Flowers in the garden are a necessary attribute of every summer cottage. By planting a flower garden with your own hands, you can realize all your fantasies and ideas about the beauty of flowering plants. If you don’t know what flowers to plant in your dacha or how to design flowers in your garden, use the expert advice presented on this page. And then a beautiful garden with flowers will become not a dream, but a reality in your backyard.
The color of your garden is dictated by the flowers planted in it. They give the garden an element of movement, additional shapes and textures. Flowers in garden design replace each other throughout the season, and this gives a feeling of change, the flow of life, celebration, and newness.
Landscape of flowers in your garden
It is difficult to create a full-fledged garden without flowers in the landscape, since flowers are a universal connecting link and a bright element of style, while trees and shrubs are rather a background element.
The flowers in your garden are the very essence of its beauty - there are many, many more types of flowering plants that you can grow in your garden than there are trees and shrubs, and given the fact that each flower still has many varieties, the total number of combinations is not even countable.
Look at the photos of flowers in the garden - they are beautiful in themselves, and such a variety of colors, shapes, lines is perhaps difficult to find anywhere else.
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Flowers in landscape design provide great opportunities for creating magnificent compositions not only among themselves, but also in combination with other types of plants, natural materials, and various objects.
Placing flowers in garden design
Placing flowers in garden design is practiced in single plantings or in flower beds. Single plantings are placed in transition areas of garden zones; they are perfect for the role of accents, “soloists”. But then these flowers should be expressive.
A landscape of flowers in groups can be decorated wherever you like, where they will please the eye. Naturally, these should be places where the flower garden can be clearly seen.
The best places for flower beds are in the front part of the garden, at the entrance to the site. Also, flower beds should be located next to rest areas and gazebos.
DIY flowers in the garden look great next to garden partitions and are a logical addition to ponds and swimming pools.
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Flowers are a natural decoration for the lawn. Place them around the perimeter or on the lawn itself, in groups. Paving modules are simply created for flowers.
Flowers will highlight the configuration of the retaining walls. Flowers can be used to decorate places near fences and the area outside the perimeter of the site.
Design of flowers in the country house and garden plot
Flowers in dacha design flowers are not an interior, and therefore the techniques concern not only the architecture of the garden, but, first of all, especially the blooming ones.
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After all, flowers are the brightest, most visible representatives of the plant world. There are a number of effective techniques for designing flowers in the country that are used in landscape design.
DIY “chintz garden” of flowers
If you need to visually distance boundaries or an object, use a “calico garden.” Flowers can help make your garden appear larger by adding visual distance to certain garden features or borders. Well, borders are a fence. A fence sometimes speaks eloquently about the size of a site, especially if it is “major” and dark in color. No matter how beautiful the landscape is created in the garden, such a fence constantly reminds of itself. To enlarge an area, it is necessary to “blur” its clear boundaries.
A “chintz garden” made from flowers with your own hands will come in handy here. To do this, flowers of two colors are planted nearby, along the fence (or next to an object that needs to be “distanced”): one color is a specific one of your choice, and the second is with variegated flowers, but those whose colors contain the color of the first group plants. Example: combinations of phloxes with crimson flowers and phloxes with variegated, white-crimson flowers.
Plants for the “calico effect” can also be selected from the group of plants for vertical gardening. For example, many varieties of morning glory have variegated, stunningly beautiful flowers that can be combined with monochromatic varieties.
"Eskimo design" of flowers in the garden at the dacha
“Eskimo design” of flowers in a country garden is used if you need to significantly increase the visual size of the garden or any corner of it.
"Eskimo design" as an effect was actually invented by the Eskimos, and it was associated with the small size of their traditional homes. It was necessary to visually expand the spaces of our “interiors”. Then a special type of decor was invented - “dematerialization of volume”: the decoration of the walls and ceilings of homes was diluted with small multi-colored elements. The goal was achieved: this technique visually “expanded” the small space, and the walls “parted.” Since then, this effect has been used frequently in design, including in garden design.
This is how “Eskimo design” is applied. Let's say, if you want to enlarge some corner of the garden, then its floral design should be as varied as possible, variegated, of different colors. In this case, flowers should be planted in small clumps. In general, there is a lot of everything, but there should not be large and identical objects.
Flowers along the paths in the country house and in the garden
If you want to increase the size of your entire garden, turn it into a flower garden! By the way, this is a suitable idea for those who dream of having as many flowers as possible on their plot and get more and more “trophies” every season. The general idea of a flower garden is simple: paths and seating areas are located among flowers, and flowers dominate everywhere. If you create such a garden, there should be no “white spots” in it, everything should be large, medium and small, depending on the area you have. It is necessary to fill almost the entire space of the garden with flower beds, leaving only the grounds. It is not difficult to guess that everything that can bloom is used in the garden. You can use any annuals and perennials, even the simplest ones. But plants with decorative foliage are used sparingly - only to emphasize the beauty of the flowers. And there is no usual lawn in this garden, but if you like lawns, your choice is a flowering lawn, for example, from awl-shaped phlox. - yes, but in this case it should be “blooming”. Mesh screens, trellises, with these elements, ideas will ensure vertical flowering. Flower ponds will add originality. Flowers along paths in the country house and in the garden are best combined with stone, so if possible, use sandstone, large stones and gravel for paths, platforms and garden corners. Construction materials: wood and metal. Illumination of all flower beds and individual plants is necessary, numerous.
General concept: fireworks display of flower beds scattered throughout the garden, with inserts in the form of paths and platforms, and all the structures on the site are prototypes of decorations for these flower beds, the main one of which is your home itself.
Design of flowers in the garden using lamps
If you need to make the area larger and brighter, brighten the corners of the garden.
Brightening dark corners, we place lamps in these places. The best lightening is to plant plants with white and yellow flowers and variegated flowers of the same tones. But not only these two colors. Use as many light, pure, bright colors as possible: white, pale yellow and yellow, sand, cream, peach, pink. This applies to all flowering plants, the flowers of which should be predominantly light, warm colors. As for the leaves, it is better if they are also light or variegated.
