Hardscape vs. Softscape Landscaping

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A split-level suburban house with a brick facade and a landscaped yard featuring shrubs, trees, and a neatly trimmed lawn under a blue sky.

When it comes landscaping, the most successful outdoor spaces combine two techniques: hardscaping and softscaping. Each one has their own unique aesthetic and practical purposes and, in a full outdoor design, there must be a marriage between the two elements.

At Kerr & Kerr Landscaping, we work with you to create the best outdoor space for your needs using all of these elements.

 

Hardscape refers to anything that is physically put into a space with the intention that it doesn’t move. This can be:

  • Retaining walls
  • Patios
  • Steps
  • Walkways
  • Ponds or water features
  • Gates
  • Arbours
  • Pools

Softscape is anything involving the organic elements of the landscape, like:

  • Topsoil
  • Grass
  • Plants
  • Flowers
  • Mulch
  • Trees
  • Shrubs

Lights can also be included in softscaping, as they add a decorative element to the outdoor space. Proper landscaping never uses hardscape without softscape, though softscape can be used without the other elements.

A quaint red garden shed with white trim rests in a lush yard. A curving stone pathway and seating area complete the inviting outdoor space.

Walkways and retaining walls are softened with the use of grasses, shrubs and lighting.

So how do you combine the two to make a complete, finished product?

First, you have to ask yourself where you want people to focus their attention in your outdoor space. Each outdoor space needs a focal point, which we then work around using different pieces and landscaping components.

For example: You’ve decided to add some curb appeal to your front entrance. Most homes will have a pathway leading to the entrance, which is the hardscape. By using planters and sometimes graded ground, you can create a nice focal point to the front of your home. Adding shrubs and flowers is also a great way to soften the space.

To see more of our work and how we’ve worked with hardscape and softscape, visit our landscaping portfolio.

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