Fresh Concept

Soften Your Hardscape

It’s Time to Plant!

By Janette Calabro

The American dream for outdoor living is constantly evolving, but any landscape space has two distinct parts. Structures like patios, fire pits, swimming pools, and retaining walls are called hardscape. The softscape, on the other hand, consists of all the living things that make up the yard—trees, shrubs, flowering plants, and gardens. Blend the two with a cohesive plan, and you’ll have a harmonious outdoor balance.

Last month, we talked about the appeal of outdoor living and the popularity of hardscape improvements. Building bigger patios, upgrading outdoor kitchens, adding water features, lighting your space for security and ambience, and creating walkways for a reflective aesthetic all work beautifully for landscape transformation. This month, we’ll focus on what to plant around the patio, along the walkways, and in the yard to create color and beauty throughout. It’s always best to start with your hardscape and then build your softscape around it.

During your planning, remember that a landscape designer can work wonders for what to do and how and when to do it, saving you time, effort, and money. Building or planting without a designer can lead to stress and costly mistakes. Even if you prefer to do your own planting, it’s smart to consult with a pro during the planning stages.

Common gardening mistakes include failing to prep the soil, overplanting or crowding, and putting the right plant in the wrong spot. Plants grow best when they get the nutrients they need, and not every plant needs the same nutrients in the same ratios. When plants can get these nutrients from the soil, they won’t need excessive chemical fertilizers. At a minimum, you should mix the existing soil with an equal amount of organic compost. For optimum plant success, you should have your soil tested to see precisely which nutrients it needs.

Overplanting and crowding can also limit your softscape’s success. While some plants can thrive en masse, others just end up competing for limited nutrients and water. Of course, plants also start smaller than they end up. Young plants, appropriately spaced, will fill in as the season goes on. Crowded plants might grow in odd shapes, with less aesthetic appeal.

Plant health and growth depend on many factors, including how much direct sunlight the plant gets each day, how wet or dry the soil is, and the length of the growing season. Plants that are native to the area are likely to grow well and may not need much watering beyond rainfall. Check the USDA Hardiness Zone Map to make sure the plants you desire will withstand the winter in your area. A landscaping expert can be of great use on this subject—they’re very familiar with what plants will thrive in what locations.

Knowing the difference between perennials and annuals can help you choose what to plant. Perennials hang around for several growing seasons, dying off in the winter and growing back in the spring from the same root system. Annuals go through their entire life cycle, from seed to flower, in a single growing season. Some plants can grow as annuals in one climate and as perennials in another, depending on the growing conditions and length of the season.

Tree and shrub placement is vital to your landscape. Before you plant trees, plan for the size and space you’re planting in. The attention paid to proper spacing is even more important with trees and shrubs than it is with smaller plants—after all, many common urban trees can grow 50 feet high! An arborist’s expertise can be invaluable when you’re choosing which trees to plant and where. Avoid planting trees directly in front of your house or too close to the foundation, driveway, or sidewalk. For a screen around the house, plant hedges and shrubs 15 to 20 feet away from the street.

Let’s take a look at something that can qualify as hardscape or softscape in the yard: walls. Tiered levels or simple bed borders made with stone, blocks, or wood are common for dividing space in the yard. For privacy, however, you may want something taller. Instead of a fence, you can softscape walls using trees, shrubs, and hedges for a natural, open look. As your natural walls continue to grow, so does the value of your property.

Enhance walkways with stunning flowerbeds or shrubs by combining annuals and perennials. Get creative by curving flowering plants around trees already planted in the yard. Create a peaceful, organic flow with strategic planning for those plants that love sun and those that love shade. Full sun generally means a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight per day. Part shade is three to six hours of sun, and full shade usually means less than three hours of direct sunlight per day. No matter what the light situation is in your yard, you can still get a full spectrum of color.

In full sun, try the Midnight Marvel hibiscus, Lemon Drop evening primrose, or Banana Cream Shasta daisies. Impatiens love shade—plant them in pots around the shaded areas in your patio, then sit back and enjoy the view. For more shade-loving plants, try coral bells. They produce vibrant burgundy to lime green hues, and they shoot up delicate spires of flowers all summer.

Oakleaf hydrangea is a flowering shrub that offers impressive blooms in early summer and colorful foliage into the fall—plan for morning sun and afternoon shade.

For the patio, plant ferns in eye-catching fuchsia, in pots or in the ground, but keep them in the shade. Most shrubs and bushes work well planted along walkways or the driveway, if it cuts through the lawn. The vertical element helps to counter flat landscapes. Make sure that shrubs near the driveway won’t grow to obstruct a driver’s view.

Whether you’re short on space or just like the interest that a cascading look creates, the sky is the limit for container gardens. For added dimension, choose your plants to enhance your outdoor kitchen and integrate them into your hardscape design. You can scatter containers around your raised garden beds for visual interest. Plant balcony plants like jasmine, lavender, bamboo, snake plants, or peace lilies for a calming feel, then sit back and enjoy their beauty.

The best perennials add color and appeal for many seasons to come. Newer for 2021, the Velvet Fog smokebush is hardy in Zones 4 through 8 and grows best in full sun. This perennial shoots out frothy pinkish blooms all summer and boasts attractive blue-green foliage after the blooms have faded.

What else is trending this year? One newbie is the Aurora Borealis rose. Named for the Northern Lights, this hardy shrub captures dancing light over the sunset pink blooms. It grows best in the northern states, hardy to Zone 3a. Add traditional columbine for a spectrum of purplish-yellow, blue, white, and reddish flowers. It blooms in a bunch that will grab the attention of passersby. For another eye-catching bloom, try the Sweet Sandia echinacea, boasting petals that look like slices of pink and green watermelon.

In the market for a new look with your annuals? Try the newer Crystal Sky petunia for a fun twist on a classic look. Plant the Bush daisy for a bright yellow “wow” factor in the garden, or choose the Frosted Strawberry zinnia for an easy grow. These zinnias grow through fall in pink ombre, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. Cut them for lovely vase arrangements.

While color is always a hit in the garden, it’s important to contrast different shades and hues. Too many accents can look busy and distract from the harmony. Add native, wildlife-supporting plants or ornamental grasses for a carefree texture to neutralize garden beds.

Don’t forget to add trees for beauty, tranquility, and improved air quality. Staring at a tree can actually reduce mental fatigue! Popular Nebraska trees include elm, mulberry, bur oak, dogwood, and fir. Red maple and swamp white oak have increased in popularity in recent years. Like most everything you plant, an appropriately chosen tree will add value to your property.

Spring is here! Once your hardscape is in place, it’s time to nurture the softer side of your yard. Trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals will bring the finishing touches and tranquility to your outdoor living space. Get ready to sit back and feel like one with nature, right in your own backyard.

Sources for this article included: energy.gov, usda.gov, and housebeautiful.com.