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.
Hardscape design often requires more site work than a typical landscaping project. While hardscape does not typically involve building large structures, remember that you are constructing something that requires a solid foundation if it is to last. It may be necessary to spend time leveling the ground and/or laying in foundations to create the right base for the project.
As with landscape projects, you will need to consider which hardscape materials are the right fit for your space — both in terms of budget and aesthetics. The color of your home’s exterior, existing plantings (or new ones you’ve planned), and surrounding softscaping elements like soil, mulch or water features are all important to think about. A material you love for its looks may not provide the right functionality, or may be over your budget.
Hardscape projects also need to take into consideration the size of the space and the balance you hope to achieve between man-made and organic spaces.
Perhaps you want to create a hardscape that takes up the bulk of your outdoor space and minimizes the need for lawn care. Perhaps you want to think of hardscape solely as transitional space between indoors and your yard. Hardscape can also improve accessibility to your home and its outdoor spaces.
Ensuring sufficient play space for children and pets or for the amount of entertaining or gardening you hope to do must also be part of the design process.
Hardscape refers to the man-made components of a landscaping project, such as walkways, retaining walls, outdoor kitchens, patios, fireplaces, fire pits, divider walls and even driveways. Hardscape can transform a basic yard into a functional — and beautiful — outdoor living space. Hardscape can be used to create natural points of connection and flow from your home into the outdoors. Think of a walkway leading from a side door to the backyard, or a patio near the kitchen that becomes the perfect space for outdoor dining.
Hardscaping can also assist in creating separate oases within a larger yard, such as a built-in fire pit or small patio to establish a space for lounge chairs.
When done thoughtfully, hardscape can add value to your home by improving its curb appeal and increasing usable space on your property.
A great way to sell your rental property to tenants is to let them know that they’ll never need to mow their lawn or go to great lengths to keep their grass green. For tenants with families, modern artificial lawns meet and exceed expectations. Children and adults alike will never have to worry about uneven landscapes, holes, or divots that can become a safety hazard and cause falls or other injuries. Parents will also be happy to hear that artificial grass has incredible draining capabilities that will prevent puddles and mud. No more pets or kids dragging mud through the house or kicking muddy shoes off onto the carpet. Artificial lawn is also perfect for small gardened homes, especially pet-friendly residences. It creates a small, virtually maintenance-free area for pets to play, and pet-waste cleanup is easy—just scoop as you would on any other grass, and give it a hose down. The antimicrobial fibres within each blade of grass ensure that your yard stays odour free. Whether you or your tenant is paying the water bill, artificial lawn helps to keeps the cost down. During the summer season, the bill can really start to add up and that’s if there isn’t a hosepipe ban. By conserving water, you’ll help sell the property to prospective renters, help save the planet, and save on time and cost!
Moodscapes transformed a small city yard from an ordinary into an impressive entertaining space.
The family had an extension added to their backyard, as the existing conditions of the yard weren’t ideal, with lots of unhealthy plants throughout. The construction of the extension left quite a bit of debris, leaving the homeowners with a lot of cleaning and shaping up to do. Their main concern was to increase their space while making their backyard a great environment for kids, as well as making the space super eco-friendly, complete with native and edible plantings. Additionally, the family wanted to install a sitting area for entertaining, as well as plantings for privacy.
Moodscapes helped this family to achieve their goals by first clearing the backyard of all unwanted materials, including dead and unwanted plantings, concrete walls, and anything that could be dangerous for the children.
Next, the soil, which had been completely compressed from prior construction, was improved. The improvement was made by adding the correct organic matter and minerals necessary, as indicated by a soil test.
A small patio of pavers was included for a sitting and entertainment area. This was surrounded with edible plants, including blueberries and vegetables. Ornamental trees, including a Amalanchier Oxydendorn and a Japanese Maple, were planted for shade. Native shrubs and perennials were planted throughout the yard to create privacy.
An organic lawn was installed to ensure the safety of the children and the family’s dog, providing a safe playground area. Also included was a garden where the children can learn about planting and growing perennials, vegetables, and herbs. This variety in the children’s garden gives them a full sensory experience, allowing them to be surrounded by the sights, tastes, smells, and feeling of a great variety of plants.
The collaboration between this family and Moodscapes led to the creation of an impressive family fun area, allowing them to enjoy using their backyard in a safe and eco-friendly way.
Entertaining outdoors is a great way to utilize your backyard to its fullest extent. Sharing your personal oasis with loved ones allows you to show how much you care for them and for your yard!
Cultivate your landscape design so that it is inviting, providing a full sensory experience for your guests. Having a variety of plants to look at, smell, taste, touch, and even hear rustling in the wind, will engage your friends and family on another level.
Having a wide variety in your landscape, with varying heights, widths, and depths, can increase the visual interest in your backyard, and can even make it look larger. A professional landscaper can offer tips on what to plant, and when.
Adding many types of trees, shrubs, and perennials in a space adds tons of beauty, and even a very small space can include a wide variety with an efficient planting plan implemented by a design firm. For example, consider starting off with a couple of larger trees, which will add height and create privacy. Dogwoods like the Cherokee Princess Dogwood have great height and gorgeous flowers.
It’s important to select plants with varying seasonal interest so that you can enjoy your garden throughout every season. For example, fothergilla is a good choice, as they exhibit fiery shades in the fall. White astilbe and yellow ligularia offer early summer blooms to start the season with color. For easy care and year-round interest, choose a low-maintenance ground cover that corresponds to your planting zone.
Something very important to consider no matter what type of entertaining you’ll be doing is whether you’ll have sufficient shade and lighting. If you lack shade trees, it may be a good idea to consider having an arbor, pergola, gazebo or some umbrellas installed for the comfort of your guests.
Adding outdoor lighting to increase visibility and safety during after-sunset gatherings can be simple, with options ranging from hanging string lights to installing more permanent and appealing solar or wired lighting throughout your landscape.
A useful and comfortable outdoor entertaining space often reflects your home. Much of the entertaining you do will allow you the chance to make your backyard a fresher, roomier extension of where you live — an outdoor living room, really, in your backyard space.
The most important thing in customizing your backyard design for entertaining is to make sure that it works for you.
Debris like leaves, twigs, and other yard waste can accumulate on your artificial grass. A leaf blower is an efficient tool for removing this debris quickly. Blow the debris into a corner of your yard for easy collection and disposal. This method is especially useful after storms or during the autumn when leaves are abundant. It’s a fast and simple way to keep your lawn clean, saving you time compared to traditional mowing.
Homeowners are increasingly opting for synthetic turf due to its low-maintenance nature and aesthetic appeal. Unlike natural lawns, artificial grass eliminates the need for regular watering, mowing, and fertilizing. It also provides an eco-friendly option, especially when using recycled materials from sports facilities. Here’s a closer look at how synthetic turf can transform your space:
Integrating flowers into an artificial lawn offers numerous aesthetic and practical benefits. Raised flower beds provide a defined edge and ample space for planting a variety of flowers. Utilizing pots and containers allows for flexibility in design and placement, making it easy to rearrange and refresh your garden’s look. For existing flower beds, seamlessly blend synthetic turf around them to maintain their charm while reducing maintenance. Incorporating hanging plant baskets and choosing low-maintenance plants ensure year-round color and vibrancy with minimal effort. These practical tips empower homeowners to create a stunning garden that complements their artificial grass, enhancing both beauty and functionality.
