Spending time outside the city in summer cottages is a favorite pastime for most city dwellers. Many people are looking forward to the end of the work week so they can go to the country and spend time with their family (or alone) in the fresh air.
To make the vacation spot beautiful, some hire landscape design specialists. But many are engaged in landscaping their land on their own.
Style solutions for landscapes of summer cottages
Regular style
The style is a classic solution for landscape design. Its main features include pomp, regular geometry, conciseness, and slightly expressed symmetry.
In order to create a classic landscape style, you need to choose a logical center (for example, a house or a fountain) and build a composition around it.
Create a diagram of paths, flower beds and bushes (strict and symmetrical shapes) and start planting plants according to the plan. To soften the severity of the forms, you can create a fountain.
Landscape style
The style imitates the natural landscape, that is, the natural accent of origin is preserved.
All elements must be placed as naturally as possible around the site. Here it is customary to use irregular shapes for reservoirs, not to level the terrain, and to leave wild plants.
Country style
The landscape with rustic motifs has a slightly casual, simple and unpretentious character.
The rustic style is supported by floral arrangements and decorative elements such as wooden wheels, barrels, carts with flowers.
Japanese style
Style of meditation and harmony. Any element of Japanese-style decor should have its own meaning.
The bushes should have clear shapes; smooth boulders and stone bridges are used to decorate the site.
Oriental style
Suitable for small areas with good sunlight. In oriental style, colorful colors become the main elements.
It is better to decorate flower beds brightly and lay out paths with mosaics. Any bright or even mirrored accessories will be appropriate for such a landscape solution.
Exotic style
The style combines everything unusual and exotic. It is very popular among travelers and collectors. When decorating a site in an exotic style, unusual and rare plants are used, planted in several tiers.
It is better to create a compositional solution for such a site from natural materials - wood and stone. In this style, small stylized swamps or ponds are often created on sites.
Alpine style
A very popular style of landscape design today. Its basis is an emphasis on mountainous terrain and wild nature. Natural materials are used for decoration.
Decorative compositions (ponds, streams and alpine slides) are accompanied by natural stone, gravel, granite or slate.
It is better to place the accent center on a hill. When decorating a site in an alpine style, stone gardens, cascading flower beds and dry streams are often used.
Style is free
This style does not impose any mandatory features, but implies the free decision of the owners. Usually the free style is accompanied by an abundance of various flowers, vines and large trees.
This style can combine some features of other styles (for example, landscape and alpine).
Main stages in developing a general plan for a land plot
Having decided on the style of the future site design, you need to start planning. It is necessary to correctly distribute all decorative and landscaping elements over the area of the site.
When preparing the plan yourself, obtain in advance accurate information about the size of the land plot and its boundaries. Decide on the cardinal directions and monitor the illumination depending on the time of day.
Record unevenness and any terrain features. It is also better to obtain information about the condition of the soil and groundwater. And the main thing is not to forget about communications. All this information will help you plan the site without errors.
Naturalness
The main trend in landscape design 2021 is closeness to nature, and this trend will not go out of fashion for a long time.
People are tired of the fast pace of life and want to enjoy peace and quiet in the park and in their area. Designers suggest abandoning “putting nature into frames.” Perfectly trimmed trees and shrubs of complex ornate shapes, an abundance of wrought-iron fences, partitions, etc., and the displacement of greenery by paths, stones, gazebos and other elements are losing relevance. Modern trends in landscape design include the addition of meadow lawns and wildflowers, the rejection of strict geometric shapes when planning paths and flower beds, chaotic seating (of course, chaos must be created wisely), and the replacement of artificial fences and partitions with hedges.
As a general rule, the more wildlife you feel in your garden, the better.
Planning stages
Site planning
Boundaries, buildings, relief features and communication schemes are drawn on the plan.
Zoning of the site
Highlight on the plan recreation areas, areas for vegetable gardens, utility and residential areas. And draw a diagram of paths, flower beds, bushes, ponds, and decorative elements along these areas.
Lighting plan
Functional lighting is used to illuminate a house, parking lot and other buildings in the evening and at night. Decorative lighting helps illuminate the decorative elements of the site (in this case, decorative lamps are used).
When decorative lighting is used, it is customary to illuminate steps, paths, and underwater (floating) lighting for a pool or pond. A detailed lighting scheme must be developed on the plan, because some light sources may require underground wiring.
Landscaping
When a detailed site plan has been developed, it is necessary to carry out work on dismantling old buildings and removing debris (both construction and vegetation).
