The garden area is small how to accommodate everything. Landscaping of a small suburban area. How to design a summer cottage
Many people think that doing all the work is quite simple. However, this is not entirely true, because with a small area, all compositions in the garden should be made as compact as possible, correctly combining them with each other. Any mistake you make will be immediately noticeable. If you are going to start creating a design, you just need to follow a few important rules:
- Do not plant tall shrubs and trees. The size of the plot is not more than 10 acres? In this case, tall plants are contraindicated for him. And all because as they grow older they will fill the area, reducing the free space. To avoid this, be sure to plant low-growing types of trees. Also, do not forget about the compactness of planting - plant them in groups, and not one by one.
- A blind fence can also spoil the design. And all because it will create the impression of being in a closed box, which will not bring any comfort and coziness. It is best to use openwork metal gate and a fence, ennobling them with blooming creepers. This will greatly expand the area.
- It is best to remove bulky buildings from the site. Of course, it’s hard enough to do without them in the country, but a huge building and a small garden do not match. It is best to make buildings one-story, visually "airy" and compact. You can correctly disperse them around the garden, decorating neat buildings with shrubs and flowering plants.
Site design - options and their application
In order for your site to look great, you need to correctly decorate it with flowers, plants and shrubs. There are several types of design, b thanks to which landscape design small area will amaze you and your neighbors with its beauty and originality.
- Flower garden. If you are going to organize a small flower bed, place it either at the entrance or in front of the house. In all these cases, you can use old tires or flowerpots filled with soil. More than one can be placed in the center tall plant, around - a little less, then they will look harmonious.
- A secluded corner for relaxation can be created on the smallest site. For this you can use climbing roses or other types of climbing plants. We will need to fence off literally 5 meters of the area, which will not be difficult. You should choose a far and inconspicuous corner, after which we mark its borders, place columns around the perimeter. Next, we stretch the wire and plant roses, wild grapes, you can also install a bench for rest.
Visual expansion of the area - simply and quickly
The main task of any designer is to visually increase the area, for which there are rules and tricks. The main focus is on the use of semicircular smooth lines and shapes. Sharp corners, clear geometric shapes - all this will make the landscape design of a small area dull and inconspicuous. Thanks to curving garden paths and barely visible outlines of flower beds, you can significantly expand the space on the site. Do not forget about the columns, small terraces and flower arrangements.
You can completely copy the idea from magazines or the Internet, or, knowing the rules, develop your own design with a little imagination.
It is worth paying special attention to flowers and shrubs. There should not be many of them in a small area, while it is better to choose those that delight us with flowers. all year round. Lilac, jasmine and wild rose are unpretentious and elegant shrubs that do not take up much space. Honeysuckle, sweet peas and grapes can be used to create hedges. With the help of decorative and pine trees, you can also decorate your site. And you will be able to complete the composition with the help of a small reservoir.
landscape design garden or suburban area it is quite easy to do it on your own. Knowing certain rules, and with a little work, you can transform an ordinary site into an amazing vacation spot.
The beginning of the transformation process
About twenty years ago, the dacha was used as a garden for growing vegetables and berry bushes. They regularly went to the dacha to cultivate it, water it, and at the end of the season to harvest, which many people preserved there and left for storage.
There were very few ornamental plants and, as a rule, they were planted near the house or along the paths. Practically no one was fond of decorative landscape.
But still, there were some amateur flower growers who did not strive to harvest a large crop, but paid more attention to growing flowers and ornamental plants. They created small flower beds and flower beds, which caused delight among others.
Probably, it was these summer residents who first began to create small design ideas on the arrangement of the landscape of the suburban area and bring them to life.
Modern owners of summer cottages are trying to equip the recreation area at their summer cottage to the maximum, regardless of its size, using all kinds of plants, structural elements and even reservoirs to decorate the landscape.
Looking at a photo of the landscape design of a summer cottage, it seems that it is impossible to create it with your own hands. But, as they say, even the impossible is possible, so everything is in your hands.
How to design a suburban area?
The main thing: to have an accurate idea of the final result in the chosen place, sow lawn grass in this area, purchase and plant the necessary plants.
The area of the plot is also important, since on a large plot you can place a place for a barbecue, a decent gazebo, a pond with fountains and, of course, an alpine corner in the form of a slide.
On small plot will have to be content with only a few elements.
Tip: creating a lawn is a prerequisite for arranging a site; landscape design cannot exist without it!
