Do-it-yourself rock garden creation occurs according to a certain algorithm, the observance of which guarantees the success of the construction:
- Site selection according to aesthetic considerations and plant needs.
- Sizing, creating a plan and scheme of an alpine slide.
- Selection of a stone, checking its quality and purchasing.
- Recreation of the contour of the rock garden in the form of a graphic drawing on the selected area.
- Complete removal of the topsoil.
- Making a mixture from soil with the addition of impurities and fertilizers.
- The device of a drainage system, if it is necessary for specific plants.
- Planning the arrangement of plants in tiers.
- Arrangement of a water tank (reservoir) if necessary.
- The final selection and gradual planting of the soil with ornamental plants.
Video on how to build an alpine slide with your own hands.
How to make an alpine slide with your own hands. Step-by-step instruction
Let's consider step by step how to create your own rock garden. When choosing a suitable place need to be guided preference for well-lit, slightly elevated general level terrain. If the site has a slope or hill, it is advisable to choose this particular area. It is advisable to place the alpine slide away from trees or non-scenic objects that can distract attention from the garden or shade it in unfavorable light. It is undesirable for the shade from tall objects to fall on the flower garden.
If the rock garden turns out in the form of a slide, you will have to decorate the slopes, all of them will be oriented to different directions of the world, respectively, some plants will more warmth and sunlight, and others may not have enough of it. It is advisable to make a more elevated hill from the side, which will be viewed more often, and the rest of the area can be made more gentle.
Dimensions and general contours of the slide
Despite the representations of the rock garden in the imagination, in reality it must combine with other objects, blend harmoniously with the environment. There should be no overabundance of stones, the general style of the garden or nearby buildings cannot be changed.
If the site is located on several acres, then you can create several moderate-sized rock gardens or one large, located at least 5 m². In height, it can take up to 60 cm and more, but it is worth remembering that a flower garden with a small height will be much less noticeable than a tall and lush one.
If small plants are planted, do not use too large or unusual stones, as they will focus all attention on themselves. It should be made as winding, interesting contours as possible, since low stands different colors will look like a mosaic.
Choosing the right stone
The size of the stones is determined by the parameters of the rock garden and the requests of the owners. If any stones do not fit standard parameters, however, the owners of the site really liked it, you can try to apply them wisely, and, if necessary, mask irregularities with tall plants or plantations with lush leaves.
It is recommended to use in one composition stones of a certain breed, without diluting them with others in composition and contours. Usually local or permanently marketed breeds are used, as they are the easiest to obtain and are relatively inexpensive. It should be remembered that the stones should be as harmonious as possible with the surrounding area.
Plants should look harmonious with stones, emphasizing favorably only positive traits each other. The final composition should, first of all, please the owners themselves, so you need to select all designs for your own taste, guided by general ideas about optimal proportions.
Chipped stones that have too sharp edges are a waste, such materials should be put aside immediately. Ideally the use of absolutely smooth, hewn, for example, river stones.
The stones that are covered with moss look beautiful. They can be found in the forest, so get them for free. They often look much better than purchased ones.
Contour drawing
The outlines of the future flower garden must be located directly on the site itself, repeating all possible inaccuracies. The harmony of the flower garden with the rest of the plants is assessed in advance. This stage is considered one of the most difficult in the process of creating an alpine slide. He demands increased attention, therefore, when performing it, you need to focus and think well possible options by changing the contour.
The outlines can be laid out using bright rope. It is advisable to first drive in the pegs, and twist a thick rope on them, go around the resulting outline composition from all possible points of view. If you need border adjustments, it is best to do it right away by reinstalling the pegs. You can evaluate the result obtained on the spot, redoing it again if necessary.
Removing the topsoil
The layer is removed carefully. It needs to be set aside, but not thrown away, as it can be useful as a substrate that may need to fill in visible and non-planted voids between adjacent stones. The soil is removed by 30 cm, sometimes more. The parameters are individual. You need to focus on the remains of plant parts in the ground. Where they are, the fertile layer is located.
The work must be carried out when the earth is not very moist. It is desirable that it be completely dry, have a composition that can be easily sieved.
If there are many weeds of a cereal type on the site, it is necessary to use herbicides for their irreversible destruction. If this is not done, then the seeds will easily germinate on fertilized soil, preventing the full development of new, young plants.
Soil mix
To properly prepare the substrate, you need to take the components in exactly three equal parts. You will need sod land, peat with compost and sand, sometimes perlite is added. To be able to easily fill the necessary cavities with them, it should be made sufficiently moist, it should be nutritious. If the removed top layer was fertile enough, you can use it in the mix.
Many recommend increasing plant fertility by adding various fertilizers to the substrate, but this advice cannot be applied to alpine slides. On such soil, plants will grow upward, will quickly stretch out with a predominance of green mass. They bloom with the smallest flowers, which are formed less than plants should.
If aggressive ground covers are planted, then their growth will intensify, they will cover stones, after which the meaning of planting plants next to stones will be lost. The soil mixture must be placed on a hill while laying stones, it is usually tamped. After completing the work, the slide is watered abundantly, and then the recesses formed as a result of pouring water are additionally sealed.
Drainage system
It is not always required, but some plants do. If the soil is loamy or clayey, then drainage is performed. If a groundwater lie close to the surface, then constant moisture removal must be done.
