What is hardscaping?

Question: What is hardscaping?

The word, "hardscaping" may be unfamiliar to some novices, but the division of landscaping projects into the subcategories of hardscaping and softscaping makes perfect sense, once you think about it....

Answer: "Hardscaping," or "hardscape" refers to the inanimate (i.e., non-living) elements of a landscape. Hardscaping includes elements made from wood, even though wood was once animate (in the form of trees). Living plants, by contrast, constitute the "softscaping" or "softscape." In particular, as the name implies, "hardscaping" refers to hard elements such as those composed of concrete, brick or stone, in addition to wood. For instance, constructing a patio or deck is a hardscaping project, as is a brick walkway, a stone wall, or a wooden fence. But hardscaping goes beyond large-scale projects such as these. Any non-living ornamentation in your landscaping is, technically, part of your hardscaping.

For an overview of masonry hardscaping, please consult Landscaping With Stone.

For more on wood hardscaping projects, please consult The Essential Steps in Building Decks for some problem-solving tips on wood deck design and construction. Also see Building the Garden Arbor for step-by-step instructions for erecting a wooden arbor.

For a fun and easy hardscaping project that will provide your landscaping with a focal point, you can Install a Water Fountain for your garden pond.

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