Basic principles of site improvement

Principles and methods of landscape design

Landscape Design Principles. Landscape design of small architectural and landscape forms should be carried out in accordance with the general functional planning and compositional-spatial design of the complexes of which they are included.

The main principles, that is, the guiding ideas of landscape design of small architectural and landscape forms, are:

- principle of scale and proportionalityproviding for a harmonious combination of parts and the whole, correlation of the scale of landscape-designed small architectural and landscape forms with the scale of a person and the surrounding space,

- principle of style unity - landscape design of complexes of small architectural and landscape forms in a single style, taking into account the style features environmental development and landscape design,

- principle of continuity - taking into account cultural traditions,

- principle of effectiveness - rational use of materials and structures, accounting for ergonomic requirements,

- principle of complexity - landscape design not of individual small architectural and landscape forms, but of their complexes, including functionally and compositionally interconnected elements of the subject-spatial environment,

- the principle of combining benefits and beauty - landscape design of small architectural and landscape forms that simultaneously perform utilitarian and decorative functions.

When landscape designing small architectural landscape forms are taken into account:

- social requirements - taking into account the needs of different socio-demographic groups of the population (for example, determining the dimensions, themes, color scheme of children's game equipment taking into account the age groups of children, landscape design of ramps, the height of the handrails taking into account the structure of the human body), taking into account cultural traditions, the characteristics of the population free time when selecting equipment and landscaping elements,

- environmental requirements - ensuring environmental protection, taking into account the conditions of plant growth, taking into account the levels of pollution of air, water, soil when placing small architectural and landscape forms,

- economic requirements - rational use of material resources, labor costs in the manufacture and operation of small architectural and landscape forms,

- safety requirements - prevention of the possibility of injury (for example, establishing a safe height, taking into account the features of the form, surface texture of children's playground equipment), ensuring fire safety requirements, observing sanitary and hygienic standards (for example, not using toxic materials),

- functional design requirements - determination of dimensions, selection of materials, design solutions, taking into account the purpose and features of the use of small architectural and landscape forms,

- technological requirements - taking into account the features and capabilities of materials, manufacturing techniques for manufacturing small architectural - landscape forms,

- aesthetic requirements - accounting of architectural, compositional, artistic patterns of shaping, organization of space,

- town planning requirements - taking into account the urban planning and landscape situation, the organic inclusion of small architectural and landscape forms in the environment.

Landscape design of small architectural and landscape forms is aimed at improving the architectural and landscape environment of settlements, taking into account the provision of social and functional needs of the population.

Functional planning aspect of landscape design. The composition and placement of architectural and landscape forms must correspond to the purpose of the landscape-designed territories and take into account the features of the functional processes taking place on them. Within large areas plots of different functional purpose (functional zones) are allocated. In this case, urban planning and natural-landscape conditions, the place and importance of the landscape-designed territory in the planning structure of the settlement should be taken into account.

The comfort of the landscape-projected environment is ensured by the availability and convenient accessibility of equipment, landscaping elements, gardening techniques and flower decoration.

When placed on the site, small architectural and landscape forms should not only fulfill their utilitarian functions, but also organize the space.

Compositional-spatial aspect of landscape design. Landscape design of small architectural and landscape forms should be aimed at achieving both functional and aesthetic comfort for a person.

The compositional consistency of small architectural and landscape forms with the surrounding buildings, landscape design, their co-scale to the person and the surrounding space is important. The compositional and spatial organization of small architectural and landscape forms consists in finding scale relations and proportionality of the whole and its parts.

To enhance the expressiveness of the landscape-designed space, relief modeling and the creation of artificial water devices are used. Modern technology allows you to transform the natural relief, create a new, artificial, corresponding to the functional and architectural-compositional design of the designer. The transformed relief can repeat the natural forms found in nature, along with this, a landscape is developing in landscape architecture related to the creation of emphasized artificial, geometric relief forms that are better in composition consistent with urbanized urban environments.

When forming tree-shrub compositions, it is necessary to take into account that plants are constantly changing under the influence of natural processes of growth and development, changes in the state of the environment. In plants, especially trees, the formation of the crown takes place, their appearance changes.

It is important to take into account the architectonics of trees and shrubs, which is characterized by the shape of the trunk, age and seasonal dynamics, the design of the crown frame, the structure of the shape and massiveness of the crown, the design of the stem, and plastic properties.

The social dimension of landscape design. When creating any object of the subject-spatial environment, it is necessary to proceed from the needs of people who will have to use it, therefore, when developing projects The landscape design of small architectural landscape forms uses an ergonomic approach. It provides for the consideration of anthropometric, sanitary and hygienic, emotional and psychological requirements.

Anthropometric requirementsbased on the size and proportions of the human body, are taken into account when determining the height of degrees and handrails of stairs, the height and dimensions of tables and benches, the tilting of seats and backs, the location of the armrests, the dimensions of children's playground equipment, etc. So, based on anthropometry data, the calculation of the size of the steps of the stairs is based on the formula:

where b is the width of the step, which is taken outside the buildings from 34 to 40 cm and sometimes more, h is the height of the step.

Anthropometric data are the basis for determining the width of pedestrian alleys and paths: their width is taken as a multiple of the conventional lane of one pedestrian - 75 cm.

Sanitary requirements determine the conditions of comfort and safety of the formed subject-spatial environment and regulate its parameters such as temperature and physico-chemical composition of the air, illumination, noise.

Consideration of sanitary and hygienic requirements is important when choosing materials from which small architectural and landscape forms are made, selecting an assortment of plants, determining the density of plantings, installing noise screens, humidifiers - ionizers, etc.

The location and spatial features of small architectural and landscape forms make it possible to regulate the microclimatic characteristics of the territory. Lowering the air temperature is ensured by the creation of water devices. Wind direction and speed are varied by simulation. relief, creating screens from green spaces, decorative walls. Accounting for the orientation of the slopes allows you to adjust the lighting conditions and the surface temperature of the earth.

Emotional and psychological requirements associated with the characteristics of perception and processing of information by man. They are taken into account when determining color solutions of small architectural and landscape forms based on the characteristics of the effects of different colors and their combinations on people, when choosing fonts on pointers based on their "readability", when choosing graphics for information schemes that help to easily navigate in space, etc. P.

Environmental aspect of landscape design. When landscaping small architectural and landscape forms, organizing space, it is important to use ecological and landscape approaches.

Ecological is aimed at ensuring sustainable development of settlements and territories, ecosystem optimization. The landscape approach is to take into account the structure, sustainability, features of the functioning of natural and anthropogenic landscapes, which allows the formation of a new cultural landscape design, characterized by high aesthetic and environmental merits.

The basis of ecologically oriented landscape design is accounting:

- the landscape principle of the object (preservation of all valuable natural components and complexes),

- permissible loads on landscapes (distribution of visitors in accordance with the capabilities and features of the territory),

- regional and local features of nature and climate.

The formation of environmentally sustainable landscape complexes is one of the tasks of landscape design of small architectural and landscape forms.

The environment of modern cities is characterized by pollution of the air basin and soils. The soils are highly compacted, contaminated with construction and household waste, their physical and chemical properties are changed. The vitality of green spaces is preserved in those territories where the ecological requirements of plants for fertility, soil moisture, and light are taken into account.

In urban environments, ecological balance and self-renewability of plants can only be achieved in large areas. In small areas, it is impossible to ensure the environmental sustainability of landscape complexes. They require proper and regular agricultural care.

Favorable conditions should be created for the growth of plants and the maintenance of bioecosystems. To attract birds and small animals, houses, feeders, drinking bowls are installed, dense thickets are arranged shrubs for nesting birds.

It should be borne in mind that different plant communities have different resistance to anthropogenic influences (tolerance) and different ability to self-healing, which is associated with the species composition of the vegetation, soil and hydrogeological conditions, and microclimate.The different resistance of natural complexes to anthropogenic influences is reflected in the indicators of the maximum permissible number of visitors, the excess of which can lead to degradation of landscapes.

The economic aspect of landscape design. Design decisions should be cost-effective, that is, a rational use of the costs of resources and labor necessary to achieve a useful result should be ensured.

