If you’re considering upgrading your outdoor space, then you’re likely going to have to consider consulting a landscaper, landscaping company or gardener for help. Outdoor spaces are massive undertakings, regardless of whether they’re residential gardens or public gardens, these environments require careful planning and consideration of climate, botany and aesthetics. But without a general understanding of landscaping, it will be difficult to verbalise what you need and what you want. So, read this article to inform yourself about landscaping, different styles of landscape, and the sort of tools (such as cement mixers) that will be necessary for the procedure to run smoothly.

 

What Is Landscaping?

 

 

A landscape is a word that refers to the natural scenery and land masses within a particular area or region. Landscaping, therefore, refers to the process whereby the landscape is altered, recreated or redesigned with the intention of improving the appearance and aesthetics of the given space. Landscaping is a profession for some and a hobby for others, but either way, it requires you to get your hands dirty, grab your tools and get closer to nature.

 

Many people confuse landscaping with gardening, and this is not unreasonable. However, there are key differences between landscaping and gardening, as both have their own nuanced implications for the person carrying out the task. Both landscaping and gardening require planning, maintenance and careful design. However, landscapers generally work with different materials and tools than gardeners.

 

To be clear, gardeners only work almost exclusively with plants. While they may use various tools – such as lawnmowers, garden shearers, hosepipes and more – their main objective is to maintain the health and longevity of the plants within the space. Landscapers, however, work with the overall area that encompasses the plants as well as many other natural and manmade elements in addition to caring for the plants. This may include bodies of water, lighting, sculptures, seating, walkways, pathways and more.

 

Landscapers are also referred to as landscape architects, landscape designers and contractors. In fact, many people even pursue landscape architecture as a tertiary degree, as this qualification requires you to pass a national examination and acquire a license before you can begin to design large-scale natural areas such as botanical gardens, parks and conservation areas. Landscape architects and general landscapers can also work in residential facilities, waterfront developments, resorts, golf courses, municipal parks, greenhouses, nurseries and more.

 

Gardeners typically work with smaller residential projects, and they aren’t usually required to hold a qualification to do so. Landscape contractors work with landscape architects to carry out the plans and blueprints for the landscape architect, such as building structures and doing the hardscaping tasks. Landscape designers will help landscape architects liven up their plans y sketching a design for the garden that has been built. Landscape designers will decipher which plants will be incorporated into the garden scheme and then plant them, while simultaneously weeding out and replacing the old plants.

 

Gardening is a constant process that requires manual labour to be done throughout the lifetime of a garden. Landscape architecture, landscape design and landscape architecture, however, are not done as often. Landscaping is more of a once-off job that is only initiated on request, as it involves an overhaul of the landscape and the reconception of the space.

 

Common Gardening Tools

 

* Buckets
* Fork
* Gloves
* Hand trowel
* Hoe
* Hose
* Kneeling pad
* Loppers
* Lawnmower
* Lawn feed
* Outdoor brush
* Rake
* Shovel
* Secateurs
* Spade
* Shears
* Shovel
* Saw
* Scissors
* Watering Can
* Wheelbarrow
* Weed killer

 

Common Landscaping Tools

 

* Grass trimmer
* Garden knives
* Hedge trimmer
* Lawnmower
* Leaf blower
* Lawn aerator
* Ear protection
* Eye protection
* Overalls
* Steel-toed boots
* Fertilizing equipment
* Reach pruners
* Cement Mixers

 

Landscaping Projects That Require Cement

 

If you’re a gardening and landscaping hobbyist, then you’ll probably want to try out these projects yourself on the weekends – in which case, you might be able to get away with manually mixing your cement. Manual mixers work well for small-scale residential, DIY projects. However, for larger landscaping projects with ambitious deadlines and blueprints, it is always better to invest in the right tools so that your team can get the job done as quickly and efficiently as possible. For larger projects where some of the concepts listed below will be created in places such as public botanical gardens or nurseries, landscapers are more likely to use advanced machinery.

 

* Concrete patios
* Decorative concrete spheres
* Landscape curbs or edges
* Retaining walls
* Stone pathways
* Concrete firepits
* Concrete art and sculptures
* Custom water fountains
* Concrete pots and planters

 

 

What Are The Different Kinds of Landscaping Styles?

 

Most people place a lot of emphasis on the interior spaces within their property but forget to offer the same attention to their exterior spaces. When upgrading or redesigning a home, it’s important to consider how the garden and the landscape impact the overall appearance and atmosphere of your home. After a long day of work, at the turn of Spring, you don’t want to be holed up inside – no, you want to be outside enjoying the blue skies and listening to the birds fly overhead. But without a curated, cared-for and customised garden, you might not be able to enjoy the space and the fresh air fully.

