For residents of a modern metropolis, a country house is perhaps the last resort where you can relax while enjoying the beauty of nature. A beautiful garden and landscaped area is the dream of many, but the creation of such a place requires preliminary preparation, good organization and material costs. The article will tell about the carrying out of landscaping and improvement of the territory surrounding the cottage.

The advantages and disadvantages of landscaping

Many people strive to be in a green oasis in unity with nature, and not in the "stone jungle".

• Therefore, the landscaping of the territory of the home should be given special attention, because such events:
• increase the comfort and aesthetics of the site;
• emphasize the advantageous sides of the territory and smooth out the disadvantages of the relief;
• create an individual style, allowing you to connect different zones into a single space.

• The disadvantages of landscaping are difficult to find, but when starting to create a cozy and comfortable plot, the owner should know what difficulties he will have to face:
• it is necessary to take into account the requirements for the growth conditions of many plants;
• know the soil characteristics and the degree of illumination of the site;
• landscape design will require preliminary training, labor and material costs;
• landscaping needs constant care in order not to become part of the wild.

Do-it-yourself landscaping and gardening

Landscaping allows you to create beautiful and functional places and establish a connection between people and nature, between the inner and outer spaces of the courtyard, between old and new.

Looking at examples of beautiful gardens in the photo, the owners of country houses may regret the lack of education as a landscape designer, but you can do a lot of landscaping and landscaping even a small site with your own hands if you have the desire, time, creative imagination, money and skills in growing plants.

Did you know? The term "landscape architecture" was coined by Scotsman Gilbert Laing Meason in 1828.

Of course, you can use the services of professionals and order a project, but it is much more interesting and pleasant to equip a beautiful summer cottage on your own, using creativity and your own ideas for design.

Design and drawings

Garden and landscape design refers to the processing of land not occupied by buildings, when these places are considered important for creating visually attractive areas. A well-thought-out design not only takes into account what is visible at first glance, but also focuses on the details that will give the whole composition a unique, unique character.

Landscapes that are easy, fast and cheap to maintain require thoughtful planning and implementation:

1. Choose structures, plants, soil coatings and systems that will help reduce watering, weeding, pruning, painting and mowing (a paved yard or ground cover plants instead of a lawn, a fence or vine-covered trellises instead of edged hedges, brick or stone instead of wooden surfaces). Group bushes, trees and flower beds compactly to reduce maintenance work.
2. Consider your free time, decide on the desire to use a summer cottage for a garden, garden or flower garden, playgrounds or barbecue, which will require different surfaces, structures or plantings. Make a list of existing objects (buildings, fences, trees, shrubs).
3. Evaluate your landscape and landform, groundwater level, wind rose. Pay attention to problem areas where poor lighting conditions and soil characteristics, stagnation of water, steep slopes.
4. Choose only plants that fit the available space, given their size in adulthood. Plant flowering shrubs or perennials, rather than annual plants that last only one season. Choose plants that suit the soil of the site, the sun and the climate of the region.

It all starts with a plan, and a lot depends on the size of the plot:

1. Draw, without worrying about accuracy, a rough map on a piece of paper, indicating the courtyard, buildings, border lines, fences and other permanent objects. Mark north.
2. Measure the characteristics, position and size of buildings and the boundaries of the site and put the data on a rough map. Mark the placement of windows and doors of the house.
3. Transfer measurements to graph paper in accordance with the selected scale. Copy the card onto the tracing paper and make several copies where you can apply additional information, details and placement of design objects. Measure the available space so you can choose the right plants according to their size at full maturity.
4. After the plot is fully planned. and the arrangement of the basic design elements (flower beds, paths, additional areas, pool) was completed, you can go buy plants, preferably with a ready-made list.

Hedge in the territory

Vegetable hedges are a line of closely spaced shrubs or trees in order to create a barrier and delimit individual sites. Hedgerows, both cropped and uncut, are often used as decorations when planning gardens. Typical plants that are planted for hedge trimmings are privet, anise, hawthorn, yew, ligistrum, cypress, hemlock, thuja, barberry, holly, oleander, rhododendrons, boxwood. A fence of bougainvillea, gardenia or hibiscus in harmony with the tropical style of landscaping.

