Hardscaping Can Enhance the Beauty of a Yard or Garden

by Kevin Smith Author

Homeowners are always looking for ways to beautify their properties. Most people are familiar with the term “landscape,” but many have not heard of hardscaping and softscaping. Both are integral components that, when used together in the right way, make up an aesthetically pleasing landscape.

The Difference between Hardscaping and Softscaping

Put simply, hardscaping refers to inanimate objects in a yard or garden, such as gravel, stone, walkways, driveways, walls, gazebos, and decks. They can be naturally occurring or manmade elements. Softscaping, on the other hand, refers to the living components of a landscape, such as flowers, shrubs, trees, and grass.

How to Create a Beautiful Yard or Garden

A well-designed landscape should include a balance of hardscaping and softscaping. If there is too much of one or the other, the yard or garden will be unattractive and unappealing. Too much hardscaping creates an environment that is not relaxing, and too much softscaping requires endless trimming and pruning to keep the property from becoming overgrown. A poorly-designed landscape can detract from an otherwise beautiful home’s curb appeal and can even lower property values, both for the home that contains it and for the surrounding neighborhood.

Hardscaping Options in Alpharetta

Homeowners who want to increase the amount of hardscaping in Alpharetta have several options. One possibility is to include a path or walkway through a garden or backyard. Residents can put in retaining walls made with colorful brick or stone work or construct a deck, patio, or gazebo to relax outdoors with family and friends. Water hardscaping features, such as fountains, are also popular among homeowners in Alpharetta.

Consider Environmental Impacts

When choosing hardscaping elements to incorporate into a backyard or garden, it is important to consider the effects they may have on the environment. Pavement, for example, can prevent water from being absorbed into the soil. That can lead to increased runoff, which can create problems with drainage and contamination. Porous materials are often recommended for backyards and gardens because they allow the ground to absorb water.

How to Create an Attractive Outdoor Space

A combination of hardscaping and softscaping can create an appealing and relaxing backyard or garden. It is important to strike a balance between the two to create the desired effect. Residents who want to incorporate hardscaping in their Alpharetta properties can choose to add walkways, fountains, gazebos, and other decorative elements to enhance the beauty of their homes and raise their property values.