Arrangement of the landscape with conifers
Coniferous trees are indispensable for landscape decoration. It can be thuja, yew tree, juniper, cypress suitable for warm regions. They are short, don't form much shade, and can take any shape with scissors and your hands.
Perfect as a hedge and decoration of an alpine slide. Thuja and juniper can be planted along the central path.
Coniferous trees are usually planted in autumn or early spring in favorable soil of peat, turf and sand. Between seedlings, the distance should be 150 cm or more. They should be well watered, and then fertilized with minerals. For wintering, all trees under 5 years old should be covered.
Landscaping from improvised materials
To equip the landscape with all sorts of old materials, literally everything will fit: old furniture, ceramics, hand-made figurines, etc. Use your imagination, the Internet or the recommendations of professionals for this.
Flower garden decoration
Modern designers have tried here too, coming up with some options for decorating flower beds:
Rabatka. This is a strip of flowers on the lawn in the form of a border. This lawn design can be seen on lawns in parks. For rabatka, several colors of flowers are usually used, different in height, visually resembling a staircase.
Note!
Border. In this variant, flowers are planted along the path above the border using different kinds flowers, but creeping varieties that grow very close to each other look ideal.
Mixborder. This is the name of a flower bed that combines groups of different colors on its surface. The idea of combination is to combine not only different colors, but also different periods of flowering.
Mixborder should be constantly blooming! To achieve this, you will have to work hard:
- plant flowers according to the order of their flowering, taking into account seasonality,
- divide the surface of the flower bed into 3 parts: plants of 1 part should bloom in spring, 2 parts in summer, 3 parts in almost autumn.
Lawn on your own
Lawn is key actor in the ideas of landscape design of a summer cottage. Currently, there are several varieties of lawns, but for beginners, a universal look is suitable.
Uncontaminated land in your area, defined as a lawn, must be dug up, leveled, lightly tamped and sown with seeds, and covered with dry soil on top to protect the seeds from birds.
But for many, the desire to arrange a recreation area arises in areas with perennial buildings, so to speak, in familiar places where groups of friends or relatives usually gather.
Note!
The land in such places, as a rule, is heavily trampled down with patches of grass. This is a rather difficult case for beginners to start landscaping.
First you need to get rid of weeds with the help of special chemicals following all recommendations for their use. But you can also uproot stumps with roots and get rid of weeds on your own, however, you will have to repeat this procedure more than once.
When the land is finally cleared, it is necessary to fertilize it with mineral additives so that the young grass grows in full force.
For sowing, we choose a universal lawn mix, since this mixture does not require special care, shade and drought tolerant, resistant to low temperatures.
But be patient, the perfect lawn will not work from the first season, you will need to wait and work hard, clearing it of weeds and regularly sowing the seeds so that there are no bald spots.
Note!
But on the other hand, after going through all the lawsuits, you will really enjoy the result, walking barefoot on your own created lawn.
Content Features:
- mow grass in dry weather conditions;
- do not allow strong growth of grass;
- during the dry period, water abundantly, but without fanaticism.
Design of the entire suburban area
Do-it-yourself landscaping on the site can be anything you want. You can equip a small pond with decorative elements, place a light gazebo and a barbecue area near it.
The ground surface must be sown lawn grass. The borders of the paths can be decorated with flowers, a mixborder and coniferous trees can be arranged nearby, but not near barbecues.
If you wish, you can decorate the fence with climbing plants.
Landscape design of a mini-lounge
Even a small area can be transformed by arranging its landscape. But in no case do not put up a high fence, do not plant pine trees, and do not overdo it in decor elements.
The fence will create the feeling of a cage, to avoid this, decorate it with climbing plants. A special flavor will be given to the summer cottage of a small area of \u200b\u200bthe lawn with undersized shrubs.
Landscaping of a large suburban area
In this case, you can show the whole flight of fantasy: the construction of a bathhouse, parking, swimming pool, fountain and other structures. In addition to organizing a fruit and berry garden and a vegetable garden, you can make greenhouses.
The main thing in design is to correctly prioritize and use all zones correctly.
There are no restrictions in decorating the site: an alpine slide, lawns, mixborders, coniferous trees, etc. Everything can be placed. But everything is good in moderation! Dare and be happy!
Do-it-yourself design photo of a summer cottage
Small suburban areas have a common disadvantage, directly related to their modest size. As a rule, the space looks closed and cramped due to the high blank fence and neighboring buildings located nearby. In most cases, the problem is solvable; There are many ways to get rid of the feeling of being in a box. Landscape design of a small area will help visually expand the local area, make it cozy and stylish.
