Our Soft Landscaping Guide For All Gardens
At Heath Landscapes & Garden Design, we believe in the power of nature and its capacity to transform any outdoor space into a serene sanctuary.
While hard landscaping forms the structure and groundwork of any garden design, soft landscaping breathes life into these spaces and should not be underestimated.
This soft landscaping guide will unlock the secrets of these elements and navigate you through an array of plant options that can complement any garden design.
What Is Soft Landscaping?
To begin this soft landscaping guide, we first need to address what soft landscaping is and how it can impact your outdoor space.
Soft landscaping encompasses all of the natural, living elements of your garden design such as plants, flowers, trees and shrubs. Hardscaping, such as paving, patios and even driveways, may create the foundation of your garden design, but the space will be incomplete without the living element.
Soft landscaping accentuates your garden and outdoor spaces with dynamic life, introducing colour, texture, and a welcoming ambience that can complement even the most basic garden design.
Soft Landscaping Guide For All Gardens: What Plants Should I Include?
Choosing the right plants is the foundation of a successful landscape design, and you have many options to suit all styles and environments. As part of this soft landscaping guide, we are going to offer some of the best picks from each category which you can use as a starting point for your next renovation project.
Based on the kind of landscape you have and the garden design you want to implement, consider the following:
For Repeated Colour
If you are looking to add colour to your garden without the additional effort, perennials are a great solution. These plants will come back every year, so you will always have something to look forward to when it comes to your landscape. Some great examples of perennials to enhance your garden design include:
- Flowering Perennials: Lavender (Lavandula), Geraniums (Geranium spp.), and Hosta (Hosta spp.) offer long-lasting blooms and foliage for an instant pop of colour in your garden.
- Grasses: Miscanthus (Miscanthus sinensis) and Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca) add movement and texture and can be used to create sections your garden design.
For Lush, Green Foliage
Trees and shrubs are a great way to add colour and texture to the garden, offering a permanent addition to the landscape. These are often a long-term plan, and something that requires commitment to reap the benefits of, but can become a focal point in even the smallest gardens.
There are various forms of trees and shrubs that you may want to consider, but we’d recommend considering the following:
- Ornamental Trees: Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum) or Flowering Cherry (Prunus serrulata) add height and structure to the garden, creating a stunning focal point in even the smallest spaces.
- Evergreen Shrubs: Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) or Holly (Ilex aquifolium) provide year-round greenery and will brighten up your garden no matter the season.
For Those Who Can’t Decide
If you are just getting started with soft landscaping and are not sure what will look best in your garden, annuals and biennials are ideal. These plants can last one to two years but will need to be replanted following the winter season meaning they are not as much of a commitment as other options.
- Bedding Plants: Petunias (Petunia spp.), Marigolds (Tagetes spp.), and Pansies (Viola spp.) are perfect for seasonal displays of vibrancy and scents.
- Biennials: Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) and Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) provide colour in their second year, making them ideal for a longer-term plan.
For Large Surface Areas
If you have a lot of ground space in your garden, such as large paved areas, and want to add some colour then these are great options:
- Low-Growing Plants: Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) and Periwinkle (Vinca minor) cover large areas quickly, making them a great tool for instant soft landscaping.
How To Plant: A Soft Landscaping Guide For a Healthy Garden
Once you have chosen the soft landscaping elements to add to your garden, it is time to get planting. The key to a healthy garden lies in the planting process and ensuring you get it right is essential to maintaining a thriving, vibrant landscape.
In this soft landscaping guide, we are offering some of the best tips to aid the planting process so you can create a thriving landscape that the whole family can enjoy.
Before planting anything, there are three steps you should follow to prepare the soil, ready to set the best foundation for your flowers, shrubs and trees:
- Test Your Soil: Check the pH levels and nutrient content of the soil, which can be done using at-home kits. This helps you to determine what amendments are needed to give your plants the best start.
- Add Organic Matter: Incorporate compost or well-rotted manure to improve soil structure and fertility, aiding the growth of all plants and flowers so they will thrive in your landscape.
- Ensure Proper Drainage: To ensure that your plants are getting the proper hydration and will not become waterlogged, you need to ensure that your soil drains well before planting. Raised flower or plant beds are an excellent solution to this issue and can be installed in poorly drained areas so you don’t have to miss out on the beauty of soft landscaping.
The Gift of Greenery: Benefits of Soft Landscaping
While beauty is the main appeal of soft landscaping, the power of plants extends well beyond their aesthetic appeal.
Plants and soft landscaping also offer an array of benefits for health and well-being, both for humans and the surrounding environment.
Plants play a critical role in improving the environmental footprint, as they enhance air quality by removing harmful toxins from the air and releasing oxygen. Soft landscaping can also contribute to other areas of environmental wellness by combating soil erosion and nurturing local wildlife, as they are essential habitats for animals and insects.
For humans, the presence of plants can evoke a sense of calm and deliver well-being benefits in terms of reduced stress, better sleep and cleaner air. Simply adding greenery to your garden can create a refuge, a place where you can escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life and breathe in the natural, good air whenever you desire.
Soft landscaping is a great tool, not just to compliment your garden design but also for the environment and your own well-being.
Proper Planting Techniques For Your Soft Landscaping Guide
The following are some of the best tips to ensure successful plant growth and keep your garden healthy following the implementation of soft landscaping elements:
- Spacing: When planting, make sure you are giving plants enough room to grow to their full potential without overcrowding.
- Watering: Water thoroughly after planting and maintain consistent moisture levels during the season, as this will aid their growth. Watering will need to be increased or decreased based on the temperature and weather of the season.
- Mulching: Apply a layer of mulch around plants to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.
Conclusion
Soft landscaping is at the heart of a well-designed garden. With careful plant selection and diligent maintenance, you can craft a beautiful outdoor area that you can enjoy all year round.
At Heath Landscapes & Garden Design, we offer extensive landscaping services that can be customised to your needs. Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to refurbish your existing garden, our team is here to help.
Contact Us Today
Ready to transform your garden through the power of soft landscaping? Contact us today to set up a consultation or to learn more about our services.