In general, the method of working with garden corners is called the “cat method”. He appeared a long time ago. It operates according to the principle: “in each corner there is a cat, opposite each cat there are three cats.” The method works great on any small volumes, freeing up and brightening the maximum amount of space. According to this method, in each corner, provide some kind of light element: a flower bed, a group of flowers, a fastening system for arranging a cascade of hanging flowers, a corner gazebo, a bench, a corner podium, a composition with a sculpture, and the like. The main thing is that all this is decorated with flowers of the appropriate color, and the corner is not just an angle, but carries some kind of aesthetic and useful function. Accordingly, this method is suitable not only for the corners themselves, but also for any dark, shady corners of the garden.
Beautiful "white garden" with flowers
Or you can use not just a set of plants blooming with white flowers, but go further and even make a whole thematic composition, for example, “White Garden” or “Ballet Garden”. Here's how to create a composition in one of the dark corners of the garden.
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This stylization requires an island of light paving. At the foot of this area there is a flower garden that frames it. You also need to plant 1-2 trees that bloom with white flowers, preferably cherries. All plants in the flower garden should also have white flowers - this will be a “white garden”. Here's what you can plant in it: astilbes, hostas with white edging on the leaves, deutia, spirea, hydrangea, decorative wormwood, lilies, white tulips. Also in this flower garden there must be several bushes of gypsophila, it can even be a monogarden consisting only of it, and let one of them be pink. Nearby you can place an openwork obelisk of a pointed shape, in the shape of a pyramid, or an arch, or an elegant trellis along which to plant white clematis or. There may be several cream-colored containers on the paving itself; you can paint them yourself, using ordinary clay or plastic ones as a basis. In the flower garden itself there may be a small decoration in the form of a ball on a pedestal or a low “antique” half-column. But if the flowerbed is small, then a small white forged decoration is enough, it can also be a flower support. Place elegant garden furniture, cover the table with a sheet of tulle, you can insert a drawstring from below and gather it up. The ensemble will be complemented by low garden lamps. For a festive evening, you can tie white satin ribbons on tree branches and light candles.
Design of flowers in the garden to create relief
Designing flowers in the garden to create relief is used if your garden plot is too flat. An ideally flat area is good for agricultural work. But sometimes there is simply nothing for the eye to catch on.
In order for a garden to give aesthetic pleasure, the beauty of nature must be present in it, some kind of landscape must be created. The landscape is characterized by some relief, albeit minor. Therefore, if the area is too flat, it is necessary to create this relief at least somewhere. For example, build an alpine hill, erect a bulk retaining wall, at least 10 centimeters high, build a raised or stepped platform. It is enough to do this in 2-3 places, and your site will immediately be transformed fabulously. Volume, depth, dynamics and your own “face” will appear. Now this is not just a plot, but a real landscape.
But all of these, so to speak, are engineering and technical structures that require materials and require material investments. It could be simpler.
You can add additional volume to your garden only with the help of flowering plants. To do this, you need to select them so that within the same flower bed plants of different heights, with different shapes and shades of foliage, and with different shapes of inflorescences are combined. Don't forget about ornamental grasses. In other words, specially composed compositions and groups of plants will give your site the desired volume.
Zoning for landscape design with flowers
If you need to divide your garden into zones, use floral zoning. Zoning in landscape design with flowers is the most important component, because if there are zones, then there is a structure.
There is a structure - there is a design. But besides this, identifying zones using boundaries adds an additional dimension to the garden, which means volume, complicates the space, and as a result the entire garden is perceived as larger in size.
We should not forget that sometimes boundaries are necessary purely for practical reasons: they are necessary when there are zones nearby that are different in style, design, and purpose, because such an arrangement can create the impression of visual clutter. Borders in the garden are also needed when it is necessary to block a not very attractive view somewhere, for example, to a neighbor’s barn, or to disguise some not very decorative objects with which we, for some reason, are not yet ready to resolve the issue radically . And flowers are used almost everywhere in zoning.
Decorating your garden and dacha with flowers
Boundaries in the garden are a much broader concept than one might imagine. Of course, these are not walls; even in the interior, boundaries are not always walls, let alone a garden. Borders in the garden are of three main types: solid, “openwork” or partial, and conditional. All these types are functionally equivalent and will produce the same effect. You can choose one type or another for a specific area, or even several types together, based on the specific conditions of your site and your purpose.
Solid boundaries can be constructed in a variety of ways. The border can be a fragment (or section), as well as a wall of any height specially made of some material: brick, stone, concrete, wood, bamboo. It goes without saying that in terms of design there is room for imagination: solid partitions can be of different heights along their length - with ledges, wavy, etc. This is how you can decorate a hedge. And if these are structural partitions, then you can make openings in them - “windows”, at least small ones, or create niches - this always looks better than just solid partitions. Accordingly, any such wall can be decorated in a variety of ways, but the best way is to decorate it with plants.
As you can see in the photo, to decorate your dacha with flowers, you can use vertical gardening plants or strengthen hanging containers. Flowers can also be planted at the foot of the partition.
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Openwork or partial partitions have even more types - for all tastes and needs. Perhaps these garden borders are the most beautiful! This includes a variety of mesh and figured trellises, pergolas, arches, and garden screens. You can also use free-standing structures for vertical gardening, but combine several of these structures together. All these things can be wooden, metal, forged, or made of synthetic mesh or wire stretched over a frame. There is a huge range of such products on sale now, but you can also make them yourself. With flowers they turn into real vertical “beds”. A distinctive feature of these structures is that they are slightly transparent and do not limit the perception of space. And visibility through them can be easily adjusted using vertical gardening.
Decoration of arches from fresh flowers
Arches made of fresh flowers are the most open partitions, and not even partitions at all, but they highlight garden areas simply beautifully! You can install one arch, or you can install several, in the form of a tunnel. In addition to vertical gardening, it would be nice to decorate the base of the arch with plants. Decorating an arch with flowers is important if you want it to look new every time; for this it is better to use flyers.