For arrangement of drainage crushed stone or small stones are used. They are covered with a layer of 0.1-0.3 m. The drainage layer is poured unevenly, if the slide should be on an elevation, the layer must be thickened. Sand must be sprinkled on top of the stone to a thickness of up to 10 cm. In places where elevations are planned, it must be thickened.
At the next stage, the slide is watered abundantly, after which the drainage layer is immediately compacted. All imperfections in it will be perfectly visible, so it will be possible to accurately level them.
Vertical planning
The most responsible event is selection and installation of stones... With their help, whole drawings, voluminous compositions are formed. Each individual group can be distinguished by a section or shade, which makes the rock garden interesting for a long time. To repeat mountain landscape, you need to do all the patterns randomly, you should not use the correct geometric shapes.
With the right vertical planning initially, the most voluminous stone is laid... It is desirable to make it closer to the east side. Smaller stones are laid in order: from the middle - the largest, and the closer to the ends, the smaller rocks can be used.
To avoid symmetrical proportions, one group of stones can be laid out with maximum adherence, and the other placed at some distance from each other. When laying the stone, remember to leave holes for the subsequent planting of ornamental plants.
The stones must be absolutely stable. They should not sway, so they sink into the ground by at least one third of their size. If necessary, the structure is additionally reinforced with a layer of soil or small stones.
Planting
The land must be watered abundantly before planting several times., only then the plants you like are planted. Light-loving plants should be closer to the sun, and those that can do without it, if necessary, are placed on the shady side.
Large plants look great against the background of large stones, and small ones are best planted near small ones. Ground cover plants are planted with a great distance so as not to interfere with each other's development. Pillow plants can easily coexist with each other. Dwarf trees must stand apart to make the slide appear irregular. After planting the plants, the soil is mulched.
The correct choice of plants, compliance with all preparatory phases on the formation of an alpine slide will help to make it as high quality as possible. It will please the eye for a long time a picturesque fragment of natural plants.
An element such as an alpine slide has long become a familiar element in the design of garden plots. Even small rock gardens add variety to the standard garden design... And, showing quite a bit of imagination, you can generally regular element landscape design create a real work of art.
About the history of the emergence of alpine slides
The first rock gardens were supposed to imitate rock fragments of the terrain, so plants were far from their main element. Over time, there was a smooth lurch towards more intensive use of plants in the design of the slide.
As for the idea of \u200b\u200busing alpine slides in gardens, it owes its origin to chance. The fact is that at the beginning of the 19th century, travelers to England began to actively bring plants outlandish at that time, for example, thyme or adonis. But they simply refused to grow in seemingly such fertile soil.
It was then that the gardeners of that time came up with the idea to use stony soil, more familiar to plants. Over time, the idea of \u200b\u200busing stone in gardens was appreciated in other countries, and new fashion began to actively spread around the world.
The design of the garden slide has undergone several major changes since its inception.
Of course, these changes took place smoothly, but 3 characteristic stages of development can be distinguished:
- dominance of stone - on initial stage large boulders and even whole stone grottoes were actively used. Plants peeped modestly from the cracks between the stones and were used only to emphasize the age of the stone structure;
- gradually the greens took back positions from the stone and soon parity could be fixed. The stone was still the basis of the composition, but a lot of attention was paid to the plants;
- in the end, the triumph of life came - modern alpine slides Is a riot of colors and greenery, slightly diluted with lifeless gray stone. Moreover, it is not necessary to use only one stone to create it. Soil is also suitable, the excess of which was formed, for example, after digging a pit under.
Note!
For small areas, the last 2 types of slides are suitable, large stone structures or individual boulders will look ridiculous in a small garden area.
Homemade Alpine Slide - Action Guide
A do-it-yourself slide in the garden always looks impressive, but many refuse it because of the apparent complexity and laboriousness of the work.
In fact, there is nothing complicated about this, but the main attention should be paid to several points:
- choose correct location Location on;
- do not miss the size, the rock garden should not be lost on the site, but it should not suppress with its greatness either;
- avoid symmetry when filling the body of the slide and decorating it with stones;
- to choose the right plants is still not a flower bed and not, therefore, not all types of flowers are suitable.
Layout
Ideally, it is the location of the slide on the site that should be dominant. That is, when drawing up a plan, you first need to place the rock garden in the optimal place and, based on this, lay paths, break the flower beds and think over the further design.
In reality, this does not always happen, so it will not be superfluous to know a few rules for choosing a place for a rock garden:
- the place must be dry, and the groundwater must lie as deep as possible;
Note!
It is advisable to place alpine slides in the garden on a hill.
This guarantees protection from groundwater, and in case of heavy precipitation, the water will not stagnate at the foot of the rock garden.
- it is highly undesirable to place the slide directly at the fence or at the house, most of the effect will simply be lost. If such placement is necessary, then you need to create a favorable background; a low shrub is suitable for this. For the same reason, it is necessary to avoid the neighborhood of a rock garden and tall thick trees;
- the area should be well lit.
Preparatory stage
Here you will need to decide on the type of materials, think over in general terms the design of the future rock garden.
