Popular Softscape Landscaping Ideas

Landscape design has two basic components known as softscape and hardscape. When used together, these fundamental parts create a front yard or backyard that is functional, comfortable and aesthetically appealing for your family members and guests to enjoy. Therefore, it’s particularly important to understand the difference between softscape and hardscape in order to blend them thoughtfully and lay a foundation for a harmonious landscape.

What’s the difference between hardscape and softscape?

Hardscape elements are the “non-plant” parts of your garden such as statues, retaining walls, decks, patios, driveways, walkways, and fountains. On the other hand, softscape materials are the “plant” elements such as the lawn, trees, shrubs, succulents, and flowering plants. Basically, hardscape refers to the inanimate structures while softscape is a combination of living and organic things.

You also have the option of adding either softscape or hardscape retaining walls. People who want total privacy can go with hardscape walls (like a retaining wall) using materials such as wood, natural stones, concrete blocks, or bricks. Otherwise, trees, shrubs, and hedges, make for more natural walls that give your property a more open look while still providing ample privacy by blocking the view from other people and they continue to grow and improve privacy (and property value) over time.

Adding softscape landscaping elements

If you are just starting out, it’s essential to start with the hardscape before adding the plants to ensure that softscape materials aren’t in the way when you’re adding the necessary hardscape elements.

Choosing trees and shrubs

After installing hardscape elements and choosing your desired layout, it’s critical to make a wise choice for the shrubs and trees you wish to plant in your yard.  Always go with trees and shrubs that are a mix of both winter and summer in order to accentuate your yard during both seasons. It’s also essential to ensure that the trees and scrubs you choose are compatible with our climate (Vancouver is considered zone 8).  Native plants are a great option because they have already adapted to the local environmental conditions.

Types of plants and planting ideas

1. Flowering Perennials

Perennial flowering plants help cover the hardscape and add aesthetic appeal to your yard. Go for plants that don’t require a lot of care and attention to thrive in the lower mainland.  The best perennials for zone 8 gardens include Creeping Thyme, Phlox Paniculata (Blue Paradise), Dicentra, Echinacea Tomato Soup, Sea Thrift, Geraniums, Daisies, and Rosemary.

2.  Native Plants and Wildlife-Supporting Plants

Besides requiring little care once they are established, plant species that are native to our region also offer nesting material and food sources to native insects and animals. Although going with all native plants is always a good idea, including a few plants that aren’t native to your region such as wild lilac (ceanothus spp.) can add a natural look to your yard. You can also fill in with various wildlife-supporting plants like penstemons and nectar-rich salvias.  The options are really endless and we can help you make decisions based on what you’re looking to accomplish.

3.  Native and Ornamental Grasses

With their carefree habit and soft forms, native and ornamental grasses can fit in well with natural gardens. You can plant grasses into garden beds to add texture, or simply use them to cover large areas instead of having a traditional lawn.

4. Meadow Gardens

Rather than planting in formal rows, you can plant a single variety of grasses or perennial plants in groups of odd numbers (three or five), or create several large swaths of one plant variety to create a meadow garden that is both beautiful and natural-looking.

5. Vines

Hanging and climbing vines are an easy way to merge hardscaping with softscaping elements. Hanging vines work particularly well with hardscaping structures such as pergolas and gazebos. They create a curtain of greenery that helps counterbalance wood and metal. Climbing vines are also very useful and can be used to give home facades and retaining walls a more natural look. They can also be used to fill in the gaps in traditional fences. Homeowners can also add flowering vines to create a diverse and balanced landscape with lots of color.

You can give your front or back yard a wilder look by planting vines that ramble over retaining walls, pergolas or fences. This is an easy way of hiding human-made elements while giving your yard an untamed feel in a single season (as they can grow quickly). Vines such as five-leaf akebia (akebia quinata), pipevine (aristolochia macrophylia) or grapevines (vitis spp.) can give such structures fast cover.

Planting Trees, Shrubs and Vines

The right placement of trees and shrubs is very important.  Avoid planting trees right in front of your house, and never plant shrubs too close to the driveway or walkway. It’s always a good idea to plant shrubs on either side of the driveway and place them in odd numbered groups of three or five. While planting trees, take into account the size and space that the full-grown tree requires in order to leave ample space around it.  You can plant trees at the edges of your house to help soften pointed edges and other hard lines from your homes architecture.

1. Add Flowering Plants

While adding flowers to your front and back yard, choose a small number of plants (two or three) of contrasting colors. Avoid adding too many accents as this can spoil the look by creating a riot of color. Even with a few flowering plants, your house and landscape can still look good and inviting. For ground cover, you can either plant grass or simply spread shrubs evenly (go for shrubs that have a maximum height of about one foot). If you want a boundary or screen around your house, choose the hedge wisely and plant it around 15 to 20 ft. away from the street.

