Small landscape garden. Landscape design of a small area: techniques for visual expansion of the territory. There are several factors that cannot be ignored
In our article, we will talk about creating a garden on a small plot, given that the house and the main outbuildings already exist, and you, the happy owners of a small number of acres, will have the task of figuring out where to be a garden and where a vegetable garden.
We are planning a site
Of course, this business can be trusted landscape designer, if funds allow and time is running out, but it is much more interesting to take your time to arrange the garden yourself. Suppose that for this it will be necessary to shovel a lot of books and magazines on the landscape, get acquainted with the peculiarities of plant life and experience failures like “didn’t take root”.
First of all, take a folding chair and walk around your yard, observe it from different angles and imagine what is where. At the same time, pay attention to the relief ( flat area, there are hills or lowlands, a plot on a slope, etc.), a change in illumination during the day, soil moisture and fertility, the prevailing wind direction.
Then try to transfer your ideas to paper, be sure to rely on the collected natural features your plot, the amount of time you can devote to garden care, the wishes of all family members and financial possibilities. Make a plan of the site at a scale of 1:50 or 1:100.
When working on a plan, remember that all areas of the site: residential, utility, garden, garden, places for recreation - and the objects on it should not look like plots from different stories. Compositional and stylistic integrity (although, of course, eclecticism will moderately emphasize the individuality of both the owners and the site) is one of the main conditions for the harmonious design of space.
Oh dear...
As soon as everything became clear with the areas of the site, the next question arises: how to connect them together so that a small area does not seem small, so that there are no boring straight lines from the entrance to the house, from the house to the garden and vegetable garden.
To cope with this task, several methods of arranging the road network on the site will help. Remember that the marking of the tracks starts from the main entrance to the house and then to the secondary objects of the site. Straight paths visually make the area smaller, while curved paths, on the contrary, increase the space.
Create a so-called walking path around the perimeter of the garden. Only it, of course, should have a smooth shape. Scatter in several places benches for rest with small flower arrangements or a compact reservoir with a driving vegetation.
According to the laws of optics
It is unlikely that a large garden can be created on a small plot, but ... it is possible if you look at the garden from the window of the house and resort to simple optical laws.
Law 1. So, for example, a garden can become part of a house and vice versa, if you combine them with a color scheme and similar finishing materials.
Law 2 . Great solution - glass doors in the house - sliding or hinged - as well as windows to the floor.
Law 3. Use relatively large elements in a small garden, such as solitary plantings, pergolas, a round bench, a swing, etc. Small parts in large numbers they are able to narrow an already limited space, and such a garden will not provide peace.
Law 4. Create an illusion window in a secluded corner of your garden, or draw a door that opens the entrance to the depths of the garden, or build a false wall of a summer house ...
If the site is very small, and you really want to diversify the plants, use their image on the walls and fence. So you kill two birds with one stone.
Or skillfully arrange compositions of cut plants, dried flowers, as well as fruits and berries in the garden. By periodically changing their location and content, you can always keep your garden smart and ready for any family holiday.
And finally, about the lawn. If possible and desired, of course, sow some space lawn grass. Options for replacing the lawn: 1) planting ground cover plants around the garden, 2) filling plantings with gravel, which does not require constant care and preserves the decorativeness of the garden.
Not enough space doesn't mean not enough ideas! We will show you how to turn it into a delightful place to relax and give it the appearance of a respectable garden.
The secret to successful design is not big garden lies in competent design: come up with interesting idea, around which you can build the entire space, making the most of the features. It is also important to keep all the elements in the same style and in a single color scheme- Only then general form area will be harmonious.
1. "Color move"
Plant in different parts of the plot plants of two or three soothing shades, in harmony with one another. The overlapping purple bushes, as in the photo, the first in the foreground, the second in the background, visually increase the space.The overlapping purple bushes, the first in the foreground and the second in the background, visually increase the space
2. Supports for plants
Proven Design - create perspective. It is optimal if the entire area is not visible at once. Make sure that the beauties open gradually, as you move deeper into the garden. To do this, use special partitions:,.Left: Green-covered plant supports such as pergolas create vertical structures and whimsical shadow play - the space becomes voluminous. Low hedge also divides the area into two parts.
