Materials Used in Landscaping

Hard landscaping and soft landscaping use different kinds of organic materials

The materials used in landscaping depend on which of the two types of landscaping one is engaging in: hard landscaping or soft landscaping. Hard landscaping involves solid construction materials used to redesign an outdoor area, and includes driveways and patios, walls, driveways, paths, gazebos, decks, and fences. Soft landscaping involves the planting of vegetation, including trees, flower beds, gardens, and shrubs and topiaries.

Hard Landscaping: Brick, Granite Setts, Gravel and Concrete

Bricks and granite setts are frequently used in hard landscaping for the delineation of pathways. Specifically, granite setts are often used to construct the bulk of a pathway, while brick is considered a visually pleasing way to "edge" or border pathways made of setts or cobblestones. Granite setts are also used to make spiral or concentric circle patterns.

Gravel is a popular hard landscaping material, as much for its versatility as its affordability and speed of application. Different sizes and colors of gravel are available, and it can be laid loosely, or set into mortar to create interesting paving designs.

Concrete is often used as cheaper alternative to stone, as its texture and appearance can be altered in many ways. For example, it can be pre-colored with dyes, or buffed smooth to an almost marble-like finish.

Hard Landscaping: Wood, Metal and Glass

Wood materials in hard landscaping are most often used for decking and fencing. Decking is a particularly effective way of introducing different levels to the space immediately surrounding a home.

Galvanized metal can add a modern, minimalist touch to an outdoor space, particularly when used as reflective, sculptural objects in a space with a small pond, pool, or stream. Various sizes, shapes, and colors of glass beads and marbles are also useful as reflective surfaces in garden areas.

Soft Landscaping: Trees, Plants, Topsoil, Mulch and Wood Chips

Planning and planting tree, shrub, and plant layouts, as well as applying topsoils and mulches, is all part of the process of soft landscaping. Plantings can be utilized as "soft" and graceful divides or borders to an outdoor space, where wooden fences or stone walls might appear too harsh. Bark chips are also a common soft landscaping material, serving not only as a form of flower bed water retention and mulching for pathways, but also as ground cover in children's playground areas.

References

• Miller's Garden Services: Creating Beautiful Spaces
• Telegraph: Top 10 Hard Landscaping Materials
• Crinda Landscapes Ltd.: Soft Landscaping