 

Landscaping will not only increase the resale value of your home but also make a difference in your daily life. With more space to decompress and relax outdoors, your mental and physical health is bound to improve. With the right landscaper and the right tools, you can turn your backyard into a personalised sanctuary. If this sounds like something that you would want to do, but you don’t know quite how to go about determining what sort of style you would want, then consider some of the options listed below.

 

English Garden

 

These sorts of gardens are styled to look like the quaint natural landscapes that surrounded English cottages in simpler times. Taking its cues from the countryside, these sorts of gardens feature plenty of flowering shrubs and fragrant roses. Benches can be found alongside cobble-stoned paths that lead you to water features such as birdbaths, ponds and water fountains. When landscaping English gardens, it is not unusual to find cement mixers being used fashion small ponds or mould sculptures and benches.

 

Japanese Garden

 

If you want to create a space that inspired meditation and harmony with nature, then the traditional Japanese garden can provide you with everything you need. Inspired by Taoist, Buddhist and Shinto philosophies, there are four elements that are always incorporated into these spaces. These elements are rocks, water, plants and ornamental features that hold symbolic value. The scenery usually incorporated waterfalls, stone basins, bridges, lotus flowers, bamboo and Khoi ponds.

 

 

French Garden

 

Many people get confused between French gardens and Italian renaissance gardens, as they both feature columns, fountains and long lines of shrubs that frame the house, which remains the focal point. Symmetry is an important principle of French landscaping, so you can expect to see perfectly balanced gardens that will remind you of the French countryside in Arlese or Chamonix. Common plants in French gardens include lavender (also known as ‘winter lace’), Meyer lemons, tuberoses and federation daisies (also known as ‘sunjays’). The most popular example of a French garden can be found in the Gardens of Versailles.

 

Spanish Garden

 

Spanish gardens are generally found in places with warmer climates, and the landscaping is always designed so as to accommodate those higher temperatures and dryer conditions. For example, most Spanish-style homes don’t feature a lot of grass, because this can be difficult to maintain in dry climates where drought is always a possibility. Instead, Spanish homes generally feature ceramic and stone sculptures as points of focus. For example, decorative cement sculptures, cement benches, pools and paved walkways made by cement mixers are incredibly popular in these sorts of homes and can be found amongst terracotta pots, accent mosaics and doors, massive urns and unique doors made with wood and metal.

 

Desert Style

 

As you might expect, homes that are styled to suit the desert make plenty of use of succulents such as aloes and cacti; these sorts of landscapes are very low-maintenance, as they use sturdy plants that require minimal water. With Yucca, colourful flowering succulents and begonia, you can reinvent your space entirely. What’s more, you can commission your landscape architect to build you a unique fire pit using cement mixers. Fire pits add to the desert feel while shaded seated areas beneath gazebos and umbrellas are a welcome addition that can prevent you from the sun.

 

Prairie Style

 

Gardens fashioned in the prairie style are also great for more extreme climates. Be it cold or warm, the tall grasses and herbaceous flowers are adaptive and resilient, as well as beautiful – and even without much rain, prairie landscapes thrive. Designers and contractors generally tend to nurture prairie-style spaces when they have a constrained budget, as it is much cheaper than planting larger trees and shrubs. However, that doesn’t make these spaces any less beautiful – the low grass leaves plenty of spotlight for the cottage, farmstead or residential home it surrounds.

 

 

Woodland Garden

 

If you want your home to feel like a cosy cabin in the forest, both inside and outside, then consider investing in a woodland-style garden where there are plenty of hardwood trees, wild sage, ferns and even some ivy. For seating and relaxation, consider buying some water-resistant, wooden pieces of furniture. Finally, ask your landscape architect and their contractors to create a concrete firepit using cement mixers for an extra authentic feel

 

Tropical Garden

 

Tropical garden spaces can help anybody relax; jasmine, bougainvillaea, hibiscus, palm trees and plenty more lush greenery will help to transport you to the Bahamas or Mauritius, without the hefty cost of a flight ticket. Throw in a hammock and you’ll be able to let loose easily, taking in the breeze and decompressing from your busy schedule. If you’d like to take this a step further and include a couple more exciting tropical features, you can ask your landscape architect to fashion a large swimming pool using cement mixers, or even design a tiki bar where you can drink cocktails and soak up the sun.

 

 

Buy BS Power Tools For Your Landscaping Projects Today

With the right landscaping tools, you’ll be able to design and create a beautiful outdoor space that aligns perfectly with your vision, be it an English garden or a tropical getaway. With BS Power, you can find almost any power tool for your landscaping projects, including the concrete mixers listed below. BS Power offers competitive rates for quality products that will help you get the job done right.

 

* BAUMAX BS360L Concrete Mixer fitted with BAUMAX RX200 2:1 Engine (R17,495)
* 400L Concrete Mixer with Baumax RX2002:1 Engine (R19,995)
* BAUMAX BS500 500L Concrete Mixer fitted with BAUMAX RX200 2:1 Engine