The term, "landscaping" can be used grammatically either as a noun or as the present participle of a verb. In the latter case, "landscaping" either can take an object (transitive) or go without one (intransitive). For example, I can say either "I am landscaping to increase the value of my property" (intransitive) or "I am landscaping my property to increase its value (transitive). Either way, the noun, "landscaping" derives from the participial use and designates the process or result of such an action.
But what constitutes such action? One can loosely be said to engage in landscaping when one works to improve the outside of a property (i.e., virtually everything but the house itself). Improvement can be either practical or aesthetic. When undertaking new improvements (especially of a creative nature), "landscaping" is roughly equivalent to "landscape design." But improvements must also be maintained, so "landscaping" also includes yard maintenance. Landscaping often involves work both with hardscape and softscape components.
