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Intermediate25 min
Hardscaping 101
Patios, walkways, retaining walls, drainage - the structural backbone of your landscape.
“Plants are the jewelry. Hardscaping is the outfit. You can have great jewelry on a terrible outfit, but everyone will still notice the outfit.”
What you'll learn
Patios & paversWalkwaysRetaining wallsDrainagePermeable surfaces
Base preparation is everything: 4-6 inches of compacted gravel base for patios, 2-4 inches for walkways. Skipping base prep means settling, uneven surfaces, and water pooling within 2 years.
Drainage: slope hard surfaces away from structures at 1/4 inch per foot. Install French drains at low points. A $500 drainage fix during construction costs $5,000 to retrofit.