It can be overwhelming to plan and execute your yard’s landscape by yourself. Knowing which plants to purchase, where to place them, how to plant them properly, and maintaining them once they are in the ground requires the utmost care and attention. A professional Chicagoland landscape designer can take the guesswork out of your design and create a personal paradise just for you.
Before we get into the nitty gritty of landscape design, it’s important to understand the terminology and various components this kind of design work entails. Landscape design is often comprised of two components: hardscape and softscape. This article will focus on the elements of softscape and how they can add balance and beauty to your property.
What is Softscape?
Softscape refers to any part of a landscape design that is living. Trees, shrubs, plants, flowers, soil, and mulch are all organic materials and are classified as the softscape elements in your garden. While the hardscape elements of your landscape design, such as pavers, patios, fire pits, and pergolas, are fixed and should require minimal maintenance after installation, the softscape elements are always growing and changing. They will need regular tending, performed either on your own or by one of Aspen Landscapes’ capable team members.
Softscape Installation
After an in-depth consultation and estimate, our professional landscape designers will use special design software to create a custom, computer-generated design. When visualizing your project, it’s good to keep in mind some key elements of a cohesive softscape design: line, form, texture, color, and scale.
- Line: A smart design takes into consideration how one moves across the space. Strategically placed flower beds, trees, hedges, sod, or pathways can break up your lawn into separate sections and guide the eye from feature to feature. These lines create borders and help draw attention to particular areas. They can be curved and flowing for a more casual, organic style of garden or straight and orderly for a more formal look. Aspen’s crew can edge and dig out new garden beds and create pathways through your yard to maximize your enjoyment.
- Form: Landscape designers use the term “form” to refer to a plant’s particular shape. Installing plants in a variety of shapes and sizes can balance the space, create visual interest, and add balance to your garden. Utilizing form can set the mood of your yard or garden. Choosing plants that are more unstructured and flowing, for example, creates a casual and laid-back atmosphere perfect for families. Choosing plants with a more defined shape, such as boxwood hedges, creates a sense of order and tidiness, conveying a more formal tone.
- Color: This element arguably allows clients to highlight their personal preferences and passions more than any other. One of our seasoned landscape designers can help you showcase your favorite hues by selecting the appropriate blooms. It’s good to keep in mind how color will play a role in your garden through all four seasons and select flowers and plants that add depth and interest all year long. For example, installing a row of evergreens can provide a nice backdrop for flowering plants in the summer months and provide rich green in the winter once the flowering plants have gone dormant.
- Texture: Blending a variety of different textures adds a level of sophistication to the landscape design. Aspen Landscapes can install various styles of groundcover, mulch, trees, flowers, and plants in your yard to complement and balance any and all hardscape elements.
- Scale: For this element, the landscape designer will consider the size of your home and the breadth of your garden’s hardscape features when choosing plants and mapping out flower beds. The plants and flowers chosen should be proportionate to the size of your home and balance your yard’s structural features. When first installed, some trees and shrubs may look too small for the space, but our knowledgeable team purposely leaves room for the plants to grow into the space over time.
Benefits of a Professional Landscape Design
While there is certainly nothing wrong with a lawn that is entirely grass, hiring a professional landscape designer to create a one-of-a-kind design for your yard can really elevate your entire property.
Property Value
Not only does an expertly done landscape design look amazing, but it’s a solid investment that adds significant monetary value to your property. Planting trees, refreshing your mulch, and maintaining beautiful garden beds make your home more appealing and give any future owners of the home one less thing to do. You can also talk to your designer about choosing plants that require little watering and hands-on maintenance, which cuts down your water bill and is an attractive benefit to potential buyers.
Environmentally Friendly
Any Chicagoland landscape design should take its local plants and wildlife into account. Installing plants and flowers that are native to the area is typically lower maintenance than plants from other regions, but they are also sustainable for the environment. Native grasses can soften a hardscape’s harsh lines and textures, and pollinator gardens require little tending and provide food and shelter for butterflies and other beneficial insects. Conserving water by choosing plants that mostly sustain themselves is good for both your wallet and the environment.
Curb Appeal
When you drive down your street, the most memorable homes are almost always flanked with gorgeous gardens, lush foliage, and impeccably planted seasonal containers. An adorned front yard creates a warm welcome and a great first impression, while a thoughtfully landscaped backyard provides even more living space for you and your family.
Maintenance
After your landscape design has been fully installed, the organic elements will need to be regularly maintained. This can be practically a full-time job if your gardens and lawn are large, and it takes a lot of time and know-how. Our talented team at Aspen Landscapes can help you tend to your new plants, trees, shrubs, and flowers to help them flourish and keep them healthy.
Install Your Design with the Chicagoland Landscape Experts
The seasoned team at Aspen Landscapes has been working with clients in the Chicagoland area for almost 30 years and can help transform your yard into a beautiful oasis. With so many factors to consider when designing and installing a landscape design, employing an experienced team will help you get the job done correctly, timely, and with minimal disruption.
Contact Aspen Landscapes today for a consultation and free estimate.
