Landscaping is the act of manipulating the natural environment in your property to make it look an aesthetically appealing way as well as functioning such as improving the appearance and renovating usable space for outdoor activities around your house or building. When you have your landscapers or landscape contractors do landscaping your property, they might use the terms: “landscape” and “hardscape.” Knowing the difference between the two terms help you envision your landscaping ideas. So, what do those terms mean?
Landscape, often called “softscape” is all of living, things or horticultural features in your landscape design such as grass, plants, trees, and flowers. These landscaping elements can quickly transform your outdoor space into a calm and relaxing oasis.
Hardscape is any of the non-living landscaping elements in your landscape design. Hardscapes include concrete, bricks, stone, pavers, wood and rocks. Hardscaping includes patios, walkways, driveways, decks. Installing the hardscapes in your landscape design serves the purpose of the overall function of your outdoor space. An outdoor fireplace or fire pit extends the use of your outdoor space well into the colder months in Minnesota, Minneapolis – St. Paul, the Twin Cities area.
Both landscaping and hardscaping can increase the value of your home. Some of the best hardscaping features to increase your home values are patios, outdoor kitchens, and retaining walls. Landscaping such as planting beautiful flowers, trees, and decorative shrubs can also increase your home’s ROI. Landscaping compliments hardscaping to create an aesthetically attractive landscape.
