The Value Of Soft Landscaping Garden Design
Successful garden design comprises both hard and soft landscaping for a beautifully functional outdoor space. Combining plants, turfing, and other natural elements with the structured, man-made features such as paving and patios creates a landscape that is both accessible and visually appealing.
Despite the role both elements play in garden design, it is typically the hard landscaping installations that get all the attention. As these tend to be more complex and expensive, it makes sense for homeowners to be more concerned with hard landscaping during the initial stages of their project. However, failing to consider soft landscaping can leave your outdoor space looking lacklustre and ineffective.
As a leading landscaping company, Landesigns understands the value that both soft and hard landscaping provide to garden design. We appreciate that both are needed for a successful project, but want to highlight the unique benefits of planting and soft landscaping to get you inspired.
In this post, we are sharing everything you need to know about soft landscaping and how it impacts garden design to ensure success in your next project.
What Is Soft Landscaping?
Soft landscaping refers to the natural, living elements of garden design and is essential for a comprehensive landscape. No garden is complete without natural elements, and there are various ways you can incorporate soft landscaping into your garden, such as:
- Turfing (grass and lawns)
- Flower beds, borders and planters
- Trees and shrubs
- Garden maintenance (such as mulching and seasonal pruning)
Soft landscaping not only refers to the plants and their placement, but also garden maintenance and the various ways you care for your garden throughout the year. Maintenance is needed to support the healthy, vibrant growth of soft landscaping and will vary based on the season, your location, and the kind of plants used throughout your garden design.
The Importance Of Soft Landscaping: Top Benefits For Garden Design
As we have mentioned, comprehensive garden design requires a combination of hard and soft landscaping to provide the best effects. When used well, such as when planned out by professional garden designers or landscape gardeners, soft landscaping can offer a range of benefits, including:
- Enhanced Visual Appeal: One of the primary benefits of soft landscaping is the aesthetic appeal it provides to outdoor spaces. Using a combination of plants and flowers offers colour, texture, and seasonal appeal to your garden.
- Supportive Environment: Soft landscaping elements, such as trees, can promote better air quality, which is vital in urban or industrialised spaces. Using a variety of plants can also support biodiversity, providing habitats for wildlife, encouraging pollinators, and generally supporting the needs of the local environment.
- Balanced Garden Design: Combining soft landscaping with hardscaping, such as paving and decking, adds contrast and flow to the garden. It is also a great way to soften the effects of hardscaping, reducing harsh lines and ensuring cohesive appeal.
- Wellbeing Benefits: As well as being advantageous for garden design, soft landscaping can also benefit your wellbeing. It has been shown that spending time in nature, in green spaces specifically, can promote better well-being with reduced stress due to the therapeutic, calming benefits plants can provide.
Designing With Plants In Mind: Where To Start With Soft Landscaping
Now you understand the benefits soft landscaping can provide and the role it plays in garden design, it is time to consider implementing it in your own outdoor space. When designing a garden with soft landscaping in mind, there are specific considerations needed.
These living elements require unique conditions to thrive, and this will vary based on the kind of plants you want to include, as well as your own requirements for garden maintenance and layout. To ensure you experience the most benefits from soft landscaping, consider the following areas ahead of your next renovation:
Soil Conditions
The soil conditions within your garden determine what kind of plants are best for your landscape, as well as the amount of maintenance needed throughout the year. Soil conditions can vary based on location and your kind of landscape.
For example, sloped gardens will deal with higher levels of soil erosion than flat surfaces, and this needs to be considered ahead of planting. The kind of soil that is organically found in your garden may influence what kind of plants will thrive in this location, and determine the kind of work needed to get the landscape up to scratch for future design changes. You should perform soil pH tests before planting or consult with professional garden landscapers for accurate readings.
Sun and Shade
Sun exposure patterns also play a role in how successful soft landscaping will be in your garden, as some plants thrive in full sunlight, whereas others require shade. It is important to understand how much sunlight your garden gets during the seasons, as this can influence the amount of maintenance, such as watering and fertilising, needed to keep plants healthy.
