Using Hardscape in Your Landscape Design

Tips for Using Hardscape in Your Landscape Design

Having a beautiful outdoor retreat where you and your family and friends enjoy comfort and relaxation is a valuable addition to your home.  Hardscape represents all the “hard” building materials you can use within your landscape design, such as flagstone, bricks, cement, and rocks.  These additions create structure and height to your outdoors to serve many functional purposes, from creating walkways, eating areas, and raised flower beds.

Six Easy Tips for Using Hardscape

1. Match it to your home’s exterior design.  Hardscape shouldn’t “pop,” but rather, it should flow seamlessly from the overall look and feel of your home.  Choose building materials that complement your home’s style and colors.  For example, black slate works well for many contemporary or mid-century modern homes, while rough-cut flagstone will blend well with ranch and craftsman homes.
2. Give it purpose.  Hardscape features should have a function, including leading the eye to a focal point.  Consider the journey the eye takes along the hardscape and add features like boulders, fountains, sculptures, or botanicals to give it additional interest.
3. Break up the lines.  Unless the home’s style is very structured, straight lines in landscaping and hardscaping can give it a rigid and unnatural feeling.  In most situations, a free-flowing design will generate visual appeal and feelings of relaxation.   Don’t be afraid to incorporate curves and rounded edges into your design.
4. Consider drainage.  Rain and irrigation water often runs along and under the surface of your yard.  Installing hardscape paths and patios can disrupt its natural course.  Also, water that hits the hard surface of the hardscape will create new runoff patterns.  It’s essential to consider the hills and valleys of your yard into your design and ensure that hardscape surfaces slope away from your home and other structures.
5. Build well.  Most of the hardscape construction is below the surface of the earth.  Several inches of dirt must be removed to create a solid foundation with sand and gravel to withstand the elements.  Tamping is crucial to ensure the foundation is stable and will stand up to the weight of the hardscape.  The hardscape may crack, shift, and become uneven without proper construction.
6. Use botanicals.  From grass to trees, shrubs, and flowers, living elements are all integral complements to your hardscape design.  Talk with your local landscape professionals or greenhouse to determine which plants will go well with your design and grow well in your specific environment.

If you’re considering adding hardscape to your yard, start with a visit to Hilton Landscape Supply.

Creating a beautiful outdoor living area should be fun, and we’re here to help you create the masterpiece you’ve been dreaming of.  Our professional team at Hilton Landscape Supply can help you outline your project and select the best materials to do the job.  You’ll find a wide variety of boulders, slabs, and rocks in our inventory to create the perfect oasis for your property.  We’ll even deliver your materials right to the worksite.  Visit us today to learn more about the possibilities.