Hardscapes

6 October 2023

Explore the essential structures and materials—including pathways, planter beds, and shelters—that provide the foundation for a functional and well-managed garden.

A garden with raised vegetable beds, various plants on the perimeter, a composting area, and pathways consisting of woodchips.

Hardscapes are structures that help keep a garden functional, and are the most important part of garden design after site selection. Learning about different kinds of hardscapes is important in helping you choose appropriate materials and structure types, and also helps you to budget space for your garden accordingly.

Hardscapes for growing plants

Planter beds to grow plants in

Four people on a rooftop garden arranging plants in pots on a larger planter bed.

Planter beds are usually the main way community gardeners grow plants if they are not planting in true ground or containers. Planter beds can come in a variety of heights and widths, with a variety of designs for people with different mobility needs to access.

Trellises and stakes

Photo of two raised planter beds connected by a arched trellis covered in vines with a concrete pathway running underneath

Trellises are important structures to manage how vines grow. They can also be permanently placed in a garden to create points of interest, or to provide shade.

Several rows on in-ground planter beds, with the nearest featuring young lady's fingers plants with individual stakes.

Stakes serve a similar function to trellises in that they also support plants, but they are much smaller and are usually temporary.

Netting

Netting structures are the first line of defense against pests, harsh sun, and heavy rain for vulnerable plants. Dedicating specific parts of the garden for netting and having allowances for the netting structure will make pest and seedling management easier.

Hardscapes for gardeners

Pathways

Garden arranged with concrete pavers forming diamond shaped in-ground beds, with two metal trellis structures and other raised concrete planter beds in the background.

Pathways are the main way people are going to navigate in a garden, and are thus important in providing accessibility, defining areas, and determining how gardeners can use the space.

Shelters

Featured sheltered area in a garden with concrete table and square blocks as chairs, surrounded by greenery and an HDB building in the background.

Shelters are an important amenity for gardeners as it provides protection from the weather and a convenient bonding space for communities. They do however take up a large footprint, thus making them better suited for larger gardens.

Storage

A brown garden shed surrounded by potted plants, next to a greenhouse structure.

Storage facilities will help to keep a garden neat and functional. Singapore's tropical and humid climate will cause metal to rust, bags to break, and plastic to degrade when exposed to sun and rain. Keeping tools, compost, fertilisers and pesticides in a storage facility is the cheapest way to prevent wasting these materials!

Water Points

Close up of a green garden hose is attached to a faucet, surrounded by leafy plants and next to a metal fence and concrete path.

Water points are needed within a garden so that gardeners can water their plants easily. Standing taps, sinks, and irrigation points are all sources of water that can be used to keep a garden growing well.