Conservation/Environment

Hardscape doesn’t grow. It doesn’t change, except at your direction. It doesn’t require watering, pruning, mowing, pesticides, or fertilizer. Hardscape looks good every season.

A hardscape is made up of the non-growing structures in your yard. It can be your patio furniture, a concrete slab, the fence, a boulder, a stump left over from an unruly tree, the fishpond or a galvanized tub. It is the skeleton around which you arrange your trees, shrubs and flowers.

Your basic hardscape might have been installed with the initial landscaping: the driveway, fences, patio or sidewalks. These can be difficult and expensive to move. Planning carefully around these objects can keep your budget in check. If you plan to add them, be aware of the consequences of a later change of mind.

Now is a great time to re-evaluate your needs in your yard. Do you really need a large lawn? Can you justify the time and expense of a big lawn? How do you use your yard? How would you really like to use your yard?

If hardscape produces an image of gravel and concrete, go to the experts. The library has many books and magazines on landscaping. The Internet is a wonderful source of information. Check new and used bookstores and yard sales. There are software packages that allow you to experiment with landscape. Tune into landscaping programs on the TV. Hire a landscaper for an hour or so to give you ideas.

Look to hardscape to solve problems. Are your pets ruining your landscaping? Provide a small area of grass for them and put your plants in containers or raised beds. If you have paths worn in your lawn, change them to meandering trails of gravel, bricks or stones. Design something special at the end of each trail. If nothing grows well under a tree, spread gravel and add a couple of lawn chairs and a table. Put beauty bark and large plant containers in a corner where the water doesn’t reach. Design an arbor to block an eyesore.

Stone is one of the most popular forms of hardscape. It can be purchased, found or made. It has varied shapes, sizes and colors. Stones can be grouped or stand alone. They can outline a garden or just accent a few plants. Stones are a great do-it-yourself project.

Develop a plan for the entire area. Start small, so you don’t get overwhelmed and give up. Evaluate each step and don’t be afraid to change your design as you come up with new ideas.