As we start to emerge bleary-eyed from winter, now is a great time to begin plans for your garden landscaping. So, think about all the features you’d like to see in your garden this summer. Imagine the warm evenings outside with family and friends. What kind of space do you see yourself enjoying the most? Perhaps a beautiful stone and pebble patio with stone seating around a central firepit? Or, a raised hardwood deck extending from the house with a comfy seating area and outdoor kitchen? And, maybe you’re overlooking a lovely bubbling water feature or graceful stone retaining walls? Essentially, all these features are known as hardscapes. They are distinct from soft features such as plants, shrubs, trees, lawns, and borders. So, let’s have a look at the different materials you can choose for your hardscaping features.
Hardscapes to Enhance your Home
Hardscaping materials include stone, tile, brick, timber and marble. Each one has its benefits and price point. Moreover, it’s a good idea to try to complement your existing structures and landscape. In other words, choose materials that already exist around you. Consider such things as the material your house is made from. Also, do you have stone naturally occurring in your surroundings? Or, is timber a prominent feature? Whichever materials you choose, remember that hardscape features are built to last. So, choose wisely as they may be around for decades and will be costly to change.
Talk to the Landscaping Professionals
At this point, seek ideas from landscape experts. They know which materials are readily available from local quarries and suppliers. Plus, they know what will work best for your particular application. Furthermore, an experienced landscaper knows how to make a feature look beautiful and do more. For instance, it may double as useful storage, conceal lighting or power sockets, or perhaps provide shade and shelter from sun or prevailing winds.
