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Man and nature is the eternal theme of any kind of art. Landscape design is not only a way of self-expression, but also a part of direct communication with a pristine nature. The area adjacent to the private house, gives a wide scope for imagination, opening endless opportunities for designers around the world. Regardless of the size of the villa site, you should strive to create a unique atmosphere for privacy and contemplation of nature, for family recreation with children and friends, for romantic dinners for rustling leaves and for quiet lunches reading books from a small home pond. Nature provides all the tools for creating the necessary mood. You just need to be able to use them.

In landscape design, as well as in any other kind of ennobling space, there are modern trends that most professionals follow.

The origins of the aesthetic design of the site go far into the depths of time. Over the centuries, the styles and directions of landscape design have undergone many qualitative changes. At the moment, among experts in the improvement of the site there is a desire for naturalness and primordiality. Very fashionable is the Alpine hill, Russian folk garden with a touch of technological progress: the use of glass, metal, clear geometric shapes, straight lines.

In modern landscape design, eclecticism prevails. You need to have a real talent for harmonious combination of such two incompatible directions. But the result is able to exceed all expectations.

Modern styles of landscape design

During the long history of the art of decorating the infield, many of its directions have been formed.

The main ones are:

• Classic or regular style. Famous French parks are typical representatives of this direction. The idea of ​​this design is the idea of ​​raising the human mind over nature, subjecting it to the laws of the familiar geometry for us.
• Landscape style. Historically it was formed as the opposite of the regular direction. It represents a "free", the most pristine landscape. Landscape style is designed to surprise a person with the beauty of a natural nature, skillfully designed and created by designers.
• Country style (country). "Home" the flow of the landscape style, whose representatives are the usual village gardens in different parts of the world. Arbitrary direction, which does not require large investments and careful maintenance of the site. The placement of ornaments is arbitrary, depends on the historically formed folklore of the area.

• Architectural style. Pushing the natural beauty to the second plan, focuses on the decorative constructions of the territory: bridges, terrace, arches, paved areas, architectural reliefs, stairs, etc.
• Japanese style. The design of a suburban area in the oriental style is an art. It is filled with symbolism. The landscape design of the site is ideal for creating a classical oriental atmosphere. The main components will be stones, boulders, a small pond, a place for contemplating the beauty of nature.

Layout of the area around the house

After choosing the appropriate style, you should plan the design of the area near the house, the definition of the elements. Without the planning stage, competent plotting is impossible.

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There are several standard types of planning applicable to most spaces:

• Rectangular layout. The most popular win-win option. The scheme of a rectangular plot is easy to zonate, it is convenient to divide into separate sections and is well suited for creating a successful geometric composition.
• Round layout. This layout is artificially created from a rectangular version with the help of auxiliary elements: flower beds, lawn, green plantings etc. Direct geometric forms are masked by the decor. The design of the landscape around the house in round motives can be a non-trivial solution.
• Diagonal layout. It is based on the creation of diagonal parallels. Landscape design of a small plot with their own hands in a diagonal layout will help visually expand the space, push its boundaries.
• Free planning. Admission of free placement of design elements using the natural terrain of the territory. It is important to correctly place the accents in such a garden. Otherwise, there may be an effect of neglect and the terrain will lose its landscape appeal.

Zoning of the site

Make a spacious area the most comfortable and visually increase a small backyard space will help dividing it into several functional areas. Their number and size depends entirely on the original area of ​​the area and its intended purpose.

The territory can be divided into:

• Soldier knee;
• Rest zone;
• Economic zone;
• Dining area;
• Children's zone;
• Sports area.

All zones of the territory should form a single picture, not looking as separate islands on the backyard. Zones should unite a single idea, style.

One logical zone should go smoothly to another. To do this, it is best to use green spaces, arches and decor.

What kind of layout would not be used, the largest zones are best located at the edge of the square, while the small ones are centered in the center.

Composition of landscape design

Landscape design of the site is a combination of a multitude of functional and decorative elements. Below we will consider in more detail the main ones.

Lawn

As a skilful builder puts floor covering on the floor of the house, so a skilled gardener thickens his plot with a lawn. If before the lawn was a luxury of the emperors, in the modern world everyone can afford to ennoble the territory with a soft grass carpet.

The process of engrafting a lawn is laborious and requires complete return, but at its end will bring the owners a deserved result in the form of an ideal foundation for the rest of the landscape. In addition to the decorative function, the grass lawn positively affects the soil structure and air purity, muffles unnecessary noise.

The choice of lawn needs to be approached with all seriousness: it will serve more than one season. Exist:

• A common lawn. It is a coating of a monochromatic color of medium density.
• Sports lawn. It is a denser kind of lawn, not afraid of loads.
• Decorative lawn. A beautiful perfect lawn, not intended for walking on it.

garden path

garden path – это функциональный элемент ландшафтного дизайна. Она играет роль связующего звена специальных зон территории, являются «скелетом» всей планировки местности. В зависимости от выбранной стилистки, дорожки могут быть разных форм, размеров, выполнены из разных материалов.

Although the classical design direction of the site is geometric and straight lines, more naturally in landscape design winding paths look. Drawing with their ease, they turn around the corner leading the guest through the garden.

The most important question in the backyards is choosing the right material. In the landscape design is not welcome the variegated finishes, but the use of only one material is not necessary. The main thing in this business is harmony and uniformity.

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The central tracks should be bigger and more solid. It will look good mosaic decoration of different colors. It looks like a combination of different shapes and floral compositions simultaneously. Modern manufacturers offer services for the individual production of paths. The central alley can be emphasized with the help of built-in spot lighting.

