How Masonry Contractors Near Me Merge Hardscapes and Softscapes in Natural Environments in the Fredon, NJ, Area
A natural landscape may involve an artful blend of hardscape elements like patios, steps, and walls, and the softscapes that highlight the wonders of nature. Bringing all these diverse elements together can be a landscape design challenge. Creating a balanced, functional, and aesthetically pleasing landscape takes careful orchestration by landscape designers and masonry experts. In this article, we’ll explore how masonry contractors near me merge hardscapes and softscapes in natural environments in the Fredon, NJ, area.
Related: 4 Ways a Landscape Designer Can Add Color to Outdoor Living Spaces in the Sparta, NJ, Area
Walkways
A great landscape invites you to explore and experience it. You can find a connection to nature by taking a stroll in your own backyard. A stepping stone path is one of the simplest ways to merge hardscapes and softscapes. The spaces between each stepping stone can be planted with thyme, moss, or grass
Seat Walls and Retaining Walls
Stone walls offer endless opportunities to define spaces. To visually merge a wall with its surroundings, you could opt for curves that mimic the natural undulations of the landscape. Shrubs planted alongside the wall can provide balance to its “hard” look and make it look as if it fully belongs.
To soften the look of a retaining wall on a sloped lot, a series of terraces can be built just wide enough to comfortably showcase native plants and/or a culinary herb garden. A place to sit could soften the wall’s appearance and add utility. Low-voltage landscape lighting incorporated into the wall adds a welcoming ambience after dark.
Natural Stone
Natural stone offers unique character to a landscape. From lichen-covered to deeply etched and worn by the elements, each stone is charming. Create a connection to the natural world with a carefully chosen stone for each application. A stepping stone path could be just right for a casual stroll. It could lead to a small welcoming patio tucked away in a wooded glade—this is where softly dappled light can soothe your senses, and transport you away from your worries.
Every stone that is placed in your backyard should have a purpose. While the placement looks natural, it is done meticulously to showcase the unique features of each stone, to create the desired effect, and to balance its heft against other landscape elements. Perennials, annuals, and ornamental grasses add softness and create a dimensional and visually dynamic setting, especially when set against a backdrop of deciduous trees and conifers. Tucked between boulders could be a gathering of creeping thyme, to draw the eye to the more subtle beauties of nature.
Contrast: Manmade vs. Natural
A strong contrast can be stunning. If you like the idea of contrast, go for bold. Embrace it. Choose a sleek, minimalist design, with natural stone for your patio, and have it surrounded by diverse plantings including ground covers and ornamental grasses.
More Subtle Manmade Features
Another approach could involve making an added feature look as if it has always been a part of the landscape by focusing on mid-tone colors—that way, it could be more difficult to discern where a modern addition was made and what nature itself has created. A soft colored masonry planter, for example, with lavender can echo the purples of echinacea or lilacs that are already part of the landscape. Landscape lighting fixtures could be as discreet as possible, with an intent to be noticeable only after dark.
Secret Spaces
Imagine the delight of stumbling upon a secret glade in the woods, accessed by a gently meandering flagstone walkway, with a comfortable place to sit where you can meditate or be transported away into the pages of a good book. This same look and feel could become a reality in your own backyard.
Related: Ideas for Introducing Stone in a Garden Design in the Sparta, NJ, Area