For example, you can entwin an arch with climbing nasturtium, and decorate the bottom with ageratum. Or take blue morning glory and marigolds, better than bush varieties. Even two plants for decorating arches with flowers already guarantee an effect, not to mention more. The arch is also good because it is perfectly stylized. All styles have their own arches, therefore, by installing the appropriate arch, you have already declared the chosen style. For openwork partitions, you can also use beautiful picket fences, a palisade made of timber or bamboo - it can be used either as a series of individual elements, or connected with ropes.
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Conventional boundaries are not at all similar to partitions, but they are perhaps the most interesting. Firstly, such boundaries can be on a plane. What could it be? Joints of different pavings, transition from a path to paving made of another material, a canal or stream, the intersection of two lawns of different shapes. And also - clumps of ground cover flowering plants planted along a certain trajectory - the border of zones.
Secondly, boundaries can be in volume. This is a meeting of two different levels, a bridge, a large stone, a sculpture, as well as a curtain of large exotic or simply especially catchy flowers, an original mini-flower bed, a large container with flowers or several small containers. There may also be a fragment of a “hedge” of medium height or tall flowers, there may be an obelisk entwined with morning glory, decorative beans or sweet peas. Also, a small structure, for example, a gazebo, a canopy, or, again, decorated with flowers, is also quite suitable for the role of a garden partition.
Garden decoration with fresh flowers (with photo)
Pay attention to the photo: when decorating a garden with fresh flowers, you can ensure a connection between the house and the garden; use flowers as a connecting link. There must be a connection between the house and the garden. And the best connecting link is plants, and from them - flowers. They are the ones that dock with various structures and with the house, ensuring that the garden penetrates into the house, and the house into the garden.
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Through flowering plants, a gradual transition from man-made to natural is ensured. Usually the transition point is considered to be a terrace or veranda, the landscaping of which plays a special role. The garden already begins on the terrace or veranda. In addition, communication is provided through, for this purpose supports and trellises are attached to the house and other buildings, or containers with flowers are hung on the house and buildings themselves. And in addition to this, interpenetration is ensured by the creation of so-called “green rooms” on the site. So the concept of “home” becomes relative. In fact, a garden is also a house.
This is not only the allocation of individual spaces, but also functional zoning, which allows you to obtain a practical effect. For example, one of the “rooms” will be a recreation area, another will be a barbecue pavilion, the third will be a flower garden for sitting, the fifth will be a mini-beach, with and, and so you can arrange as many “rooms” as you need. Naturally, the rooms need to be highlighted, garden boundaries are also needed here, and in this case they can be either partially transparent or solid, so it will be cozy. But everywhere with such a selection, the main role belongs to the colors.
Somewhere you can build a decorative wall of stone or wood and plant a group of flowers at the foot, somewhere there will be a trellis with vertical gardening, somewhere a mini-flower bed, and somewhere a hedge, perhaps of tall flowers. Naturally, a gazebo or garden pavilion are already objects with ready-made boundaries. All “garden rooms” should be connected by paths, it is good if these paths have many intersections. In the case of a large garden, it would be nice to “dilute” the lawn with spot plantings of ornamental plants.
And other buildings in the garden, naturally, have corners and structural joints. If you need to smooth out corners or cover up paving joints, there is no better decorator than flowering plants. In such places you need to plant large plants or large clumps of smaller ones. The more magnificently they bloom, the better.
Flower design in the garden and country house (with photo)
If you need to highlight beautiful lines and shapes in your garden, and solve many problems, do it with flowers. In a beautiful garden, the lines and shapes used in the design of the garden are of great importance. Beautiful lines are not just aesthetics. They also “work” to correct the garden’s shortcomings.
Let's say, if your garden has a small area, you will get an immediate effect if you use round, oval, and arched shapes in garden planning. And if you like rectangular shapes, then let them not be rectangles, but rhombuses. The “classic” rectangle or square is too specific. And you need to distort the shape, make the eye move more slowly, following the lines.
Look at the photo of the design of flowers in the garden and at the dacha: it is best to make the front lawn round, arched or ribbon-shaped, and if you like, then “free”, arbitrarily curved.
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By the way, it is easier to make free-form lawns - it does not require precision or complex special measurements. Apply the method of rounded shapes not only to lawns - for all elements of the garden: gazebos, recreation areas, terraces, this strategy will be good. Any element will appear visually larger. Well, to make the planning lines stand out, it is best to highlight them with colors.
Well, if you are not correcting any shortcomings, but want to make it “simply beautiful,” then flowers are your first helpers. They will best emphasize the beautiful shape or line of a flower bed, platform, or structure. Especially if the shape of the inflorescences, the shape of the plant itself, or the line along which the plants are planted will repeat the shape or line that needs to be emphasized.
If you need to create the impression of a large, open garden, use the effect of perspective. The tool for realizing this effect is a variety of plants, among which flowers play the main role. But this tool must be used according to the following techniques:
Organizing so that the entire garden is not visible at once. If you see the entire area at once, you evaluate its entire area. But the garden should be full of mysteries and discoveries, so that you want to see what’s there next, what other interesting corners there are in this garden. It follows that interesting corners should be somewhat hidden or at least half-open.
The best solution is garden partitions, supplemented with plants: screens, vertical structures, arches, pergolas, or the plants themselves in the form of hedges, picturesque plant groups. In a word, everything that can act as a barrier to view. Then we will not be able to estimate the true size of the site, but can only guess.
What flowers to plant at the dacha for “garden paintings”
“Garden paintings” are essentially beautiful views that are viewed from certain points and which are also located in such a way that the entire surrounding landscape is the frame for this painting. In other words, you need to arrange the garden in such a way that from any point in the garden you can see a beautiful “perspective” and your gaze will not “bump into” anything. Then your garden will have depth. At the same time, the observed perspective should not be too straightforward, that is, the view in question should not look like a monotonous corridor, it should be pleasant to the eye. For “garden pictures” in your dacha, you can plant those plants that you especially like. Also ideal for planting: astilbe, hosta, deutzia, spirea, hydrangea, decorative wormwood, lilies, tulips.