The instruction at this stage looks like this:
- the base area of \u200b\u200bthe rock garden is determined;
- good drainage must be provided in this area, for this sod (a layer of vegetative soil 20-30 cm thick) is removed, and the vacated space is filled with any well-draining material. Not only crushed stone or gravel is suitable, but also ordinary construction waste, for example, broken brick or pieces of concrete.
Note!
In this case, it is better not to use the removed fertile layer to fill the slide itself.
Over time, the grass stems and roots will rot and the structure will shrink quite well, which can destroy the entire composition.
You can combine normal soil and gravel. That is, the body of the slide is poured from gravel or crushed stone. Then there is a layer of soil and only then the structure is decorated with stones. There are many options for solving the question of how to build an alpine slide in a garden plot, the main thing is to provide good drainage.
About the size, shape and technology of the construction of the rock garden
The general rule when designing an alpine slide is asymmetry. There is no need to try to make it in the form of a perfectly regular geometric figure. Indeed, in nature, symmetry occurs only as an exception.
The stepped shape is quite popular, it allows you to group plants different types on separate tiers. In this case, decorative stones act as miniature retaining walls and do not allow the soil to float over time.
Note!
The sizes of the ledges are selected individually for each specific case, but you can focus on the average height of the ledge within 0.2 - 0.3 m.
As for the collection of stones, the use of boulders with noticeable inclusions of other rocks can be considered ideal. Small defects (for example, chipped areas) are also an advantage - you can plant plants in them. All boulders must be of the same type, that is, smooth, rolled stone should not be adjacent to chipped granite.
The size, as a rule, decreases from bottom to top, and the top of the hill is finished with a group of small stones, or one large one. Correct selection stones are very important, especially since the price of the structure does not practically change from this.
Note!
It is allowed to use large elongated stones.
They are usually simply dug into the ground, and the hill itself is placed around such stones.
As for the construction technology, you need to start laying boulders some time after the body of the slide has been dumped. During this time, shrinkage will end under the influence of its own weight and moistening with precipitation.
Selection of plants
It used to be considered a sign of bad taste to make rock gardens unnecessarily bright and catchy. Currently, there is some deviation from this rule, but still it is impossible to advise turning the slide into an ordinary flower bed. That not to list by name all types of plants, we will break suitable types into groups.
It is allowed to use:
- herbaceous perennials;
- small shrub, both coniferous and deciduous;
- bulbous (planted in a small area);
- ground cover species - fill all the free space.
When planting in the ground, you need to make a small hole around the stem and fill it with fine gravel. The hole will collect needed by the plant water, and rubble will drown out the weeds.
Summarizing
Even the simplest rock garden diversifies the design of any garden. You should not be afraid of an unfamiliar name, even a novice summer resident will cope with the construction of an alpine slide. The tips in this article will help you avoid common beginner mistakes.
The video in this article shows an example of a simple alpine slide device with minimal financial costs.
Alpine slide - a reduced copy of the highlands. Usually, in the central part of such a flower bed, a cobblestone or several cobblestones are installed, which are a symbol of a mountain peak. Terraces are created on the slopes, on which low-growing vegetation is planted.
In the natural environment, such areas are formed in the place where natural fractures of rocks appear. Under the influence environment a fertile layer appears on them, on which plants subsequently grow. To recreate such a mountain landscape on your backyard or dacha requires certain knowledge.
For such a large-scale structure as a rocky flower bed suitable spacious plot... When building an alpine slide with your own hands, you should strive to ensure that the composition of vegetation and cobblestones looks naturally.
Video. Alpine slide device
Making an alpine slide with your own hands
An alpine slide, made by hand, will adorn the whole adjoining territory... To determine the design of your future rocky garden, you can study the photos of the alpine slides. In order to create such a composition, you must adhere to certain rules and a certain order of work.
DIY step-by-step instructions for creating an alpine slide
To begin with, determine the location. In order to do this, attention must be paid to the illumination. For a rock garden, an area is suitable that is illuminated for as long as possible the sun... Also, the composition should be clearly visible from all sides.
- Designation base contour (soles) of the slide and removal of the upper fertile layer to a depth of about 30 cm.
- Device drainage system... The bottom layer can be made of gravel not big size, pieces of brick or, in extreme cases, from construction waste. After that, a layer of sand about five centimeters thick is laid. A fertile layer of earth is laid on top of the sand. You can do without a drainage system if a slope with not too dense soil is chosen for arranging an alpine slide.
- At this stage, proceed to placing stones and erecting the coreslides. Of all the stones, the largest and most beautiful cobblestone is chosen. He will be the main one in the lower tier. The stone must be stable. To do this, you can add soil or gravel. A classic alpine slide in the country house consists of an odd number of tiers. Wet soil is laid between these tiers, which must be well compacted.
Tip: when laying stones, symmetry should be avoided. Planting spaces can be left between the stones, or stones can be grouped next to each other. It is also necessary to immediately decide on the supporting stones that you can stand on when caring for the vegetation. They should be sealed and fixed.
- Plant vegetation.
Plants for an alpine slide - selection rules
Building an alpine slide with your own hands requires knowledge and certain skills. This especially applies to the choice of vegetation. The first step is to decide on color palette rock garden. After that, you should draw a sketch of the future rocky garden. To trace the color scheme, you need to paint the sections of the slide with the appropriate colors. Only after that you can start choosing a plant for an alpine slide to the country.
