How to create a white flower garden in the garden: expert advice

White flowers have a special charm, so they are actively used by gardeners to form beautiful and original compositions. But it’s not just the combination of such flowers with other varieties that looks very interesting, but a full-fledged white flower garden made from the appropriate plantings. The advantage of this solution lies not only in its aesthetic appearance, but also in the ability to visually expand the space, which is important for small areas. In this article we propose to consider stunning compositions of white flowers that can be actively used in your area.

Features of the formation of flower beds of white flowers

To create a white flower garden of perennials that will look the same in both spring and autumn, you should choose the flowers correctly and harmoniously. The variety of garden flora with white colors is not so great as to fill them with flowering throughout the summer season.

It is worth taking care of the presence of green spaces with variegated leaves that will fill the voids between flowering. Also, when forming such flower beds, it is worth considering other points:

• plants should be maintained in perfect condition;
• When laying out a flower bed, avoid flat-shaped reliefs; keep in mind that the flower bed should be interesting both horizontally and vertically; it would be better to combine lush plants with tall ones to create harmonious compositions;
• take into account the contrast in the height of the crop, the size of the inflorescences and flowers, combine large and small forms.

Also remember that if there is furniture or decorative elements on the site, they should be in pastel shades so as not to stand out from the overall composition, not to be flashy, and not to spoil the overall appearance.

If you have absolutely no idea what a white flowerbed should look like, then it’s better to look at several options on the Internet and get inspired by ideas in photographs. You can try to start creating a white garden in miniature volumes, and only then move on to experiments with larger sizes.

Preparing for painting

Before covering the lining with varnish or acrylic, it should be cleaned of dirt and degreased with an alkali-based solution, and then sanded with a flat pumice stone or a grinding wheel. This will require the following tools:

• sponge and brush to remove dirt from the surface;
• roller, brush or spray for applying restoring and brightening agents.

This operation leads to the loss of all the protective characteristics of the wood. To restore them, treatment with a disinfectant composition is necessary. It will not only protect the wood, but also improve the quality of the varnish coating.

How to paint lining correctly

Using regular oil paint to renew the surface gives it an artificial shine and hides the natural grain of the wood. In addition, such coating is short-lived and will soon require modernization. When using acrylic varnish on wood panels:

• the original pattern is preserved;
• ensures attractive appearance;
• creates lasting protection from moisture and weather changes;
• the service life of the cladding is extended (up to 8-10 years).

Depending on the degree of darkening, you can use the concentration of the solution as prepared or dilute it with water in a 1:1 ratio. To avoid differences in the tone of the coating, it is necessary to apply a test stroke in an inconspicuous place. After this, the paint color is selected.

The recovery procedure consists of step-by-step operations:

• surface cleaning;
• drying wood;
• antiseptic treatment;
• testing and selection of shade;
• applying acrylic paint.

The final finishing with clapboard is quite often used in the repair of balconies and cottages. In order for the cladding to maintain a beautiful natural appearance for a long time, you need to follow the rules for using wood material and know how to lighten it. To ensure high-quality restoration of darkened panels, you should choose the right bleaching method. For this purpose, it is advisable to consult with specialists or read the instructions.

Original flowerbed of white flowers for partial shade

White perennials for semi-shaded areas should be carefully selected. It is important that the plants thrive in such conditions. An excellent option would be to use the tree-like Hydrangea “Annabelle”, which is covered with lush flowers. Its beauty can be enjoyed until September, only then the white color of the buds will change to green.

Hydrangea variety Anabel looks impressive when planted alone.

You can also plant the tree-like White Dome Hydrangea. It has openwork flat inflorescences. The paniculate Hydrangea "Kyushu" looks beautiful. It is distinguished by openwork loose panicles; it blooms from July to September. White beauties of the White Lady and Limelight varieties would also be appropriate in such a flower bed. The petals of these flowers resemble Carnations, which looks very impressive.

A contrasting solution to Hortense will be the landing of Chubushnik. These shrubs will become the background for other crops; they are located deep in the composition itself to form the 3rd line. Decorative properties appear earlier than those of Hydrangeas, around mid-June.

Another tier will be Black Cohosh. Its flowering begins closer to August, but decorative carved leaves will decorate the flower garden until autumn. Also for the second tier use:

• Lily of the valley;
• Lupins;
• Bells.

Then Astilbes are planted, which will delight with their decorative effect even after flowering, since they have dark green dense foliage and a pleasant bronze tint.

Astilbe will decorate any garden (photo flickr.com)

Among the varieties, Weisse Gloria will look great. They are planted in large groups, 3-5 bushes, so that the decorative effect is noticeable.

What other white flowers should I use for a flower bed in partial shade?

An excellent option to complement the Chubushnik would be to plant Ferns. The proscenium can be planted with Zelenchuk, which over the course of several years will form a rich carpet of white and green shades. Violets will look beautiful and organic nearby. They grow quite quickly and are easy to care for.

The addition will be Muscari, Galanthus, and white Crocuses, which do not require annual replanting.