The charm of a small area Source: thewallpaper.com
advance planning
The option when landscape design will be carried out on an undeveloped site is considered optimal, since there is no need to rebuild or relocate existing facilities. Initially, the owners will have to balance dreams with reality and determine the buildings that they really need. The set of necessary facilities may vary from family to family; in most cases, the following elements are included (in various combinations):
Residential building, garage or a parking space.
Outbuildings(barn, workshop).
Leisure buildings(bath, gazebo).
Technical facilities(well, septic).
The landscape design of a small area is determined by the principle of zoning the territory, which allows you to correctly manage the available square meters.
There are many graphic programs that allow you to correctly plan the site. source seattlehelpers.org
Even modest in area suburban area can be turned into a comfortable and, importantly, functional place. During preliminary planning, the following design principles are taken into account:
On the buildings(from a residential building to a barn) about 10% of the total area of the site is allocated.
On garden(including a greenhouse or greenhouse) accounts for the maximum area, up to 75%.
Rest zone, where the gazebo, flower garden and barbecue area fall, will take about 15%.
The size of the zones can vary depending on the preferences of the owners. Those who are not fond of growing organic vegetables, but love to relax with family and friends, can equip a spacious recreation area with all amenities. Someone who appreciates aesthetics garden decor, will plant most of the area ornamental plants, install a stylish gazebo and fountain.
Small plot - great opportunities Source yandex.ru
Secrets of zoning a small area
At the zoning stage, not only the sizes of the zones are determined, but also their relative location. Around the gazebo, they usually seek to arrange a recreation area, and children will need a place to play. At the same time, everyone understands that it is impossible to arrange a place for children's games next to a barbecue area and build a greenhouse under a dense canopy of trees. Landscape designers recommend simple, space-optimizing techniques that include the following concepts:
Location of buildings. So that the buildings do not look massive, they are distributed throughout the site, alternating with green spaces and masking behind them. Farm buildings are trying to be located in the depths of the territory.
Residential building location. It is advantageous to place it at the front fence, facing the street. It is also a wise decision to attach a garage to housing, placing it on the same foundation. This will make construction more economical, and the driveway that absorbs valuable land will not be needed. An additional plus is that you can get into the garage directly from home, which is especially valuable in rainy or frosty weather.
Attached garage - an important condition for a modest site Source stroitelyu.ru
Determination of geological parameters. From what type of soil is available on the site and how deep ground water, depends on the choice of plants and their place of planting (especially for fruit trees and exotic ornamental plants).
Style selection adjoining territory . Landscape design of a small suburban area is often performed in one of the natural (landscape) styles, since space is required for a regular (symmetrical, geometric) style. Great for English, woodland or country style. Exotic lovers can try the Japanese or Alpine style.
Plant selection. When choosing trees for planting, take into account the size of their crown in adult form. Usually, tall trees are discarded in a small area; otherwise, the owners will have to annually painstaking work on the formation of the crown.
Country style in the design of a small area Source pinterest.com
Zone placement. For a recreation area with a gazebo and barbecue, they choose a secluded, quiet place in the back of the site, away from road noise and prying eyes. On the contrary, they try to place a playground near the house, in the shade and in the visibility zone from the windows.
On our website you can find contacts construction companies that offer landscaping services. You can directly communicate with representatives by visiting the exhibition of houses "Low-Rise Country".
Arrangement nuances: how to visually expand the space
In addition to a residential building and auxiliary buildings, there are other objects that appear during the arrangement of the site and then exist for many years. Before putting up a fence, planting trees and laying garden paths, it is worth considering every little thing; reworking an unsuccessfully laid track is a troublesome and costly business. After dividing the site into zones, you can proceed to their design. The main way to change the perception of space is to divert attention from all sorts of boundaries and barriers.
Video description
About landscape tricks in a small area in the following video:
Fence
The fence directly shows the boundaries of the site; the higher the fence, the more attention it draws, taking up space in our perception and crowding out other details, making them appear smaller. A look that constantly rests on a high blank fence causes a feeling of constriction and discomfort. There are two ways to "push" the boundaries of the site:
Disguise. The fence is decorated with weaving plants, which creates the effect of continuing the garden. Ivy, grapes, lemongrass, roses will do.