Alpine slide with your own hands. A photo
Look good low conifers ... You can also use small shrubswhich bloom in spring and bear fruit in autumn.
Coniferous plants that are suitable for landscaping an alpine slide with your own hands
- dwarf spruce... This plant tolerates drought well;
- juniper... This unpretentious plant grows in its shape resembling a cone. Foliage - green;
- thuja grows in the form of a bush. In good light it takes on a reddish-brown color;
- cypress - a plant with a golden top and a dark green base.
Deciduous plants for an alpine slide
For landscaping an alpine slide with your own hands, you should not choose deciduous plant species. Since fallen leaves must be removed regularly so as not to harm other vegetation. The following plants are chosen for the slides:
- the cotoneaster is horizontal. In this shrub with a dense crown, the foliage in the warm season is painted in a dark green color, and by autumn it acquires a reddish tint. The plant blooms with small flowers;
- iberis... A semi-shrub that does not lose its attractiveness throughout the season. The flowers, collected in umbrella-shaped brushes, are colored white, pink or purple. Later, fruits appear in their place in the form of pods;
- dryad... Miniature shrub blooming with large white flowers. The flowering period falls in July-August. Later, fruits of an unusual shape appear in their place. They look like "fluffy balls".
Flowers for an alpine slide
To build a classic alpine slide with their own hands, use low, creeping, "carpet" plants. It is best to give preference to perennials. The following flowers can be used for landscaping:
- short-stemmed carnation... It is a low-growing, richly flowering plant with narrow gray-blue-green leaves, unpretentious. Suitable for landscaping open sunny areas;
- rocky beetroot - perennial, the leaves of which are painted gray-green. A feature of this plant is that its leaves remain green even in winter. In the multi-flowered panicle inflorescences there are small bright yellow leaves;
- rejuvenatedis a perennial plant with a wide color palette of leaves. They can be green, silver, yellowish, pink, burgundy;
- saxifrage - traditional inhabitants of rock gardens. The flowering period is May-August. The five-petalled flowers are white, pink or yellow.
In order for the alpine slide in the country to delight with its beauty every year, bulbous and corms should be planted. Long-flowering crops are suitable for creating a contrasting background. A well-groomed lawn will also be an ideal frame.
What to do if an alpine slide settles in the spring?
Sometimes an alpine slide, made in violation of the construction technology, can settle. There may be several reasons for this.
- Poorly matched plot or lack drainage... It is better to equip a rock garden on a natural hill or on an area with a slope. If the slide is placed on loamy or clay soils, then it is imperative to make a drainage layer. For these purposes, you can use gravel or stones.
- Incorrectly matched substrate, vegetation and cobblestones... For an alpine slide with your own hands, it is better to choose the following mixture of earth: compost, sand and peat in equal proportions.
How to avoid flower bed shrinkage
- take into account the slope of the site and the type of soil;
- make a drainage layer and let the earth sink in time;
- for planting, choose vegetation with powerful rhizomes;
- select vegetation, cobblestones and soil substrate correctly;
- remove fallen leaves in time, dig up wilted plants, weed weeds.
Alpine slide of conifers
To create rock gardens, not only traditional "Alpines" can be used, but also conifers. Pines, thuja, shooting juniper, barberry, gray or Japanese spirea, conic spruce are ideal for these purposes. IN classic version shrubs and trees alone should not be present. They should grow there in small numbers.
Alpine stones
Natural flat cobblestones of various sizes are suitable for such rocky gardens. original form... You should also give preference to stones with a heterogeneous surface, with all kinds of "inclusions", recesses in which you can plant moss or a small plant. Limestones, boulders, sandstones, granite, shale look good.
DIY alpine slide decoration
For the decoration of the alpine slide, stones and vegetation are used. In order to position them correctly, you need to follow some recommendations, namely:
- they begin to lay stones from the bottom row, moving up;
- for the top of the composition, you must choose the most beautiful cobblestone;
- for each large stone it is necessary to make a "foundation" of one or three flat stones;
- stones should be laid in such a way that their tops are parallel to each other;
- several stones should be stacked so that they can be walked on;
- after laying each row, a layer of earth is laid, which is well compacted and shed with water;
- the most beautiful cobblestone is installed on the top of the slide.
Rock garden and rockery: differences and similarities
Rock garden and rockery are two different ways of arranging a flower bed. Rockery is a flower bed of stones, most which is occupied by stones of the same breed. Cobblestones are stacked parallel to each other or in random order. Randomly placed stones imitate the natural environment. In rockeries, vegetation is also present, but in the form of a background that plays a secondary role. In the alpine slide, bright vegetation is in the foreground.
Alpine slide with your own hands. Video instructions
Video. DIY alpine slide
Alpine slide with your own hands. Video
Alpine slide with a waterfall. Video instruction
Well, tell me, which of the owners of garden plots would not dream of decorating it with picturesque landscape delights? Any normal owner wants the garden to delight not only himself, but also delight his guests. Do you want something unusual and at the same time eye-catching? To create a special atmosphere and harmony in garden plots, a rock garden is ideal. This type of landscape design came to us from Europe. Here and the lush color of bright vegetation, and mountain boulders different sizes yes forms that create the feeling as if an exotic piece of nature from the very heart of the Alps was stolen in the Mediterranean and moved straight to the garden. ...
What do you need to know?