How to properly paint the inside of the lining: technology

To paint lining in “dry” rooms inside the house, you can use any type of paint. Here you simply decide on the requirements for the decorative appearance of the surface. If the lining is dry, it can not be impregnated with protective compounds, or you can choose paint/varnish/wax with appropriate additives. You can paint it only on one side, leaving the back side untreated.

Paint each panel of the lining separately

If the lining will be used in damp or unheated rooms, on a balcony, it must first be thoroughly impregnated with protective compounds on all sides, maybe twice. Only after the impregnation has dried can it be painted, varnished, or, in general, given decorative properties. Another point: when installing the lining on a wall or ceiling, it has to be cut into pieces. Places of cuts in damp rooms must also be coated with the composition. It is not necessary to wait until it dries, but it is necessary to process it.

There is one very important nuance that many amateur decorators overlook. If you want to get a professional-level painting of the lining, you need to process each board separately: sand, paint, dry, and only then assemble the surface from the already painted lining. That is, mount already fully processed boards on the wall or ceiling. Only with this approach will the surface of the lining have the same color from any point.

It’s difficult to paint the entire surface of a clapboard wall well

If you paint an already assembled surface, unpainted areas remain in the grooves and recesses, making it difficult to sand large areas. You definitely won't get a perfectly flat surface. The quality of finishing in this option is not above average. It is permissible to paint a finished surface if you are renewing the paint job. This must be done at different intervals, depending on the operating conditions and the properties of the paintwork material.

Correctly, the painting technology looks like this.

• The lining is checked and sorted. All bent, bent or cracked boards are rejected. They can be used to test color, select color, number of layers, practice technique and painting sequence.
• Boards that have been sorted are sanded until completely smooth. It is most effective to work with a sanding machine, but you can also use a block with sandpaper attached to the surface. Sandpaper grit - 250-280. When grinding, circular movements pass through the face, tenon and groove. The back part of the lining can be left without treatment. It is more convenient to work with a grinding machine
• Apply the composition with a roller or brush. Each type of coating has its own points and features - they are written on the can or in the accompanying instructions. In general, the rules are simple: take a little paint and apply it in single strokes along the entire length of the lining. Then rub thoroughly and shade until a uniform color is obtained.
• Having achieved uniform coloring, leave to dry.
• After drying, sand again if necessary. This step is often necessary when working with opaque paints and varnishes. The first layer of paintwork raises the pile of the wood, which is why it becomes rough in places. This pile is removed by repeated sanding.
• The second layer of paintwork is applied. Drying.

There can be many layers: it depends on the hiding power of the paint and on what effect you want to get. But in any case, one rule remains: there should be little composition on the brush. The exception is impregnation or primer. They are applied with a well-moistened brush, but only those without pigment. When applying pigmented protective compositions, the rules for paints apply - the minimum required amount of the composition is well shaded.

Sometimes, even with careful rubbing of the paint, stains are clearly visible. This is not a bad paint, but the properties of wood: in some places the pores absorb better, in others worse. In order to achieve an even color in this case, the surface is first primed. You can use any wood primer or colorless matte varnish (can be water-based). After drying, the surface is sanded (yep, again) and then the required number of layers of paint are applied. Only in this case, after the first layer of paintwork, grinding is rarely required, and if necessary, then in some places, more often on a tenon or groove.

Watch the video to see how to evenly apply glaze, oil or wax.

If furniture quality painting is required, there are even more layers: first a stain is applied, then two layers of primer. After drying, the surface is sanded until the surface is completely matte, first with grain 280, then 320, after removing the dust, a finishing layer is applied - varnish. An example of such work is in the video.

Creating a drought-resistant white flower garden in the sun

Sunny areas require resistant plants that love ultraviolet rays and can withstand fairly high temperatures. The frame of such a flower bed can be Spirea and Lilac, reaching a height of up to 2 meters. Full flowering can only be achieved if there is a sufficiently large amount of sunlight. It is also worth planting several varieties of white English Roses. It’s just better to choose one variety, for example, David Austin “Claire Rose”. For those who do not understand how to care for Roses, Kuril tea (Cinquefoil Bush, Cinquefoil) is suitable.

The next layer is Foxgloves (those that are two years old). Next, white Peonies will look appropriate. They look decorative even after flowering. Carved leaves will serve as a background for the Phloxes.

Companions to these flowers will be Yarrow or Pearl Oyster. Next it is worth placing Arabis, which will be perfectly complemented by small white flowers for the flower bed - Tulips, Hyacinths and Daffodils. At the end of their flowering, white annual flowers should be placed - Tobacco, Lavatera, Petunia, Levkoi. You can also mention the herbaceous crop Canary. This plant reaches a height of up to 1.2 meters. It has narrow leaves with veins in light colors. It is because of this that it often serves as a monochrome plant.

The “voids” between these crops can be filled with white Lilies of only one variety. They will make the formed flower garden complete.