Replacement. The solid fence is replaced by a lighter, airy structure. It can be a picket fence, a chain-link mesh, a wooden or metal fence-lattice. Trees and shrubs can be planted along the new fence, which, after regular shearing, can completely close the area from prying eyes. Thuja, elm, linden, lilac, viburnum are suitable for the role of a hedge.
Openwork light fence makes the space cozy Source debugthemyths.com
Organization of the species part of the garden
The front part of the site (in the courtyard in front of the house) should be freed from accidental plantings. A neat lawn with beautiful plantings and accessories along the periphery will create the impression of spaciousness, and it will become easier to move around such an area.
Vertical gardening and plant accents
If you can see the entire area, you can estimate its size. Therefore, distortion becomes an important technique of landscape design. It is necessary not only to mask the borders and corners, but also to build barriers to the view. Vertical decorative elements serve best solution because they create perspective. Such simple structures, like trellises, screens, hedges and arches, are widely used in the arrangement of modest areas.
The most spectacular design is the arch. It is not only a support for climbing plants, but also perfectly separates the zones of the site. Plants that draw attention with a bright color or unusual shape also help to enlarge the space. These can be small bushes or flowers in garden vases, planted within the same zone at its borders.
Arch - a classic way of decorating Source www.yardshare.com
Paths and decorative accents
Beautiful landscape designs of small areas cannot do without paths that are designed in a certain way. In a small area, clear geometric outlines and straight lines are abandoned, and the paths are no exception. Straight lines visually reduce distances, winding lines make you follow yourself, distracting from the close borders of the garden. Therefore, the paths are planned to be winding, and the space between them is filled with plants. This approach serves in an efficient way creating the illusion of scale. Properly designed beautiful paths around the house and landscape design of the site no longer seem so cramped.
All paths need paving; Design experts offer many options, including the following common materials:
A natural stone. A durable material that will harmoniously fit into any design, from English to Oriental, and give it a touch of respectability. Sandstone, dolomite, limestone, tuff, pebbles and shale are used for paving. An expensive option is granite, marble, basalt, porphyry.
Video description
About the design rules for a small backyard in the following video:
Wood. There are paths made of boards, garden parquet (thermal wood) or saw cuts. Cleverly placed cuts look relevant in a country-style garden.
Construction Materials . These include paving slabs, processed stone, asphalt, paving stones, clinker bricks and concrete. Gravel or tennessite (material for tennis courts) is often used.
A useful landscape design technique that allows you to divert attention from the size of the site is the placement of decorative details along the paths. They can serve as figurines of animals and gnomes, vases with flowers, small fountains, stone Japanese lanterns.
Winding paths can be the salvation of a small area source seattlehelpers.org
Tiered garden
A complex landscape for a small area is not a punishment, but a gift, because it allows you to create multi-level sites and add volume. Terrain irregularities can be used in different ways:
If the site is on a slope, arrange terraces, the passionate love of every landscape designer.
If the plot is flat, a small zone on another level can be created in a different way. Among the options are built-in flower beds, alpine slides, small terraces raised above the ground (or vice versa, deepened into it). The effect is emphasized by flowers planted according to the cascade principle.
Video description
How to fit everything you need in a small garden in the following video:
Proper lighting
An effective technique for long summer evenings, which will emphasize the successful landscape design in a small area, is the thoughtful placement of garden lights. They will transform a small area and visually push its boundaries. Arranging the backlight in the garden, use the following principles:
Fixtures place near paths and decorative details away from the site boundaries.
use small power lamps and directional lighting. Weak or dotted illumination well indicates the contours of the tracks.
For gazebos you can pick up bright lighting, then outside the darkness will become impenetrable and hide the true size of the territory.
Using lighting in the design of the track Source pinterest.com
Landscaping of a summer cottage of a small size
Landscape design in a small area includes the selection of suitable plants and their correct location. Preference is given to trees and shrubs of dwarf and low species. If the owners want to see less compact varieties on the site, they must be prepared to take care of them in a timely manner (so that the crown of such trees does not absorb the living space of other plants, it is periodically cut off). When landscaping a small area, the following techniques are used:
Vertical gardening. It not only decorates and expands the space, but also saves space very effectively.
Accounting plant requirements for light. An important parameter on which the well-being of green spaces depends. Low-growing plants are planted in the southern part, the highest (as a rule, these are fruit trees) - in the northern part.
Entry design. Landscape design experts recommend setting up a small lawn or two flower beds at the entrance; the only condition is that they must not be symmetrical.
