Landscape construction is a process of transforming the landscape which can include removing or installing hardscapes or softscapes.
What is the Difference Between Hardscape and Softscape?
Hardscape services involve the construction of outdoor fire pits, patios, pavers, retaining walls, and fencing. Water features such as ponds, fountains, and waterfalls are also considered hardscapes.
Softscape involves the installation of plants and soil, including annuals, trees, shrubs, and grass. You are required to change and maintain the softscape elements as the plants grow and adapt to the changing climate and other environmental conditions. It is standard practice to maintain the overall beauty and appearance of the landscape weekly or monthly. Softscape maintenance consists of mowing, weed removal, fertilizing, aerating, watering, pruning, and more.
What is the Difference Between Landscape Maintenance and Landscape Construction?
The major difference between landscaping maintenance and construction is landscape maintenance involves the management of existing living and nonliving aspects of the landscape. Landscape construction involves building something new into the landscape.
Landscape construction involves altering or building the land to make it functional. For example, amending the land by flattening it, improving drainage, or raising certain areas is regarded as construction because these activities can make it more functional. Building structures, such as a patio, also serve the purpose of improving the functionality of the land. However, landscape construction is also beneficial to incorporate to improve the overall aesthetic of the property by planting trees, adding a walkway, or removing an old flower bed.
Landscape maintenance is done to preserve the already existing landscape to preserve the property value and to maintain or improve the overall health of the plants on the property.
When Does Landscaping Become Considered Construction?
Landscaping becomes considered construction when you start building or adding new elements onto the property or removing existing features. Examples of landscape construction activities are:
- Building Structures
- Excavating
- Installing New Features
- Making General Improvements
- Creating New Drainage Systems
- Removing Existing Features
What Are Some Examples of Landscape Construction?
Examples of landscape construction include building or installing the following features on your land.
- Adding a Patio or Veranda
- Building a Gazebo or Pergola
- Building a Retaining Wall
- Installing a Driveway, Sidewalk, or Pathway
- Installing a Water Feature
- Plant Installation
- Plant Removal
Is Landscaping Part of New Building Construction?
In most new building constructions, the builder digs the land surrounding the building after finishing the construction. Construction probably makes a mess, so the builder generally cleans up the mess and levels out the ground in areas where it is slightly lower or higher.
In some cases, the builders can lay sod on the property surrounding the building. Planting, grading, and installing irrigation or drainage systems are things that aren’t covered typically in a standard construction package.
So if you are planning to do new construction, it is essential to do thorough research and include the expense of landscaping that you want to be done in your budget. Summing up, landscaping falls under construction, but that doesn’t mean you are always doing construction when you are landscaping.