Economic efficiency is determined in the process of evaluating and selecting design solutions, when calculating the technical and economic indicators characterizing the decision. Along with the costs of material resources, labor costs for the manufacture and operation of small architectural and landscape forms, the expenses for the development of the territory are taken into account - the allotment of the site, the engineering preparation of the territory, including vertical planning, laying and relocation of utility networks, payment of compensation for demolition of buildings, crops, others costs.

The technological aspect of landscape design. A feature of mass production of small architectural and landscape forms is the modularity of the elements, the simplicity and industrialization of manufacturing, the desire for style unity, rational use of building materials.

The ratio of typical and individual small architectural and landscape forms. Based on the features of mass production, unification and typification of repeating elements is necessary at the same time, the task of architectural landscape design is to give each concrete territory an individual look. Therefore, in the production of typical, repeating elements, it should be possible to use them in a variety of compositional and spatial combinations. When landscape designing small architectural and landscape forms, a rational combination of typical, mass and single, unique elements is necessary.

Modern technologies allow not only to increase the production efficiency of equipment elements and improvement, but also to give them fundamentally new properties. For example, in world practice, fountains with a changing mode of operation are becoming more widespread. The use of computers made it possible to create an infinite variety of compositions with moving water, in accordance with a given program to change the intensity and direction of water flows, the height of the jets.

Features of using different materials. The materials used in the manufacture of small architectural and landscape forms vary significantly in strength, durability, fire resistance, safety for human health, labor intensity in the manufacture and operation, and other characteristics. In the table. 1 shows the features of different materials used to create small architectural and landscape forms.

Table 1 Features of the use of different materials in the manufacture of small architectural and landscape forms

Sufficient strength, relatively low specific gravity, ease of processing, good compositional compatibility with the natural landscape

Durability, laboriousness in manufacturing, fire hazard

High strength, good compositional compatibility with the natural landscape

The complexity of using

Ability to create flexible and aesthetically expressive forms

Low frost resistance, relatively low strength, laboriousness in manufacturing

Durability, the ability to create plastic and aesthetically expressive forms

Large material consumption, laboriousness in manufacturing

Durability, the possibility of creating plastic and aesthetically expressive forms, the possibility of applying industrial manufacturing methods

Large material consumption, laboriousness in manufacturing

High strength, the possibility of using industrial manufacturing methods

Relatively high cost, corrosion resistance

High strength, lightness, the possibility of applying industrial manufacturing methods

The ability to create plastic and aesthetically expressive forms, ease, the ability to use industrial manufacturing methods

Toxicity and fire hazard of certain types of plastics, relatively low strength

The easiest way to get a beautiful front lawn

You, of course, saw the perfect lawn in the cinema, on the alley, and possibly on the neighboring lawn. Those who at least once tried to grow a green area in their area will no doubt say that this is a huge job. The lawn requires careful planting, care, fertilizer, watering. However, only inexperienced gardeners think so, professionals have long known about an innovative tool - water lawn AquaGrazz.

Definition of landscape design

Landscaping is the art of creating and ennobling the natural beauty around you. Nature is close to man from birth, therefore, without him, he cannot. No wonder parks are being built in cities, flower beds are planted near apartment buildings, lawns are spread. All this inspires us and pleases with its variegated colors, pleasant aromas.

Undoubtedly, it is important to remember the healing effects of natural plantings on the air atmosphere. Clean air and a sense of peace is the ultimate goal of thoughtful and original solutions by landscape design specialists.

At the same time, landscape design is also work.

Landscape designers are called upon to be responsible for organizing the improvement and greening of land.

Such designers specialize in the design and creation of lawns, tree plantings, parks, gardens and home gardens (pictured).

The main task of landscape design is to embody a person's idea of ​​harmony and beauty in any territory.

There are several basic styles in landscape design, among them there are such:

• Strict geometric lines and clear color performance - this is a classic style,
• Smooth transitions and lines, taking into account minimal human intervention - these are the features of the landscape landscape,
• It’s typical for the Japanese style to display the landscape in miniature,
• The rural landscape is as simple and natural as possible.

The principles of landscaping and landscaping

The need for special skills for landscape design explains the existence of the profession of "landscape designer". The process of landscape design is an exciting job of creating a layout for future design. The many structural elements of landscaping explains the need for painstaking creation of a layout of the landscape design of the site.

There are many additional factors (in addition to observing the style features) that a designer must take into account when designing the landscape of the territory. These are climatic conditions and the possibilities of the customer’s budget (in the photo is a sample plan).

Sample Landscaping Project

The secret to proper improvement is clarity in planning the space and forms in it.

Observance of a clear idea of ​​the connection of space with the surrounding nature and the house allows us to simplify the task of landscaping.

Landscaping, like any process, has its own constituent elements. These items include the following:

• Choose the right plants, given the period of their life, compatibility with each other,
• Prepare for planting the territory
• Pave paths and paths
• To erect small architectural forms that are part of the landscape design style,
• Take into account the features of the terrain, if necessary, use the method of terracing (as in the photo)

To carry out high-quality landscaping of your territory, you can turn to landscape design specialists for help.

Landscaping also forms the basis for creating landscaping on your site. Every morning you can wake up and enjoy the bright colors of evergreen shrubs and trees. A summer run on the lawn will also give you a pleasant feeling. Therefore, specialists in landscape design so carefully work on creating a mass of options for landscaping.

• Gardening implies the process of planting trees and shrubs.
• Also, when landscaping the territory, designers create flower beds and flower beds, cut hedges, create bosquets.

A feature of landscaping with the help of already grown trees is the need to plant them in winter. So they better take root.

It is very important to correctly select plants for landscaping the site, taking into account all factors (climatic, plant age, its compatibility with others, wishes of the owners of the territory) (as in the photo).

It is very important to correctly select plants for landscaping the site

An interesting option to use the roof as a place of landscaping. This way of adding a bit of nature to your life, often becomes the only way to design the landscape in large built-up cities. In megacities so built up, there is not enough space to create green spaces. That is why the designers began to look for ways out of this situation.

Gardening of roofs has become a fairly popular trend in landscape design around the world. Moreover, such an idea is acceptable for suburban areas with houses.

The benefits of landscaping roofs, as they say, on the face. Plants on the roof affect the reduction of differences in climate change in the city. Still such plants, being on high roofs of houses, are constantly actively involved in the process of photosynthesis, that is, the production of oxygen.

Buildings whose roofs are populated by plants reduce their heating and air conditioning costs by an average of 20-30% per year.

In huge office buildings, green roofs are also a pleasant place to relax from noise and work problems.

Roof landscaping in a metropolis

Climbing plants are also a unique material for landscaping. Such plants are used in landscaping vertical surfaces such as walls, columns, arches, etc.

Mostly designers use different types of vines for vertical landscaping.

Such solutions are not only extremely beautiful, but also (for example, with the option of landscaping the walls) climbing plants protect the building from overheating and high humidity.

It has also become fashionable to use plants in containers with the use of supports when designing the landscape of the territory of the plant (as in the photo)

So, for landscaping near your home, it is important to follow the rules of landscaping and the clarity of the design of landscape design. You can either turn to designers for help or work independently. The choice is yours. Create your own green corner of joy and comfortable relaxation. For inspiration, you can watch the video below.

Features

Like any project, the improvement of a summer cottage should first be presented in the form of a plan: you can do it yourself or contact specialists. It’s convenient if the landscaping project is implemented using a special program (for example, Realtime Landscaping Architect, Complete Landscape Designer 3), then you can easily make changes and create 3D projects.

If you have an empty plot, then when preparing the plan it is worth considering all the details of the future plot: places for construction (house, garage, barn, toilet, greenhouse, bathhouse), gazebos, pool, garden, garden, walkways, irrigation and lighting systems. If your site already has some buildings or plantings, then before developing the landscape design of the site, you need to transfer them to the plan.

Before planning plantations, it is necessary to collect all the information about the site and adjacent territories, climate, etc. It is important to find out the state of the soil (degree of fertility, acidity), and the location of groundwater. All these data play a decisive role in planting.

And so, all the preparatory work has been completed. Now we proceed to the design of the site. It is important to understand, as in any design, landscape design has its own laws and rules, non-observance of which will lead to a heap of unnecessary details and the lack of rational use of the area.

The design of the entire site is best done in a single style.