Likewise, take note of the shaded or cold areas within your garden, as some plants will not be suitable for these spaces. Soft landscaping can be customised to suit the unique needs of your landscape and can complement your location, as long as you know what you’re working with in the first place.
Maintenance Needs
Finally, the majority of garden maintenance comes from caring for soft landscaping, such as lawn care, fertilising, watering, and mulching. This means you need to understand what you can afford and do before adding soft landscaping to your garden, as failing to meet your garden’s needs will cause it to become unruly and unhealthy quickly.
If you do not enjoy gardening, cannot find time in your schedule for garden maintenance, or have accessibility issues, then low-maintenance solutions such as drought-resistant planting and automatic irrigation systems will be required. Alternatively, if you do not want to do the work yourself but still desire a thriving outdoor space, you could work with professional landscapers.
Seasonal Garden Maintenance Tips For Your Soft Landscaping
Soft landscaping can require ongoing care and maintenance to ensure your garden looks good throughout the year. While there are low-maintenance options, most plants will require some kind of care, whether this is watering, pruning, or fertilisation.
The needs of your garden will change with the seasons, as each new month brings varying weather conditions to contend with. To ensure your landscape continues to thrive and remains a source of pride for homeowners, you need to keep on top of your soft landscaping requirements throughout the year, with tasks such as:
Spring – Refresh And Renew
Spring is the beginning of the gardening season, making it a great time to refresh your outdoor space, ready for new soft landscaping growth. During this time, ensure your flower beds and planting areas are prepped for new plants by replacing soil, fertilising and watering.
This season is also an ideal time to add new soft landscaping to your garden, so get planting with bulbs, flowers, and ground covers.
Summer – Hydration Is Key
With the warmer weather and dry conditions, keeping your soft landscaping areas hydrated is vital during the summer. Watering is a primary concern for most soft landscaping, including lawns, planting beds, and flowers, and should be done at the coolest times of the day for maximum effect.
Water your lawn and plants in the early hours of the morning or late in the evening to avoid evaporation.
Autumn – Clean And Repair
As the seasons change, you can expect to see plants slow down in their growth, although you can add some late bloomers for longer appeal.
The main tasks during this season are centred on getting your garden prepared for winter, such as the final mowing of the lawn and composting flower beds. Take time during this season to regularly remove debris, such as fallen leaves, to avoid mould and rot.
Winter – A Break In Maintenance
Most plants enter their dormant phase during the winter, which means you may experience a break in garden maintenance at this time. Winter, instead, is a great time to make plans for the future and consider the new elements of soft landscaping you want to add come spring.
Conclusion
Soft landscaping is an essential part of garden design, but it does require ongoing care to ensure you experience the best benefits. Natural elements such as flowers, trees, and even grass can add more visual interest to your outdoor space and ensure your garden is alive with colour, scent and texture.
As a leading landscaping company, we provide comprehensive planting plans and work with soft landscaping to create stunning outdoor spaces. All garden designs include plants and natural elements in some form, and we can work with all requirements to create stunning outdoor spaces.
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FAQs
What is soft landscaping?
Soft landscaping refers to all the natural, living elements of garden design, such as plants, flowers, and lawn, as well as the care these areas require. Garden maintenance is a part of soft landscaping and is required to support natural landscapes throughout the year.
Why is soft landscaping important in garden design?
Soft landscaping creates a sense of life, movement, and biodiversity in the garden, which results in cohesive visual appeal. Plants and flowers soften the appearance of hard landscaping features, such as paving and decking, making the space feel more balanced and welcoming. As well as the visual enhancement, soft landscaping plays a role in the local environment by supporting wildlife and can offer wellbeing benefits.
How do I choose the right plants for my garden?
Consider your garden’s soil type, sun exposure patterns, and how much maintenance you are willing to do to find the best plants for your outdoor space. This will ensure that each flower, shrub or tree will thrive in your landscape, and continue to be an asset to the space throughout the year.