When creating "tapestry" hedges, you can use a mixture of gold, green and gray-blue coniferous dwarf trees or multi-colored hardwoods. When cutting and grooming, hedges are a simple form of topiary and can diversify the landscape with their shapes.. Fences below the knee are usually considered borders and serve for geometric delimitation of flower beds, zone territories and frame paths. If pruning is done at eye level, then a hedge can replace a garden fence, providing privacy, or hide the walls of buildings.

Did you know? A beech hedge, planted in 1745 on the Scottish estate of Meyklur, reaches 30 m in height and 530 m in length, and is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the tallest and longest on Earth.

The most important part of planting hedges with plants is to choose the right sizes of bushes and trees that are optimally suited to the allocated space. Large-sized plants will require frequent pruning, which causes plants to unnecessarily strain, growth retardation or other harm. Unedged hedges occupy more space in modern gardens, but compensate for this shortcoming by flowering, for example roses, hibiscus, hydrangeas.

Video: hedge

Flower beds and flower beds

Elements that are necessarily present in landscape design are beautifully planted flowers. They should not be simple beds, even if plants are selected for cultivation, taking into account the continuous flowering one after another. If you nicely arrange medium and large plants, you will get excellent bright accents in various tiers. Such a flower garden will be attractive all season.

As an example, scarlet geraniums planted in wide pots, lush blue hydrangea, sage and others. In the background, tall flowers should be placed - dolphinium, lupine, echinacea, rudbeckia, mallow. Then srednerosly - irises, lilies, peonies, phloxes, yarrows, cornflowers. For the lower tier in the stalls, flowerbeds plant pansies, periwinkle, cloves, cleanser, saxifrage, flax.

If when placing all flowering plants in the flowerbed there were empty places, then they will be closed by ground cover crops (veronica filamentous, thyme, periwinkle, sedum, and loosestrife). For several years they form a dense plant carpet, but it is necessary to observe the correct distances between adjacent flowers so that plants do not compete for space. The design of flower beds with herbs such as lemon balm, mint, oregano, rosemary, sage, lavender, fireweed will create a garden of aromas on the site.

In addition to beautiful flowering, they will fill the air with wonderful smells, and medicinal tea can be prepared from ripped plants. It should be noted that the raw materials are grown in environmentally friendly conditions. These flower beds are best done next to the cottage or opposite the terrace, where you can relax on a sun lounger or sofa and enjoy the colorful flowering and aroma. But not only blooming flower beds are attractive. Decorative and deciduous cultures - ferns, geyhera, hosts will also look no less beautiful.

Important! When planning flower beds, it is necessary to take into account the proximity of plants and their tolerance to each other, because unpretentious flowers are often aggressive - they are actively sown and spread by roots.

Even a novice amateur designer is able to choose deciduous plants by a combination of colors, shapes and textures, and thereby emphasize the decorativeness of each foliage. Attention should be paid to the bounding edge of the flower beds, because over time the surrounding vegetation can invade the flowerbed and spoil the conceived composition. As a limitation, border tapes are installed, the range of which is widely available for sale. It is desirable to arrange the edging in smooth lines, separating the flower garden from the lawn.

Video: what are the main mistakes made when designing flower beds

Climbing cultures

Vines, vines and other climbing plants are suitable for vertical gardening. They can hide unsightly farm buildings, fences, poles, walls of the house. Usually they are placed on trellises, steel or wooden gratings of the fence for the design of arches, pergolas, arbors and separation of functional zones.

Jasmine flowers, vines, colomict actinidia, clematis, ivy on such designs look beautiful, creating cozy and shady places for privacy. Decorative climbing plants are able to take the most unusual forms and give architectural structures and garden compositions a look of wildlife.

