Natural hardscape designs may seem like an oxymoron. However, Lifescape is dedicated to providing Colorado hardscaping services that blend with our clients’ natural surroundings. The term “hardscaping” refers to the non-living aspects of your backyard and garden designs and, surprisingly, these additions can add a soft natural look to your garden.
The following ideas can inspire you as you make your landscaping plans for the new year.
Pathways
Consider using bulk materials for your garden paths. Options include gravel, mulch or decomposed granite. These materials will create a clear path, but the edges will be softer and provide a more fluid boundary between the path and your landscape.
Gravel paths can have a variety of looks, based on the size and color of the gravel. This brown gravel path complements the color of the home’s exterior and looks natural in the environment. It leads to an expanded area of gravel, rather than a cement patio, which enhances the soft look. Larger pebbles and stones create an entirely different look. They’re ideal in settings with a water feature, since they mimic the environment of a lake shore or ocean. A mulch path lends the most natural look of all. When it’s unfettered by a border, it appears as if it’s been there all along.
Pavers are a multi-purpose landscaping tool. While they can be used to create a traditional hardscape path or patio, leaving a little space around these features can change their appearance. You can intentionally plant these spaces, fill them with pebbles or colored gravel, or leave them empty and let Mother Nature take over. Even a modern landscape design is softened with spaced pavers, such as this one. Hard concrete pavers are spaced with various gravel patterns.
The plants you select also have an effect on hardscaping aesthetics. Use a higher ratio of plants to hardscape to immediately soften the effects. Choose round and soft plants to hide firm edges of hardscape planters and boundaries.
Contact Lifescape to learn more about our Colorado hardscaping and landscaping services.