Hardscape Design

Hardscape design, or hardscaping, usually refers to walkways, paths, driveways, walls and patios.  One of the primary functions of hardscaping is to create boundaries and to delineate specific areas of the yard or garden.

It can also refer to retaining walls that are needed to prevent soil erosion or to build terraced areas, creating comfortable, usable spaces.  Retaining walls also offer structural support and can be used to solve drainage issues.

But hardscaping is not purely functional; done properly it has an aesthetic appeal of its own.  Whether it is a natural stone wall edging a garden, or a rocky waterfall and pond, or a fully-fledged outdoor room based on a flagstone patio, each one adds its own beauty to the landscape.

Plan your hardscape

A hardscape is, by definition, something that is at least semi-permanent -- you don't want to have it finished and then decide that the 4-ton boulder would look better "over there"!  Careful planning is essential to make sure that the finished project looks as good as possible and achieves your objectives.

Before you start, you should try to envision the completed job, and decide what it is that you are trying to achieve: a practical purpose such as stopping a slope from slipping, or building a relaxing area complete with benches and statuary?

Here are a few simple rules to follow when planning your project:

1. Think of a phrase that sums up what you have in mind -- this will help when it comes to discussing the job with your designer or hardscape contractor.  For example, "a Tuscan courtyard", "a Japanese meditation garden", "a cosy sanctuary to get away from it all".
2. Make sure that whatever work you do complements and enhances the natural landscape and blends into it. This is an important aspect of hardscape design if you want to achieve a natural look.
3. Don't overdo the different materials.  Two or three may look alright, such as flagstones and wood, but you don't want to use so many that the finished job looks like a patchwork quilt! And,
4. Unless you are living in an arid desert area, try to maintain a balance between the hardscaping and the vegetation.  Plantings not only bring life and color to the landscape but also soften the hardscape and help it to blend in.

With careful planning and attention to detail, your hardscape project will give you and your family pleasure for years to come.