To build a rock garden yourself, you need to understand the types and schemes of its device. Understand where to install and where not. Know which preparatory work you need to conduct, which stone to choose, how to choose a competent composition of plants.
Armed with knowledge and your imagination, you can safely start work. And it is not at all necessary to hire connoisseurs of landscape design. The main thing is to be careful and careful.
The basis of any rock garden is stones of various sizes framed by plants. The flora of the alpine slide is quite diverse. There are conifers, integumentary, and saxiferous. In other words, creating a rock garden in his garden, a person makes a mountain fragment of nature, which should look as natural and organic as possible. Therefore, the stones need to be installed in a chaotic way, but so that it feels like nature itself, and not a human hand, ruled over them. This rule also applies to decorating the slide with plants.
- The mountain slope is a kind of embankment, where large boulders are located at the top, and small ones at the foot, in bulk.
- A steep hill - made like a rock, where large stones predominate at the base, smaller ones to the top.
- Mountain valley - stones of all sizes are randomly located.
- Terraced slope - it is created in the form of steps of not very large size, which are supported by large stones decorated on a gentle slope.
- Forest ravine - the slide is placed in a recess shaped like a shell. At the same time, they try to decorate with a large stone overgrown with moss.
- Stone wall - mostly formed from flat stone that is laid in small curbs.
When building an alpine slide, only mountain stones are used. Sometimes they call her. Only this is not entirely correct. When creating rockeries, they use not only rock, but also river pebbles, and large stones of rounded shapes that are not mountainous in nature. Beautiful and non-standard solution, when creating a fence on the site, there will be a built-in alpine slide made of layered rock. Great idea in the design of a rock garden near the reservoir will be the use of a forest boulder overgrown with mosses and lichens.
The main function of the rock garden is decorative. This must be taken into account when choosing a place down the hill. It is advisable to stir it in a place free from all sides, so that the beauty can be seen from anywhere in the garden. Most often, the slide is made in the center, or from the edge of grassy lawns. It is necessary to orient the alpine slide so that all plants receive the maximum amount solar energy and warmth.
If the site already has a staircase on some natural elevation, then the rock garden will be a beautiful addition to it. If not, but it is planned, there is a reason to attend to a scheme where they will complement each other. When you plan to equip a slide in the depths of the garden, you need to think about approaches to it in the form of paths or paths. Stone paths or dry streams created from small stone look very beautiful in the rock garden.
When there is a small lake on the site, or artificial pond, and even overgrown with reeds, the rock garden will ideally fit into the big picture, if you place it side by side. Do you want something really big, eye-catching? Create a rock garden from huge boulders, and design it in the form of a waterfall.
Kohl set the rock garden in the center garden plot, then it will be the main element of the decor. Remember, when installing the slide, it is not advisable to place it in the shade. It doesn't matter if the tree is blocking the light, or some other building. If shrubs with trees are present as an element of the garden, then they will look good at some distance from the slide. Here it is necessary that they match the color scheme. Too bright background will negate the beauty of the alpine slide. A slide that continues the overall design of the garden looks great when placed on a natural elevation, or even in the depths of a ravine.
Preparatory work for the creation of the slide begins directly on the ground. To begin with, it is determined how high the rock garden will be, what sizes and shapes the stones will be used in the bookmark. The diameter of the rock garden is also determined. It is generally believed that the height of the slide is approximately 0.6–1.6 meters. The main compositional elements of stones are schematically and preliminarily placed on the ground. The rock garden slopes are created so that the south-facing one is gently descending and not as steep as the rest.
Everyone understands that the weather - rain, wind, snow, affects the safety of the alpine slide. Over time, deformation and destruction will occur more and more. How to protect the slide from the harmful effects of the external environment? The first thing is advised - to create a rock garden is best in the autumn season. Its foundation will need to be carefully and efficiently prepared, so that neither precipitation nor groundwater is destroyed.
The soil for the rock garden is prepared by clearing the ground and removing the top layer of soil to a depth of 25-35 cm. Then they create drainage systemso that the water runs off normally and does not undermine the base. To do this, after removing the soil, fit various material - fragments of bricks, various construction waste, expanded clay gravel. The depth of this layer should be up to 15 cm.
This is followed by the laying of coarse sand - a layer 5-7 cm thick. After it comes a soil of 10-17 cm, on which boulders are already directly exposed, and flora is planted. If an alpine slide is created according to the terraced type, then large boulders are placed at the base of each step.
Competent installation of large boulders in the base of the slide is the main essence of any rock garden. And the correct composition of stones is the key to a beautiful and durable slide. Boulders of medium and small sizes will be useful in the future, for the formation of the rest of the rock garden. Also, in order to be able to move around the rock garden while caring for it, take care of flat stones for the steps.
Layout of stones starts from the base up, from large, medium, and ending with small ones. It is wrong to do everything in a strict order, observing the laws and equal distance... The rock garden should not imitate a mountainous landscape. It should be, in fact, this very landscape - a piece of the Alps torn out of the wild. Boulders simply have to be arranged in a chaotic manner, without a clear hierarchy. When arranging a rock garden, always deepen the stones into the ground by one third, sometimes 1/2 of the height of the boulder.