Competent landscaping of the recreation area Source mart-sad.ru
Flower beds on the site. There cannot be many of them due to the limited territory. Flowers can be planted near the gazebo and along the paths. A flower bed next to the house can be planted medicinal plants and spicy herbs, which will be not only beautiful, but also useful.
accents. original decoration there will be a flower bed made of improvised materials. A basket, a cart, a log, a chest, an old shoe or a bicycle can be used.
Garden organization. A garden is more of a habit than an urgent need. More and more owners are abandoning the beds in favor of expanding the recreation area. Nevertheless, even on a plot of 2-3 acres, you can allocate a little space to have fresh herbs and the most necessary vegetables on the table.
A vertical flower bed attracts attention and saves space Source homegar.ru
Additional details in a small area
Many owners find it necessary to decorate the site additional elements, which include:
Water. In a small area, it is more often powerful to meet a pond, fountain or waterfall than a stream. Modest in size, but beautifully designed, the pond will make the landscape more natural and sure to attract attention. A landscape waterfall will require more effort to organize; it can be combined with an alpine slide. The fountain has long been considered an unaffordable luxury; manufacturers offer exquisite options of various sizes, made of different materials.
Playground. If there are children in the family, it is important to allocate a cozy and safe place for them to play. Many believe that children can spend time in the gazebo during the day, but this is not always possible. Much the best option there will be a playground near the house, with swings and a sandbox. You can install a ready-made gaming complex. Such structures are well thought out, safe and compact in placement.
A modest pond will decorate any site Source pinterest.com
Conclusion
It is customary to call small plots with an area of 2 to 6 acres. Sometimes a much larger plot also looks small if the house built on it is disproportionately large and occupies a significant part of the area. Design secrets are not able to increase the area, but they will help to change the site beyond recognition, making you forget about the true size.Having at your disposal even a small space, you can equip a stylish green corner. Planning a garden in miniature is sometimes more interesting than working with a large area, which often stretches over months and sometimes years. The easiest way is to create a design of a small garden with your own hands from the photos of professionals - they inspire creative exploits, and a competent approach to organizing space helps to extract maximum benefit from the available meters of the site.
Choosing a style for arranging a small garden
When working with a limited space, it is important not to overload it with details - this will make it seem even more cramped. It is also necessary to observe the proportionality of objects - too large pots, decorative elements and plants attract attention only to themselves, interfering with the holistic perception of the garden.
Little garden in oriental style
Secrets of the oriental mini-garden
A wonderful example of small landscape design is the Japanese garden. With often a tiny space, the inhabitants of densely populated Japan still manage to make real works of garden art, using every inch of it. The basic principle of the arrangement of such a garden is the placement of the big in the small.
Miniature trees that imitate centuries-old giants, mini-waterfalls, a rock garden, symbolizing the vast sea with rocks - all this makes you feel like in wide world located on a small island. A useful element that can be borrowed from an oriental-style garden is hedges - with their help, even a small landscape can be diversified for the viewer, hiding behind every turn the new kind.
If you are close to the aesthetics of the East, a small corner of joy on your site can be decorated with a stone Japanese lantern or a figurine of a traditional temple tower with pagodas. As for vegetation, it is better to give preference to low-growing evergreen shrubs, mosses and ground cover plants.
Classic style in a small space
Regular style in a small landscape
Do not think that the regular palace style is suitable only for vast territories. For a small garden, neatly trimmed shrubs, lawns and geometric flower beds, slender trees in tubs, and narrow garden paths are also suitable. Arches entwined with climbing plants, for example, a rose, look very appropriate in it.
To make a small garden cozier, you can use a sophisticated bench or a pair of garden chairs. You should not refuse a small reservoir in a stone frame - this element of landscape design will serve as a decoration for a site of any size.
The main rule for designing a miniature garden is conciseness, so it is better to avoid:
- a large number decorative elements(fountains, sculptures);
- excessive riot of colors - one or two bright colors more than enough;
- voluminous shrubs;
- plants with large flowers.
Small garden pond
Small landscape garden
You can feel yourself in the bosom of nature and being in a tiny garden. A small pond in the center of the composition will help create an atmosphere of a wild landscape - a pond made of a plastic mold or film waterproofing. A small stepped waterfall will visually increase the area of the water space.
For the design of the near-water area, it is better not to use large stones - with them the pond will seem even smaller than it actually is. The “carpet” of various ground cover and flowering moisture-loving plants, located immediately behind the rocky border of the reservoir, looks very expressive.
