Gardening and landscaping are both activities that you can enjoy in your backyard. While there are some similarities between the two, the truth is that they are not the same. Yes, both of them fall under the horticulture category; but they are different. One might be a better fit for you than the other based on your home’s needs.

Read on to learn the difference between the two and how landscape construction companies serving Santa Rosa determine which best suits you.

What is Gardening?

Gardening is the cultivation of plants and crops, often with the goal of producing food or other products like flowers, herbs, and vegetables. Some people also use their gardens as a form of relaxation after a long day at work.

What is Landscaping?

Landscaping is the art and science of designing and maintaining the built environment for aesthetic, functional, and for nature conservation purposes. Landscapes are designed to complement the architecture of abodes and buildings and provide visual interest for the overall design of a property. This may include natural features like trees or ponds, additions like decks or patios, and structures like fences or walls.

Landscaping requires not only skill but also creativity, vision, and hard work to ensure that all elements work together in harmony to create an aesthetically pleasing space.

Gardening or Landscaping: Which One is Right for You?

Climate and Weather Patterns 

The climate where you live will play a big role in which activity fits your lifestyle better. The most important features to keep in mind are weather patterns, temperatures, and precipitation amounts. If your climate is conducive to growing plants, gardening might be a good fit for you. But if you live in an area with harsh weather conditions or extreme temperatures, you may want to opt for landscaping over gardening.

Budget

Both gardening and landscaping require money upfront for supplies such as tools and seeds. So, make sure you have at least some funding available before starting either activity. However, landscaping requires more money than gardening because there are more things involved (e.g., building materials). In addition, if you have no experience in landscaping, you might need to hire a professional landscape construction company to help with the project.

Available Space 

Gardening requires a relatively small space where you can grow plants and flowers. On the other hand, landscaping requires an open area where you can create a design that’s pleasing to the eye and also lies within your budget. Whether or not you have enough space for both depends on your personal preferences and available resources.

Time & Skill

Gardening does not require any major skills or high levels of education and can be done by anyone with a little bit of know-how. In fact, many people have successfully created beautiful gardens without any formal training at all!

However, landscaping is not just about planting trees, shrubs, and flowers. It also involves building paths and patios, laying down mulch or paving stones, and even installing water features such as ponds or fountains. This requires a greater level of skill than gardening, so most people hire professionals to do all this work for them instead. But if you’re interested in doing it yourself, then having some knowledge about design principles will definitely come in handy!

If you are looking for a landscape construction company near Santa Rosa that can help you improve your curb appeal and accentuate your existing landscape, Sweetwater Landscape can help bring your vision to life. To discuss your project, call (707) 887-0140.