Softscaping is a process of landscape design that involves plants and other organic materials that you find in your yard or garden.
For instance, how you place your flowers, plants, soil, and even flower beds all impact the softscaping of your overall garden design. It can often be confused with hardscaping, but there are several key differences between the two.
As a general rule, you should consider softscaping if you want to brighten up your home’s exterior. Flowers and plants add a fresh pop of color into your yard, although they require consistent maintenance.
It is a great, versatile way of decorating the outdoors without having any major repairs done. Softening up your yard will make it more appealing, but taking on a project like this will cost you significant time, effort, and resources.
Here is a quick and simple guide to softscaping your yard or garden.
Hardscaping vs. Softscaping
As mentioned earlier, softscaping involves more flexible elements of your yard or garden. This generally involves things that don’t require too much commitment in building and can be moved around as you please.
In contrast, hardscaping involves more permanent fixtures in your garden or yard. This may include walls, swimming pools, gazebos, fire pits, and more. If you have an outdoor kitchen, including a stove area, this may be considered hardscaping as well.
Anything that may involve structure, concrete, and asphalt is part of hardscaping. While hardscaping is the first thing you think of when it comes to outdoor design, it typically cannot be executed well without a balance of the two.
Softscaping Tips
If you plan to softscape your garden or yard, here are some helpful tips to make it beautiful and homey.
1. Design the Softscape Around the Hardscape
When you start designing your exterior, it’s best to layout your hardscaping first. These structural features are harder to move around compared to softscaping materials. With its degree of permanence, it is often better to simply design your softscape around your hardscape.
Laying out your hardscaping will provide the necessary outline and boundaries to keep your softscaping in its place. Plus, most elements of softscaping are more versatile and workable.
2. Find Balance Between the Two
Hardscaping and softscaping shouldn’t have one or the other. Finding a balance of both is necessary to build your yard. Make sure you plan out your yard meticulously so that softscaping doesn’t completely overpower the exterior design and vice versa.
3. Have a Maintenance Plan
Softscaping takes a lot of maintenance. As it involves greenery and living objects, it is important that they receive the proper care so that your plants grow healthy and vibrant.
When plotting your maintenance plan, it is important to think about your capabilities as a gardener, the climate within your residence, and the frequency of maintenance. Most plants require minimal maintenance, such as some perennial plants.
Make sure you are also growing plants in the right conditions. For more humid climates, you might want to consider succulents or drought-tolerant plants.
Conclusion
Softscaping is a great way to make the exterior of your house look more polished and well put together. When plotting out your design, finding the perfect balance will make all the difference.
Make commercial landscape design in Birmingham, AL much easier with DSLD Land Management. We offer holistic landscape services, including softscaping. Contact us at (205) 437 1012 to get started on your home beautification project.
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