We denote the main ones:

• English or landscape. When designing, it should not be clearly noticeable that the site is well-groomed and planned out, as if nature itself created the composition. Be sure to have a smooth and clean lawn.

• French. Unlike the English style, French implies complete symmetry and accuracy in the arrangement of all objects, whether plants or buildings.

• Scandinavian. This style is characterized by a chaotic arrangement of objects, but nevertheless united by some harmony. Natural design (furniture in the form of benches, wooden and wicker furniture), an abundance of plants, and the presence of a large number of stones are usually integral parts in this design.

• Russian estate. The main feature of this direction is a skillful combination of functionality and picturesqueness. Mandatory details in this design are beds and fruit crops.

• Japanese, Chinese. Although these styles differ in details, the general idea of ​​Asian philosophy allows them to be combined into one group. Characteristic features of such styles are naturalness, unity with nature, lack of symmetry.

To create a beautiful landscape design on the site, it is not necessary to take special courses and receive diplomas.

It will be enough if you take into account the basic principles:

• The rule of dominance states that in any project it is necessary to choose one main object, and the rest of the environment will play a complementary role in the background.
• Another condition for creating harmony is simplicity and conciseness. Do not overload small areas with a large number of parts.
• The principle of three or the law of the triangle. Number 3 is ideal for creating any composition: a flowerbed divided into three unequal parts, the use of three flowers when planting plants, three sizes of trees - there can be many examples. It is important here that the three parts should be different (ideally, if there is submission to the golden ratio or in a ratio of 9/6/3).
• The color wheel will help in the selection of color accents.
• And the rule of the square will allow us not to forget about the existence of four cardinal points: shade-loving plants should be on the north side of the site, the south side is better suited for a recreation area and light-loving flowers.

Vertical

Vertical gardening techniques make it possible to create a kind of "backstage", a background for placing decor items.

These include several landscape techniques.

• Creating Green Columns. Column-shaped plants take up little space and visually connect heaven and earth, setting a certain rhythm and solemnity for the whole composition.

• Hedges. They play the role of a fence and contribute to the zoning of space.

• All kinds of creepers. Climbing plants create a unique ornament on the walls of a house or other structures, so the color and size of the foliage are of great importance.

Often climbing plants are used in the design of arbors or canopies.

Horizontal

The basis of horizontal gardening are various perennial and annual plants, grass and lawn. Therefore, the composition requires a careful, thoughtful approach.

Plants covering the soil do not need special care or shearing.They prevent weeds and soil erosion. Their main advantage is flowering - it is often impossible to look away from fragrant plants.

In order for the composition to please you with its beauty for as long as possible, you need to choose plants so that the flowering period lasts all summer. The beauty on the site will be long if, after the flowering of some species, the buds of others immediately begin to blossom.

The lawn combines all the elements of decor. This is an integral part of landscaping, serving as a kind of "frame" for a wonderful landscape picture.

Organizing the improvement of a summer cottage, one cannot ignore one type of landscaping and focus on another. They complement each other, are an integral part of the whole process, are of equal importance.

Ignoring one of them will lead to the fact that all efforts will be in vain. Instead of a beautifully designed site, you may get a chaotic pile of plants and decor items that are not interconnected. Instead of a single harmonious composition, they will create a random cluster of various elements

Which plants to choose?

When choosing plants, you need to focus on the conditions in which they will grow. For example, for a flowerbed, located in a sunny place, light-loving annual plants are suitable: brilliant sage, seaside lobularia, pleasant stcevola, marigolds rejected.

Sage blooms from June to September, lobularia, stsevola and marigold - from June to October. Therefore, a flower bed composed of these plants will remain attractive for a long time.

Of the perennial representatives of the flora, you can opt for forest sage, large-flowered chrysanthemum, dyeing navel or narrow-leaved lavender.

Lavender and sage bloom from June to August, the navel from June to September, and chrysanthemum from August to November.

If the selected place receives little light and moisture, you need to pick up shade-tolerant plants. Euphorbia multicolor, geranium blood-red, lily bulb-bearing, liverwort transylvanian are well suited.

In dark and damp areas, you can plant astilba lease, magnificent chistyus, heart-leafed frangipani, forest ozhik.

As for the lawn, there are several options. You can buy a lawn in rolls and immediately enjoy a flawless green coating. Another option would be a mixture of herbs that needs to be sown on a pre-prepared plot, carefully looked after during the season and only the next year admire the result of their labors. Both options have both pros and cons. The disadvantages of a sowed lawn - this is a significant investment of time and effort.

The lawn in rolls also has their drawbacks. It does not tolerate ultraviolet rays, and under the grass there may appear a felt provoking diseases. Some coatings are short-lived.

If the choice fell on a natural lawn, you can use the following plants:

• Bluegrass meadow. It is frost-resistant, durable, during the first year it does not tolerate cold temperatures, but is not afraid of loamy soils, liming and abundance of moisture.

• Red fescue It is drought tolerant and unpretentious, it can grow with a lack of light.

• Polevosnaya shoot - A fast-growing, hardy plant.

• Pasture ryegrass - a dark green plant that grows at an accelerated pace.

When forming hedges, not only the needs of plants and the particularities of their location, but also the color of flowers and leaves, are taken into account. For example, medicinal laurel and pyracantha bloom in white flowers. Barberry Juliana, Japanese Kerria, male derain bloom in yellow flowers, different in size.

The color of the hedge is selected depending on the overall color scheme of the buds.

Despite the fact that when choosing plants, the main criterion is soil features, the presence of light and humidity, we should not forget about the decorative effect. It should be achieved as a result of a harmonious combination of all plants.

Landing and Care Tips

Gardening is a twofold process, which, despite its relative simplicity, has its own complex nuances. The main thing here is to take into account all the features of the soil and topography in order to choose the right plants. When the color scheme and style is chosen, a plan is drawn up and plants are selected, all that remains is to carry out competent care. It is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance.

• Watering, weeding, protection from pests, diseases and excessive sunlight are mandatory procedures that any novice gardener should be aware of.

• So that time and effort are not wasted, you need to place the plants in accordance with what conditions they need for normal growth. Tips for an inexperienced gardener are such characteristics as shadeliness, drought tolerance, and preference for high humidity.

• Of great importance is the time of planting. Most often they are planted in the spring. But some onion and small onion species (daffodils, hyacinths, crocuses, scylls) plant in the fall. August is the time for planting tulips.

• About two weeks before cold weather sets in, shrubs and trees can be planted. Often, plants planted in the fall take root better than those planted in the spring.

But despite the time of planting the plants and the accuracy of compliance with all requirements, you must always monitor the condition of each representative of the flora. It will best let you know if everything is all right.

To learn how to properly care for your garden, see the following video.

Plants

As noted above, the selection of certain plants must be carried out taking into account many factors: the stylistic idea, climate, soil condition, moisture, the shadow or the sunny side, the possibility of care and treatment. For example, it is impossible to plant a cactus (a photophilous and unpretentious plant for watering), violet (loves shade) and an orchid (loves heat and humidity, but not direct sunlight) in one territory.

In addition to its decorative function, plants in landscape design also play other roles: zoning of space (separation of a recreation area and a residential area), masking of household objects.

You can distinguish the groups of plants that are most often used in garden plots.

Trees

Deciduous non-fruit trees such as maple, ash, oak are best planted where you want to create cozy shady places: along the edges of the plot (they will hide you from the annoying eyes of neighbors), in the playground and in the recreation area near the gazebo. Fruit trees are planted in orchards for harvesting or also in the recreation area (pear, apple tree, plum). Coniferous trees are the favorite heroes of many design compositions, they are unpretentious and easily fit into the landscape.

Cypresses, arborvitae, juniper, dwarf and ordinary spruce and pine - look at them, they can complement any style.

Shrubs

Shrubs should definitely be planted on the site, they grow much faster than trees, but their benefits are no less:

• Gastronomic and medicalfor example, currants (white, black, red, pink), raspberries, gooseberries, honeysuckle, sea-buckthorn, bird cherry, snowdrops are just a small list of tasty and healthy berry bushes.
• Aesthetic. Blossoming and deliciously smelling lilacs, hydrangea, acacia, rose, jasmine will delight you from spring to autumn.
• Disguise. Creepers - maiden and wild grapes, ivy, clematis, with proper support in the form of trellis, will help to hide all technological nodes.