When the gaps between the stones are filled with earth, it is rammed, then poured from a hose with a spray nozzle so that it does not wash out. After, for two weeks, the rock garden is left alone. The stones should settle, the soil should sink. It is optimal if you leave it in the winter, and in the spring, if everything is fine, plant plants.
When creating a rock garden stone composition, try to periodically move away from it at a distance of 4-6 meters. This will allow you to see the flaws, and achieve harmony.
When choosing boulders and stones of smaller sizes, you should always think about whether their shape or type of surface is suitable for a certain type of rock garden. Do not forget that the slide recreates a mountain landscape in a single garden. And in nature, the stone is polished by wind, water, and always, albeit natural, but irregular shape... If you take river stones, it will be completely different. A broken stone with a jagged sharp edge will also not fit into the overall design. A good option will become limestone, or sandstone. Dolomite will do, which will look pretty good. Shale, basalt and some other types of rocks are also suitable. If you can find forest boulders with moss, it will be almost perfect.
Competent planting of plants enhances the aesthetic component of the rock garden. To plant shrubs, holes are dug, their bottom is strengthened with gravel. When planting is complete, the soil is compacted and covered with gravel. If you want a coniferous rock garden, then shrubs and trees from evergreens are quite suitable for an unpretentious landscape design.
When limestone is taken for the slide, the soil that is poured in it acquires the quality of an alkaline environment. Some plants grow poorly on such land. Then you have to acidify the soil.
Plants that are well adapted to the shade are best planted on the northern slope of the hill. If the alpine slide is built in the form of a stone hedge, then a carpet of carnations and periwinkles will look perfect on it.
- Hosts. They have golden, white and blue veins on the leaves, grow in a rosette-like type.
- Astilba. Has pink small pyramidal inflorescences. Blooms in July.
- Badan. Leaves are fleshy, bright green. Inflorescences are crimson in color. Refers to saxifrage plants.
- Periwinkle. This plant has blue flower... The leaves are dark green, shiny.
Flora, which needs a lot of light, is always planted on the southern slopes of an alpine slide.
Light-loving plants include:
- Decorative bow. It has huge leaves that look like long vertical arrows.
- Iris. Something very reminiscent of an orchid, refers to perennial bulbous plants.
- Lavender. It belongs to evergreen mountain bushes, has small purple flowers.
- Rejuvenated. A plant with small lime-colored leaves that diverge in rosettes.
- Adonis. Bright yellow inflorescences. Perennial.
- What about the price. A wonderful plant whose foliage does not fall off in winter. The inflorescences, when they fade, become red needle-like balls.
These include:
- Mylnyanka. Grows on limestone rocks. Alpine perennial.
- Sedum. It has juicy lemon-colored leaves. Flowers in the form of rosettes.
- Scylla. Refers to primroses. It has blue inflorescences.
- Violet. Is enough unpretentious plant... It blooms almost all summer.
- Phlox. Belongs to the carpet type of plants, with small pink inflorescences.
- Arabis. It blooms twice a year - in May and late autumn. Refers to ground cover perennial plants.
- Bell. Unpretentious enough. Blooms profusely from July until October.
- Crocus. It is a primrose and bulbous plant.
- Muscari. Refers to bulbous plants, somewhat reminiscent of hyacinth.
It will be a good move if you arrange a rock garden coniferous evergreens combined with a rocky path, or wooden steps.
- Ordinary, or canadian spruce;
- Mountain pine;
- Cossack, common, or rocky juniper.
For a competent and smooth transition, between tall and small (ground cover) plants, intermediate flora is well suited. It can be red-leaved barberry, and heather, and almonds, and Russian broom, and Japanese spirea, and euonymus.
The alpine slide requires care. Here you need to remove dried flowers on time, weed from weeds, and water when required. The slide should be fertilized with phosphate-potassium fertilizers. Special attention need to be given to weeding. After all, the weed has a different root system and, germinating, it can easily destroy the rock garden from the inside. If possible, it is advisable to treat the soil with herbicides immediately before laying the slide. But, most importantly, do not overdo it. IN winter time, to protect against cold weather, the plants are insulated.
But, after the rock garden is ready, at any time of the year there will always be a small, but a real piece of the Alps.
In a desire to stand out and transform the territory, summer residents use various techniques, one of which is a rock garden. We will consider the best device diagrams and do-it-yourself examples of creation in this article. Arranging your country cottage area with love and imagination, we always strive to bring personality to its design.
Rock garden device or what is it
This element of landscape design has a Mediterranean origin, it not only pleases the eye, but also sets the tone for the entire site. One alpine slide, built in the right place, can radically change and decorate even the smallest and humble garden... What is a rock garden? This is a so-called piece of wild nature, artificially recreated by human hands.
Alpine slides are laid out from various stones, most often of rocks, are decorated with appropriate plants and flowers. Today rock gardens are popular all over the world. As conceived by the designers, all kinds of compositions are created from stones and plants of all sizes and modifications.
Rock garden, photo:
Rock garden To build a rock garden on the territory, competent designers are often invited. Their services can be quite expensive. This is not surprising, because a successful and attractive final result depends entirely on the competent adherence to all stages. The process starts from the development and design of the construction design, the selection of plants. Often, the entire composition is recreated in advance in 3D format, in computer programs.
But even taking into account all the nuances, you can create a rock garden yourself on your site with your own hands. If you look in detail, then there is nothing super complicated in this process. All stages will be described below, and the rest depends on your imagination and taste preferences in the choice of plants.