A special charm of the back alleys of the garden will be added by dirt paths, ornamentally sprinkled with sand or crumbs.

Standard materials for garden paths are:

• paving stones;
• gravel;
• concrete tiles;
• a natural stone;
• brick covering;
• decorative tiles;
• natural pebbles.

When selecting a material, its compatibility with a concrete soil and climatic conditions, in addition to standard operating conditions, is taken into account.

Flower garden and planting plants

It is difficult to imagine the landscape design of a country plot without plants. The composition of the flower beds can become a real art and the main accent of the whole site. It is important to make a competent selection of plants. The main selection criteria will be not only their appearance, but also compatibility among themselves, the necessary climatic conditions, survivability, etc.

There are the following ways of placing plantations on the site:

• Flowerbeds. The most popular flower garden, representing a plantation of a certain geometric form of ornamental-deciduous plants.

• Group landing. Dense planting of plants in separate groups of several species.
• Rabatki. A variety of planting decorative and deciduous plants with rectangular stripes for framing the borders of lawns, paths or other elements of landscape design.

• Border. A variety of flower beds, in which plants are planted in a tiered manner.

• Tapeworm. A method of planting plants alone.

• Parterre flower garden. Geometrically correct complex flower garden, located in front of the entrance to the garden. Usually consists of a combination of several plant species with architectural elements.

• Mobile flower gardens. Plants or flowers that are not adapted to certain features of the terrain (soil, certain weather conditions, a certain season) are exposed in the landscape of the plot in ornamental pots or vases, without transplanting into the ground.

• An arsenal. An exotic solution will be a corner of the desert in the garden. In the artificially filled with sand arenarius, various kinds of succulents and the like are planted.

Reservoirs

A pond can become a highlight of any landscape. But before you start his early creation, you should think about the appointment. Different types of water bodies will be appropriate for different sites.

Owners of a large plot, of course, can afford absolute any size, shape and depth of the water body.

Reservoirs – очень трудоемкие в уходе, поэтому следует заранее предусмотреть, посильно ли будет его обслуживание.

The size of the plot of about 12 hectare allows you to build both a swimming pool and a small pond for small fish. The size of the object is up to 8 meters square. When planning a pond, it is necessary to take into account that the dimensions of the finished pond are visually less than originally conceived. Therefore, some margin is needed.

The reservoir should be in direct coordination with the general style of the landscape project. With a regular style, the pool should have straight shapes, and for the landscape style, asymmetrical brooks of natural materials are more suitable.

Alpine hill

The landscape design of the suburban area qualitatively transforms the creation of the fashionable now Alpine hill.

Alpine hill представляет собой имитацию дикого горного пейзажа с характерными для него видами растений. Несмотря на трудоёмкий процесс создания, такая декорация способна стать гордостью приусадебного участка любого загородного дома.

Read also: Decorative waterfall: examples and making by own hands

Usually, the alpine hill is a kind of rockaria: compositions of ornamental plants with a stone. To create a rock garden, the materials available in our area are used: limestone, granite, gerbils. Live composition is combined from plants of rocks.

The main emphasis of the rock garden is attached to the game of light and shade. The corresponding effect can be achieved both by the initial selection of a place with beautifully falling rays of the sun, and the creation of artificial lighting.

Rest zone with barbecue or fireplace

Owning a country house, you can not only spend time with good work for garden work, but also successfully relax in the company of friends by equipping your holiday area with a brazier or hearth.

The corresponding platform can be both open and closed. Although the first option is less laborious, the design of a small canopy will not only give the place more coziness, but also protect from direct sunlight or rain. A suitable place for a recreation area will be the backyard, spacious and hidden from the eyes of others. Well, if next to this place there will be a zone for children, and next to open a picturesque landscape for admiration. The proximity to the pond will add extra freshness to the hot summer days.

The location in the recreation area of ​​the barbecue, hearth or outdoor fireplace is not only a part of its interior, but also an important functional element. In addition to its main purpose, it is possible to use it for heating, creating an atmosphere of coziness in the autumn evenings.

Arrangement of a dining room in the open air

The landscape design of a country house with an open dining room is a luxury, accessible to everyone. Eating in the fresh air is not just a trend of modern fashion, but also a very useful practice that improves metabolism and overall well-being.

To create a summer dining room, above all, you need a suitable free space. An excellent solution will be a playground of about 10 square meters. For convenience, from the house it is necessary to hold a stone path to the location of the open table.

Open canteen should not be too far from the main house, otherwise the process of moving dishes and finished food can become quite a long and time-consuming process.

It is important to remember about possible weather surprises and climate changes: it is necessary to choose furniture that is resistant to humidity and to equip the dining room with a stationary or mobile canopy. As a protection against sunlight, you can use the branches of a large tree, if there is one on the site.

The dining room can be designed as a gazebo made of a wide variety of materials, surrounded by a hedge or left in the free space of the lawn - everything depends solely on the wishes of the owners.

Lighting plot

The lighting system of any cottage and plot has two functions: practical and aesthetic.

The first involves lighting zones for free movement in the dark, and the second is designed to create a special atmosphere and place the accents of landscape design.

With the help of a skilfully formed lighting system, you can achieve a dramatic nightly transformation of the garden.

The coverage of the landscape design of the suburban area is:

• Filling. It is carried out by using floodlights on the auxiliary parts of the perimeter.
• General. The main part of the lighting consists in the installation of classic luminaires along the main sites of the site.
• Marking. Used to create visual effects for the allocation (marking) of functional parts.
• Decorative lighting of plants, reservoirs, architectural structures.