On right: An optical illusion is created by a lattice for, designed as if it is not flat, but three-dimensional.
Left: Green-covered plant supports create vertical structures and whimsical shadow play. Right: An optical illusion will be created by a trellis for climbing plants, designed so that it is not flat, but three-dimensional
The dimensions of absolutely all design elements, such as a flower arch, must be proportional to the size of the garden. Otherwise, there will be a feeling of disharmony.
3. Winding paths are our allies
They help create the illusion of a large garden. After all, the path behind the turn is really intriguing: you walk along it and you don’t know where the boundaries of the garden are and what other beauties are hidden around the turn.
Left: The path around the corner is truly intriguing.Right: Several narrow paths lead to a secluded place to rest under the trees. A special charm of this corner of the garden is given by two boxwood bushes, marking the entrance to this area.
Publications will help you plan garden paths and choose materials for their arrangement:
4. All roads lead ... to the center of the garden
Moreover, the space between the trails is occupied by plants - only a corner for relaxation remains open. Thanks to such techniques, the illusion of the scale of the garden is preserved.
All roads lead... to the center of the garden. Moreover, the space between the trails is occupied by plants - only a corner for relaxation remains open. Thanks to such techniques, the illusion of the scale of the garden is preserved.
6. Mini-alley of birches with beautiful white trunks
It outlines the spatial perspective in the garden and gives depth to the space.
A mini-alley of birch trees with beautiful white trunks will outline a spatial perspective in the garden and add depth to the space.
7. Multi-level playgrounds
By creating multi-level platforms, you can achieve visual magnification garden space
8. Truth or deceit?
It seems that through this bizarre passage in the wall you can get into a corner surrounded by greenery. In fact, this is a very high quality decorative poster. Not a bad idea, is it?
Truth or deceit? It seems that through this bizarre passage in the wall you can get into a corner surrounded by greenery. In fact, this is a very high quality decorative poster.
9. Portable fountain
This one of different sizes brings variety to the garden and, thanks to its compact size, is suitable even for the most small plot.
A portable fountain of different sizes brings variety to the garden and, thanks to its compact size, is suitable even for the smallest area.
Choose finished models garden fountains you can on our market, where goods from different online stores are presented. .
13. Mirror effect
In a small area, you can even place a decorative one. It is clear that the reservoir will be small, but even this will contribute to the desired optical focus. The calm water surface, like a mirror, reflects on its surface the sky, clouds and everything that is around the pond. Thanks to this effect, the garden seems larger than it really is. Plays on hand and outstretched rectangular shape body of water: this configuration visually lengthens the area.
The calm water surface, like a mirror, reflects on its surface the sky, clouds and everything that is around the pond. Thanks to this effect, the garden seems larger than it really is. The elongated rectangular shape of the reservoir also plays into the hands: this configuration visually lengthens the area
Looks great in a small garden geometric shapes: square, rectangle and circle. The elements of such configurations bring order and clarity to the structure of everything. garden plot- whether
Editor Ideas 9780
Often owners of small summer cottages complain that they do not have enough space to effectively plan even the design of a small garden and create a fairy tale with flower beds and a seating area. Increase space for borders, rose garden, alpine slides possible if:
- reduce the area allocated for horticultural crops;
- effectively use every centimeter of space that is available.
Fantasy and tricks of visual deception will increase the space for the garden several times.
What you need to know about small garden design
If you study the literature on landscape design and show a little imagination, then the cottage will turn not only into a place where you can work, but also into cozy corner who will delight bright colors and exquisite forms.