In search of compact solutions for garden design
Will help to increase the space useful ideas for a small garden, design techniques and fixtures, and, which is especially nice, for many of them old and unnecessary things will come in handy.
Vertical rockery
Vertical and multi-tiered compositions
Climbing plants and vertical stone compositions look very advantageous in a small garden - rock gardens, rockeries in the form of a steep hill or towering terraces. In a small area, it is better to place them in the farthest corner so that you can evaluate the overall picture of the view from afar.
Garden attached to the wall
Before creating a design for a small garden with your own hands, you need to think about how to get additional area for landscaping in a particular area. This can be done using multi-tiered or wall-mounted structures. These are:
- flower beds from car tires;
- raised snail beds;
- multi-storey or stepped flower beds;
- flower beds from old furniture With drawers;
- bookcases with shelves for beds;
- wall containers with plants;
- textile or plastic "pockets" for growing.
Tires for growing flowers
Flowerbed-snail
Weeds under the ceiling
You can increase the space of a miniature garden with the help of suspended structures. It can be both pots and metal "baskets" in the form of a sphere or a hemisphere with holes that are covered from the inside with a special coating. Such a garden is often located under the ceiling of the veranda or on specially made columns with curls. Begonia, fuchsia, petunia, purslane, allisum look very attractive in hanging flower beds, pansies.
Hanging baskets for a portable vegetable garden
Hanging containers are suitable not only for flowering plants - they can also be used to beat the design of a small vegetable garden. Arugula, various varieties lettuce, spinach, sorrel, parsley and even strawberries can be safely grown on hanging beds, placing them on several floors to save space.
Hanging flower beds
Convenient mobile garden
The term "mobile garden" often refers to vegetation planted in pots. This perfect solution for a small area - at any time the plants can be moved or removed into the room. Such a garden looks good on multi-storey structures, stairs, verandas, near paths, arbors or the entrance to the house.
When choosing containers for the inhabitants of a mobile garden, it is necessary to take into account the size of an adult plant and its root system. The range of plants for such cultivation is quite large - from popular patio roses to undersized coniferous shrubs and even vegetables: tomatoes, peppers and others.
Mobile garden in pots
Landscaping with a small area sometimes requires a more serious approach than working with a vast area. Not all of your preferences may be compatible with limited space. Therefore, in order to design the design of a small garden, it is worth taking the help of a professional landscape designer - this way you can use the territory of the site to the maximum benefit, and your wishes will be skillfully adapted to its small size.
Landscaping of a personal plot or a private courtyard is not just the ability to transform the area around the house, it is a real art of creating beauty and harmony of your “I” with the surrounding nature. Only at first glance, everything is simple - I planted several fruitful trees on the site, a couple of bushes near the entrance, broke a flower bed and covered the rest of the space with a lawn. But what to do if such a scenario does not meet your requirements of the aesthetic side of the issue. If in your dreams you saw a well-groomed summer cottage or a small backyard where you can relax in a hammock on fresh air or have lunch with the whole family in a cozy gazebo, or maybe read a book near a small pond?
How to equip the area around country house or a private household, so that the owners would be pleased to look at the fruits of their labors, and there would be something to surprise guests with? We hope that our selection interesting projects landscape design, created for sites of various sizes and shapes, territorial location and practical purpose, will help you be inspired to "garden" exploits on your own site.
We plan the design of the territory near the house
After a dusty and noisy city, it is so nice to plunge into an oasis of greenery and freshness, which is located in your own backyard of a private household, or go to the country house on the weekend and plunge into the world of incredible closeness to nature. But in any case, it will be necessary to work hard to create not only a green, flowering space, but also a practical place for relaxing with the whole family and in the company of friends and acquaintances.
Before you start planning landscape design on your territory, you will have to work on paper or in a special planner program:
- designate exact dimensions and the shape of the site;
- mark existing buildings on the plan (house, garage, etc.);
- mark the buildings that you would like to build (put absolutely everything on the plan - from a doghouse to a gazebo), even if it seems that the building is small and there is always a place for it, it is better to take everything into account at once, there is always not enough space, no matter how much it is was;
- divide the entire plot into segments - squares, in each of which one or another design element will be located (this way it will be easier for you to evenly distribute all the landscape elements, especially if the plot is large);
- check all perennials that are already growing on the site and plan to plant new ones (remember the distance between trees and relative to buildings and structures);
- mark on the plan the location of engineering systems (irrigation and water supply of ponds, fountains and cascades, lighting), perhaps at this stage you will need expert advice.
