There are many elements necessary for a gorgeous and functional landscape. Yes, features such as colorful plants, trees, benches, chairs and perhaps a fountain are a few of the necessities. But one area that’s often overlooked until winter sets in is the potential of hardscapes.
Hardscapes are just as important as the living portions of your landscape, especially for functionality. In some instances, hardscape surfaces, such as rock walls, create the backbone of your garden. Most often, hardscapes help define outdoor rooms of a home, creating a seamless transition into nature where homeowners can cook and host guests. These features also allow you to enjoy recreational activities or to just sit and take in the beauty of your surroundings. Still, in other cases, hardscaping can be used simply to enhance visual interest through texture, or to create symmetry or proportion within the parameters of the area.
Additional benefits of hardscaping that are often overlooked include:
- Decreases erosion on properties with slopes and/or uneven soil
- Increases property value
- Requires less maintenance
- Makes your landscape and garden areas more accessible to all guests
- Reduces the amount of water needed to maintain your landscape
Below are a few examples of functional and beautiful hardscapes. Take a look and get inspired for your next hardscaping project!
In this project, we used a variety of stones to create a focal point that captures the eye through texture. The arched openings create the right amount of mystery to draw the viewer closer to the structure.
The brick walls in this hardscape create a nice frame for the courtyard, as well as the woodland views beyond the fence.
We love the contrasting colors used in the bricks of this outdoor fireplace and patio design. What a cozy spot to enjoy a cool evening!
This hardscape design creates visual interest with terraces for plantings, while also controlling erosion.
In this design, a brick pathway adds a traditional element to a more contemporary garden. Notice how the layout of the bricks pulls your eye toward the center arrangement.
Are you considering an update to your current hardscape, or are you looking to incorporate a hardscape into your garden? Contact Dargan Landscape Architects today. We would love to discuss how we can help you achieve the perfect look for your garden, complete with a hardscape that balances the rest of your area. Give us a call at 404-231-3889 to schedule an appointment. We can work with you virtually or in person.
I never would of guessed that hardscaping could be so beneficial. I really like how you said that “hardscapes help define outdoor rooms of a home, creating a seamless transition into nature where homeowners can cook and host guests.” My family and I are looking to remodel our home so it is good to learn about how beneficial adding hardscape can be.
I recently moved into a new home that needs a complete landscaping overhaul. I really liked your suggestion to use hardscaping to make a seamless transition between an entertaining space into nature. I think having a rock wall will really help tie the backyard together.
That’s pretty neat that hardscapes can help define the outdoor rooms of a home, which creates a seamless transition into nature where homeowners can host guests and cook. I’ve heard that hardscapes are a fantastic way to save money because they reduce water bills by up to 70% over the course of a year! That’s incredible! I’ll have to keep this great information in mind as I consider installing a hardscape in our backyard for the summer.
It’s interesting that you talked about how rock walls can make a good transition to your yard. I have been looking for ways to make my backyard more interesting. I can see how it would be nice to add a brick wall because it could make my house more unique.
I’m glad you talked about the importance of hardscapes for functionality, as they create the backbones of the garden.We’re thinking of doing some improvement for our garden, and it’s great to know that hardscapes can decrease erosion on properties with slopes. Thanks for mentioning that hardscaping also increases property value and requires less maintenance. Thanks for the advice!
I think I got inspire by one of the photos that you’ve included in your article. The three fireplaces really looked awesome with the vintage looking chairs and the wooden table. I have been meaning to contact some experts to make our backyard aesthetically pleasing, but I have been having difficulty with coming up with an idea or design that I want. But thanks for your help, I know now what I want.
I like that this mentioned that bricks help create a nice frame for your courtyard. I also think bricks could be a great way to define your garden areas and pathways. My friend loves landscaping, so I’ll be sure to share these great ideas with her.
I liked how you mentioned that hardscaping not only controls erosion, it also contributes to the creation of a visually appealing garden. The way you portrayed it in the photo was so nice it made me realize that I should consider hardscaping. If I pointed this out to my mom, surely she will consider it for the next garden project as she loves everything beautiful and useful. Thank you!
I liked what you said about hardscaping reducing erosion on your property. I have been talking to my husband about the possibility of adding some hardscaping to our yard. I think that he would like to know this so that he doesn’t have to worry about everything washing away in a storm.
My husband and I are thinking of adding hardscapes to our garden to create a unique and fun look and I did not realize that there are so many benefits. It is interesting that you say hardscaping decreases erosion and this will help to keep my soil and garden healthy. Also, the fact that it reduces the amount of water that is needed for our landscape will help us to save money on the water bill.
I do agree with you when you mentioned in the picture that the brick pathway catches the eye and gets it to focus on the centerpiece of the garden. It was also nice how you made traditional and contemporary work together so wonderfully. I will mention this to my sister since she wants to design the garden next month. Her focal point will be the fountain, and I think now I know the best hardscape material to use to support it.
My wife and I have been thinking about sprucing up our backyard, but we weren’t sure what to do. I actually had no idea that hardscaping can increase the value of your property! I know that I would love to have some sort of fountain or other water feature in our backyard.