Alpine slides

Rock garden is an ideal solution for landscaping incline - stones prevent erosion, provide support for plants and create Japanese-style gardens. Large boulders usually surround the landscape, and stones with a flat top can be used as an additional place for a comfortable stay.

To make the alpine slides look natural and aesthetically pleasing, it is necessary to stop the selection of cultures that suit this style, which prefer mountains, rocks, sandy hills and slopes. Such plants quickly take root in rockeries, creating a single colorful composition.

Video: how to make an alpine hill

Green lawns

Beautiful green lawns create comfortable places to relax, and bright greenery soothes. Low grass plastically emphasizes relief and provides a backdrop for flower beds and other design elements. Before sowing the grass, it is necessary to prepare the soil, dig up the selected places and select all the rhizomes of weeds. In addition to sowing, you can form a lawn by installing a turf, which allows gardeners to get a quick green coating.

When planning a green lawn, it should be borne in mind that although the grass seems unpretentious, such a coating should be regularly taken care of - mow, renew, and water on hot days. At the same time, water consumption is very large to keep the grass green and prevent drying out. Perennial ground cover crops in terms of gardening (thyme, ayuga, carapace, mondo grass, creeping Jenny, Corsican mint, periwinkle) can be a good alternative to grassy lawn.Hardy undersized plants are able to cover free areas in the yard and suppress weed growth.. For example, sowing wild thyme will allow you to forget about the lawn mower. In regions with harsh winters, take into account what an alternative lawn will look like during dormancy - will the plants give any color or the stems will become bare and empty. Some lawn options are evergreen and retain color in the winter months; other perennials awaken with the onset of spring.

Division of a site into zones

When designing and improving the site, it is necessary to divide it into zones that perform various functions and meet the wishes of the owner - residential, utility, garden, vegetable garden, a place of entertainment and recreation. Depending on the wishes and family preferences, the size of the zones can be increased or decreased.

Important! If you intend to use the turf-free zone to walk barefoot, keep in mind that flowering ground cover plants will attract stinging insects, and it is advisable not to use these herbs around pools or children's playgrounds.

For example, if you grow vegetables or fruits, the garden zone will increase, additional farm buildings will be required for keeping animals, and if you plan playgrounds or a swimming pool, then a place of rest.

Approximate division should be designed in the following ratios:

• residential area - 10%;
• utility and household buildings - up to 10-15%;
• places of recreation and entertainment - up to 10-25%;
• plot of the garden - up to 65%.

On the sketch it is necessary to identify all the areas - the location of buildings, places under the lawn, flower beds, fruit trees and a vegetable garden. First, objects that do not change in the future (arbors, pool, ponds) are noted. Then you need to design the location of paths and walkways, outline the boundary areas for placing borders and hedges. Zoning should take into account the nature and topography of the site. It should include a lighting system, the location of lamps, lamps and the laying of communications and electrical cables.On the ground, when dividing the site into zones in accordance with the drawn plan, use pegs with a stretched rope to indicate the boundary dimensions. Areas of different functionality are separated from each other by partitions, trellises or conditional borders, using hedges or climbing plants. Flowering compositions, arches and paths are also able to smoothly decorate transitions in zones.

Video: The principle of zoning in the garden

Concretization of objects

The living area includes the cottage itself, summer kitchen, courtyard, terraces, driveway, front garden. On the site can not do without outbuildings. This can be a greenhouse, cellar, bathhouse, outdoor shower, barn, toilet. It is advisable to place these objects out of sight and away from recreation areas and central walkways. If this is difficult due to the small area, then the passageways to the outbuildings can be masked by climbing plants, tall bushes or hedges.

If the family has children, then for the kids should organize a sandbox, swing or slide. For teens - a platform for active games, where adults can engage. If there is not enough space, the zones of active games can be combined with a recreation area, if necessary, having plastic garden furniture or sun loungers there, providing a balance between ideal appearance, quality and functionality.In the absence of shade from vegetation in such areas, awnings or umbrellas are installed that will perfectly cope with this problem.