2. Accentuate Your Driveway With Natural Borders

Regardless of whether they offer sweeping curves or are completely straight, driveways and walkways are all about connecting different elements of the landscape design. Walkways connect different focal points, spaces and features of your yard in order to maximize accessibility and make the space more organized.

Lining your walkways and driveways with plants gives your yard a more balanced and beautiful look. The natural textures and colors help offset the hardness of elements such as stone or concrete. It also opens up a wide range of aesthetic combinations to give your driveway a more exciting appearance.  Planters are a good alternative for achieving this objective and they also give you the option of easily moving them when necessary but planters can also be permanent in the case of a raised bed built using block or stone.

Natural stone walkways provide an organic and perfectly serene look that never fails to impress.  Pavers, meanwhile, are the preferred material for homeowners who want a flexible, versatile option that offers creative freedom and a wide variety of design possibilities. On the other hand, brick walkways usually take us back in time with their weathered and historical appearance.

You can further enhance walkways with beautiful flower beds filled with perennials, trees and shrubs. If there are already trees in the yard, the walkways can curve around them nicely to protect the trees and create paths with an organic flow.

Some hardscape structures in open areas such as pillars and natural stone retaining walls already serve as borders.  You can use these design elements to your advantage by creating gardens along such elements, essentially making borders of flowers. This is a good way of adding some color to your yard without using up too much surface area. Homeowners can also plant beds of flowers just behind their natural stone barbecue islands or outdoor stone fireplaces to help them blend in.

Shrubs also work exceptionally well especially if your walkway or driveway cuts through the lawn.  They add a vertical element to offset the flatness of the hardscape. You can also integrate trees into your yard in this manner. However, it’s essential to keep in mind that trees work especially well in large landscape designs.

Deciduous shrubs that are ideal for zone 8 include;

Shrubs under 3 feet

• Vibernum
• Forsythia
• Japanese Barberry
• Azalea
• Junipers
• Jasmin
• Mountain Laurel

3 to 5 feet tall shrubs

• Winterberry
• Serviceberry
• Flowering quince
• Cinquefoil
• Japanese barberry

Shrubs that are 5 to 9 feet tall

• Northern Bayberry
• Ninebark
• Rose of Sharon
• Butterfly Bush
• Summer sweet
• Mock orange
• Purple Leaved Sandcherry

Tree-like shrubs

• Arborvitae
• Juniper
• Yew
• Holly
• Boxwood

3. Decorate Walls With Colorful Vines

Walls are usually meant to ensure privacy in the landscape. For areas that are not ideal for growing lush greenery such as walls made of wood, natural stone or concrete blocks, colorful vines are an ideal way of dressing up the space. They can be used to support vines that will gradually spread out over vertical structures.

4. Garden Ponds

Ponds are an ideal way of combining softscaping and hardscaping into one feature. Garden ponds can be bordered with low walls or rocks to give them style and structure. You can also integrate garden fountains and waterfalls into the design. They also open up new dimensions for softscaping, providing an opportunity for the addition of water-based flora and fauna. Ferns and water lilies are popular aquatic plants that can be easily complemented with goldfish and koi. However, it’s important to ensure the proper design and construction of ponds based on the climate.  If you plan to have fish in a pond you’re entering into a whole new world of maintenance so it’s best to do your research before jumping in.

5. Gardens and Terraces

Besides ensuring a safe landscape design especially for an undulating landscape, terraces are also prime spots for vegetable and flower gardens. Terraces give gardens a prominent spot in your landscape design while also counterbalancing the wide expanse of concrete or stone walls. Walls can also be easily covered with climbing vines to make them blend into the yard more naturally.

You can add more innovative elements to your yard by getting creative with both hardscape and softscape design to come up with unique landscaping ideas. When it comes to adding softscape design elements to your front or back yard, you should not limit yourself to the ground. For instance, you can accessorize your outdoor kitchen by adding potted plants to your barbecue island or use hanging gardens to integrate plants into the hardscape design.  The possibilities are endless.

Do You Need Help With Your Landscape Design?

All Scapes Property Services is a full service landscaping contractor based out of Langley and serving Greater Vancouver. Whether you want a beautiful front garden along your driveway, a new retaining wall to work with a natural slope, or you just want help choosing all the right plants and shrubs, we can help you design and build an amazing landscape on your property.

If you’d like to schedule a consultation with us to discuss your landscaping design or installation ideas we’d be happy to meet with you.  Please call (778) 366-2267 or fill out our online form and we’ll get right back to you.

The post Popular Softscape Landscaping Ideas appeared first on All Scapes Property Services.