Flowers annual and perennial

The variety of types of perennial and annual flowers allows you to arrange a flower bed of any color, shape, size:

1. Loose flower beds - apparently they do not have a clear border (although in fact it is) and form.
2. Flower beds in the usual sense: a piece of land or a certain container planted with flowers.
3. Rabatka - rectangular flower beds, most often they are arranged along the buildings and the fence.
4. Mixborder - from the name itself it follows that such flower beds imply a multi-species mixture of flowering plants. Often the flowering period of plants in such flower beds is selected so that the flower bed blooms all summer.
5. Borders Use for registration of paths and paths.
6. Alpine hill - One of the types of flower beds most beloved by all gardeners: a multi-level flower bed with various colors, stones and artificial fountains are used as decorative elements.
7. Vertical flower beds suitable for small areas - plants are planted in pots attached to a vertical surface.

From annual plants, pay attention to petunias, marigolds, asters, ageratum, pansies, a rose stem, snapdragon, and marigolds. Of the perennial flowers, due to their unpretentiousness, crocuses, lilies of the valley, Turkish clove, lupine, poppy, and phlox irises are often used.

Having decided on the types and quantity of plants, a dendrological plan (proposed places for planting trees and shrubs), a schematic arrangement of paths and sites, a list with a list of all plants, an estimated plan for the location of flower beds and artificial ponds should be added to the general plan of the site design.

Design

Above, we discussed the steps for determining the concept of the site: a preliminary plan, a choice of design style and species composition of plants. In order to organize all this at the proper level, you need to go to the engineering design of the future improvement of the site.

This stage may include such types of work as:

1. Strengthening the coastline and slopes from landslides.
2. Elimination of unnecessary landings and buildings.
3. The formation of a new landscape (especially relevant if it is planned to design the site vertically with raising and lowering some zones or when the site initially has a noticeable slope), and it is necessary to provide and organize properly the flow of melt and rainwater.
4. Drainage of wetlands and irrigation of arid zones.
5. Measures to protect the soil from wind and leaching.
6. Formation of sites for buildings and paths.
7. Electrical installation work for new lighting, irrigation and irrigation systems.

It is better to initially make an estimate for all the work in order to understand the full cost of your chosen site design. If the final price does not suit you, it is better to reschedule the design project at the initial stage, and not in the process of work.

There are several other aspects that are best taken into account at the beginning of your journey to a beautiful design project:

1. The feasibility of using certain materials and plants. For the temperate continental climate, in which most of our country is located, it is better to choose frost-resistant and unpretentious plants, and materials for decorating the house and other farm buildings should be resistant to temperature extremes.
2. The safety of structures and materials should not be in doubt, especially if children and animals will be on the site.
3. The time and frequency of your stay in the summer cottage, as well as a predisposition to earthworks and construction work.

If you are planning an intermittent stay and just for relaxation, then you should not set up large vegetable gardens and complex flowerbeds on the territory, it is better to give preference to the lawn, fruit trees and perennials in small flowerbeds.

Beautiful examples

To inspire and prove that any piece of land can be made attractive, here are a few examples.

The small house territory is elegantly and functionally decorated: a relaxation area is provided, but there is a sufficient number of different types of plants.

And here is an example of a successful garden design (different geometric shapes of squares, rectangles, which are original in appearance and easy to operate).

Vertical zoning with a seating area and flower beds.

Non-trivial execution of flower beds for lovers of flowering plants.

On the secrets of landscape design of a narrow summer cottage, see the next video

Types of landscape design and their key features

One of the main charms of living in a country house is the ability to improve the surrounding area at one’s own discretion. Even on a small site, you can create a paradise with lush greenery, fragrant flowers, sonorous murmur of a stream and a secluded place for family relaxation. The main thing is to determine by what principle all these elements will be placed.

There are three main types of landscape design, which determine the formation of relief in the allotted area: landscape, regular and Japanese. All three species have bright distinctive characteristics and put forward special design requirements. Let's take a closer look at each of them.

Distinctive features of the landscape design in a regular style

Unlike landscape, the regular style accepts symmetry, the rigor of forms and lines. In such a project, the combination of all elements creates a harmonious composition, and the site itself becomes the embodiment of the ideal order and the legislator of modern classical fashion. This style looks most organically in park areas and in large personal territories.

Any component in a regular garden has an exceptionally strict, clear geometric shape. The road-path network is characterized by a complex structure with many intersections and sharp turns.

A regular project cannot do without a perfectly even ground grass, flower beds with stunning flower arrangements, long walking paths, stone sculptures, as well as rotundas and arches.

The philosophical foundation of Japanese gardens

The Japanese style is completely different from other types of landscape design, because it is not based on the science of land improvement, but on Eastern philosophy.

It is not surprising that three main elements take part in the creation of the oriental garden: stone as spiritual stability, water as the transience of life, and wood as an endless improvement.

All these elements are in harmony with each other, which creates ideal conditions for contemplation, meditation and complete unity with nature.

The basis of the garden project in the Oriental style is sute-isi - the art of placing stones on a personal territory. To create a beautiful, and most importantly philosophical, composition, you must carefully select the shape, size and color of the stones.

The irreplaceable accompanist of stones are reservoirs - streams, waterfalls and ponds. Fanciful fountains are inappropriate here. Naturally, where there are water bodies, there is vegetation.

But the eastern style does not welcome the diversity of ornamental plants.

Japanese-style gardens come in three types: flat, hilly, and crossed. The flat gardens have no hills or hollows, and their topography is absolutely flat, the hills are led by a hill supplemented by a water stream (waterfall or stream), in the crossed gardens, a pond or a lake with an island on which stone compositions are erected play a key role.

The Japanese-style garden project cannot be confused with other landscape design, thanks to such features:

- an abundance of stone and water compositions,

- the combination of dynamic and static elements,

- lack of clear symmetry in zoning and compositional structure,

- minimalistic decor of the relief.

The basics of landscape design

A landscape design will delight you with its appearance, but approach its creation responsibly.

It is difficult to argue that landscape design is, first of all, the art of arranging a garden. A creative approach is a prerequisite for creating an original and functional landscape design, but not only. To complete the picture, it is important to follow certain rules, which we will discuss below.

It is known that it is easier to prevent errors than to find time and ways to correct them. That is why it is so important to start with the preparation of a landscape design project, combining all possible combinations on paper.

Basics of landscape design: features of creating a composition

The main rule in the process of creating a site design is to achieve harmony of the four main components:

Experienced designers direct their efforts to combine garden areas with volumetric elements, using design elements in the process. The visual perception of design depends on compliance with patterns.

We are talking about compositions, that is, a harmonious combination of something. Creating compositions in modern landscape design by yourself is not as easy as it seems.

It is important to consider a whole range of factors, from the shapes and sizes of elements to texture, geometry, color, and so on.

Each finished composition should have a central part. It can be sculptures, a fountain, trees with curly crowns. A good option for a spectacular composition center is an oval created from a semicircular bench and a beautiful flower with roses. The composition of the composition can be completed by a pond decorated with roses, pyramidal poplars symmetrically placed on the sides of benches and pots with plants.

In order to emphasize the boundaries of compositions, borders are most often used. Borders can be clear or blurred - it all depends on the design style and the ideas of the author.

The ratio of geometric shapes in landscape design

Do not be afraid to experiment with the geometric shapes of objects and plants. It turns out very lively and interesting!

There are no right exceptionally accurate geometric shapes in nature. If there are any, then there was a man’s hand. However, any element refers to a particular form. So, for example, trees can be shaped like a ball or oval by working on the crown, and flowers and herbs, almost without exception, have a planar shape.

Quite often, when designing landscape designs, the emphasis is on a combination of elements that are contrasting in form and size. For example, large stones with small, wide flower beds with narrow, high alpine slides with low.

The play of color and light

In addition to contrasting sizes and shapes, in landscape design you can play perfectly with contrasting colors and light. A garden can be perceived differently at different times of the day only due to a change in lighting, this must be taken into account when working on creating compositions.

Color combinations can be not only contrasting, but also close in shades. When choosing combinations, it is important to try to prevent randomness and "stickiness."

Color has an impressive effect on our body, it is able to both raise and lower the mood. To calm down, it is better to use as many green, blue, purple elements in the garden as possible.

