Meaning & use
hardscape
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Meanings
noununcountablespecialist
The solid, non-living features of a landscaped area, such as paths, walls, patios and stone steps.
Grammar: Usually uncountable: the hardscape of the garden, not 'a hardscape'.
Patterns
- the hardscape of something
- hardscape and softscape
The designer planned the hardscape first, then chose the plants.
Brick paths and a stone wall make up most of the hardscape.
Rain runs off the hardscape and floods the lower lawn.
verbtransitivespecialist
To cover or build up an outdoor area with paving, stone or other hard materials instead of plants.
Grammar: Takes an object: they hardscaped the backyard.
Patterns
- hardscape something
They hardscaped the front yard to avoid mowing.
We plan to hardscape the slope with terraced stone.
Word forms
| third person singular | hardscapes |
|---|---|
| past tense | hardscaped |
| past participle | hardscaped |
| -ing form | hardscaping |
Common combinations
- hardscape design
- Good hardscape design makes a small yard feel larger.
- hardscape materials
- Granite and concrete pavers are popular hardscape materials.
- hardscape features
- A fire pit is one of the most requested hardscape features.
- balance hardscape and softscape
- The architect tried to balance hardscape and softscape.
- install the hardscape
- The crew will install the hardscape before planting begins.
Synonyms and how they differ
- paving
- Paving refers only to paved surfaces, whereas hardscape also includes walls, steps and other built features.
- masonry
- Masonry is stone or brick work in general, not specifically the non-planted part of a garden.
- landscaping
- Landscaping covers both plants and built features, so it is wider than hardscape.
Opposites
Word family
- landscape noun
- the visible features of an area of land
- hardscaping noun
- the work of building hardscape features
- softscape noun
- the living plant parts of a landscape
Commonly confused: hardscape or hardscrabble?
hardscape vs hardscrabble
Hardscrabble describes a hard, poor way of living or farming land; it has nothing to do with garden design.
Practice
The patio, stone wall and steps are part of the garden's ___, while the shrubs and lawn are the softscape.
Choose one answer.
Hardscape names the solid built features of a landscape, which contrasts with softscape. Landscape plan is too broad and does not contrast with softscape.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “hardscape”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.