Monthly Archives: January 2011

Hardscape Projects in the Winter

A hardscape project is usually anything that involves: patios, driveways, front walks, walls, courtyards, fireplace, firepits and outdoor kitchens. This can be constructed with flagstone, concrete, pavers and other building materials. Whatever material you decide to use, you want to make sure it compliments the style of your home and the look of your landscape. As stated before, there are quite a few options available to you when it comes to materials. A Landscape Architect can carefully access your landscape and help you figure out which hardscape material will suit your property the best.

It’s best to take on these hardscape projects during the winter months, because when spring rolls around, you are usually ready to start walking through your gardens and admiring all the freshly bloomed flowers. Another element of the hardscape project that you will need to discuss with your Landscape Architect is the design. Are you leaning toward straight and narrow paths or winding walkways? What outdoor rooms need to be accessible with your pathway? How tall do you want your landscaping walls? All these are very good questions that your landscaping contractor will be happy to ask and answer if you are unsure.

Need a few hardscape ideas? Take a look at a few Lifescape Associates hardscape projects:

patios+courtyards-4

If you live in Colorado and need professional help installing a brand new hardscape in your landscaping this winter, contact Lifescape Associates.

Access Through Slopes: Landscape Steps and Walkways

When you have a home that is on a hillside or has steep slopes, you need to have access through your property to safely move to and from your gardens, outdoor pool, various outdoor rooms and etc. It’s best to have walkways and landscaping steps created through the planted areas and lawn that go around the sides of the slopes instead of through the slope.

The landscaping steps are especially needed if you are on a very steep hillside. Having stone steps designed for your landscaping adds an element of beauty to the landscaping and is a durable long lasting natural material that can withstand Colorado weather. For slopes that are not so steep, you may want to use decorative stepping stones or paving material like pavers or brick.

What material appeals to you for landscaping steps?

Send Lifescape Associates a comment and let us know what you think?

The Challenge of Hillside Landscaping

If your property has a steep slope, it can absolutely be a challenge when landscaping. It’s possible that your home could be at a higher elevation with your land sloping down and away from it. Or in a different scenario, your land could be sloping toward your home, which means your home is at a low point. For this particular scenario it is vital that your landscape have proper drainage.

For both situations landscaping steep slopes or hillside landscaping takes a great amount of knowledge and creativity to design if you want beautiful aesthetics and proper function. The degree of the challenge really depends on how steep the slope is. It’s possible that a planting design alone will be a good option but other instances may call for terracing.

If you are having difficulty landscaping the steep slopes on your Colorado land, call Lifescape Associates at 303-831-8310.