In the recreation area, you can design a swimming pool, stream or fountain, gazebos, stove, fireplace or a decorative hearth with burning wood. The presence of the oven will allow you to cook and organize parties in the open air. Garden area is used to place beds, shrubs, fruit trees. It can be combined with a relaxation area by hanging a hammock between the trunks, a swing for children, or laying tables in the summer in shady places.

Walkways and paving

Creating an original garden path is another easy way to bring beauty to your site. Today there are several types of their equipment - stone slabs, gravel, sea stones, paving slabs, wooden saw cuts. The path at the front of the cottage creates a certain direction, which causes visual interest and focuses on the route to the entrance to the house.The tracks also prevent trampled footpaths from appearing in the courtyard, prevent dirt from entering the room and keep the shoes clean in rainy weather. The path can be a direct road from the front door to the driveway or a winding path that curves around existing plants and other buildings.

Important! No matter what material you use, the finished track height should be slightly raised above the level of the surrounding yard so that water does not collect in the passage.

Straight passages are more traditional than those that have indefinite shapes, but the winding lines of the tracks bring creativity and are more tempting. But avoid broken lines in your layout, especially with straight corners and sharp corners. Draw a top view of the site and outline the proposed passages on the plan. This will make it possible to reconfigure the track in accordance with an acceptable design and attach it to the existing landscape.

Track materials vary in cost, durability and ease of installation:

1. Natural stones and slabs can be expensive, but easy to put in place.
2. Concrete - less expensive material for constant passes. The solution can be filled with strictly geometrically correct sections, in the form of natural stones, or cover the entire area near the house. Decorative floral borders planted along the aisles will soften the harsh lines of concrete. And planting a lawn or low-growing flowers in the intervals of elements of the road surface from individual stones will become an additional decoration.
3. Gravel - loose natural decorative material, which is great for decorating garden paths. The disadvantage is its relatively low weight, because of which it is easily washed out by the rain and crumbles with the wind, that is, it requires constant updating. To facilitate this procedure, use coarse stones. Instead of gravel, sand, broken brick or gravel can be used.
4. Hardwood path mulching Another inexpensive and easy way to arrange passages on the site, but the mulch must be regularly replaced or corrected. This material is not suitable for the main passage, but is useful for internal paths. When using mulch, you will need edging material (broken brick, gravel, crushed stone) to determine the edges of the passage.
5. Paving slabs can diversify color schemes paving of garden paths. You can make such a tile yourself or buy a finished one. Blocks are available in various sizes, shapes, colors, styles and materials (brick, stone and concrete) for a variety of landscape solutions and functions.

Under the pedestrian paths, it is beneficial to lay a landscape fabric that prevents weed growth. But some track styles, such as individual stone slabs and shapes, look good with grass growing between the elements. The path, which serves as the main passage to the house, requires more careful planning and structuring.

Choose materials that match or complement the look of your home. For example, brick paving is suitable if the house is made of the same material, and the rustic-style walkway more closely matches a country cottage. Use contrasting stones along the outer edge of the aisle to give interest and highlight the bends of the path.

Video: do-it-yourself path in the yard

Lighting

When designing, you should consider options for outdoor lighting of the territory, which is not only necessary on the paths in the dark, but also able to create fabulous pictures when highlighting vegetation in the garden to emphasize landscape design. They place lighting devices so that the entire territory of the site is clearly visible. You can consider that in good weather at night there will be enough natural moonlight to help in lighting.No less important is the safety of lighting, so the cable routing in the protective pipe should be designed before starting other work, so as not to violate already created objects. The system should have an automatic shutdown for ease of use and to prevent emergencies. Lighting elements must be designed for outdoor use, protected from dust, moisture and be energy-saving if daily switching is provided.

Landscaping, landscaping, floriculture and ornamental gardening - this is a real art that you can learn all your life. But the love of nature and the desire to create your own unique and original cozy corner will help you make your dream a reality, and useful tips will help you avoid design mistakes.