Visually increase the space in several ways:
- A deaf fence creates a feeling of closeness, isolation of the territory and turns it into a kind of box or chest. Openwork fence or mesh will quickly correct the situation. A big plus of such a fence is that it is an excellent support for vines and climbing plants: clematis, wild grapes, climbing rose, morning glory, kobei;
- If the wall of the neighboring garage serves as a fence, then you can paint it with light colors, a landscape of the water surface, a fast river or mountain peaks. The main thing is that the drawing creates a 3D effect. Mirrors or disks from cars will help expand the space. With disks attached to the wall, you can revive shady areas and give them a lot of sun;
- garden paths are able to “enlarge” the garden by several meters in width and length. If you lay a snake-like path that will wind between the flower beds, then the time for a walk in the garden will increase several times. The path that disappears behind dense greenery gives the impression of infinity suburban area;
- The longer the walk lasts, the larger the garden seems. Inconspicuous, but interesting details always attract. A broken old jug, fitted to the antique, will not leave anyone indifferent. If you place it in the center of the flower bed and surround ground cover plants, then no one can just walk past. stones beautiful shape will create a special atmosphere in the garden. They can be used on alpine slides, in the design of rockeries, Japanese garden. beauty unusual stone can be enjoyed for quite some time;
- Fountains in the garden are very popular, but for a small area, an imitation of a mountain stream that flows into small pond. This design will not take up much space if you build it near the wall or in the corner of the yard;
- In gardening, it is better to use the techniques of vertical and arched gardening, when it comes to perennial shrubs and vines. This will allow more to land interesting plants and make it easier to take care of them. Topiaries look beautiful in small gardens, but they should not be abused;
- For small alpine slides and flower beds, the most the best way- ground cover and undersized plants. Delphiniums, gladioli, sunflowers can also be planted, but their place is only near the fence in the background or against the wall.
It is necessary to carefully choose plants for landscaping small areas and give preference to vertically growing flowering and decorative deciduous shrubs.
Orchard and flowerpots on a small plot
It must be remembered that the design of a small garden should include not only the layout of flower beds, lawns, flower beds and arches. We must not forget about fruit-bearing trees and shrubs.
The most common mistake beginner gardeners make is that they often give preference to dwarf apple and pear trees. But, in this case, trees-columns are better suited.
They do not take up much space, do not obscure their neighbors and grow in height, while correct formation. And most importantly, they are not inferior in quantity and quality of the crop to their undersized relatives, they tolerate winter and hot summer well.
Flowerpots play an important role in the design of a small garden plot. What is their feature?
- Plants in flowerpots can be interchanged periodically and add variety to the design of the yard;
- Hanging flowerpots with climbing plants They look very nice and don't take up much space. They can be attached to the bottom of the roof of a house or barn, hung on a tree, arch or fence. Capsho baskets filled with coconut fiber or decorative moss are the highlight of every yard. They look beautiful and elegant even without flowers;
- If there a large number of potted and tub plants, then they can be placed according to the principle of a cascade or vertical garden: hanging plants first, then large pots with tall plants, and so on in a falling straight line. You can finish the potted composition with ground cover phlox or dwarf marigolds.
In the design of small garden plots every detail matters. If you follow the rules, you can create a beautiful, cozy corner that will feed, give coolness and aesthetic pleasure.
My garden is seven years old. When I started planning it, I was in the grip of enthusiasm: I wanted to plant everything. After all, there are so many different fruit trees: It's hard to pick just one! But how to cram everything that the imagination draws into the limited space of the site?
A photo: Oksana Panfilova
Density limit
Now, after a lapse of time, I have to admit that, due to inexperience, I got excited with the planting density of fruit trees: I chose a 2 × 2 m scheme, with a shift of 1 m in the next row. Now I think it's too tight.
Chance intervened. A few years ago there was a winter invasion of mice, they severely gnawed the bases of young trees. Not everyone survived the damage. By a happy coincidence, the trees did not die in a row, but after one. And we planted currant bushes instead. This arrangement seemed to me more successful: on the one hand, for the crown of trees remains more space, on the other hand, the landings are quite dense. In this case, the chess order is formed by alternating bushes and trees.
Planting patterns in our amateur gardening are a sore subject. Small plots are not consistent with the understandable desire to have both in the garden. The arrangement of plants established by the author is quite reasonable from the point of view of the place for the development of the crown, however, in my opinion, berry bushes it is better to plant separately from fruit trees. For example, it is often necessary to chemically treat trees at a time when shrubs do not need spraying, and there are only a few days left before harvesting. And because of the wind, the probability of getting the drug on currants during processing is quite high.
“We can only prune the crown, not the roots. Therefore, the above-ground parts are much smaller than the root system, and it is easier for such a plant to feed itself,” says Oksana. But in fact, the aboveground and underground parts are closely interconnected and always strive to balance each other. By limiting the size of the crown, you automatically slow down the growth of the roots. Therefore, top dressing should correspond external dimensions plants.