Next, work is carried out on the installation of electrical wiring. Only after this work can you begin to pave the paths according to plan.
Paving paths and areas on the site
It is better to make paths with curbs. They help prevent water from leaking into areas adjacent to paths or playgrounds. The terrain needs to be taken into account. The covering for the paths can be:
- herbal (from grass);
- soft (from sand or gravel);
- hard (made of concrete, brick, tile);
- combined (you can combine types of coatings).
Types of landscaping
Lawn
It is difficult to imagine any summer cottage without grass. Therefore, grassy lawns are the main background for landscape decor.
Types of lawns:
- rolled (sold in rolls already grown by the manufacturer);
- sowing (more accessible, but requiring care and arrangement).
Vertical landscaping
It is created from climbing plants (grapes, honeysuckle, hops, sweet peas, etc.). Hangs on special screens or supports.
You can also use trees and decorative lanterns for vertical gardening with vines. You can also create beautiful cascades of flowers in pots.
Bushes and trees
To choose trees and shrubs, you need to be guided by your taste and expectations. Whether these will be fruit trees or ornamental species depends only on the owners. When choosing, you need to take into account the features of the terrain, soil, and illumination of the area.
Also pay attention to the compatibility of the selected trees and bushes and crown diameters. Coniferous trees are very popular in landscape design due to their unpretentiousness.
Hedge made of living plants
To create a hedge on your site, you need to decide on its height. If you are planning a high hedge, then purchase coniferous trees (for example, thuja).
A medium-sized hedge can be created from cotoneaster or barberry. A low hedge will be made from low-growing shrubs (for example, spirea).
Flower beds
They can be regular (special modular, flower beds or flower borders for paths and platforms), or landscape (they are selected specifically to create a natural impression).
When choosing colors, pay attention not only to the stylistic decision, but also to lighting, soil characteristics and climate.
Rock garden
It may include not only an alpine slide, but also a stone garden, rock garden, and alpine walls.
For such landscaping, it is better to use bulbous, perennial plants (irises, aster, periwinkle, etc.). Coniferous landscaping looks great in an alpine solution. You need to buy stones that are flat and not bright.
Modern vegetable garden as an element of landscape design
It is difficult to imagine a garden plot without a vegetable garden, because flowers and shrubs play only a decorative role, and the garden area should also bring benefits. A small garden with vegetables and fruits will not spoil the appearance of the garden, but rather complement it. It is better to place the beds on the sunny side of the site, delimiting the space for a neat appearance and ease of planting. All beds should be the same size and rectangular in shape; you can also arrange high beds.
To decorate the beds, you can use brick and special modular sections, containers and huge pots. Garden paths are laid between the beds, which can be made from crushed stone or wood cuts. As for the choice of plant crops, it all depends on the soil, homeowner preferences and climatic conditions. For better yield, compatible crops need to be placed next to each other, among which the following duets can be distinguished:
- Beets and radishes.
- Cucumbers and cabbage.
- Carrots and tomatoes.
- Beans and potatoes.
- Onions and parsnips.
- Peas and celery.
Garden gazebos and other structures
Structures on a summer cottage can be used as elements of landscape design. Decorate them with vertical gardening (vines) or flower arrangements in floor or hanging baskets.
Low-growing conifers can be planted along the perimeter of buildings. Decorations in the form of garden accessories and compositions made of stones look great.
Decorative ponds
Water is used to give the area a special calming atmosphere. Fountains or small waterfalls, a gentle stream of water or even a fish pond transform the space and give it new contrasts. Plants are planted along the perimeter of reservoirs (decoration with irises, conifers, and lilies of the valley is very common).
If you decide to create an artificial pond on your site with your own hands, then decide on the shape and size, choose a location (do not place the pond close to large trees). The bottom can be made of concrete or you can buy a ready-made plastic mold.
You can also purchase a waterproof film and use it to create a base for a pond (the most popular way to build a pond today). Concrete base is the most expensive, but durable. Plastic impresses with its ease of installation.
Having decided on the foundation, draw the outline of the reservoir on the previously cleared area and begin digging a pit. Fill it with sand and compact it. Then lay geotextiles along the bottom and lay film on it.
Dig a trench around the perimeter of the reservoir and tuck the film into the edges. Now you can lay the gravel and add water.
The film in the trench must be fixed with soil after it has stretched from the water. The trench can be decorated with stone. And an artificial reservoir created with your own hands will become a real decoration of the summer cottage and the pride of the owners.
Functionality, low maintenance and ready-made gardens: landscape design trends 2021
Natalya Borisova.