Materials for interior painting

When selecting the necessary tool, it is necessary to take into account that before painting the surface must be treated with anti-rot compounds. With this in mind, you should stock up on the following materials:

1. Coarse sandpaper to clean the surface from dirt and foreign matter. This is especially necessary for lower grade linings, the technical conditions for which require the presence of resin pockets - if they are not cleaned out, the painting will not be of high quality.
2. Set of painting tools. In addition to the traditional flat brush, you also need a wool roller, a bucket, and a spray gun/spray gun. For tall rooms, a stepladder may also be required.
3. Safety glasses and a gauze bandage - if it is impossible to work in a well-ventilated area.
4. For priming and antiseptic treatment, it is better to have a separate set of painting supplies, since it is not known in advance how dissimilar coatings will interact with each other.

White flower garden in shady areas

If your garden is located in complete shade, this is not a reason to abandon the idea of ​​a white flower garden.

Photo of a flower garden with shade-tolerant flower crops

Ideal for such compositions:

• Astilbe. Beautiful varieties are Brautschleier and Bridal Veil. They are distinguished by lace flowers that look very attractive. These are perennial plants that delight with snow-white petals and beautiful openwork leaves.
• Goryanki. This is a compact perennial that will complement any flower bed. It looks extremely delicate, forms thick and dense bushes. The white Niveum variety is charming, reaching a height of up to 25 centimeters. Flowers are often compared to fairies or elves, so the plant is worth attention.
• Bought. The most popular variety is Solomon Seal. It reaches a height of up to 60-90 centimeters. The leaves have a linear or elliptical shape. The flowers are bell-shaped and look like droplets or pearls.
• Tiarella. The culture forms dense bushes that have incredibly delicate leaves. The plant reaches a height of up to 30 centimeters. The flowers create an attractive lace effect, they are shaped like stars and bloom with the arrival of May.
• Hosts. This is an ideal choice for shady areas. It is distinguished by a bright white border on green leaves. The flowering is also very beautiful, the peduncle reaches a height of up to 30 centimeters.

Based on these plants, you can form beautiful white flower beds

Chemical cleaning

The simplest and most reliable way to remove contaminants is to use liquid chemical compounds. They are evenly applied to the surface to be treated according to the instructions, and after a while they are washed off along with the dirt. Highly concentrated preparations contain alkaline components that promote rapid removal of soot from surfaces without damaging the wood structure.

To quickly clean walls and floors, you can use a mop with a telescopic handle.

No less effective in the fight against soot are chemical sponges impregnated with deep penetration substances. They contribute to the quick and safe removal of the smallest particles of soot and soot that have penetrated the wood structure.

The principle of working with sponges is quite simple: holding the sponge with one hand, clean the surface from top to bottom.

Finally, it is recommended to wash the cleaned surface with clean water and wipe dry with a soft cloth. This is done as follows: the floor is covered with film or oilcloth to protect the surface from further contamination.

Next, clean water is poured into the container, to which a detergent composition, for example, for washing dishes, or any other degreasing agent is added. The soot is washed off with smooth movements using a soft sponge.

White monochrome flower garden of tall shrubs and trees

The use of trees and shrubs is an excellent solution for forming beautiful compositions that will delight with their attractiveness for many years.

The most popular options for such a flower bed are:

• Hydrangea "Annabelle" Its height is up to 1.5 meters. Large inflorescences will delight you from July to October. The main thing is that the shrub develops in an area where there is no wind, and also receives an abundant amount of water.
• Climbing Roses. One of the most sought after flowers in the garden. Arches and pergolas entwined with white roses create a stunning effect.
• Chubushnik. Up to 4 meters high. Blooms during the first half of summer. It grows well in the shade and will delight with abundant flowering in bright sunny conditions.
• Hibiscus. Up to one and a half meters high. It has petiolate leaves. The flowers are quite large. The plant does not have completely white flowers, the middle is painted red, but this makes it look no less impressive.
• Fothergill. Exotic, which reaches a height of no more than 3 meters, is distinguished by wide ovoid leaves. The flowers are very fragrant and form a spikelet.
• Derain is white. It can decorate any area with the color of its foliage. Grows well in partial shade and sun.

Before forming a flower bed, be sure to draw a diagram of what a white flower garden will look like. This will allow you to create truly original compositions that will enchant with their beauty and attractiveness.

Secrets of decorative wood staining: techniques and tricks

City dwellers want to preserve the natural color of wood as much as possible. For those for whom wood in the house is a boring everyday thing, paint the interior lining in some unusual color. Modern paintwork materials allow you to achieve different effects. For example, textured or brushed lining, but in two colors. This technique is often used in loft style interiors.

Brushed lining in two colors is an excellent choice for decorating walls

The trick is to apply two layers of different colors. The first layer is a dark color, the second is a light or brighter color. After playing with colors and the order of their application, you can create your own version. Watch the video - how to get lining brushed in two colors.

Painting in two colors may not be the same. You can make the recesses a darker color, and only slightly tint the face (front part) or do everything exactly the opposite. The result is a striped wall made of clapboard - the effect of a slatted wall.