Is there enough food for the garden? Since we have poor sandy soils, we are guided by the principle of "fractional diet", because otherwise everything is simply washed out by rains, not having time to reach the plants.
This approach to top dressing is very appropriate even on heavier soils, where the likelihood of leaching into deeper layers is much lower. It is especially good if top dressing is timed to coincide with periods of higher plant nutrient requirements and rain or watering.
Growth under control
When I was thinking about how to make the garden compact, the decision came along with the purchase of a pruner: I had to "manually" control the growth of trees! There was another consideration in favor of the "abuse" of plants: at that time, my children were small, and I really wanted them to be able to pick an apple, pear, plum, and cherry themselves when they wanted. I saw a lot of old gardens: in search of light, the branches rushed high up and the harvest turned into balancing studies. No matter how plentiful the harvest on such trees was, it was impossible to harvest it normally and completely. And it was important for us that during the summer one or the other ripened, which can be eaten right away (the rest can be used for juice). Fortunately, almost all modern varieties of fruit trees are grafted onto a semi-dwarf or dwarf rootstock. It made the task half as easy.
To clarify: in our time, many (but not all!) Seedlings are grown on dwarf or semi-dwarf rootstocks, regardless of whether it is a modern variety or an old one. It is quite possible to find such material in serious nurseries.
It turned out to be the easiest way to cut pears: they have a rather compact crown and not too abundant shoot formation. The main task was to transfer the branches to external buds in order to expand the crown. Apple trees were more labor intensive, as they gave more shoots.
The described situation is valid only for the set of varieties that was at the disposal of the hostess. A pear with restrained growth is atypical: most of the representatives of this culture are just powerful and dense trees. In addition, a pear on a stunted rootstock for middle lane You will not find Russia in the daytime with fire - such rootstocks have not yet been bred. Apple trees, on the other hand, are not only with strong branching: there are many varieties with low shoot-forming ability.
Cherries, plums and cherry plums caused the most trouble: we competed with them to see who would overtake whom. From time to time they burst forward, and then I had to thin out the crown, cutting out whole mountains of young shoots. It is important that the branches do not intersect and do not grow inward, and also do not spread too much to the sides, blocking the passages between plants. By pruning, I directed the branches in the right direction and limited their growth and number.
The shoot-forming ability of stone fruits is indeed much higher than that of pome fruits, while they give stronger shoots. But they also have varietal differences, especially in cherries. And here lies the danger that lies in wait for inexperienced gardeners who are overly focused on thinning the crown. The so-called bush-like varieties of cherries lay flower buds and produce a crop mainly on the shoots of the previous year. With this type of fruiting, you should not get carried away with strong thinning, so as, as they say, "do not throw out the baby with the water."
In addition, I shortened the gains quite a lot. The effect was expected: many new shoots appeared in the place of pruning. Of these, the most successful was selected and after 3-4 weeks the rest were removed. So I slowed down the growth of the shoot I needed and did not let me spend nutrients wasted on those shoots that don't care fall or in early spring would have been removed. By the dormant period, all the shoots had time to mature and survived the winter well.
Formation by various manipulations with non-lignified green shoots in home gardening is worthy of attention and wide application.
In a couple of years, I plan to cut out a central conductor from each tree to better illuminate the middle of the crown so that the crop is not only on the periphery. The experiment continues!
As for stone fruits, such a technique seems to be quite reasonable. But with an apple tree and a pear, I would not advise doing this: it will not give any special advantages, but it can increase the laboriousness of the subsequent maintenance of the crown in the proper order.
Expert advice
The story and photos show that the formation of plants is done quite competently. However, I would suggest a slightly different approach: reduce the number skeletal branches while maintaining the same crown volume due to branches of higher orders. I think that this would make the process of forming trees less laborious. And it was hardly worth it to fight the growing shoots so zealously, it was quite possible to get by with weaker shortening and, to some extent, expectant tactics. As practice shows, a significant part of the shoots actively grows in the first years, then their growth becomes more restrained.Planning a garden in a small area is not an easy task. After all, the designer faces several questions at once:
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How to make space seem bigger
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- how to plant trees without losing the feeling of space,
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- what kind architectural elements choose and how to place them so as not to interfere with movement in the garden.