Bright red, yellow and orange “spots” will add to the positive area.

The concepts of color and light in landscape design are inseparable. The brighter the light, the brighter the color. Example: red poppies look fun, festive in the afternoon, whereas with the onset of twilight they are practically not visible on the site.

Receptions of landscape designers

When creating landscape design, it is very important to adhere to five rules.

The arrangement of the territory near the house involves the use of five basic techniques of landscape design. These include:

You can achieve the rhythm of the composition by repeating elements with similar shapes and sizes, placed at approximately the same distance from each other. Such repetitions should be at least 4-6 pieces. To diversify the element a little, between them establish water sources or sculptures.

To form one group, you can use different elements of the same type. For example, trees with different flowering periods, crown shape, texture will look good.

When working on creating landscape compositions, it is important to try to combine contrasts with nuances - subtle transitions with subtle changes in colors, textures, shapes. The nuances are designed to be viewed from close range, so every detail must be carefully worked out.

Particular harmony in landscape design can be achieved with the help of symmetry and asymmetry. Symmetric compositions give the site rigor and accuracy, while asymmetric compositions create the special impression that contrasting groups differ in the same number of elements.

The invoice in landscaping

An important part of a holistic picture in the garden is the texture or, if simpler, the type of surface of the subject. We are talking about all the objects on the site, ranging from the house and the veranda to the lawn and the ground. The texture is often associated with the properties of the subject. So, for example, a stone can be transformed under a stream of water in a pond or waterfall, while in a dry place it will be completely inconspicuous.

You can determine the texture of a tree by its crown and silhouette. Oak, for example, has a rough texture, elm and linden are medium, and birch and willow are thin. With the textures of objects, you can play in different ways, experimenting with the design of the garden, cladding of buildings.

Dominant garden

Garden is a great way to make a bright accent on your site.

The dominant garden is most often a residential building. In rare cases, this is a pond, ornamental plants, planting fruit trees. You can emphasize the dominant elements with the help of bright and rich plantings.

To attract attention to the house, beautiful flowerbeds are arranged near its threshold, the veranda is decorated with flowering plants or vines, and containers with evergreen conifers are placed at the entrance.

Any large area allocated for a certain element can become a dominant. For example, a well-planned garden without additional items can become the central composition of the garden, where dominant plants will stand out among others with a bright and saturated color, shape.

The plot of the garden: choose a design style

Each plot is unique in its own way. An author working on its creation, like a director, thinks through each scene of the script, developing its plot. He works with a palette of colors no worse than any artist, recreates the traditions of landscape art in the style of the new time.

Solid landscaping cannot be done spontaneously. Integrity and harmony on the site can only be achieved through a clearly articulated and well-developed idea with detailed landscapes combined with the natural environment and walking routes.

Spectacular views should alternate with "pauses". This is necessary so that the viewer has the opportunity to relax between the emotions and impressions of the new paintings seen.

This technique eliminates boredom and monotony, helps to ensure a constant change of "pictures".

A similar technique is used in the design of small gardens, when the entire territory according to the plan is distributed into separate sections. Zoning is also carried out according to a previously formulated idea, in the chosen style of landscape design.

Do-it-yourself landscape design: step by step to the main goal

So, how do you make a really beautiful and functional landscape design with your own hands? In addition to the above-mentioned reception rules, there is a certain algorithm of work, following which you can achieve the desired result.
You always need to start with design. The project can be ordered at a landscape agency, or you can make it yourself, on a sheet of graph paper.

There is nothing complicated in the design itself. A plot with all the buildings, plants and additional elements is applied to the sheet on a scale - this will be the plan of the garden.

The prepared plan is amended according to the developed idea of ​​landscape design. There are also its own nuances.

It is important to determine the cardinal points in the area in order to have a clear idea of ​​where which plants to plant.

Preparatory stage

When the landscape design project is prepared, you can proceed to the next stage - the study and preparation of the territory.

By research is meant an analysis of the soil for the content of nutrients, groundwater.

If the land belongs to the category of “poor”, then a mandatory measure should be its fertilizer with mineral and organic substances, with the importation of a fertile layer of soil.

The preparatory work includes cleaning the territory (construction waste, driftwood, weeds), leveling the soil, creating a drainage layer in the case of wetlands, strengthening the retaining walls in areas with slopes, and land work.

Landscaping

Equipping the territory with decorations, do not forget to adhere to a single style.

When the site is fully prepared, you can begin a new stage - the construction of architectural buildings, the arrangement of ponds, fountains, the laying of irrigation and lighting systems. Pergolas, statues, patios, decorative ponds - all this can be done with your own hands or ordered ready-made in specialized stores.

Elements should be selected, taking into account the features of the chosen style of landscape design. Framed by plants, they form a single harmonious picture.

An important moment is decorative lighting. Properly planned lighting at night will turn the garden into a fairy-tale world.

Landscaping

The final stage is landscaping. It is important to adhere to the dendrological plan, choosing the plants that are most suitable for planting in the climate of the region where the site is located. Do not try to plant all the plants at once, it is better to act slowly, moving from one zone to another on the site.

It is equally important to choose the right places on the site for different varieties of plants. So, for example, it is better to plant moisture-loving plants near water sources, in the shade of trees and buildings - shade-loving, and in open areas - resistant to sunlight. At the same stage, vertical gardening is carried out using decorative trees, shrubs, climbing plants.

The main tasks of the landscape designer

I. Finally, we highlight what is included in the tasks of the landscape designer and architect as a whole, what is it important to focus on? Most importantly, the author should work to not only preserve the natural positive aspects of the site, but also to increase them if possible.

Ultimately, a unique individual space should be created, where it will be comfortable and pleasant to relax at any time of the day or night, regardless of the weather and season.

Secrets of landscape design

The main advantage of a country house is the ability to equip a personal territory at will. Even in a small garden, you can create a real paradise. Landscaping is designed to transform the territory and create a luxurious garden on the site.

Any project begins with the fact that designers inspect the site, collect all the data about it. Thanks to this approach, you can create a unique landscape. Then a plan is created, it is shown to the customer for review, he either confirms it or talks about improvements.

Landscaping involves highlighting all the details, even the smallest.

All design objects can be divided into several types:

• natural environment - this includes relief, changed by human hands,
• subjects of natural and artificial education,
• vegetation and architecture, as well as fountains, pools, stairs.

Landscaping necessarily involves the use of a master plan. This is a drawing with which you can explore the existing space of the family estate and arrange the site in any design. The plan indicates all the data on the features of the relief of the garden, on the areas where trees and various shrubs will be located.

Design includes the following stages:

• The designer comes to the site to evaluate the territory. The boundaries of the yard are specified and fit into the plan, the location of plantings and communications is determined, the type of soil is analyzed.
• Images are created in which the types of landscaping are indicated, the architecture is selected.
• A master plan is created.
• Vegetation is selected.
• Project drawings are created.

The basis of the landscape is vegetation, it connects architectural objects and nature. Today, there are many ways of landscaping a site with planting trees, shrubs of various sizes, flower and plant arrangements. If there is a lot of space in the territory, then you can create a winter garden or arrange a lawn.

Landscape construction is not complete without engineering systems.

Parks and gardens will be beautiful and magnificent only with drainage and irrigation systems:

• automatic watering,
• drainage and drainage system
• garden lighting.

Zoning of the territory implies dividing the yard into zones performing different functions.

The main areas include:

If you do not have the opportunity to contact specialists, you can zon the site yourself, this is not so difficult. You can remove some zones, it all depends on your wishes. Regardless of the size and conditions of the garden, there must be a front zone, which occupies approximately 6% of the entire territory. The main function of this area is the entry of the car and the entrance to the estate.

At this stage, you should complete the work on the design:

• platforms for vehicles
• comfortable paths to the house.

During the planning, the relief of the site is necessarily taken into account, this will help prevent stagnation of water after rain, you must first come up with places for collectors and drains.

The path to the house should be large so that its width can accommodate at least three people. The coating for the track is better to choose tiled. Install decorative parts along the fence.

Lighting should be given maximum attention, it should not irritate the eyes, but at the same time should well illuminate the area.

If you intend to make the platform for vehicles open, then do not plant fruit trees nearby. The front zone is great for a flower garden or some original composition.

