The process of landscaping involves a lot – weeding, making garden beds, and mowing! However, out of all the components of landscaping projects, what is hardscaping? Hardscaping describes designing non-living landscaping components.
This article will discuss hardscaping and landscaping and how the two relate. Additionally, we will include some examples of hardscape elements you can add to your property.
What Is Hardscaping?
The two categories of landscaping are hardscaping and softscaping. Hardscape includes any outdoor design not made of plants. Hardscaping refers to any artificial landscaping structure made of inanimate hardscaping materials like gravel, brick, wood, pavers, or stone.
Hardscaping Vs. Landscaping
The structures in landscaping known as hardscaping are made of non-living materials. Every landscape design consists of softscaping (such as flowers, trees, or shrubs) and hardscaping (such as walkways, gravel paths, fountains, and architectural accents) features that harmonise and support one another. Softscaping, which develops and changes over time, is frequently built upon static hardscaping.
Ways To Use Hardscape Elements To Enhance Your Property
You can use various items and materials such as rocks to boost the curb appeal of your outdoor space. While you can use rocks as property lines and for drainage, and they can also be attractive. They come in various forms, sizes, textures, and colours and can withstand harsh and gentle weather. Use them in a small area to give your yard a new look or cover a large area to change how your property flows and works.
Below are six creative examples of hardscape elements to add to your landscape.
1). Fire pits: A practical hardscaping element that can improve the comfort and ambience of your outdoor space is an integrated outdoor fireplace or fire pit made of brick or stone. It can also serve as an outdoor kitchen when you need to roast your barbecue. It is pretty easy to create a rugged outdoor fire pit using rocks. All you need to do is to stack rocks of different sizes with the large ones at the bottom. Build it up a few inches and fill the spaces with small stones.
2). Paving stones: Stone pathways are typically constructed using pavers made of natural stone or concrete. Create a low-maintenance, attractive path using rocks to move from one area of your property to another. Connecting stepping stones, river rock-lined paths, and crushed granite footpaths are all great options for rocky pathways.
3). Gazebos and pergolas: These freestanding structures can be used to shade walkways partially in outdoor living spaces. They increase the utility of your outdoor space and provide shelter and shade during outdoor events.
4). Load-bearing walls: Load-bearing walls delineate the edge of a garden at the summit or base of a hill. If they weren’t there, dirt and water would run off and harm the development of the softscape. They are crucial because they support the structure above them by shifting the house’s weight to the foundation and the ground. A load-bearing wall should be exceptionally sturdy and durable.
5). Patios and decks. Building a patio and deck is a superb way of making the most of your living space. You will have a lot of wonderful outdoor space to use and enjoy if there is a deck on the upper level that connects to a patio on the lower level. Most patios are constructed on a concrete slab or a sand and rock foundation, while decks are made of vinyl or material that resembles wood.
6). Fountains: Adding water features to your backyards, such as fountains or paved garden streams, can create a calming atmosphere. You can create a waterfall with large rocks in your backyard that empties into a small pond. This is a fantastic way to utilise a slope or steep hill on your property and simultaneously give it a decorative focal point.
Final Thoughts
Using hardscaping and landscaping in your outdoor area can improve the appearance of the area around your house. Making the ideal space of your dreams will be simpler if you understand their differences, how to use them effectively, and how to make them work well together.
Buy Landscaping Rocks With Rokworx
Hardscaping is an excellent way of adding visual appeal to your landscape, especially when using rocks. Are you looking for hardscaping rocks around Melbourne or surrounding areas? Rokworx is your go-to rock vendor. We supply different types of landscaping rocks across Melbourne for domestic and commercial landscaping projects.
Please call us today for more information on 0407 456 045 or leave a message.