HOW TO VISUALLY INCREASE THE TERRITORY
A flat area always seems smaller than its size. And if this small space allocated to the garden? Well then your small garden will appear very small. A straight path in the center of the garden will make it short... In general, the design and layout of a small garden requires a special approach.
The beginning of the bypass of a small garden always starts from its corner, and then the path can lead along its perimeter, diagonally, spirally or snake. This is the only way to hide the true size of the site.
If the perimeter small garden disproportionately elongated, then it should be divided by transverse lines.
Let it be winding paths, low (up to 50 cm) hedges, strongly elongated architectural elements: benches, terraces, retaining walls, high (raised) beds or flower beds.
So that the fence does not emphasize the small width of the site, it is partially covered with climbing plants on trellises, colonnades of thujas, junipers, yews, decorative overlays and flower beds along some sections.
All these elements are arranged asymmetrically so that the borders turn out to be "irregular" and voluminous.
An excellent technique to expand the territory of the garden is to make platforms with a low level, so to speak, "minus the first level."
Being in such lounge areas, where it is always calm, an illusion of the boundlessness of space is created: the sky is above, and at eye level the most lower tier garden, over which "giant" trees, shrubs, flower beds rise (a garden from the point of view of an ant:)
Asymmetry is more suitable for a small space in the design. For example, on the left along the fence, elements of medium height, on the right, opposite them are low, and a little further, again on the right, are high. Such sharp drops will create the illusion of space.
The same applies to plants along the path: mirroring in their arrangement should be avoided.
As for the selection of plants, the set for a small garden is limited to several species that bloom in different periods.
Even better - give preference to green flower beds from evergreens and ornamental grasses.
The small landscape is all in sight, so at any time it should look "one hundred percent".
TREES FOR A SMALL GARDEN
Trees create a cool shadow, one problem - they absorb space. To prevent this from happening, the following rules are observed in a small garden.
1. On the territory less than 200 m 2 do not plant large trees. A large crown looks too disproportionate, especially if the area is narrow.
2. If the garden area is slightly larger, you can plant one large tree with a spreading crown and group architectural elements near it. Most often this is a terrace, patio or picnic area.
3. Sredneroslye and stunted trees are planted in accordance with the shape of the crown.
Pyramidal and candle-like trees are best placed linearly and along the fence. But you should not do it around the entire perimeter, by doing this you will only emphasize the size of the territory. A straight line looks good L shape to the right or left of the entrance to the garden. And on the opposite side you can plant shrubs.
If it is possible to do the formation of the crown, then ideal option for a small garden, it is spherical or cone-shaped on a high (higher than human height) “leg”. A straight trunk without branches does not “eat up” space, but under the trees there will always be a pleasant coolness. It is preferable that the trees are deciduous, then in winter period the garden will be well lit.
Coniferous trees are better to choose dwarf varieties. Low-growing junipers and thujas look beautiful in compact boxes - dense plantings trimmed in the shape of a box.
Solitary trees with a beautifully formed skeleton look great in a small garden. It can be shrubs of two or three bare trunks, but with a lush crown, standard varieties of roses.
Shrubs, as already mentioned, are preferably planted along the fence. If this is a hedge, then its height should be such that it only conditionally separates one zone from another, but the area behind it should be visible from anywhere in the garden.
MAFs IN A SMALL TERRITORY
To the small architectural forms carry benches and tables, Garden swing, gazebos, garden sculptures, flowerpots (containers for flowers), small fonts.
Since the territory is small and they plan to plant a garden on it, there are not so many places for a recreation area. Usually choose one that suits your needs.
Less space is occupied by an open hearth.
The recreation area can be completed so that there is enough space for benches, flowerpots, a fire pit and even a small waterfall.
You can limit yourself to wide benches, a fireplace (possibly a swing) and a small font if the purpose of your garden is relaxation.
If you decide to place a spacious gazebo in a small garden, then it is better if it is a canopy with a podium: both a roof over your head and no walls that limit the view.
Vases and containers are a great component to expand the space. The main thing is that they are large enough and of different heights.
In general, all elements of small architecture in a small area should be arranged according to the principle of increasing height. The further, the higher. This technique is called grading and is designed to create a perspective instead of a flat landscape.
DESIGN IDEAS
You already know how the space of a small garden is formed. And then - design ideas for landscaping a small area.
