One of the most valuable and creative ways to set your landscape apart is with hardscaping. All kinds of style choices from homeowners can be achieved with one creative brick at a time. As hardscaping becomes more popular and transformative, MasterGrass believes that a few essential features work to give you the best return on investment. Hardscaping Impact Hardscaping plays a large role in enhancing your home's overall appeal and property value. When creating hardscaping structures, they are purposely meant to blend into the natural landscape to align with the homeowner's visual interest. With a well-structured hardscape, homeowners can expect cohesion within the property and an overall enhancement of the property. Those with properties with uneven slopes and areas can transform these unusable areas into fully functional living spaces. For any homeowners still curious about how hardscaping can benefit their home, we recommend looking into trending hardscaping essentials to complete your yard, as these investments can increase your home value by as much as 20-30%. Benefits of Hardscaping Adding hardscaping elements to your landscape has many benefits, and sometimes, even multiple structures can help in several ways.

• Increased Property Value: Hardscapes can significantly boost your property's value, a value add for potential buyers. Adding patios, pavers, fire pits, and retaining walls can add up and be a worthwhile return on investment.
• Low Maintenance: Hardscaping structures only require a little upkeep compared to traditional landscaping, saving time and effort. Hardscaping does not need maintenance as much as landscaping and will not need to be replaced for years.
• Extra Living Space: Patios, decks, and decks create additional living spaces, providing that extra bit of space for all members of the family. These extra outdoor living spaces will also be a high-value add and can be customized tremendously to cater to the homeowner.
• Erosion Control: Hardscaping structures such as retaining walls and pathways help prevent soil erosion, helping to preserve the integrity of the landscape. Erosion control is especially important for homes with runoff or areas with lots of rainfall.
• Water Management: Permeable pavers and hardscaping are effective drainage systems that mitigate water runoff and prevent puddling, meaning less water waste and saving more money.

• Versatility: Hardscaping has endless design possibilities, allowing you to customize your outdoor space to coincide with your preferences and lifestyle. Many new trending designs, such as mixing materials and minimalist designs, can be added to your landscape.
• Year-Round Enjoyment: Unlike seasonal plants, hardscapes remain the same throughout the year, providing year-round enjoyment for the homeowner.

1. Sustainable Hardscaping: Sustainable hardscaping solutions have been gaining notable attention for the eco-conscious homeowner. Permeable pavers, for instance, allow rainwater to seep into the ground rather than contributing to further runoff. Wood and porous pavements are also viable options to consider that can be used for driveways and patios.
2. Outdoor Kitchens and Outdoor Living Spaces: Transform your backyard into the perfect dining experience for all of those holiday BBQs with outdoor kitchens — these feature fully equipped kitchen necessities such as cabinets and a prep station. Outdoor kitchens flow directly into outdoor lounges and can be designed as seating for the dining area.
3. Privacy and Security: For homeowners with animals and children, security is the top priority. Hardscaping features like walls, fences, and gates enhance your property's overall privacy and safety, creating a more comfortable and relaxing environment.