The recreation area is designed according to the tastes and wishes of everyone. They make out a terrace, an arbor, a barbecue. As a rule, this zone occupies approximately 15% of the entire yard. Even on a small platform, you can install all the necessary elements - a table, a gazebo, barbecue and much more.

Thinking over the concept of a recreation area, pay attention to the following rules:

• this area should be connected to the house, which will provide convenience. All family members and friends will often gather at the table for a delicious dinner, so access to the house will be appropriate,
• the relaxation area should be located behind the house, away from the front door, this will provide a calm and comfortable atmosphere, you can hide from the hustle and bustle,
• Find the place where the most beautiful view opens.

A large part of the yard, about 75%, as well as the sunniest, is given to the garden zone. The basis of garden decoration will be flowering plants. It is recommended to equip this area away from the recreation area.

The main attention is paid to the economic zone, where you can place a barn, bathhouse, garage, greenhouse. It should be placed near the garden. In this case, more attention should be paid to practicality and convenience, rather than appearance. It is possible to enclose an economic zone with trellises, roses or grapes.

If the drawings have a play area, then note that it must be appropriate for the age of the child, be comfortable for him.

When creating sketches, you need to remember two nuances:

• it’s desirable that the platform be visible from the window of the house
• choose a soft coating, for example, from sand or a lawn option.

The play area should be the embodiment of positive emotions, so use bright colors. What to place on the playground, each parent decides for himself, a swing, a slide, a sandbox and benches will be quite enough.

A place for this zone should be chosen sunny, but at the same time there should be a place where you can hide in the shade. Thinking over the plan for zoning the site, keep in mind that in the future it will not be useful, therefore, it is necessary to foresee its changes in the future.

For example, on that site you can install a pool.

Today, landscape designers do not stop at the application of old developments, and each time they use new ideas. Each style involves the use of certain design traditions.

There are such types of gardens:

• Regular gardens - appeared more than 400 years ago in France. This style is characterized by strict forms and symmetry. The front area is decorated with a huge number of flower beds, and topiari are also used for decoration. For regular gardens, evergreens are used that will delight hosts and guests even in winter.

• Landscape style - as close to nature as possible, very natural. Original compositions will make you one with nature. The cost of such a garden is quite affordable, the amount of excavation is also small. On the site must be a decorative willow, boxwood, thuja.

• Italian style - in this style, a clear zoning is necessarily provided, the garden should be a continuation of the house. Green hedges are used, in large numbers there are geometric figures. Another distinguishing feature of the Italian garden is the presence of a patio and sculptures.

• Chinese style - Recreation areas decorated in this style fascinate with their splendor, luxury and splendor. The plan must have arbors or awnings. The site is decorated with bamboo, bronze and stone reliefs.

• Japanese style - Feature is miniature and symbolism. Such gardens should create comfort and coziness for the owner, hide it from the hustle and bustle of the city. The basis in this style is stones and water, and the scenery is represented by a rockery or an alpine hill. Together with standard components for the garden, Japanese-style lanterns and bonsai are used.

• Modern - This style appeared in the XX century. Its feature is the perfect combination of functionality with utility. It uses clear lines, geometric shapes and art forging elements.

• Country - It is also called the rural style, which reveals all the charm of life in the village. In such a garden, bright flower beds, lush shrubs, arches and awnings are appropriate. A Moorish lawn and decorative garden are created for a country-style garden.

• Dutch gardens decorated with evergreen vegetation.This style is very similar to country, but only weeds need to be cleaned, and the overgrown greens to be cut.

• Muslim gardens - A great choice for those who prefer a leisurely lifestyle. This style implies the unification of man with nature. The atmosphere in such a garden should be comfortable and peaceful. Each stage of creating a garden must be carefully thought out; small ponds should be in the center.
• Moorish style can "boast" of patios made in the form of rooms. They are separated by arches and pergolas, and covered with greenery. Plants are arranged in a free order and do not need a regular haircut.

When designing reclamation systems, the specifics of landscape complexes are analyzed and taken into account. When creating any style, you can not ignore a single detail. Each style has a certain zest, which makes it popular.

In order for the garden to be truly original and interesting, great attention must be paid to plants. From the entire assortment of existing plants, it is quite difficult to choose exactly those that will really be the decoration of the site. You can make a garden attractive from trees, soil flowers, and shrubs, but they should create a single composition.

Coniferous trees are very popular, as they do not need special care.

Miniature Christmas trees and pines, cypresses tolerate climatic differences and will delight owners and guests all year round. The landscape of conifers can take many forms.

In addition to their beauty, they remove all contaminants from the air and fill it with resins, which positively affect human health.

Shrubs add harmony to the landscape. Roses, lilacs, jasmine - they are often used for hedges or borders. Using shrubs, you can create original compositions, or you can place them separately, for example, diluting a monotonous lawn or lawn. Also shrubs perfectly emphasize architectural objects.

Ampel plants are the best choice for vertical decoration of various garden components. Climbing plants, such as grapes, are more often used for wall decoration. If you want to give the garden romance and tenderness, then pay attention to petunias, geraniums, begonias.

The choice of plants for the landscape depends on which zone they are intended for. For example, according to ergonomics, in the front zone a mixborder is often used - a composition in which plants of various sizes and shades are combined.

In the garden, you can use a variety of herbaceous plants, which will be an excellent background for the overall composition.

In search of the ideal vegetation for your garden, you need to take into account not only the species, but also the requirements for their life - soil, frequency of irrigation, tolerance of the influence of the sun.

Creating a landscape is impossible without observing the relevant documentation for the improvement and gardening of the site adjacent to the house. The specialist who is creating the design of your garden must take into account all the requirements of SNiP, otherwise you will then have to make changes to the existing landscape.

The explanatory note is an integral part of any landscape design. This is not a simple formality, it is a source of important data on the land. The note contains a brief description of the main idea, as well as information such as the type of soil, vegetation and buildings that already exist on the territory, their shortcomings and advantages, and the best sites.

Also in the explanatory note the requirements and wishes of the customer, the interests of all residents in the house are indicated. Given all the principles of the landscape, its features and the wishes of the customer, the specialist must create original compositions and create a luxurious garden.

After a dusty and noisy city, you really want to relax in a quiet and cozy garden, which is located on the territory of your house. To create a beautiful green area, it will be necessary to do a good job, but it is better to turn to specialists who will create a real paradise.

The arrangement of a suburban area should be carried out taking into account the wishes of all family members. Great attention is paid to the recreation area, because here at a delicious dinner you will often gather with friends or family.

The main element of this area is a place for barbecue and barbecue.

It will be enough for someone to simply install the brazier and arrange several comfortable seats, while others need a powerful canopy near the street stove, armchairs and sofas.

During the improvement of courtyards, many prefer the creation of a dining room in the fresh air. To do this, you need to buy strong tables and chairs, but remember that they should be quite light and compact, because in winter all the furniture is cleaned into the house or under a canopy. It is recommended to put a table and chairs on a tiled surface, this will ensure furniture stability.

To give harmony and tranquility to residential areas, use water in any form. Many prefer artificial ponds that look amazing. It is also appropriate to use the pool, where on a hot sunny day you can swim and refresh yourself or have fun with friends. And so that the sun does not interfere with your lunch, it is recommended to choose tables with an opening for an umbrella.

The courtyard of a country house is a great opportunity to make all your dreams come true, create the perfect place to relax.

You can look at the finished garden options in the photographs, but turning to specialists for help, you will have the opportunity to create your own, unique landscape design.

You can create your own corner yourself, this is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. The main thing is that everything looks like a whole and all the components complement each other.

Tips for planning a site from a professional landscape designer can be found in the next video.

Basic principles of garden design

Landscape Design Styles

The purchase of a summer cottage is a joyful event. Finally, the land was bought, it’s time to start getting settled! A garden or summer cottage allows you to realize dreams that have been hatched for more than one year. There will be apple trees, a pond, ripe strawberries, carrots will grow!

But first you need to make a plan so that it is convenient to work and rest, so that there is enough space for everything. Where to begin?

Don't forget anything

First of all, it is necessary to think over and write down what is planned to be placed on the site. It is important not to miss anything, so that later you do not have to try to accommodate a forgotten building or flower garden, looking for a place for them among the finished garden.

