LANDSCAPING

Soft Landscaping

Breathe Life into Your Landscape: Expert Soft Landscaping Services from Hortlands

Transform your outdoor space with the beauty and benefits of soft landscaping. Unlike hard landscaping, which focuses on structures and non-living elements, soft landscaping brings your garden to life with vibrant textures and colours of plants, shrubs, and more. Soft and hard landscaping complement each other due to the structure and foundation provided by hard landscaping. At Hortlands we’re passionate about creating stunning softscapes that not only enhance your property’s aesthetics but also improve its functionality and overall value. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Our Soft Landscaping Expertise

  • Turfing – Achieve a vibrant, green lawn with turfing. We use high-quality turf and ensure proper preparation for a healthy, long-lasting result.
  • Lawn Regeneration – We can diagnose problems, improve soil quality, and implement solutions to restore your lawn to its former glory.
  • Wildflower Meadows – Create a biodiverse and low-maintenance haven with a wildflower meadow. We can design and plant a meadow that attracts pollinators and adds a touch of natural beauty to your garden.
  • Border Planting – Add colour and texture to your garden with border planting. We can create stunning borders that bloom throughout the year, attracting wildlife and enhancing your outdoor space.
  • Mature Tree Supply and Planting – Add instant impact and character to your garden with mature trees. We have a wide selection of healthy, established trees available, sourced from reputable nurseries. Our experienced team will carefully transport, plant, and care for your new tree,
  • Instant Hedge Supply and Planting – Achieve instant privacy and definition with instant hedging. We offer a variety of pre-grown hedging options in different heights and species, suitable for various needs. Our team will expertly prepare the site, plant your chosen hedge, and offer aftercare advice to ensure its healthy growth.
  • Grounds and Garden Maintenance – Keep your garden looking its best with our regular grounds and garden maintenance services. We offer a range of options to suit your needs, from mowing and weeding to pruning and feeding plants.

Why Choose Hortlands for Your Soft Landscaping Needs?

We know choosing the right landscaping company is crucial. Here’s what sets Hortlands apart:

  • Experience: We’ve been transforming landscapes for over 30 years, honing our skills and expertise to deliver exceptional results.
  • Dedicated team: Our passionate team is committed to understanding your vision and creating a softscape that exceeds your expectations.
  • Bespoke designs: We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. We tailor each soft landscaping project to your unique needs and preferences.
  • High-quality materials: We use only the finest plants, trees, and materials to ensure your garden thrives for years to come.
  • Professional service: From initial consultation to project completion, we provide transparent communication and exceptional customer service.

Transform Your Outdoor Space Today!

Unlock the transformative power of soft landscaping with Hortlands. Contact us today for a free quote and let our experienced team help you create a landscape that you’ll love for years to come.

FEATURED PROJECTS

Complete Garden Transformation in Datchet

Hortlands were employed to transform the garden of a Victorian house near Windsor, that dates back to 1890. Our landscape team brought the garden back to life, giving it a polished modern finish.

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LANDSCAPING
Datchet, Berkshire

Garden Landscaping to Create a Serene Oasis in Peppard, Henley-on-Thames

Hortlands’ expertise in garden landscaping was instrumental in transforming a family garden in Peppard, Henley-on-Thames, into a tranquil outdoor oasis.

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LANDSCAPING
Henley-on-Thames, Buckinghamshire

FAQ's

What is soft landscaping?

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.
Why soft landscape?

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!

What is the difference between hard and soft landscaping?

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.