HARDSCAPE

Nor-Cal Landscaping, Inc.

Hardscape Service in Stockton, CA

What Is the Difference Between Hardscape and Landscape?

There are many different elements that go into the design and overall feel of your outdoor space. Some add softness and life to your yard, and some of them add structure, hardscape vs. landscape. Both, when designed and implemented together properly, create the perfect space for you to relax, entertain, and enjoy the great outdoors with your friends and family.

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Nor-Cal Landscaping, Inc. — Full Service Landscape Contractor

Hardscape vs. Landscape: Knowing the Difference

When creating and designing your landscape, your landscaper may use the terms “hardscape” and “landscape”. But what do those terms mean? Knowing the difference between the two can help you understand and envision your landscaper’s ideas, and could even help and encourage you to create a design of your own. It will also help you know and understand how to properly care for your new space once it’s completed.

  • What Is Hardscape?

    Simply put, hardscape is any of the non-living elements in your landscape design. As the name suggests, these are the harder design elements in your space like concrete, rocks, bricks, pavers, stone, and wood. Hardscaping also includes man-made structures like decks, pergolas, or patio covers that are used specifically in your landscaping.

  • What Is Landscape?

    Landscape is all of the “soft,” or living, things in your design such as grass, plants, trees, and flowers. These elements, when used properly, can quickly transform your space into a calm and relaxing oasis. As you can see, it’s pretty easy to understand the difference between the two. Getting them to work harmoniously in your design, however, could be a little tricker.

Personalized Landscape Design Services

Hardscaping your yard is about more than just aesthetics. It serves a purpose and is extremely important to the overall function of your outdoor space. When planning and choosing your hardscaping materials, layout and design, it is important to consider how they will impact the efficiency, flow, and look of your landscaping. Retaining walls and stone stairs or paths can assist in leveling off sloping or uneven land.

By absorbing heat from the sun, materials like stone, rock, and concrete can help dry the soil around it. This can prevent standing water, over-watering, algae and mildew, and unwanted pests. Fences and gates provide privacy and protection for your home. They define your property line and section off various areas of your yard that you may want to use for other purposes.

When designed and implemented correctly hardscaping also provides fluidity from the inside of your home to the outside. Building an outdoor kitchen, deck or patio creates and provides outdoor amenities that rival those of your indoor space. An outdoor fireplace or fire pit drastically extends the use of your outdoor space well into the colder months. Having a usable living space outdoors helps encourage you and your family to spend more time outside and gives you a great place to entertain and host guests.

Tips for Using Hardscape in Your Design

A lot of homeowners enjoy matching their hardscaping to the exterior of their house. This allows the two environments to appear to flow together seamlessly. If, for example, there is stone on the exterior of your home, try incorporating stone into your hardscaping.

Your hardscaping should always feel like it has a purpose. In the designing process, create a focal point to draw the viewer’s gaze. However keep in mind, that there should also be places for the eyes to rest along the way. This is a great opportunity to also utilize the softer features of landscaping.

Having too many straight lines can make your landscaping feel unnatural and out of place. It should feel authentic, like it was unplanned, while still retaining visual appeal. Include curves and rounded edges in your design to help break things up and bring some creativity into your outdoor space.

Consider how your design will affect the drainage in your yard. You don’t want your landscape to be flooded or deprived of water because of your hardscaping design. Utilizing features such as retaining walls and stone steps can drastically improve the drainage in your yard. Consider areas where you consistently experience standing water or maybe even don’t get enough water, and use your materials to help fix the problem.

If not constructed properly, the natural expansion and contraction of the earth could completely destroy your hardscaping. Plan ahead for shifting and movement. Be sure to settle hardscaping below the frost line to avoid extensive damage to your materials.

Don’t forget to use greenery and shrubs where you can. Excessive hardscaping and a lack of landscaping can cause your space to feel cold and unwelcoming. Mixing your landscaping with hardscaping helps make it feel like it belongs there and is a part of the outdoor environment.

Adding Value (and Curb Appeal) to Your Home

Both hardscaping and landscaping can drastically add curb appeal and increase the value of your home. After all, most people won’t feel compelled to buy a house that doesn’t look nice from the outside. Some of the best hardscaping features to implement into your outdoor design and increase your home’s ROI are patios and decks, outdoor kitchens, and stonework.


When it comes to landscaping, planting beautiful flowers, trees, and decorative shrubs are all great ways to improve the value of your home. When your landscaping compliments your hardscaping, your home becomes more appealing and attractive. Buyers are much more likely to have an interest in seeing more and potentially making an offer.

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Hardscape Maintenance

Hardscape requires much less care and maintenance than landscaping. But exposure to weather and changing seasons can take a toll on these surfaces. For this reason, taking preventative measures and doing some regular maintenance is extremely beneficial to the life of your hardscaping materials.


Adding a protective seal to your hardscape surfaces such as wood fences, patios and decks helps prevent cracks, chips, and other related damage. A fresh coat of stain or sealant helps to renew and freshen up the look of your outdoor materials. Filling in cracks between pavers can help block weeds and gap-widening moisture that could cause further damage.

Cleaning

Taking the time to clean up unwanted spills and messes will help prevent stains, further extending the beautiful look of your outdoor features. And unwanted growth like mold and mildew can not only stain your hardscaping but can be slippery and unsightly. Removing them will keep your family safe and protect the life of your hardscaping materials. When cleaning your hardscaping, consider the tools and cleaning agents you are using. Wire brushes and heavy-duty scrapers could create scratches and dents on many of your surfaces. And, while using a pressure washer is an effective way to deep clean surfaces like flagstone or concrete, it could cause damage to things like composite decking or even wood. Be mindful of how you clean and treat your hardscaping surfaces.

Are You Interested in Hardscaping Your Yard?

Give us a call and let us help you design your dream outdoor space.

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TESTIMONIALS

Read What Our Clients Say About Us

Everyone at Nor-Cal Landscaping, Inc. was very professional and friendly! I had great interactions with the owner, project manager, office staff, and the men who did the difficult labor on hot summer days. When I called the first time the staff was nice they booked my first meeting to discuss what we needed straight away.

Russell H.

Manteca, CA

If I could give these guys a thousand stars I WOULD. The whole team are amazing! Over the course of the job, they became like family to us. They genuinely cared about executing our vision. They worked with our budget and delivered a flawless landscape! They turned our shabby, ugly, unsustainable yard into a beautifully designed, functional, environmentally sound space for the whole family. Thank you!

Christina C.

Lathrop, CA

Nor-Cal Landscaping, Inc. worked with me every step of the way, even though I was on business trips and vacations most of the time. We communicated via phone and photos and once I got back, the yard was absolutely stunning! The team was amazing, no complaints, and very thoughtful and clean. I’m happy and will be enjoying dinners al fresco, movie nights outside my back deck, and just sitting outside watching my kids take advantage of our space!

Melissa W.

Stockton, CA

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We provides hassle-free landscaping transformations with artistic solutions.

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(209) 931-9466
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