Landscaping: time to scatter stones ...
To improve the territory on the plot, many techniques are used. All of them are aimed at creating a settled and well-groomed territory that can be used for recreation.
Among the methods for elevating the territory, the most popular can be distinguished:
- the creation of lawns;
- arrangement of flower beds and flower beds;
- construction of fountains, artificial lakes and other reservoirs;
- planting of ornamental plants;
- laying tracks;
- clearance of hedges and much more.
A separate stage in the decoration of the territory is the use of stone for decorative and practical purposes.
General points of using stone to decorate a site
Stone is more able to shape and reorganize space. Its use in landscape design makes it possible to provide not only the seasonal beauty of nature in the form of green trees and flowers, but also to create a permanent man-made image of nature within the infield. Depending on the chosen project, stones can be both basic elements and a background for other design decisions. Given this fact, there are several basic ways of forming objects from stone.
Using stone, you can create a kind of Japanese garden. Here, stones are central elements and are themselves a work of art. Using this material, it is necessary to emphasize the uniqueness of each stone. Especially for this, the details are selected by shape, color and texture. Contemplation of the resulting site should bring peace and a sense of harmony.
A popular way to use stone in landscape design is to design alpine slides. This building itself is part of the botanical garden, as it is used to demonstrate mountain plants. The construction technology includes the construction of an artificial slope of crushed stone, granite, sandstone and limestone. It is best to lay natural stone. Plants on such a hill will be perfectly preserved throughout the year.
Another way to create a relief on a personal plot is to build a rockery. The main characteristic is the contrast between large cobblestones and small gravel, as well as light thin plants that grow among the rough stone. The main element for rockery will be stones. Moreover, the presence of a slope is not necessary. Rockery is just an imitation of a rocky relief and any plants, not just mountain ones, as in the case of rock garden, are suitable for creating the necessary picture.
Rocky gardens can be distinguished as a separate group. For such a design, a large plot of land is suitable, according to which stones and plants are distributed in an arbitrary order, simulating a mountainous area. This element of landscape design is very common and is used as a supplement in landscape gardening areas. Here, the use of retaining walls, tiles and paving paths is allowed.
Any stone structure involving planting requires care. You need to trim the vegetation, remove weeds and dry stems. Such care will provide the landscape exactly the look that was conceived by the designer. If capricious plants with complex care were chosen for the project, then it is better to turn to the services of a professional gardener.
Choosing the Right Material
The choice of material for creating stone elements of the garden landscape is great. But recently, natural stone has replaced all other options. This can be explained by the variety of breeds:
- pebbles;
- granite;
- marble and others.
As well as many forms of processing:
- polished;
- chipped and sawn;
- chipped and others.
The only drawback of natural stone may be the high price of such a finishing material. But he has many advantages:
- strength;
- variety of processing options;
- many breeds, shades, textures.
After the listed rocks, limestone is also considered popular. This demand is due to the diversity of the palette. The scope of this stone is very wide and extends to both outdoor work and landscaping, and the interior decoration of the building.
Limestone will help to save a little. Unprocessed varieties will cost less than processed ones. If this option seems expensive, then you can choose an artificial stone. The advantage of this material is the abundance of colors that go beyond the natural shades. But its strength can not be compared with natural stone.
Pebbles have interesting decorative properties. An original border made of small pebbles around a tree or flowerbed will decorate any garden. Pebbles can simply be scattered on the lawn. This technique will add charm to the site.
Pebbles can be used to decorate walkways and small areas. If you cover with large pebbles the space around the pool, then, stepping on it with bare feet, you can feel yourself on the beach. Sometimes a stone is replaced with a wooden circle, but this option is not able to last a long time. Therefore, before choosing a material for coating, it should be assessed how intensively the surface intended for facing will be used.
To decorate landscape design objects, you can use:
- aventurine;
- dolomite;
- layered quartz;
- embossed slate.
When choosing a stone should consider:
- The type of stone should correspond to the element of decor that will be created from it. For retaining walls and terraces, sedimentary rock of muted colors is suitable. Rockeries can be decorated with the material that prevails in the overall design, while adding contrasting blotches from other materials. Alpine hills look harmonious if they are assembled from large boulders of volcanic origin. Ponds are best laid out with pebbles and smooth large stones.
- When choosing a material, the climatic conditions in which it will be used should be taken into account. For example, ponds freeze during the cold season and not every stone can withstand such temperature changes. To avoid destruction, it is necessary to choose a stone with a minimum level of moisture absorption.
Another find in the arrangement of land was a luminous stone. The scope of such an unusual material is wide. Each object of landscape design can be decorated with a similar element. The paths marked with luminous stones will delight visitors. And the bottom of the pool, paved with such magic lights, will add romance to the night garden.
This material is very durable and wear resistant. Many firms offer a variety of shapes and sizes. You can make a luminous facing material yourself, using special paint.
To obtain the perfect result in the process of arranging the site, two main factors are necessary: a good project and high quality materials. With the proper use of these two components, the household territory will become a favorite vacation spot for the whole family.