Inventory your hardscape to plan fall construction...

It’ll never happen in spring…you’re just too busy. Fall is the time for construction in the garden, and this last week of summer is the perfect time to inventory your hardscape.

What’s a hardscape? When I use the term hardscape I mean everything in the landscape that isn’t a plant. And the more gardens I visit, the more important I find it to be to garden design. Paths, walls, fencing, rockwork, water features, trellises, arbors, and the rest are integral parts of the garden, which sits between the home and the wild. Often they are what defines a space as a garden.

Most of the year hardscaping plays its vital role quietly, separating, backing, and supporting the plants in our gardens. Stone, wood, and metal all have a permanence that belies their need to be maintained. Soon it will be laid bare by the falling leaves.

Grab your notebook, and come with me into the garden.

Let’s check the paths and patios first…they are, after all, the conduits for all traffic in the garden. Is the design pleasing? Are more needed? Can some be eliminated? Is the flow logical? Do they exposes vistas (however small) and create surprise? Are they easy to negotiate? Does the surface (stone, mulch, gravel, paving) need repair or maintenance (all loose surfaces have a tendency to disappear, the ground swallows up mulch and gravel)?

Now that we can get where we’re going, let’s look at the walls and fencing. Regardless of the material used to construct them, examine them carefully. Is the rockwork failing? Is there an unplanned bulge in the wall threatening to bring it down? Is it sturdy and capable of fulfilling its function? Are the wood fences rotting? Do boards or logs need to be replaced? Dry laid stone coming down? Do you need new walls to create a new garden room? Are some better removed than repaired?

Rock and water are essential parts of the garden. Rockwork and water features should be examined carefully wherever they occur in the garden. Are they safe? Are the rocks solidly in place, not teetering? Is the water feature loosing unnatural amounts of water? Plumbing ok? Do the lines need to be cleared for the winter? Would more rock or water benefit the garden?

Trellises, arbors, pergolas and other plant supports are designed to interact with plants. Especially in the case of vines, this can make them a little more difficult to maintain. Make sure they are solidly in place. Try rocking them. Are they rotting at the base? Are they being pulled down by the plants they support (Wisteria is notorious for this)? Do they need any repair (below or above ground)? Is painting needed? Are there plants in other areas of the garden that would benefit from such a support?

Answering these questions should result in a list of potential projects for fall. All of these jobs will be more difficult and disruptive during the growing season when the garden is in its prime. Prioritize them and plan your attack. Some projects will need to be done before the ground freezes. Others can be done in the snow if need be. By prioritizing, the important chores will be done first and any that are left can go on the list for next year.

Take inventory of your hardscape now. It will streamline your garden workload for the next few months and result in improvements that will pay dividends for years to come.

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