The main list includes:

• entrance area
• House,
• restroom,
• a bath
• a greenhouse
• garden,
• a playground.

Some items from this list can be excluded, others add. If there is a lot of space, it’s worth building a gazebo or an open pavilion for barbecue in the country, a barn for agricultural implements and a firewood are useful. Do not try to squeeze a lot of buildings into a small area. Let there be a place to rest.

When the wish list is finished, it's time to start planning. The project must be linked to a detailed site plan that takes into account the topography, available plantings, trees, stream or spring, if there is water on the site.

The garden plot contains several areas that can not be avoided. It begins with the entrance / entry zone adjacent to the gate and gate. Residential and utility areas are also needed. A garden, a garden - this is exactly what the plot was acquired for. A playground for families with children is also one of the priority areas.

Territory preparation

Before putting future buildings and landings on the plan, it is necessary to examine the territory, carefully look at what features the land has. It is necessary to take into account the features of the relief, the source of water.

Sometimes a summer cottage acquired as a property is part of the territory used for agricultural purposes.

The land may have traces of plowing, the composition of the soil will be changed by long-term cultivation of grain or vegetables.

Before dividing the territory into zones, the land will have to be leveled. The remains of old buildings must be dismantled and removed, pour soil in the lowlands, remove the elevations, dig drainage grooves to drain damp places.

The design of the summer cottage should be carried out taking into account the adjacent facilities. The forest will obscure the territory, the pond will create a recreation area.

The land is divided into zones, each of which occupies a certain part of the territory. A large one gives room for creativity, a small area can also become beautiful and cozy.

We plan a garden

The buildings were placed, the most important thing begins: what land was acquired for. Your own island of greenery, fresh air, sun and freedom. I do not want to spend time relaxing, bending over the flower beds and beds. How to avoid this?

First you need to decide what you want to see in the garden. Will it be a corner of the wild, which the gardener's hand will slightly correct? Want to have fruit trees? Or will the whole territory be a continuous garden planted with potatoes and cabbage?

A real garden should have its own style, it can house arbors, pavilions, ponds, bridges, alpine slides. To decide what to stop at, you need to familiarize yourself with the experience of breaking parks, accumulated over the centuries.

Landscape Design Styles

There are several directions in the design of a garden plot, differing in their ideas about beauty and their approach to organizing space.

The English style is also called landscape, its purpose is an imitation of the natural landscape, a forest park. Style implies the lack of regular geometric shapes, thoughtful asymmetry.

The garden requires constant care, but such that it is not striking.

The basis of the English style is a carefully trimmed lawn, clean curved paths, a pond with lilies and water lilies is desirable.

In the garden there are always bushes and trees that are natural for the area, there are artificially broken flower beds of bizarre shapes. Of the flowers, preference is given to mallow, delphinium, roses.

Crocuses are needed in the spring, this is the hallmark of the English garden. Tulips and daffodils are planted in dense groups so that they create bright colored islands.

The English garden will be decorated with simple wooden benches, a gazebo, small fountains escaping from the ground or water. Good for decoration forged products. This style involves decorating the house with curly plants and hanging flowerpots with flowers.

French style, by contrast, is distinguished by regularity. He needs space. The regular French garden is symmetrical, its central part is a house, fountain or sculpture, around which the composition is built. Wide paths have the correct shape, the lawn stretches along them, carefully trimmed.

The flower beds are ordered, regular geometric shape, with clear boundaries. Flowers in the flower beds should create a pattern, bushes and trees are trimmed, have a clear shape. Elegant decorative flowerpots with ampel colors emphasize the clear boundaries of the tracks.

Artificial ponds make complex shapes, with the correct contour. The French garden is also decorated with gazebos, but this place must be hidden from view in order to give privacy. Pergolas are arranged from growing bushes or climbing plants.

Spring flowering begins with crocuses and tulips, you can use marigolds and petunia, any flowers with a long flowering period.Bushes of barberry, cotoneaster, maple, hawthorn, spirea well retain the shape created by human hands.

Scandinavian style is a harmonious combination of vegetation and decorative elements. Wicker or wooden furniture is randomly arranged in a seeming mess.

The greenery should cover or curl the benches, the benches themselves can be polished logs or driftwood. The picture will be complemented by rustic utensils. The Scandinavian garden should be full of stones.

Large combined with small placers. An artificial grotto and a fireplace made of huge blocks will become part of the decor.

Walkways and recreation areas are stoned, bright flowers are planted along them, creating the illusion of natural growth. Of the large vegetation, berry bushes and fruit trees are preferred.

The garden in the style of a Russian estate is beautiful and practical. Bright, elegant flowerbeds turn into a vegetable garden, naturalness and apparent neglect make the garden cozy.

However, this negligence is the result of painstaking labor. Mowing bushes and trees should emphasize their charm without encroaching on the form given by nature.

Exotic views are unacceptable here, but lilacs, oaks and birches will harmoniously fit into the Russian garden.

Wattle will help divide the zones between themselves, rare fences from dead wood collected in the forest will suit the style of the Russian estate. Especially successful compositions of birch and alder.

The most important detail of the Russian style is the front garden in front of the house, which should combine bright flowers with different flowering times. Glade for rest is an integral part of style. It is good to place a bathhouse on the site, next to which you should set up a garden.

Japanese style is a great solution for a small garden. It can even be placed on an area of ​​1 hundred parts. The main principle is unity with nature. To achieve the desired effect will help local plants and stones.

The territory is divided into several zones. When arranging it, symmetry must be avoided, because symmetry is the work of man. Zones are combined by transitions, each of which should have its own face and not be like the others. Vivid colors are inappropriate here, flowers choose calm tones.

The Chinese garden, unlike the Japanese, is full of creations of human hands. Such a garden requires space; it cannot be broken in a tiny area. An indispensable part of it is water. Metal and wooden decorative elements are combined with bright colors. Another option is also possible - with a complete rejection of flowering plants.

Art Nouveau has no nationality. The harmony of straight and rounded lines, soft colors and modern materials are a bit reminiscent of the Japanese style.

Concrete paths paved with large tiles of the site, balls - flowerpots, round fountains are combined with simple wicker furniture.

The beds and flowerbeds are limited by high sides, and the pyramidal conifers echo the regular geometric shapes of the decor elements.

For rest, a Mediterranean-style summer cottage is perfect. The central area is the patio; other areas are located around the cobbled courtyard.

The courtyard is surrounded by a white brick wall, exotic plants interrupt the bright lawn. Wicker furniture hides from the sun behind curtains of light natural linen.

Massive vases with lush flowers, fountains, even sculptures will take the vacationer to the Greek coast, under the bright southern sky.

Cottage on the slope

Separately, we need to talk about a site located on a hillside. The features of the relief impose restrictions on the design of the garden plot. Laying out a garden on a hill is expensive. The usual methods cannot be applied here.

Work begins with strengthening the slope. Landscaping of the garden plot is developed based on the following points:

• hill slope
• groundwater depth
• soil composition
• pressure on the slope
• the danger of being washed away by meltwater,
• danger zone size
• material used.

A small slope allows you to strengthen the soil with shrubs with a developed root system. A large angle of inclination is compensated by using terraces or using geotextiles.

To strengthen the slope by planting bushes, use a special lattice. The roots are intertwined with a lattice, do not allow the soil to crumble. For this purpose, hawthorn, blackberry, lilac are used.

To strengthen the soil, rooted stones or logs are also used. The same effect is achieved by erecting fences on a solid foundation. The thickness of the structure is one third of the height of the fence. Both methods involve the creation of a drainage system to protect the applied structure from water.

The design solution includes retaining walls, terraces and stairs, planned taking into account the location of the house and outbuildings. When designing, it is better to avoid long retaining walls, terraces look more spectacular if they are cascaded.

The paths connecting the terraces are made of the same material as the retaining walls. This allows you to create a single composition. A concrete base will extend the life of the track, although some soils can be dispensed with dry masonry.

The paths should not be even, a slight bend will visually reduce the slope of the hill.

Bushes, flower beds, beds are located on different terraces. The fortified terrace is a good place for a garden bench or rotunda. Inclined terrain makes lower lighting especially advantageous. The light along the lamp paths accentuates the beauty of the flowers on the terraces.

