In outdoor living design, homeowners are often seeking a look that includes a total package.This total package includes not only a functional and aesthetically appealing outdoor structure, or combination of structures, it also includes Softscaping. Softscapes are the element of a landscape that comprise live horticultural elements. These can include flowers, plants, shrubs and trees. This area of expertise is not limited to only landscapers. We at Archadeck offer softscaping in addition to our list of services created to fulfill your dream of an outdoor oasis.
Keep in mind there is more to softscaping than just throwing a bunch of plants into the ground and making them look good the first month or so – much more. It takes knowledge of how the plant reacts in certain soil conditions and knowledge of each plant’s behavior, size and characteristics. This will help create a softscape that will look great now and also 5 years down the road. Many times, landscapers tend to overload a planting area or bed in order to make it look full and completed in the moment. This leads to a bed that is disproportionate and overgrown in a short period of time. Plants that should have been placed in the back because of eventual height are often used in the front, and plants that are low-growing are often used in the back, just to make it look great right now. This scenario causes the homeowner to spend more money 5 years down the road to make it the way it should have been in the first place. Archadeck of Columbus takes your site conditions, budget and individual plant characteristics into consideration before designing your softscape. We are able to address all of the questions crucial to the success of your softscape area, which include:
Landscape design
- Space – How much space will each plant need to properly grow?
- Blooming Periods of plants – Which plants bloom during what intervals? Early spring, summer, or fall?
- Width and height specifications – How tall will this bush get? How wide will this flower get? This is very important
- Deciduous or Evergreen – Do you want shrubs that stay green and retain their foliage all year? Will a plant that loses it’s leaves during the winter bother you?
Site Conditions – Certain plants will perform differently in each of these conditions. We can assist you in determining which plant materials are best for your individual location.
- Soil type – Is you soil loamy? Sandy? Red clay? There is a wide array of various plants that perform best in your type of soil.
- Draining and moisture content of the soil – Does your soil drain well, or does it retain moisture? This is important when choosing planting material.
- Sun and shade orientation – How much morning sun vs. afternoon sun, if any, does your site location receive?
- Maintenance requirements of plants– Just like outdoor structures, there are high-maintenance and low-maintenance plants. How much time are you willing to spend maintaining and caring for your new plants?
- Animals that will frequent area of softscape – Is your site in close proximity to an area that deer frequent? Or close to the spot where the family dog likes to “visit” each day?
Other key considerations include your budget and time. Decide ahead of time what your budget is and how much time you want to spend outside caring for your plants. To many homeowners this is a labor of love. To others, a lower-maintenance area is more their style. Also, do you want a finished project with landscaping or how much work do you want to invest into the area to have a finished project? Since late March – early May is optimal time for planting, this is the period that is best to install landscaping (foundation) plants. Later we can come back and sculpt out the planting beds and then return in the fall. We make it a point to discuss which plants can be woven together in the landscape to provide hints of color during every season. This ensures a space that is ever-evolving and a constant focal point of beauty season to season. Our softscape designs include the use of year-round color. In preparing the space for planting, we work diligently on the soil area adding quality topsoil and finishing it off with mulch to prevent grass and weed growth.
Adding softscapes brings so many benefits to your outdoor living space. They provide shade to cool your outdoor living room, and buffer out noise. Plantings can also act as the “paint” on the walls of your outdoor room by providing many colors and textures through your plant selections. Certain perennials can also add a fragrant addition to your space, or offer color and contrast that is not limited to seasonal changes. The possibilities are endless.
Archadeck of Columbus realizes that knowledgeable and thoughtful plant selection, and soil criteria are key factors to creating a functional and attractive softscape. We can help you plan and design the outdoor oasis you have always imagined, including the lush landscape that comes along with it! (740) 879 – 3730
westcolumbus@archadeck.net
Columbus Decks, Porches and Patios by Archadeck of Columbus 