Soft landscaping refers to the use of living plants and other organic materials to create and enhance outdoor spaces. It’s the “softer” counterpart to hard landscaping, which focuses on non-living elements like patios, walkways, and walls. Think of soft landscaping as the colourful and vibrant elements that bring life and character to your outdoor area.

Here are some of the key elements of soft landscaping:

• Plants: This is the heart and soul of soft landscaping, encompassing everything from trees and shrubs to flowers, groundcovers, and even edibles. The choice of plants will depend on factors like climate, soil conditions, desired aesthetics, and maintenance needs.
• Soil: Healthy soil is essential for healthy plants. The type of soil you have will influence your plant choices and may require amendments to ensure proper drainage and nutrient availability.
• Mulch: Mulch is a layer of material (like wood chips, bark, or compost) applied to the surface of the soil. It helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, regulate soil temperature, and add visual interest.

There are many reasons why people choose soft landscaping for their outdoor spaces, beyond just the visual appeal. Here are some of the key benefits:

• Beauty Boost: Adds colour, texture, and life, making your space more inviting.
• Nature’s Touch: Improves air quality, reduces noise, and provides habitat for wildlife.
• Stress Buster: Spending time with plants is proven to reduce stress and improve mental health.
• Enhanced Curb Appeal: Landscaping increases your property’s value and makes it look stunning.
• Increased Privacy: Strategically placed plants can shield you from unwanted views.
• Cool Down Zone: Trees and shrubs offer shade, making your space more comfortable in hot weather.
• Foodie Fun: Grow fruits, vegetables, and herbs with edible landscaping.

Remember: Choose plants suited to your climate and consider maintenance needs before diving in!

Here’s the key difference between hard and soft landscaping:

Hard Landscaping:

• Focuses on non-living elements: This includes things like patios, pathways, walls, decks, fences, water features (structures only), and anything built with stone, concrete, wood, etc.
• Provides structure and definition: Creates the framework for your outdoor space, defines areas, and serves functional purposes like seating, dining, or access.
• Relatively permanent: Once installed, hard landscaping elements require more effort to change compared to soft landscaping.
• Lower maintenance: Generally requires less ongoing maintenance than plants.

Soft Landscaping:

• Focuses on living elements: This includes all plants, trees, shrubs, flowers, groundcover, and even edibles grown in your outdoor space.
• Adds colour, texture, and life: Brings beauty and visual interest, creates different sensory experiences, and attracts wildlife.
• Dynamic and changeable: Plants grow and evolve, allowing for seasonal changes and ongoing adjustments to your design.
• Higher maintenance: Requires regular care like watering, weeding, pruning, and potentially pest control.

Essentially:

Hard = Framework: Think bones and muscles of your outdoor space.

Soft = Beauty & Life: Think skin and hair – your garden’s vibrant details.

Both hard and soft landscaping work together to create a balanced and functional outdoor space. You can prioritise one over the other based on your needs, climate, and desired aesthetics.