You should see enough interesting objects that you would like to look at. For example, you can look into the distance and see a beautifully shaped tree or shrub, a bright flower garden, an unusual element of a path, a bridge, a corner of a gazebo, the shine of a pond, notice the transition from shadow to light, and in the distance, as a result of the entire visual “journey,” see a beautiful area for relaxing under a canopy. The presence of such perspectives in various “viewpoints” of the garden (for example, in recreation corners, in the front area) guarantees an excellent perception of the entire landscape. It is best to design such beautiful views in advance, and you need to include as many flowers as possible in them - they will further emphasize the beauty of the “garden pictures”.
Flowers combined with mirrors
If you need to visually expand the space and decorate the garden in an original way, combine flowers and garden mirrors.
The effect that flowers give in combination with mirrors is no less than the effect of a combination of flowers and water. And here the “effect of unusualness” is added, because the use of garden mirrors is a new method of garden decoration. It happens that mirrors themselves are not used, but are imitated by colors.
This is precisely the technique of mirroring - an example of such imitation. It's no secret that a mirror doubles space, so your garden itself can become such a mirror. It's simple: pay attention to the views outside your garden. And then - when planning, repeat certain elements of what you see on your site. If you see a lake in the distance, plan a pond on your site, if there is a river - a stream, if there is a birch grove - planting birch trees, if there is a hilly landscape - a rock garden. Accordingly, repeat the plants and the color of their flowers. The principle is this: the surrounding nature should be reflected on your site, like in a mirror. This also applies to nearby objects: for example, if you see your neighbor’s tree behind the fence, that means you need to include it in your composition. Just in this place near the fence, organize a group of ornamental shrubs so that this tree looks like part of your group. If yellow spirea bloom behind the fence, then include more yellow flowers in your flower garden near the fence (it doesn’t have to be spirea, or any flowers, as long as the flowers are yellow). You can imitate the mirror effect by repeating certain elements from time to time, while arranging them as if they were actually reflected in the mirror. For example, you can repeat a flower bed motif, or a vertical structure, or a composition of stones on different sides of the site.
Well, with real mirrors, you can achieve any effect you want in the garden. Mirrors can be ordered, or you can use old ones left over, for example, after renovation. Mirrors are mounted at various points of the site, on the fence, on the walls of structures so as to reflect the most beautiful views, flower beds, clumps of flowers, or in those places where it is necessary to visually “remove” some object. The mirror can be designed as an arch or a gate, and the borders of the mirror can be hidden using vertical landscaping. A mirror in the garden is beautiful and fashionable. Previously, there was a technique of hanging pictures on the walls - “tricks”, but, you see, there is no better artist than nature itself, and it is better not to draw it, but to reflect it.
Look at the photos of flowers in landscape design: there is no better decoration for flower beds than mirror accessories! These can be either small mirrors or mirror tiles, or figurines with mirror mosaics, mirror balls. Flowers in mirrored containers are spectacular.
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To get such an accessory, just take simple rectangular containers, small wooden boxes, or balcony boxes, and attach mirrors to their “facades.” After this, you can plant flowers in them, and place these containers either in a group so that they reflect each other, or next to the flower beds. The impression this creates is amazing!
It is not only possible, but also necessary to design a garden and vegetable garden in such a way that it gives a lot of positive emotions and is a decoration of your home or dacha. What’s interesting is that there are no restrictions or clear rules here - it all depends on your desire and imagination.
But if you think that designing a small vegetable garden is not an easy task, read our article! You will be convinced that there is nothing complicated in the design of the site.
The photo shows the original design of part of the site
| Rule | Description |
| Effective zoning | Even at the planning stage, it is extremely important to think about where and how exactly outbuildings and decorative elements will be located. It must be remembered that there should be three clearly defined zones in the garden:
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| Lighting and soil characteristics | When thinking about the placement of beds and areas for planting vegetables, keep in mind that many varieties love the sun, and therefore it is important to provide them with direct sunlight throughout the day. Also remember that many vegetables and plants are demanding on soil quality. |
| Small beds | In cases where growing vegetables is not a priority for you, do not make too many beds. If you just want to get fresh vegetables to your table in the summer, but not engage in canning, three or four small beds on which the following will be planted will be enough:
Thus, you can save space by using the free space to arrange a comfortable and spacious recreation area with a gazebo, barbecue, etc. |
| The special shape of the beds and their unusual location | When arranging beds, it doesn’t matter whether you have a lot of them on your site or just two or three, remember about their attractive appearance. But at the same time, take into account the needs of the plants that will be grown there. For example, the following beds are definitely not suitable for moisture-loving plants:
This is due to the fact that in such beds the water dries out much faster, and in general the moisture is distributed unevenly, which can lead to problems with growing and ripening vegetables. |
| The correct ratio of the size of the beds and the distance between them | Most often, gardeners prefer to make beds ranging from a meter to one and a half meters wide. However, it has already been proven that the optimal width should be about seventy centimeters. This will allow:
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If you decide to design your vegetable garden with your own hands, our unique instructions will certainly help you, telling you exactly what to do and how.
Rules for framing beds
Many gardeners and vegetable gardeners are faced with the problem that the vegetable garden in spring and autumn, before planting and after harvesting, looks unattractive.
Or at the height of summer, when the garden is covered:
- bushes;
- foliage;
- flowers;
- fruits.
But if you make the beds as neat as possible and additionally frame them with decorative edges, then the entire area will look beautiful at any time of the year, both before planting and after harvesting them.
Note. Using the sides you can slightly raise the beds above the general level of the site.
There is no need to make the walls too high; even a small frame will create a charming garden landscape.
By the way, you can use special shaped modules that will allow you to create a frame:
- with smooth curves;
- with nice circles;
- curved but smooth lines.
Objects such as:
- tree stumps, only small ones;
- clinker and facing bricks;
- multi-colored plastic bottles.
In fact, the price of such elements is cheap, and therefore the design will not require any serious financial investments from you.
Note. Don't forget about the design of the paths.
They can be laid out either with granite screenings or wood cuts.
