeep. Environmental impact is another crucial factor; plants cool the space and provide habitats for wildlife, while permeable pavers aid in drainage. Blurring the lines between hard and soft elements, such as vines climbing walls or groundcovers nestled between stones, creates smooth transitions. When these elements are properly balanced, the result is a cohesive, beautiful, and functional landscape.
Hardscaping & Softscaping Services in Denver & Beyond
As a softscaping and hardscaping contractor, Enviroscapes understands the importance of addressing our unique climate and lifestyle in every project. We provide comprehensive hardscaping and softscaping services and can help create landscapes that are not only visually stunning but also practical and sustainable. Whether we’re designing a modern commercial plaza or a cozy residential backyard, we prioritize achieving the right balance between every element.
Let’s work together to transform your vision into a landscape design reality that complements nature and meets your specific needs.