To hardscape or lay turf

Posted on August 19, 2015 by Melissa - Lawn Installation Blogs

The rise of DIY shows and the trend of turning backyards into outside rooms has led to hardscaping (with a few plants on the side) replacing the humble lawn. Hardscaping includes all non-living elements of your backyard design – patio, deck, paving, concrete – often areas otherwise covered by grass. And while they might look fantastic there are some definite drawbacks to installing too much of the hardscaping.
Lawns can soften the hardscape elements in your design, and they add colour and warmth.
Some considerations in deciding on hardscape or turf:

Heat

On a hot day a lawn will be 30-degrees cooler than concrete and pavers; and 20-degrees cooler than synthetic grass and 14-degrees cooler than bare soil.

Installation Cost

Hardscaping is typically installed in the early stages of landscaping, although many hardscape elements can be added at any time. These elements can cost considerably more than the cost to establish a lawn, because most homeowners can lay turf without the help of a landscaper – it’s a relatively easy DIY job. Some elements of hardscapes, such as ponds, pools or decks, require a professional’s knowledge and experience for proper installation. Hiring a professional adds to the overall expense of hardscaping.

Over time, though, if you factor in the cost of fertiliser, herbicides and lawn care tools such as mowers and whipper snippers necessary to maintain a lawn, the cost of a lawn increases.

Maintenance and Care

Most hardscape elements, such as walkways, walls and patios, require minimal care after they are installed, while other elements, such as ponds and pools, require frequent care and maintenance. Depending on the species of grass you plant, lawns are usually low maintenance. However, regular tasks are required to ensure a healthy lawn, such as mowing, fertilizing and weed eradication.

Pros and Cons

Hardscaping can prevent or correct problems in your landscape. For example, retaining walls prevent soil erosion, while walkways allow visitors to enjoy your plants without walking through your gardens. A steep slope can be fitted with terraced steps, or a shaded or moist area where grass doesn’t grow well can be filled in with a patio or a pond. Hardscaping adds definition and visual interest to your landscape design, but a landscape dominated by hardscaping can feel cold and ultramodern.

A lawn on the other hand adds colour and can breathe life into your landscape, it can prevent soil erosion in sloped areas, act as natural air-conditioner, a natural firebreak, filter pollutants and run off.

For all your lawn care needs just contact the team at Harden Park Lawns.