Garden containers
Small containers are great for decorating a summer cottage, the main advantage of which is mobility - you can easily move this or that container within the garden, which will allow you to:
- constantly change its design;
- bring novelty;
- fill spontaneously forming empty spaces and areas.
For example, if you have small flowers or bright greenery planted in containers, then they can be used for decoration:
- terraces;
- sites next to;
- patio and so on.
By the way, you don’t need to think that you will need any special expensive containers or containers.
They can be easily replaced:
- old dishes, cast iron;
- baskets;
- pots of various diameters;
- barrels and other similar products.
Note. There are no strict rules in choosing containers.
The main thing is that they harmoniously combine with other decorative items.
This will allow you to create an organic design.
Also, be careful when choosing the plants you plan to plant in containers.
If we talk about vegetables, then the best ones are:
- early ripening tomatoes;
- cherry;
- decorative eggplants;
- decorative pepper.
Note. In large containers, experienced gardeners and gardeners recommend combining several plants at once.
In particular, lettuce and chard go well together - the former has a delicate, light green hue that harmonizes with the reddish leaves of the latter.
If we talk about flowers, they can be planted either separately or by combining several plants in one container.
Best suited for this purpose:
- majors;
- pansies;
- calendula;
- garden chamomile;
- marigolds and others.
We combine clubs - combined cultivation of flowers and vegetables
This combination will allow you to create amazingly beautiful islands. This type of bed creation involves planting both vegetables and flowers in small “oases,” thereby forming different levels within one bed.
In particular, gardeners who have been practicing this method for many years offer the following option:
- in the foreground, close to the edge, you need to plant greenery;
- in the background are plants that reach medium height, for example, tomatoes or peppers;
- and in the third plan, at the far end, plant taller plants, for example, sunflowers.
If you can arrange original flower beds on your site, which will be additionally framed not only with flowers, but also with ornamental plants, then it is guaranteed to conquer the entire dacha village and will receive first prize in a competition for the best design, if one is held.
Everyone who has at least small summer cottage, dreams of recreating his own piece of paradise on it. But there is not always enough money for a landscape designer, and you also want to have a hand in the work. Then you should try yourself as a landscape designer. Are you afraid you won't be able to cope? Believe me, no one is born a landscape designer right away, try it and see that everything is not as difficult as it seemed!
Basic secrets for dummies
What to do if the area is small?
You got a small plot of land, but are you afraid that you won’t be able to organize it with maximum usefulness? No problem. In landscape design you will find a lot of interesting things that will help you visually enlarge the land and use it fully.
These tips will help you zone your territory:
- So that the vegetation can enjoy sunlight for as long as possible, place it on the north side;
- If the landscape of your site is not uniform, then place a gazebo or bench in the lowlands, and leave the elevated areas for the vegetable garden;
- When you decide to install a gazebo or add a terrace, think about the side on which the view will open;
- The garage and shed should be closer to the exit.
How to plant plants to visually enlarge the area:
- Avoid strict geometric shapes in everything. Yes, they give the appearance of well-groomed, aristocratic appearance, but do not forget that clear lines visually narrow the territory. Try to make even the paths slightly rounded and winding;
- Plant any plants not strictly vertically or horizontally, but in different ways. Plants planted in an oval or circle will look good;
- Try to plant trees not one after another, but alternately in different parts of the yard;
- In order for all the plantings to look elegant and stand out, you can make a fence from colored plastic bottles, tires, and boards.
Make it not too bulky, a small, neat fence made of boards will be the best solution.
How to organize a space of 15 acres of land with a vegetable garden and garden?
It is worth remembering that 15 acres is a rectangular plot, which means that the space must be organized accordingly. Before working on the site itself, you need to plan the location of the main buildings - house, garage, storage room. If they already exist, you can build on their style or slightly modify the buildings for a harmonious combination.
There are three main styles:
- Geometric. All construction, as well as planting, is carried out along strict, clear lines. For example, plants are planted horizontally or vertically one after another. The delineation of the lines applies to the gazebo, pools, and reservoirs;
- Free style. Suitable for areas with uneven terrain. Everything, including the paths, does not follow strict geometric shapes; it has sinuous, rounded outlines emphasizing the landscape;
- Combined style. It is used both in the case of a flat area and an uneven one. Curvy and oblong lines are combined. For example, the path may be winding, but clear contours around it in the form of a fence will make it look neater and more collected.
Basic mistakes that should not be made:
- Do not make the path absolutely straight and passing through the entire area. This will only visually reduce the area, and besides, such a partition looks too untidy. In some places, divide it with shrubs, flowers, make it smoother;
- Take care of the wastewater disposal system. The steeper the slope and the more stepped, the higher the levels of wastewater disposal should be;
- Organize an irrigation system. Parts of the land located on a slope are more susceptible to drying out, therefore there should be more irrigation devices - pumps, hoses.
How to beautifully decorate the beds and the entrance to the garden?
Before registration, you need to take care of the site, preparing it in advance:
- Eliminate all weeds, remove debris and foreign objects, if any;
- It is advisable to choose a sunny, windless area for planting, where the plants will grow best;
- If the area you have chosen is heavily exposed to winds, fence it off with a small wooden fence, bushes or other large plants, as long as they do not block the light.
They will make your garden bed neat and well-groomed fencing the rows from each other. You can use them as:
- Brick;
- Low wicker fence;
- Small boards;
- Rope or rope;
- Grid.
The rows do not have to be rectangular or square; you can make a groove from the boards in a triangular shape and fill it with your favorite plants.
If there is a rise/slope on your site, you decide to make steps; on one of their sides, plant beautiful flowers or small tomato bushes in wooden boxes - it looks mobile and innovative.
A game with geometric shapes will look original. For example, in the middle in the form of a circle you can plant peonies, lilies or any other flowers, and not far from them in a circle in triangular fences any other vegetation to your taste. Fill the free space between plantings with mineral, white stone or crushed stone - no one has ever had such an advanced bed.
An arrangement of flowers and vegetables can create an interesting transition. To do this, you don’t need to invent complicated figures; even a row of carrots with a bell growing between them is already a work of art. Of course, it will be better if you first read which flowers are combined with which vegetable crops.