Next, it is necessary to carry out "reconnaissance on the ground" - to find out the features of the soil and the flow of groundwater (if any), identify places of stagnant water and carry out drainage if necessary. You also need to decide on the level of hilliness of the site and find out if you want to level the soil or leave the pristine landscape of the private area.
Choosing a color palette for landscape design
A skillfully chosen color palette of landscape design can transform and make unique even the simplest and low-budget project. But for such a harmonious appearance of your summer cottage or garden plot, you need to take into account color scheme elements that can be conditionally divided into the following groups:
Elements of the natural landscape. These are shrubs, trees and other plants, mounds and stones, ponds and paths that were created by nature itself. Whatever you decide to leave out to make your landscaping more natural will influence the color palette of the area. It is important to consider that natural shades will change depending on the time of year and the climate of your location.
Architecture items. This is, first of all, the main building of the house and extensions to it - a garage, a veranda, a terrace, a bathhouse, a greenhouse. As well as bridges, gazebos, sheds and other buildings. The facade of the building and the elements of all buildings should be in a harmonious color combination. This does not mean that it is necessary to paint all buildings in one color. Perhaps some building on your site is destined to become an accent spot, stand out from the general background and take on the role of a focal point. But most often it is the house that becomes the focal point, around which the whole concept of decorating the adjacent territory is built.
Objects of social and decorative landscape. This group includes all plantings, reservoirs, rock gardens and flower beds that were created by the hands of the designer or the owners of the site. In this case, the possibilities of manipulation with shades and halftones are endless, with the help of flowering plants you can create a unique colorful "carpet" of plantations that will change the entire warm season (usually from April to October in our country). In the end, you can use entire avenues of evergreens to ensure a consistent dominance of color on your personal plot or backyard area.
Other design elements of the site. These include garden paths and platforms, decks and platforms, sculptures, hammocks and swings. All these elements leave their mark on the overall range of the territory near your summer cottage or private home. In matters of creating a certain mood in landscape design, it is the color palette that plays a key role. By using color combinations you can mask the shortcomings of the territory, visually enlarge the space or give it a certain shape, without resorting to drastic actions.
Recreation area with barbecue or hearth
Most of our compatriots who have become happy owners of a summer cottage or who have decided to improve the courtyard of a private household decide, first of all, to organize a place for barbecue and barbecue. For some, it is enough to build a brazier and put a couple of garden chairs, for others, a capital canopy with a dining group near the outdoor stove and a soft area made up of garden chairs and sofas are needed. How many owners of private houses - so many opinions. But we are sure that from the proposed options for organizing a place for relaxing cooking on fire, you can find an inspiring project.
Barbecue equipment can be installed under a canopy on a wooden deck. But for a barbecue or a Russian stove, a separate area is needed, preferably on a site paved with stone or clinker bricks. For the convenience of the process of cooking on fire next to the barbecue, it is better to place a couple of chairs and a small table. The choice of material for garden furniture is now great - plastic, wood, rattan, metal and their combinations. Plastic furniture is the cheapest. But also practical. Wicker products made of natural rattan look very respectable and even festive, but their price is high. Based on your financial capabilities and the planned frequency of use of furniture for outdoor gatherings.
Even in a small yard, you can compactly, but at the same time safely place the necessary attributes for cooking on fire. It would be most logical to place a small dining group here so that you can dine in the fresh air, tasting freshly prepared dishes.
If we talk about an open hearth, then, as a rule, it is performed in a round shape. Again, the circle becomes the logical design of the recreation area near it. The harmonious and compact form of the recreation area not only fulfills the functionality assigned to it, but is also able to decorate any backyard or private courtyard.
The capital structure of the garden kitchen under a canopy and the outdoor fireplace adjoining it requires a lot of effort and financial investments. But the cost of such a project is quickly amortized, given how often everyone wants to cook and eat outdoors.
Outdoor Dining
A wonderful opportunity to dine with the whole family on the street or arrange an open-air dinner party should not be missed. Moreover, this does not require so much effort. Of course, it will be necessary to purchase a dining group for the street (choose light but durable options for tables, chairs or armchairs, it is better to take folding or easily assembled one into one if placed vertically). It will be easier for you if your dining area is mobile enough, because for the winter or just in bad weather you will need to remove the furniture under a canopy or bring it into the room.