Very often the two concepts "rock garden" and "rockery" are mentioned in one semantic link. Despite the fact that both landscape techniques are similar in style of execution, there is still a difference.
Rock garden and rockery - their difference, first of all, in the main accent of the composition. In rockeries, these are stones that are laid out on a flat surface. To create a rockery, any place on the site is suitable, but for a rock garden you need an area well-lit by the sun's rays. When building a rock garden, stones, flowers, shrubs, small coniferous trees and other decorative compositions. Simply put, a rock garden is a construction of stones and plants, a rockery is decorative imitation stone area, the so-called stone flower bed, rock garden.
Rockery How to make a rock garden - choosing a place
This is the very first point of the plan - first you need to choose a place that will always be in the spotlight, with a good view from any side. In addition, most of the day it should be illuminated by the sun, so the southern side of your site is most suitable for implementing the plan. The most suitable place is the center of the lawn. However, depending on the situation and the availability of others garden elements, a rock garden can be built on the edge of the lawn, near the entrance to the gazebo, near the fountain, artificial reservoir or track. The main requirement is good illumination.
Rock garden in the center of the lawn, photo:
An alpine slide or rock garden should not be placed in the shade of trees or bushes. These plantings may well create a background, the main thing is that they do not distract attention from the rock garden with their variegated colors. In this case, it is preferable to choose plain plants for the background.
If your site has elevation differences, slopes or bulges, then this situation can be successfully played with the help of an alpine slide. It can be located in / on natural lowlands or elevations of the landscape.
If you decide to do everything yourself, then all the more you should first draw your future rock garden on a sheet of paper, a diagram of which will clearly demonstrate the placement of stones, a list of plants, and the shape of the overall composition.
The most popular types of alpine slides:
- "Mountain Valley" - chaotic, but thoughtfully "scattered" stones. Large boulders, medium-sized stones, as well as very small cobblestones are located on flat surface... Heather, ground cover plants, wormwood, meadow bells, edelweiss look great in the company of boulders and boulders.
- "Forest ravine" - the whole structure is located, as it were, in a depression, in order to give more surroundings, large stones covered with moss are laid along the edges of the "ravine". Also used are dwarf conifers and the so-called mossy (ground cover) plants (mossy small-leaved saw, mossy bastard, saxifrage, etc.).
- “Rock” - looks great on natural steep slopes, the largest boulders are placed below, which are surrounded by medium ones, closer to the “top” stones for the rock garden become smaller. In this way, a mini-rock is created, in the entourage of which conifers, junipers, dwarf varieties ferns and those plants that usually grow in the mountains. A kind of such design is a rock garden "cliff".
- "Mountain Stream" - an alpine slide in the company with an artificial waterfall or imitation of a stream. Instead of water, colored decorative rubble (dry stream) can also be used. Bergenia, primrose, ferns, irises look appropriate next to such a design.
- "Lake" - here, as in the case of the "ravine", the natural deepening of the soil on the site can be used. In another case, a small ravine is manually dug up and equipped artificial reservoir... Often the bottom of such a hollow is covered with decorative rubbleimitating water. Especially good given view rock garden for wetlands, in such an environment, marsh and moisture-loving plants... On the edges of the "lake" rounded stones are placed, which are partially dug into the ground. For greater persuasiveness, you can use wood fragments (driftwood), moss.
If you plan to build an alpine slide in the very center of the garden, then take care of the path to it in advance and, for example, set up a bench next to it.
A mini rock garden is created when your capabilities are limited by the size of the territory. FROM creative approach and the presence of imagination, even a small composition of plants and stones can become the highlight of your summer cottage. Also under the concept of "mini" are container, so-called portable alpine slides.
These are small compositions that imitate a full-fledged rock garden, only they are placed in large flower pots or decorative containers. For their arrangement, small plants and flowers, as well as miniature stones, wood fragments are selected. A well-made mini rock garden will decorate a gazebo or stairs, attic, porch. It can also be used as an element of a flower bed or a large garden rock garden.
Rock garden in miniature, photo:
Rock garden stones, how to choose
The basis of any rock garden, the main building element Are stones.
To create alpine slides, you will need stone material in a variety of sizes. Your task is to recreate the natural mountainous landscape in a smaller format, so large boulders, streamlined boulders, and stones with sharp corners (imitation of rocks) will be used. Of course, you can buy stones that are specifically designed for this purpose, they are sold at the appropriate points of sale of products for landscaping. But it is much more interesting to assemble the entire composition on your own, especially since the stones can be found anywhere if you try: in the field, by the river, in the forest.
The rock garden is a corner of the wilderness in your country house, so you need stones of large, medium and small sizes. Also, do not pass by flat stones - with their help it is convenient to divide boundaries, decorate steps, cascades.
If you go into details, then the most the best material for the construction of an alpine hill can be considered cut sandstone, mountain dolomite, basalt, layered shale, porous Tiburian stone travertine, gneiss, red pebbles of different fractions, steppe crane stone. When you find yourself on the banks of a river or in the forest, look out for moss-covered boulders. They will cost you completely free and become excellent material to create a rock garden.