Combination of vegetables and flower garden:
- Parsley and basil, garlic, tomatoes, lettuce - calendula;
- Broccoli – Nasturtium;
- Bell peppers, peas, beans, dill - Marigolds;
- Peas, beans, onions and flax - Peonies;
- Legumes, onions, garlic, carrots – Poppy seeds;
- Beets, lettuce, peas, cauliflower and white cabbage - Roses;
- Cabbage, onion – Cloves;
- Strawberries with thyme – Lavender, Poppies, Hybrid types of roses.
It is advisable to maintain a distance between the beds of 40-55 cm. The width of the bed should not exceed more than 90 cm. Start building the bed from south to north, this way you will create comfortable conditions for heat-loving vegetable crops and flower gardens.
Beautiful garden-vegetable garden-dacha in the photo
Option for designing beds.
A cozy corner in the garden, which, despite its attractiveness, will not cost too much if the site already has an old weeping willow and a natural lawn.
Fences for beds, thoughtful centric paths and arrangement of vegetables with flowers instantly turn an ordinary vegetable garden into a designer landscape.
Brick fences for beds or flower beds look expensive and can set the tone for the entire landscape.
Even a small area can be used with maximum benefit if you use the trick of geometric shapes.
Stepped organization of space helps to save space in small areas. Also great for relief areas.
Beautiful beds on video
Many people think that creating an exclusive garden design with their own hands, like in a photo gallery, is something unrealistic. But that's not true. Design ideas can easily be transferred to the local area of your own dacha or country house, creating a unique landscape with an atmosphere of harmony and comfort. A small cozy garden or a luxurious park requires the same approach, both in terms of architecture and design, and when choosing plants and space planning. Landscape design of a garden plot is a whole philosophy that unites nature and everyday life. There are many options for arranging a garden with a local area, among them you can always choose one that will fully meet your individual needs. Style, harmony, convenience and simplicity are the basis for creating a unique atmosphere necessary for a relaxed holiday and comfortable country life.
Design project
Creating a landscape design on a garden plot with your own hands is not so much realistic as it is necessary, because today a dacha has ceased to be exclusively a place for growing vegetables. A country house is, first of all, a place where city dwellers come to relax from the hustle and bustle, admire nature, in a word - relax.
There is absolutely no difference: 4, 6 or 10 acres are available. With careful planning, if you manage space rationally and think through the design, even on a modest-sized plot you can create a landscape of stunning beauty.
Advice! When independently developing a design project for a garden plot, numerous photos with ready-made solutions will help. Even if such a project cannot be fully implemented, you can always apply particularly attractive ideas for arrangement or decoration to your site.
The outlines of the site should be transferred to paper, drawing up a detailed plan. After this, you can begin to allocate functional zones - economic, recreational, decorative.
Advice! You should take into account in advance the purpose of the future site: only decorative, combined with economic or exclusively for recreation.
All zones need to be filled based on their purpose, your own needs, and the desired style. This stage includes the selection of vegetation, architectural details, arrangement of reservoirs, lighting, laying paths and other communications.
Separately, it is worth considering the boundaries of each site, which will be helped by hedges or lattice partitions covered with ivy. A good border could be paths, an artificial pond, or garden sculptures. The main thing is that the division of zones looks as natural as possible, without sudden changes or breaks.
Advice! The sloping terrain of the site often causes many problems. But if you properly organize the drainage system in the lower part, and divide the slope into several terraces, you can achieve a stunning decorative effect, while simultaneously dividing the entire area into functional zones by height.
Garden plot style
The success of landscape design of a garden plot largely depends on a well-chosen stylistic solution. The style should not only take into account the size, topography and location of the personal territory, but also emphasize the character of the owner. The differences in styles and their features are clearly demonstrated in the photo gallery, but before you try on one or another design for your site, it is better to study the features of each.
English style
This design is characterized by maximum naturalness, lack of symmetry, and an abundance of greenery. The appearance of the site seems to have come out of an idyllic landscape painting.
Vegetation is selected of all types. A well-groomed lawn, deciduous trees, trimmed shrubs, and lush multi-tiered flower beds must be present. The latter are mainly composed of flowering plants and shrubs (roses, irises, cyclamens, oleanders, etc.). Trees should provide a lot of shade, so it is worth planting willows along with fruit trees.
Such a solution will look best on a spacious area with noticeable uneven terrain, where a smooth lawn abruptly turns into hilly terrain. The space should be divided into a garden and a park area, connecting them with winding paths with benches in the shade of trees, ponds framed with stone.
Mediterranean style
Mediterranean design is simple, with all the key elements centered around the patio. This patio is usually paved with stone, covered with a wooden deck, and partially surrounded by a brick wall painted white or terracotta.
The vegetation is represented by a smooth green lawn, bright areas are formed with the help of flower beds. There must be a carved pergola (wooden or forged), partially entwined with ivy, and protection from the sun is provided by thick curtains made of light textiles. A relaxation area with this design must be complemented with wicker furniture, a sun canopy, and decorated with massive vases with bright flowers, elegant sculptures, and fountains.
French style
The French style is suitable for owners of spacious garden areas located next to a large stone house. This style is distinguished by luxury and plenty of free space. The central element of the site will be a wide alley, along which neatly trimmed bushes and trees are planted, antique statues and elaborate flowerpots are placed.
The main features of French design are symmetry, adherence to proportions, clarity of lines, which can be seen in everything. It is definitely worth adding classical-style fountains, artificial porticoes, grottoes or labyrinths, columns, and stone bridges to the site. The garden should be located at a level below the main building so that it has a full view.
East style
The Japanese style is suitable for both tiny plots of 4 acres and a large garden area. Minimalism and laconicism can be seen in everything: the absence of lush decor, flowering plants, and complex shapes. There must be a pond built around which large stones can be placed. An island will look good in its center, which can be accessed through a wooden bridge without railings.
