Find a Landscaper in Hastings

If you’re confused about what landscaping actually is, you’re not alone! It’s easy to get it confused with gardening, gardening clearance, and garden design - all of which do overlapping things. To set the record straight, landscaping is the purpose of making a garden more attractive by changing the current design, adding different elements and features, and planting greenery such as plants, flowers, and trees.

While the work of both a gardener and landscaper certainly overlap, a gardener is more focused on maintaining the health and wellbeing of a garden by pruning, mowing, and keeping an eye on harmful pests. A landscaper is less interested in maintenance and more interested in transforming the look and shape of a garden to make it more attractive. The work of a landscaper includes building work such as patios and driveways (hard landscaping), as well as adding decorative features such as greenery and flowers (soft landscaping).

Gravel gardens are famously low-maintenance and require far less water than a standard garden. This also means that you need to be wise with the plants you choose to adorn your gravel garden. Always opt for plants that are drought-tolerant and that thrive in dry conditions. These are the likes of Euphorbias, Phlomis, and Lavender to name just a few.

If you’re a newbie to the world of garden design then you might be wondering what on earth the difference between hard landscaping and soft landscaping is! It’s actually very simple - hard landscaping includes every ‘hard’ object that makes up your garden, including bricks, stone, gravel. In contrast, soft landscaping is any ‘soft’ aspect of your garden, typically living elements like flowers, trees, grass etc. The ideal garden landscape will incorporate a healthy balance between the two elements to create an environment that is practical and comfortable, yet at one with nature. Think of it this way - hard landscaping is like the foundation and structure of a building, whereas soft landscaping is the decor and furnishings that make it look good.