Master in Landscape Architects. Head of the landscape workshop "NB-GARDEN". A successful practicing landscape architect, the author of many landscape projects that have received high awards at prestigious competitions and exhibitions. Member of the jury of Russian and international garden festivals, author of the book “NB. GARDEN. 17 projects of the NB-GARDEN landscape workshop"
But like any form of art, landscape design cannot fail to meet the trends of the times and the needs of people. All changes taking place in society, culture, economy, and ecology find a response in landscape architecture.
Today, overloaded gardens that require complex care are being replaced by simple, functional landscapes that correspond to the crazy pace of life and the course towards optimization.
In today's realities, the main feature of which was self-isolation caused by the pandemic, all city residents who had such an opportunity moved to suburban areas and dachas. In these conditions, a personal garden became the only connection with nature. And almost immediately a request arose for a garden that would bring joy every day, relieve stress, where one could spend time with family and children. A garden that will create a positive psychological mood and give emotions. It’s not for nothing that Marcus Tullius Cicero said: “If you have a garden and a library, then you have everything you need.”
Of course, the garden should be convenient, comfortable, and safe. And do not require complex, expensive, painstaking care. Most owners of country estates do not want to see people constantly swarming around their plots - fertilizing, trimming, weeding, spraying. And the cost of labor has increased significantly.
"Flower Jam"
1. One of the main trends in recent years is low-income,
just not to be confused with lack of grooming. Any garden requires care and attention, but it is quite possible to reduce labor costs for care. What elements in landscape design require the most care - lawns, alpine slides, traditional flower beds? Fortunately, the fashion for alpine slides has passed; the process of maintaining the slides in a decorative form turned out to be painfully labor-intensive. But you can’t do without a lawn. This is both an open space and a lawn for games, and it is pleasant to walk on the mown grass, and it is a filter for dust and smog.
In order for the lawn to be easy to mow (and during the season this must be done every week), it should be of a simple shape, without ornate edges, and there should be no plants on it. Well, maybe one or two trees as an exception. Try using a lawnmower to go around the plants “stuck” on the lawn, like a skier on a slalom track, and then collect the mown grass, level the edges of the lawn, comb out, fertilize, and remove fallen leaves.
2. What's under the trees? Bare earth? Of course not. It is best to plant ground cover, shade-tolerant perennials
. For trees, such proximity is only beneficial, unlike lawn covering, and there is no need to remove fallen leaves. Herbaceous plants will cover the ground, will restrain the growth of weeds, stop the development of soil erosion, and will prevent moisture from the soil from quickly evaporating, which means that you will have to water and weed much less. Groundcover perennials can be used for more than just between trees. They can create a lower ground cover layer in mixed plantings of perennials and shrubs.
3. Naturalistic mixed plantings are at the peak of popularity today
. These are complex multi-tiered plantings that create a fairly stable decorative cover. Drawing up such plantings requires knowledge and consideration of many factors: plant compatibility, nature and speed of growth, decorativeness, compliance with local conditions and the idea of the project.
Of course, it is better to entrust the creation of a garden to professionals - landscape architects or designers, who can take into account all the nuances of the site, the wishes of customers and competently design the garden so that it is decorative throughout the season and easy to maintain. But, unfortunately, not everyone has this opportunity. In this case, you can order a ready-made piece of the garden you like, designed by professionals for certain environmental conditions.
4. Today a new project has appeared on the market - ready-made miniature gardens and flower beds
from the best designers, created based on the winning gardens and medalists of the international Flower Jam competition. Ready-made solutions are a joint project of the competition participants and https://www.gardenwhite.ru/ This is an excellent compromise option for those who do not have the opportunity to pay for an individual landscape project, as well as for those who want to get results as quickly as possible. You can admire the finished mini-garden or flower garden within a few days after ordering.
5. Another trend of our time is functionality.
The garden is not only beautiful, but also edible. In almost every garden, fruit orchards and vegetable gardens are planted, and greenhouses are built. It’s so nice to eat a currant from a bush, show your child how a zucchini grows, pick fresh herbs, and be sure that they have not been processed in any way. The rejection of mineral nitrogen fertilizers and pesticides - chemical means of combating plant diseases and pests, weeds - is very welcome. A good alternative is organic fertilizers and biological methods of plant protection, creating conditions in the garden for the life of beneficial insects and birds. All these current trends are presented in the finished projects of the White Garden.
Ready-made mini-gardens and flower beds are functional, they are designed to require only minimal care, and most compositions are designed in a fashionable natural style. These are gardens that will bring joy, pleasure and health to their owners.