For vegetation, preference should be given to evergreen trees and shrubs, including dwarf ones. In spring and autumn, maples and fruit trees will add color to the garden. The paths should be strewn with gravel; in some areas large stones can be laid out to set the pace of movement.
Advice! Instead of a flower garden, it is appropriate to set up a rock garden. In the evening, the area will be effectively complemented by built-in lighting.
The Chinese style is suitable for fans of the philosophy of Feng Shui, which implies the harmony of all elements and the arrangement of decorative elements ensuring freedom of energy flows. There should be a pond in the garden area, around which compositions of greenery and stones should be placed.
A gazebo-pagoda, bright wooden bridges, paths in the form of stairs, an artificial waterfall, and a Buddha statue will emphasize harmony with nature. Be sure to plant bright flowers in red, yellow, and purple shades, and also take care of a smooth lawn of dense grass or moss of a rich emerald shade. Bright orange lanterns hung along the paths and next to the gazebo will add color.
Garden plot design: objects
The landscape design of a garden plot is always based on some main object, which can be a residential building, unusual terrain, trees, a neat lawn, etc. Taking into account their style and location, the plot is supplemented with secondary objects, these include:
- Green spaces.
- Gazebos and architectural elements.
- Artificial reservoirs.
- Garden sculptures.
- Lighting.
- Paths.
The final design should combine beauty and convenience, style and comfort. You shouldn’t try to place everything in your garden at once. It is enough to limit yourself to what is necessary and maintain the chosen style.
Green spaces
Landscaping is the most important element of garden design. Plants create a background for all other objects, fill the space with a special charm, uniting it with the surrounding nature.
Landscaping of the site includes phased planting of the following plants:
- Trees and shrubs of varying heights create shade, delimit the area, and highlight separate zones. In the walking area, it is best to plant low-growing shrubs or fruit trees that let in sunlight and create a comfortable environment, serving as an excellent frame for the paths. It is recommended to plant coniferous vegetation in recreation areas, and willows or tall shrubs will look good next to ponds.
- Flower beds should be laid out when the main landscape has already been formed. Plants for them are selected taking into account the size of the site and the flowering period of each species. Vertical planting will look impressive along fences or walls when the height of the plants gradually decreases. The shade of the colors in the background should be darker and more saturated than those located in front, which gives visual volume and depth. Alpine slides allow you to beat the existing terrain of the site or create a new one.
- Decorating buildings and garden objects with the help of vegetation helps to achieve unity of architecture with nature. These can be all kinds of climbing plants that decorate the walls of gazebos, steps and garden sculptures, as well as flowers or shrubs planted along ponds.
- The lawn will serve as an element that will connect all the zones on the site into a single whole. He must be neat and well-groomed. Any herbaceous plants, including flowering ones, can be considered as a lawn covering.
Advice! Beds, if necessary, should be located in the economic zone. If the plot is small, then it is best to design them not in a standard way, but in the form of a semicircle, which will help make more efficient use of the available area and visually expand the space.
The design of a small garden plot should be moderate; an abundance of flowers and plants can look heavy and “eat up” the usable area.
Gazebos and architectural elements
The main building on the garden plot is a residential building, but it does not have to be the central element of the design, much less the only place for leisure and recreation. In the design of the local area, much attention is paid to the use of various architectural elements that help to properly manage the space, make it more practical and comfortable. The buildings also serve as spectacular decor, giving the site an aesthetic and lived-in look. Among them are:
- Gazebos and pergolas should be placed near bodies of water, in park areas. On a plot of 4 acres, it is appropriate to install a small open gazebo with lattice walls, placing it away from the house. This type of building is best decorated with climbing plants or a group of trees. A spacious area can be decorated with a large pergola with textile curtains or a gazebo with columns, located on the shore of a pond or among a cluster of trees.
- A patio or summer kitchen simultaneously serves as an outbuilding and a place to relax. Such a building is most often located in close proximity to the house or adjacent to one of its walls. In this case, the style and material of the building must match the design of the main building.
- Bridges over ponds or ravines, as well as arches, help to effectively delimit the space on the site, while at the same time ensuring a smooth transition from one zone to another. It is recommended to plant tall plants near the bridges, and the arch will be complemented by climbing vines or lush flower beds. The elements themselves can be either wooden or stone, depending on the style of the site.
- A recreation area must be present in the garden plot, regardless of its size. It is best to highlight such a place with the help of wooden flooring, stone slabs or a neat lawn. The resting place should be equipped with benches and barbecues, swings, a swimming pool, etc.
Advice! Do not forget about outbuildings when designing the site. They should be organically integrated into the overall style; if necessary, they should be covered with vegetation or a decorative hedge.
Artificial reservoirs
The presence of a pond in a garden plot can completely transform its appearance. Water makes the landscape dynamic, alive, refreshes in the heat, and fills the garden with a serene atmosphere.
When thinking about the design of garden plots of 6 acres or more, you should pay attention to the construction of an artificial reservoir, the size and purpose of which depend on individual needs:
- The fountain is an ideal solution for small areas. A reservoir of this type serves as a source of constantly moving water and can have any frame that fits into a variety of styles. With the help of a fountain you can mark the center of the site or emphasize any part of it.
- A waterfall will be an excellent solution for a garden plot with uneven terrain. Streams of water can flow over the stones of a rock garden or alpine slide, forming a small pond below, framed by plants. A water mill or decorative fountain can be installed at the top of the waterfall.
- Ponds and circulating channels are ideal for decorating large areas. Such ponds will add naturalness to the landscape, in addition, they can be used as a source of water for watering the garden. You can add fish and ducks to the finished pond, plant plants around it and install a gazebo. A pond of complex or elongated shape can be supplemented with a bridge that will connect different banks, continuing the paths.
Advice! The framing of the reservoir can be natural, in the form of a sand embankment or vegetation. Ponds and canals with a stone frame look impressive, which can be complemented by flowerpots with flowers or antique statues that become covered with moss over time.
Garden sculptures
Spectacular accessories add zest to any area. The use of garden sculptures allows you to create an individual style, highlight the character and features of the landscape.