It is better to install a table and chairs for outdoor dining on a stone-paved or any other tile area. This way you can provide sufficient stability for the furniture and at the same time prevent the metal from garden furniture, for example, deepened into the ground.
If you choose a table with a hole for installing an umbrella (there are enough such models among garden furniture), you can provide your family with the opportunity to eat outside on a hot sunny day.
Also, an umbrella for protection from the sun can be installed, if necessary, next to the outdoor dining table. But remember about the weighting agents for the stability of the structure during the wind.
The canopy looks incredibly beautiful, the frame of which is made of wood, and climbing plants play the role of an awning. Any food at such a table will be tastier from the romantic and pleasant atmosphere created by man together with nature.
Garden paths and lawns
It is the combination of garden paths with a lawn (if there is one on your site) that forms the pattern of landscape design. Paths not only provide free movement around the territory of your yard or garden plot, but also form certain segments of the landscape.
Someone likes a clear geometry in the location of the paths, for others it is more pleasant to look and walk along the winding stone paths that go around certain objects of landscape design of the site. Paths can be paved with different material- paving stones, stone, clinker or ordinary brick, fine gravel and decorative gravel. Tracks made of combined material look beautiful and practical. For example, you have large stone slabs along the way garden path, and fill the space around it with fine gravel.
Another way to make original, but at the same time incredibly functional paths is to fill the space around the concrete slabs with small pebbles. Against the backdrop of a green, perfectly trimmed lawn, such paths look amazing, create an orderly and harmonious environment in the local area.
Currently, it is easy to purchase a ready-made lawn for your site, it will be brought in rolls and spread on your territory with an individual fit to the curves of its shape. But you can act "the old fashioned way" and sow a cleared area for a lawn, wait for seedlings and cut it, depending on your preferences. But in this case, it is important to say right away that no one can achieve the ideal seedling density the first time, you have to sow the grass in bald spots and track the new growth. In any case, you will need timely watering of the lawn (think over the irrigation system in advance) and regular mowing (lawn mowers can also be rented, but purchasing a garden unit is more rational and profitable).
When no borders are visible between the lawn and extensive plantings in the flower beds, an incredibly harmonious and natural atmosphere is created in the yard or on the site. In a festive green attire, your yard will delight the eye, and give the owners the opportunity to take a break from the concrete and glass structures of the big city.
Artificial reservoirs as an element of landscape design
To make the atmosphere of your summer cottage or a small courtyard more harmonious, use water in any of its manifestations. Pools, small ponds or just bowls of water that flow continuously are ideal for creating a calming and relaxing environment.
Not a single oriental landscape design is complete without the use of a natural or artificial reservoir, and Asians know a lot about creating a peaceful and balanced atmosphere.
What could be better than having the opportunity to plunge into the cool waters of the pool located on the adjacent territory on a hot summer day? Of course, to organize a pool on your site, it will be necessary to involve specialists and even heavy construction equipment. But all costs (time, effort, energy and financial resources) will pay off with the incredible opportunity to own your own mini-reservoir in your garden or in the courtyard of a private house.
A place to relax on a site with a soft zone
Having the opportunity to relax in the bosom of nature, I would like to do it with maximum comfort - in the shade of trees or an awning, on soft sofas or armchairs. You can equip such a platform both on a wooden deck or platform, and on a platform paved with stone or concrete.
If we talk about upholstered furniture for outdoor use, then it is more practical to use rattan or any other wicker furniture with removable upholstered seats and backs. Usually, the textiles of the upholstery of such pillows are easy to clean with a damp sponge, or the covers are removable and washable in a washing machine.
How to furnish a small yard or a small backyard
If you are very limited in the area of \u200b\u200bthe site, then it will be necessary, first of all, to prioritize and decide what is most important for you - to be able to relax in the shade of trees, dine with the whole family in the open air, or equip a barbecue and barbecue area. Or maybe you need a place for a playground or the possibility of walking a pet?
No matter how you distribute the segments of outdoor recreation that are important for you, you cannot do without fencing your territory. To brighten up appearance boring fence, plant climbing plants or low trees near it, which will create a natural atmosphere. In such an environment, you can at least for a while forget about the noisy city outside your backyard.
And what if your backyard is just a piece of land that you have converted into wood flooring? Or you don’t even have a backyard, but there is free space on the roof. There is a way out of any situation. The following few images of design projects for arranging such mini-segments for outdoor recreation are proof of this.