Like many things in our lives, the front yard is often overlooked and under prioritized. Finding the time and money for improvements can feel overwhelming.  Don’t let the size of your to-do list stop you from getting started. There are many things you can do right now that are quick, affordable, and effective.

START SMALL

Pick a project that can be finished over the weekend or even in a few hours. These smaller jobs will start to add up and can do wonders for the overall look of your landscaping. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.

WORK WITH WHAT YOU HAVE

Invest some time and money to breathe new life into your existing landscape.

Trim your trees and bushes. A landscaper can help you get a handle on any unruly overgrowth that’s too much for you to handle. Maintenance is so much easier if you invest in the right tools and learn the proper techniques yourself. A freshly shorn hedge can make your entire yard look clean and fresh.

Cleaning up the debris that’s managed to find its way into your garden beds or yard will help keep the focus on the plants and not the garbage. Layer fresh mulch where needed, pull weeds and fill in any gaps with new plants or flowers. Tidy up any edging and repair any bordering being used to define the area.

Pressure wash concrete, reseal your driveway and paint your fence. When things start to look run down, they can quickly become the focal point of your yard, especially when set against something shiny and new.

GO GREEN

Devote a portion of your space and budget to trees, shrubs, privacy hedges, and ground covers. These permanent investments increase in value and size and relatively low maintenance.

Trees should be top priorities when designing your front yard. They can frame the view of your home and help create symmetry and continuity throughout your design. They can establish boundaries and mark areas in the vastness of your yard.

USE IT

It used to be that backyards were for play and front yards were for beauty. Now, homeowners are starting to see how impractical and outdated that design rule is. Why would you put all that time and money into something you hardly use?

Make the ground more level and safe for running around and playing. A grassy front yard is great for a game of tag or touch football.

Build a level spot for a bistro set. Having usable space in both your front and back yards means you can enjoy time outside at different times of the day. It’s also a great opportunity to give your neighbors a wave and maybe meet someone new. Unless you want to avoid that — then a privacy wall is all you need.

Put a fire pit in the corner or around a circular patio of pavers. This can double as a morning coffee nook, too.

If you have beautiful mature trees in your front yard, consider hanging a hammock or swing for a little summertime nostalgia. Build wooden benches around the base of trees for a more structural seating option.

Does your family play basketball or hockey in your driveway? Why not expand on the sports theme with benches for spectators or for resting between games? Filling any chips or roots in the cement will make games more fun and demonstrates attention to detail.

LEAD THE WAY

Make it easy for guests to know where to enter your yard and how to get to your front door with a pathway. Mark the start of the pathway with a gate, archway, pillars, flower pots or bushes. With options in materials ranging from wood to stone or metal, matching the style of your home and your budget is easy.

When laying out the path for your walkway, look for natural access patterns that already exist. Chances are children, pets or guests already take a shortcut to your front door. Watch where they are going and use that as a guide.

While it’s tempting to put in a winding path with curves and jogs, it’s much more practical and cost-efficient to stick with the shortest and straightest route. Steps and curves should only be used if necessary. You can add visual appeal by playing with scale and material. Making your walkway wider than the standard 36 inches will make it look more intentional. 42 to 54 inches will allow two people to walk side by side. If you find that you need more curves in your walkway because of the slope of your yard, make them extra wide.

Whether you are starting from scratch with your pathway or already have one, you can take them to the next level with flowers, greenery, mulch, fences, walls, or hedges. When lining your walkway, keep in mind room for movement. Walls, fences, and hedges should be less than two feet high to allow people to move their arms and carry packages easily. Creating a buffer zone of about 2 feet between the walk and the taller elements will allow you to add dimension to your design and give more room for movement. This is the perfect place for contrasting rock, mulch, flowers, or ornamental grasses.

There are many, many options to choose from when picking material for your walkway. Brick pavers, slate, tile, exposed aggregate, concrete blocks … the list goes on and on. That may feel overwhelming at first, but the good news is that it means there’s something for every budget. Just remember, if your walkway is leading people into your home, you’ll want to avoid building the path out of looser materials like woodchips and small gravel because it will inevitably end up in your entryway.

MAKE AN ENTRANCE

If the focal point of the front of your home is the front door, then it makes sense to put some thought into dressing it up.

Ensure it’s well lit and that doorbells are obvious and at an appropriate height. If possible, aim to make your porch large enough for two people to stand while the door swings open.

If the current circumstance is less than appealing, upgrading the physical structure can be done without breaking the bank. Contractors can help you decide whether you should add to what you have or start from scratch. You might be surprised to see what enhancements are possible, it could be anything from newly built front steps to adding a gabled porch roof.