When choosing rocks for a rock garden, keep in mind that some of them, such as limestone, can affect the soil (alkaline reaction). In such cases, the soil is slightly acidified so that certain types of plants feel comfortable. But sandstone, landscape design experts unanimously give their preference. It is suitable for working on any type of soil, does not deteriorate and does not change its appearance over time.
The classic technology of laying stone material for an alpine slide looks like this: larger stones are placed below, the higher - the smaller. Their location should not be strictly verified, deliberate negligence, one might say chaotic, will create a natural effect of a natural landscape.
Rock garden "Lake", photo:
Stages of creating a rock garden with your own hands
Landscape architects believe that there are 4 main directions for creating alpine slides:
- The European style is the most common, especially in the vastness of our homeland. The decoration uses plants that bloom at different times and replace each other. Thus, the goal is achieved - the presence of flowers throughout the season, an attractive type of rock garden. Moreover, all selected plants are characterized by slow growth.
- When making an alpine slide in english style, preference is given to rocks with sharp corners. Attention is focused on active use conifers of dwarf varieties.
- The Japanese trend in the design of rock gardens is characterized by features of minimalism and brevity. Plants are mostly small, there are not many of them, stones are also modest in size and streamlined.
- Czech style is the use of layered stones of different sizes, which are installed by the edge. The whole structure is laid as if by steps, rows of stones are located one after another. Plants are planted in the distances between the rows.
If we take, for example, the creation of a solid "correct" rock garden, then the whole process will consist of several points following each other.
Let's summarize the stages of building this structure into a single scheme:
- At the first stage, a future alpine slide is designed, many examples are viewed, the required dimensions are calculated, and a plan is drawn.
- They are determined with the choice of stones, purchase at points of sale or use their own material.
- A drainage "cushion" for the rock garden is being prepared; it will support the topsoil and remove excess moisture. In place future design they dig a small depression, about 60-70 cm. What size the rock garden is supposed to be, and they dig a pit of this width. A layer of crushed stone or chipped bricks (30 cm) is laid on the bottom, then sand is poured (also 30 cm), poured over with water.
- Next, clean (no plant residues and debris) earth is poured over the sand. Ideally, its composition should be suitable for future plants. The layer of earth should be about 80-100 cm, keep in mind that it will still sit down in 10-15 days.
- The next stage is stones for a rock garden and their placement: laying out slides, walls, any other conceived stone construction... How to lay stone material - it was described above (large at the bottom, small at the top). All details must be stable, stones are buried in the soil, strengthened with smaller fragments. Plots of land are left between them for planting.
- The choice of plants and flowers should be consistent with the artistic intent and the nature of the alpine slide.
Plants are selected on the basis of the composition of the soil at the site of the rock garden, their reaction to sunlight, while the climatic features of your region also play a significant role.
A small rock garden in the country, photo:
Plants for rock garden
By by and large, the choice of plants depends on your taste, the choice of color and size is entirely determined by your preferences. The main thing is that everything should look harmonious, taking into account the growth rate of neighboring representatives. The most popular and favorite plants for alpine slides are conifers (including dwarf ones), ground covers, heather crops, fern plants, and small trees. On top of the structure should be located more drought-resistant species that feel comfortable in the sun. At the foot of the rock garden, you can plant small shrubs (dwarf spirea, almonds, barberry, Cus broom), miniature trees, lush species.
Plants for a rock garden should be undersized - this is general rule... Large representatives should not be placed for the reason that they will simply hammer in short "neighbors", create unnecessary shadows, and disrupt the harmony of the composition. Various bulbous, tuberous, rosette plants, junipers have proven themselves well. From ground cover - dryad, zvezdovka, diastia, brunner, soapwort, ethionema, arabis. Of the shade-tolerant - ferns, saxifrage, hosts, stachis, bergenia, astilbe, periwinkle, corydalis, primrose, anemone.
The assortment of plants for decorating alpine slides is very wide, it is simply unrealistic to list everything, so the most creative and enjoyable part - landscaping, completely falls on your shoulders. When choosing sun-loving representatives, pay attention to the swimsuit, heliantemum, adonis, irises, lavender, acena, antennae, phlox. The decorative bow, aubretia (aubretia), edelweiss, gentian, aquilegia, calla Eliot, oreganum, sunflower, erigeron are very attractive. Universal plants with an unpretentious character are bells, crocuses, ramonda, soapwort, violet, cinquefoil, sedum, scilla, phlox, muscari, liatris.
Heliantemum in the design of a rock garden, photo:
Primula (1), obrietta (2), tenacious (3), yaskolka (4), periwinkle (5), photo:
Outcome
The alpine slide should be looked after in the same way as for any other flower bed. It is necessary to remove faded and dried plants, periodically loosen the ground, remove weeds, water. Top dressing is done mainly before the arrival of winter. With the advent of cold weather, the rock garden can be covered with wood chips, tree branches conifers or with a special covering material. When the snow falls, it is advisable to form snow mounds on the rock gardens, this will help the plants survive the frosts.
Such elements of landscape design have their own philosophy, based on individual performance. No matter how many alpine slides there are in the world, each of them will be unique. If you decide to make a rock garden in your country house, best schemes devices and an example of creating with your own hands, for example, from your neighbor, will still differ from your version. A competently and thoughtfully designed composition that imitates a natural landscape is a unique flavor of the Alpine mountains in your country house, moreover, made with your own hands.