Garden sculptures can be anything from antique statues to modern ceramic animal figurines. Greek or Gothic statues made of stone or metal will look good both in the midst of plants and on the shore of a pond. And bright ceramic figurines will complement flower beds or enliven a recreation area and make a walk more interesting.
Another spectacular accessory is stone flowerpots, inside of which you can plant flowers. Such decor can be made in any style from antique to modern, abstract. Sizes and shapes also vary, which allows you to choose a product for almost any area.
Paths
Arranging garden paths will help make your garden area as functional and comfortable as possible. These elements set the pace for the landscape, serve as its decoration, delimit the area and help freely move around it.
The material for the paths should be selected that is resistant to atmospheric influences, temperature, strong and durable. Gravel, paving slabs, and wooden flooring are best suited.
Advice! The smaller the area, the more winding the paths should be - this technique visually expands the space.
An obligatory element of garden paths is a frame, which can be curb stones, large cobblestones, tall vegetation, trimmed bushes, etc.
Advice! The paths should be provided with a slight slope from the center to the edge so that water does not accumulate on them.
Benches should be placed along the paths in the garden area, which will make any walk comfortable. They should emphasize the unity of style and complement it. Benches can be stone, forged, wooden, with or without a back.
Lighting
When creating a garden plot design with your own hands, be sure to take care of the lighting. With the help of lighting, you can not only secure movement around the local area at night, but also highlight the features of its design. The following can serve as functional and decorative light sources in the garden:
- Lanterns- they can be placed next to benches or along paths.
- Wall lights - most often installed on verandas, summer kitchens, and gazebos.
- Built-in lamps and lighting - can be located next to any decorative element in the garden (under statues, along a fence, around a pond, under bridges and arches). The illumination of the lawn, which is provided by special lamps installed in the soil, will look impressive.
- Hanging balls and garlands - this type of decorative lighting gives the garden a festive look. With its help, you can create a comfortable atmosphere both in a small gazebo and in the open space of a recreation area. Garlands can wrap around the trunks or branches of trees and buildings, creating a soft shimmer.
Designing a garden plot with your own hands will not cause problems if you take into account all the recommendations and also correlate them with the existing conditions. A competent choice of style and content guarantees stunning results even in a small area.
You have every opportunity to get a beautiful and large garden by devoting more time and attention to developing its plan. All this can be done with your own hands, without the involvement of professionals. The design of a garden is based on the correct distribution of zones.
In this article, we have collected original garden ideas that you can easily bring to life with a little effort.
Photo: DIY garden ideas
What is an ideal garden?
In fact, there are no clear rules by following which you will get the garden of your dreams. All you need is to gain strength, time and patience. When creating flower beds with your own hands, select plants that will bloom for as long as possible. When decorating flowers, you can use the “rainbow” principle or simply create flower beds in the same color scheme. Warm shades will help make your garden more cheerful and warm, while neutral tones will highlight the beauty of brighter plants and flowers.
Interesting ideas for the garden - large garden pots can be used as an independent design element on the site
A bridge placed in the garden will add integrity and stylistic completeness to the garden composition
Photo: original ideas for a DIY garden
Create your garden and home in the same style!
It is important to remember that the garden is an extension of your home, its external part. That is why they must be combined with each other. The garden should contain elements of home decoration, or corresponding colors and shapes. The background for the plants is the color of the walls of the house. To make the composition expressive, place lighter plants on a dark background, and vice versa on a light background.
Design of a summer cottage - a great idea for decorating a garden
New ideas for decorating your garden with your own hands
Learn the basics of caring for garden flowers
Every person who has a summer cottage often wonders about the correctness of their care. Plants are living beings and cannot be completely controlled. Not every gardener knows the intricacies of watering, temperature conditions or fertilizing. Improper care can quickly destroy your plant. Therefore, surround your flowers with care and attention, which will soon thank you with their beauty.
Choose garden plants that will thrive in your garden.
Garden design ideas - example of garden path design
Photo: ideas for garden decoration
Make a plan of your area and a list of plants you want in your garden. Mark on the plan all the sunny and shady corners, which will help you when placing plants.
DIY garden decoration
Diversify the design of your garden and vegetable garden
The highlight of your site can be a small pond. Add a couple of moisture-loving plants and your garden will sparkle with new colors. You can also divide the area into separate zones. To prevent them from visually mixing, use a frame with climbing plants or hedges.
Beautiful ornamental shrubs for the cottage and garden
The real decoration of a garden plot is flowering plants that fill it with bright colors.
Photo: original idea for your garden
Enjoy being in your garden
Garden paths will help add elegance and well-groomed to the area. In addition to practical functions, they have aesthetic value. Also, do not forget to arrange a comfortable and cozy seating area in your garden.
Idea for creating a recreation area for a summer house and garden with your own hands
Photo: idea for a summer house and garden
Decorate your garden with a hammock - create the perfect place for rest and relaxation
Ideas for your garden
It is a pleasure to be in a thoughtful and harmonious garden. Walk around your garden a few times and invite your friends. Think about how much time you are willing to spend there and what you want to do with your area. Don’t make hasty decisions, because a beautiful garden takes time
Fun ideas for your cottage and garden
Plants that delight with their splendor and highlight the beauty of the home
Green and orange colors will look spectacular in your garden
The highlight of your garden can be a secluded place for dinner with friends or family
Interesting ideas for a garden with your own hands
New ideas for the garden
A garden combining green spaces, flowers and a large open area covered with lawn
Stones in landscape design of a garden plot
New ideas for garden decoration
An example of designing garden paths using floral arrangements
Flowers are a wonderful decoration for the stairs in your garden
Place an improvised bedside table next to the hammock, on which it will be convenient to place all the necessary things
New ideas for the garden
Create a wilderness retreat by combining living plants and natural rocks
Decorating flower beds at the dacha
Original ideas for a small garden with your own hands
An example of modern gardening
An unusual way to use a wine barrel in a garden interior
The idea of competent design of a garden area and a summer cottage
Illumination of the area using garden lamps is an integral part of the design of garden plots
The ideal tool for garden decoration is the presence of a large number of different flowers