If you have good bones to work with, you might find that swapping out some of the components is all you need to give the illusion of a complete overhaul:

• A new front door can transform the look and feel of your entry.
• Add stone, wood, or more substantial beams.
• Repairing or replacing handrails can update even the oldest of front steps.
• Install a bench, or better yet, a porch swing if you have the room.
• Put up a trellis for privacy and greenery.
• Invest in quality planter pots. A matching set with different heights adds interest and color.

Start with one or do any combination. Once you see the difference it makes, you’ll be glad you did.

ADD A FEATURE

Create a focal point in your front landscaping. Much like the rooms inside your home, a highlighted feature draws attention and lends direction to the overall design.  Water features such as garden fountains or ponds capture guest’s attention with movement and sound. The wide variety of options available makes it easy to fit any sized area and any budget.

Yard art is another popular option. Like water features, art can be found on many different scales, for many different price ranges, and to meet many different tastes.

Flowers as focal points can turn heads. For maximum results, combine color, plant form, and texture properties. Consult a landscaper well versed in color theory, or do some research on your own, to come with a color scheme that works with your overall plan.  The size, look, and bloom time of the flowers should also be considered to maximize the effects throughout the seasons. If all else fails, keep your flower design choices simple. Several plants of similar look and color have more impact than one each of several different types.

MAKE IT PRIVATE

Many people avoid spending time in their front yard because they feel too exposed. Add a sense of privacy with one of these attractive additions.

Plant shrubs and hedges to create a privacy wall and bring more greenery to your yard. From hydrangea bushes to lilac bushes and all kinds of evergreens, there are many fast-growing and attractive options to choose from. Just make sure to look for varieties that work well in your hardiness zone to optimize growth and sustainability.

When done well, a front yard fence can improve your home’s curb appeal in addition to blocking prying eyes. They are a great option for any budget since the design can be kept very simple or be built up with intricate detail. Fencing material also caters to all budgets with options ranging from basic wood to vinyl and wrought iron to everything in between. Remember to check with your local planning department for zoning regulations.

Privacy panels can sometimes be more advantageous than a fence since you can vary the heights and placement selectively. Keep the panels cohesive in material, design, and color to avoid the varying positions and heights making things look haphazard.

A vine-covered trellis is a simple and quick solution to hide an unattractive view or block somebody’s view. You can pick up a basic trellis from any home and garden store or have one custom-built to suit your needs. Choose a hearty, fast-growing vine to grow up and across your trellis for almost instant privacy.

KEEP IT EDGY

Construct neat outlines in your yard by defining the edges of designated areas. If grass meets dirt in your garden, take the time to cut back any overgrown grass to create a sharp contrast. You could also add landscape edging, bricks, metal strips, or more permanent concrete curbs.  Borders of flowers, small bushes, and ground cover also work to establish boundaries.

LIGHT YOUR PROPERTY UP

Many homeowners underestimate the power of lighting to dramatically improve both the functionality and look of their yard.

Lining your driveway with lights will make it easier to navigate in the twilight hours and dramatically improves curb appeal when it’s dark. Similarily, lining your walkway with lights makes it easy for people to find their way, improving visibility and increasing their safety. Path lights come in a range of sizes, materials, and complexities. Solar is the most popular choice since it lends itself to less maintenance and overall longevity. Solar puck lighting can be recessed into your driveway or pathway for a more permanent and long-lasting choice, while individual stake lights are more affordable and can be easily moved or replaced as needed.

Adding string lights to patios, fences, or trees as mood lighting will help you enjoy your yard into the evening. Take inspiration from your favorite patio restaurant to turn your own space into an entertainer’s dream.

If you have a show-stopping element, such as a tree, sculpture, or water feature, shining a spotlight will give it new life. Why let it disappear into the dark?

Replace or add exterior lights to highlight areas of your home. A well-lit front door makes it more visible from the street and keeps it safe for those coming and going. Just like the interior of your home, add different levels of lighting. Install pot-lights in your soffit and put matching wall lights on either side of your door and garage door. If you have a covered porch, add a flush mount light overhead to allow light to fill the space. Post lights are great options for signaling the entrance to a pathway or driveway, but also look wonderful nestled in with greenery near a doorway.

A beautifully lit yard isn’t just for outside, either. The evening view out your front window will become that much more picturesque with a little illumination.

All Scapes Property Services Is A Greater Vancouver Landscaping Company

At All Seasons Property Services we specialize in helping our clients transform their landscapes.  Whether you want a new lawn installed, a backyard patio or cooking area, or you want to landscape your entire property we have a team of knowledgeable and experienced landscapers ready to bring your landscape vision into reality.

If you’d like to schedule a consultation about your existing landscape please give us a call (778) 366-2267 or fill out the contact form on our website and we’ll get right back to you.

The post Affordable Front Yard Landscaping Projects For Langley Homeowners appeared first on All Scapes Property Services.