Softscape
Key Characteristics
- ✓Encompasses all living plant material in the landscape
- ✓Provides color, texture, and seasonal interest
- ✓Softens the edges of hardscape elements
- ✓Creates privacy screening and wind buffering
- ✓Supports local ecology and biodiversity
- ✓Evolves and matures over multiple growing seasons
Types & Variations
Common Materials
Works Well With These Styles
Placement & Usage Tips
Layer softscape elements from tallest at the back to shortest at the front, creating depth and visual interest. Use evergreen plants as the backbone for year-round structure, then layer in deciduous and flowering plants for seasonal color. Leave adequate spacing between plants based on their mature size, not their size at planting time.
💡 Pro Tip
Design your softscape in odd-numbered groupings of three, five, or seven of the same plant for a natural, cohesive look rather than planting one of everything. Repeat key plant groupings throughout the landscape to create visual rhythm and unity. Also, invest in soil preparation before planting, as healthy soil is the single most important factor in long-term plant success.
Related Terms
Hardscape
The non-living, constructed elements of an outdoor landscape design, including patios, walkways, retaining walls, and other permanent structures.
Planter Box
A container designed for growing plants, flowers, or herbs, typically rectangular in shape and made from wood, metal, concrete, or composite materials.
Trellis
A framework of light wooden or metal bars used as a support for climbing plants, often serving as a decorative screen or garden partition.