The combination of rising water costs with busier schedules is leading more homeowners to ditch their high maintenance lawns in favor of much lower maintenance hardscaping. In some cases, homeowners will reduce the size of their lawns with other elements. In other cases, they may ditch their lawn entirely in favor of more abundant hardscaping elements such as patios or decks. Here are four great ways to add hardscaping elements to help lower watering costs and yard maintenance.
Walkways
You can significantly reduce the amount of lawn you need to tend to by installing decorative brick or stone walkways. Not only do they reduce the amount of labor necessary to maintain your yard, but they can also help protect the grass that remains. In the front yard, walkways provide a safer way to travel from the sidewalk to your front door or give you an additional access point from your driveway to your front door. Lining your walkways with solar-powered lights can add an element of charm and provide a safer passage in the dark of night.
Patios And Decks
Installing a brick, flagstone, concrete, or tiled patio can help you create a beautiful outdoor entertainment space while still cutting down on yard maintenance. Poured concrete patios, in particular, are easy to install, but they can be finished with a wide variety of sealants, which give them both color and texture. If you prefer the natural look of wood, you can also have a deck built quickly and inexpensively.
Water Features
From fountains to koi ponds, water features can be inexpensive to install and easy to maintain but add a note of charm or elegance to your outdoor living space. Water features can either be permanently built-in or moved to shelter in the colder months and can easily be integrated into existing landscaping by a landscaping services company. Enjoy your morning coffee or an evening glass of wine accompanied by the cheerful, soothing melody of tinkling water.
Freestanding Structures
Pergolas, wooden arbors, and gazebos all create attractive architectural features that help break up your outdoor living space and can also be quite practical. Kiosks help create shade during the hottest part of the day, while still allowing light to shine through during cooler hours. Gazebos can offer shelter if the weather turns sour while entertaining or will enable you to eat outside during a drizzle comfortably. Arbors create an excellent framework for climbing vines or flowers and are an attractive element in your outdoor space.
