Hardscaping Vs. Landscaping - Which Is Best For You?

There are two options when it comes to landscaping: landscapers or hardscaping. What is the difference between them? Landscapers offer a more traditional lawn care service, while hardscaping focuses on creating and maintaining features such as walkways, patios, and wall retaining walls.

If you're uncertain about which choice is the best one for your home read on to learn about the pros and cons of each!

What exactly is Landscaping?

Landscaping is the process of altering the visible characteristics of a land area for example:

• Planting trees, plants, or flowers
• Installing mulch or sod
• Pruning hedges and the shrubs
• Pruning trees
• Mowing lawns

Landscapers are focused on making your garden look beautiful! They can bring a splash of color and give life to otherwise dull spaces.

What Is Hardscaping?

Hardscaping is the term used to describe the creation of hardscape features such as:

• Walkways
• Patios
• Driveways
• Retaining walls

Hardscapers aren't like landscapers. They don't pay attention to living elements such as trees and plants. They employ concrete, bricks, stone, and timber to create functional and visually appealing outdoor areas.

Differentiation

What's the distinction between hardscaping and landscaping? Here's a quick breakdown:

• Landscaping concentrates on living elements while hardscaping concentrates on constructed structures
• Landscapers usually have more knowledge of plant life while hardscapers are more familiar with construction materials
• Landscaping is generally less expensive than hardscaping
• Hardscapes last longer than landscaping features.

What to keep in Your Mind

It's crucial to know the distinction between landscaping and hardscaping before you start the next outdoor task.

Specific needs - What do you trying to achieve with your outdoor space? Landscapes are a great option if you are looking to improve curb appeal. The need for hardscaping is essential if you want to create your own outdoor living area.

Budget-friendly landscaping tends to be less expensive than hardscaping, as we have previously mentioned. If you're working with a tight budget, landscape features may be the best method to go.

The scope of your project is - Do you want to add small features to your backyard? Are you planning to change your outdoor space completely? The scope of your project will determine if landscaping or hardscaping is the right choice for you.

Climate - When making a decision between hardscaping and landscaping, this is an important factor to take into consideration. If you live in an area that has harsh winters, you'll need to ensure that any features you're adding can withstand the cold weather.

Tips to Select the Right Landscaping Company

It is crucial to pick the right company to help you with your hardscaping and landscaping projects. Here are some guidelines to help you choose the best landscaping company.

Get recommendations - Talk to your relatives and friends who have recently had landscaping work done. You'll receive great recommendations from them for local businesses.

Research thoroughly - After you've selected some companies you want to look at, spend some time researching each of them. There are online reviews available and browse their website. This will help you get a better idea of the services they provide and whether they're a good fit for you.

Request quotes. After you've narrowed your choices, request quotes from each company. This will allow you to examine prices and figure out which company provides the best price.

Ask questions - Prior to you hire a landscaping company ensure that you ask plenty of questions. Ask them about their experiences and the type of services they provide. This will allow you to ensure that you receive exactly what you're looking for.

Conclusion

What's the difference between hardscaping and landscapers? Landscapers and hardscapes can both enhance curb appeal. But, hardscapes specialize in working with brick, stone and concrete whereas landscapers are focused on plants and other organic materials. Make sure you take into consideration your requirements and budget when you choose between them.