When choosing plants, it is worth emphasizing the features of the mountainous terrain. The northern slope is suitable for water-loving, shadow-loving species. Southern, on the contrary, shelters drought-resistant, not heat-fearing specimens.

Flowers are selected so that they bloom in turn. Traditional spring hyacinths, crocuses, tulips are replaced by decorative onions, marigolds and California poppy. Asters and chrysanthemums will bloom in late summer or early fall. A particularly successful solution would be the use of perennials. It eliminates the need to plant terraces every year.

Tall trees are located at the top of the hill. Shrubs are planted below. Choose better zoned varieties. When installing benches and designing a gazebo, placing a relaxation area, one must take into account the wind rose.

Summarize

To acquire land, to develop and implement design with your own hands is a difficult task. For the cottage to become a blooming garden, you will have to spend a lot of time and effort.

But for many, work on earth is rest, only true enthusiasts set themselves such ambitious goals.

But the result of labor will please for many years, and the process of planning, construction, cultivation itself will bring many pleasant minutes.

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Landscaping: the subtleties of the landscaping process

In the process of landscape design, there are many nuances that must be taken into account to obtain the desired result. Especially a lot of subtleties found in landscaping. Ignoring these details will lead to a meaningless pile of plants that will not combine with each other, worsening the appearance of the entire territory.

Landscaping includes several components, the most important of which is landscaping. Without a competent determination of the position for each plant, all the techniques for improving the summer cottage will be in vain.

In this case, it is necessary to take into account not only the features of the soil, the direction of the wind and the illumination of a particular part of the area, but also the compatibility of the plants with each other, their flowering periods, height and the required conditions for growth.

Deciduous and coniferous trees and shrubs, perennial and annual plants, various varieties of lawns covering the soil should be harmoniously combined with each other and emphasize the beauty of each other.

When creating a composition, the following principles must be observed:

• Plants are selected according to the rule "from larger to smaller" - tall bushes and trees smoothly "pass" into the horizontal, combining with low-growing plants.

• The changes occurring in the color palette and the general appearance of plants during the year are taken into account: processes of changing shape and size, coloring of flowers, leaves, fruits, bark, density of the crown.

• Slowly growing plants compose with species that grow fast. Some varieties will need to be transplanted after a certain time.

When developing a project, you need to carefully study and evaluate the features of the site, collecting as much information as possible about it:

• which areas receive more sunlight and which receive less
• the strength and direction of the wind in each season, the side on which it blows most often, the strength of gusts,

• level of soil acidity, humidity, proximity to groundwater.

When all the necessary information is collected, you can begin to create a project and develop sketches. At the same time, every detail is highlighted, which may be of importance in the improvement of the site. These important details include:

• elements of the natural environment, partially created by human hands (trimmed shrubs, broken flower beds),

• objects with equivalent components of artificial and natural origin,

• various stairs, retaining walls, irrigation systems, decor, plants and their supports.

Do not forget about the style. Selecting plants, small architectural structures (arbors, benches), laying paths, you need to make sure that all this is sustained in the same style.

In landscape design there are four main areas:

• Classic, implying the presence of strict geometric lines and a carefully verified combination of colors.

• Landscape landscape, the main feature of which is the most natural forms and lines. Human intervention in natural compositions should be minimized.

• Japanese style, a distinctive feature of which is a miniature display of the landscape.

• Rural landscape, reminiscent of landscape style with its simplicity and naturalness.

Each of these areas is characterized by its own plant species. For example, bright decorative representatives of the flora with colorful leaves and large flowers are not suitable for a rustic style. Here, as in the landscape direction, simple, discreet plants resembling wildflowers will be more appropriate.

But for the design of the site in the spirit of the tropical jungle, which can be created only in hot climatic conditions, such catchy plants will be the most suitable.

When designing a territory, one should pay attention to the interconnection of space levels with each other. The levels of earth and sky should be harmoniously combined with each other with the help of certain types of plants.

The garden should not have an absolutely flat surface, randomly decorated with flowers. All kinds of gazebos, benches and other attributes of relaxation also require appropriate framing. Therefore, in gardening, there are two main directions - vertical and horizontal.

Vertical gardening techniques make it possible to create a kind of "backstage", a background for placing decor items.

These include several landscape techniques.

• Creating Green Columns. Column-shaped plants take up little space and visually connect heaven and earth, setting a certain rhythm and solemnity for the whole composition.

• Hedges. They play the role of a fence and contribute to the zoning of space.

• All kinds of creepers. Climbing plants create a unique ornament on the walls of a house or other structures, so the color and size of the foliage are of great importance.

The basis of horizontal gardening are various perennial and annual plants, grass and lawn.Therefore, the composition requires a careful, thoughtful approach.

Plants covering the soil do not need special care or shearing. They prevent weeds and soil erosion. Their main advantage is flowering - it is often impossible to look away from fragrant plants.

The lawn combines all the elements of decor. This is an integral part of landscaping, serving as a kind of "frame" for a wonderful landscape picture.

Organizing the improvement of a summer cottage, one cannot ignore one type of landscaping and focus on another. They complement each other, are an integral part of the whole process, are of equal importance.

Ignoring one of them will lead to the fact that all efforts will be in vain. Instead of a beautifully designed site, you may get a chaotic pile of plants and decor items that are not interconnected. Instead of a single harmonious composition, they will create a random cluster of various elements

When choosing plants, you need to focus on the conditions in which they will grow. For example, for a flowerbed, located in a sunny place, light-loving annual plants are suitable: brilliant sage, seaside lobularia, pleasant stcevola, marigolds rejected.

Of the perennial representatives of the flora, you can opt for forest sage, large-flowered chrysanthemum, dyeing navel or narrow-leaved lavender.

If the selected place receives little light and moisture, you need to pick up shade-tolerant plants. Euphorbia multicolor, geranium blood-red, lily bulb-bearing, liverwort transylvanian are well suited.

In dark and damp areas, you can plant astilba lease, magnificent chistyus, heart-leafed frangipani, forest ozhik.

As for the lawn, there are several options. You can buy a lawn in rolls and immediately enjoy a flawless green coating.

Another option would be a mixture of herbs that needs to be sown on a pre-prepared plot, carefully looked after during the season and only the next year admire the result of their labors.

Both options have both pros and cons. The disadvantages of a sowed lawn - this is a significant investment of time and effort.

The lawn in rolls also has their drawbacks. It does not tolerate ultraviolet rays, and under the grass there may appear a felt provoking diseases. Some coatings are short-lived.

If the choice fell on a natural lawn, you can use the following plants:

• Bluegrass meadow. It is frost-resistant, durable, during the first year it does not tolerate cold temperatures, but is not afraid of loamy soils, liming and abundance of moisture.

• Red fescue It is drought tolerant and unpretentious, it can grow with a lack of light.

• Polevosnaya shoot - A fast-growing, hardy plant.

• Pasture ryegrass - a dark green plant that grows at an accelerated pace.

When forming hedges, not only the needs of plants and the particularities of their location, but also the color of flowers and leaves, are taken into account. For example, medicinal laurel and pyracantha bloom in white flowers. Barberry Juliana, Japanese Kerria, male derain bloom in yellow flowers, different in size.

The color of the hedge is selected depending on the overall color scheme of the buds.

Gardening is a twofold process, which, despite its relative simplicity, has its own complex nuances. The main thing here is to take into account all the features of the soil and topography in order to choose the right plants. When the color scheme and style is chosen, a plan is drawn up and plants are selected, all that remains is to carry out competent care. It is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance.

• Watering, weeding, protection from pests, diseases and excessive sunlight are mandatory procedures that any novice gardener should be aware of.

• So that time and effort are not wasted, you need to place the plants in accordance with what conditions they need for normal growth.

  Tips for an inexperienced gardener are such characteristics as shadeliness, drought tolerance, and preference for high humidity.

Of great importance is the time of planting. Most often they are planted in the spring.

But some onion and small onion species (daffodils, hyacinths, crocuses, scylls) plant in the fall. August is the time for planting tulips.

• About two weeks before cold weather sets in, shrubs and trees can be planted. Often, plants planted in the fall take root better than those planted in the spring.

But despite the time of planting the plants and the accuracy of compliance with all requirements, you must always monitor the condition of each representative of the flora. It will best let you know if everything is all right.

To learn how to properly care for your garden, see the following video.