Landscaping is a very important part of any outdoor living space. When people hear the word landscaping they often think of plants and grass, but the term encompasses much more than this. Landscaping is considered to have three main categories: softscapes, hardscapes and water features. The elements included in these three categories complement each other and create a completed landscape. Softscapes include lawns, planting areas and mulched areas. Hardscapes would include patios, walkways, retaining walls and steps. Water features would include things like ponds, streams, fountains and waterfalls.
The turf for your lawn should be your first consideration when planning softscapes. Laying sod provides you with a ready-made lawn, green and lush, but it's not your only option. Spreading fertile black dirt and seeding it with high-quality grass seed is much less expensive, as long as you are willing to wait for it to take root and fill in.
Following the lawn area you will need to make decisions about planting areas, such as where will they be and what types of plants to use. It's important to choose plantings that are appropriate for the amount of sunlight or shade for each area. The type of care needed for different plants should also be taken into consideration. Covering the planting areas with either a rock or wood chip mulch will help prevent weed growth and hold the moisture in the soil.
After choosing a layout for patios and walkways, you will need to choose the composition materials for these areas, and the choices are many. Pavers, flagstone and concrete are some of your options, and each of these come in many different styles and colors. Retaining walls and steps can also be made of boulders, concrete block or wood.
Ponds, streams and waterfalls can greatly enhance your landscape. With modern circulating pumps you are no longer dependent on the environment for these features. They can be added just about anywhere with the right planning.