Do-it-yourself landscaping: TOP-200 photos of the best ideas + step-by-step instructions

Landscaping the site can be done either on your own or by entrusting this work to a landscape designer who will do everything himself.

If you decide to do your own landscaping, first determine whether it is shady or sunny. This will determine what plants you can plant. In addition, you will need a diagram of the area around the dacha or private house in order to make a landscaping plan. Determine the size of the territory. Depending on whether it is small or large, you will select trees and shrubs for planting. An important point is also the color scheme of the landscaping project.

To know which plants will take root on the site, it is important to determine the composition of the soil.

Think about your needs. Examples: If you are going to play in the yard with your children, you should create a larger lawn. If you prefer a quiet rest in the shade, you should think about including climbing plants like ivy or grapes in the landscaping, which will create the desired look. The surrounding terrain also plays an important role.

LANDSCAPE GREENING OF AREAS LOCATED IN A LOW LOW IS CARDINALLY DIFFERENT FROM THOSE FOR AREAS THAT ARE LOCATED ON A SLOPE.

One of the important points at the beginning of landscaping and landscaping the territory is to determine the composition of the soil, at least by eye. Trees, shrubs and flowers grow best on loamy and sandy loam soils. If the soil is not fertile, but consists of alumina or almost solid sand, it is first worth improving it by applying fertilizers, because a very small number of plants can grow on such soils; others do not feel well and do not live long.

Design

At the preparatory stage of a site improvement project, its territory is measured. Drawings are made that indicate:

territory boundaries;
location of buildings;
placement of communications;
large perennials;
divide the territory into functional zones.

They take into account the geographical location, topography, soil conditions, and microclimate. Plants are selected based on these criteria.

Landscape design of a summer cottage: visual techniques when creating

Simple techniques will help to visually expand the area:

install a retaining wall laid out in an arc
rounded lawns

The rounded shape of the gazebo threshold, interestingly outlining a man-made pond

winding paths

shrub groups
color scheme - plant light-colored plants in the foreground and dark-colored ones in the background. This will give the garden volume and depth.

Common stylistic decisions

Installation of drainage system

It is necessary to create comfortable conditions for plants. If the groundwater level is high, a drainage system is installed. She may be:

open;
closed.

Much depends on the natural characteristics of a particular piece of land. This saves the soil from excess moisture.

Watering system

Sometimes the soil lacks natural moisture. This may be due to a lack of natural precipitation or other characteristics of the territory. To do this, install a watering system:

trenches are dug in the ground;
laying water supply;
diversions are installed in watering areas;
attach devices for watering plants.

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This reduces labor costs for daily plant care. No need to use a hose. It is enough to open the tap and the flower beds are watered independently.

Lighting

For proper landscaping of a site, you need to pay attention to its lighting. At night, glowing bulbs attract the attention of insects, which can adversely affect some plants.

On the other hand, lighting divides the territory into functional zones and draws attention to individual decorative elements.

For this you will need:

install posts in the right places;
fasten the lighting elements to the brackets;
lay an electrical cable, adjust the operation of lighting equipment.

Pay attention to the quality of insulation. To comply with safety precautions, use a corrugated or plastic pipe in which the cable is laid.

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What can be placed in the country house?

Even on the modest territory of a summer cottage, the notorious 6 acres, with rational planning, you can place:

small building (gazebo, arch)
artificial pond
green corners
flower beds (alpine slide)

Design of the area around the country house using a combination of different plants

The buildings

All kinds of buildings will not only give the site a beautiful, lived-in look, filled with coziness and comfort, but will also help organize the space and clearly designate an area for relaxation, work, walking or entertainment. On plots of up to 15 acres, the nature of the buildings should be predominantly practical.

Construction on the site is not only practical, but also aesthetic. White-painted stone (and sometimes brick) buildings are a characteristic feature of Mediterranean country estates

The most common types of buildings:

Alcove. It can be placed in the thick of trees or on the shore of a pond, decorated with plants. There must be a convenient approach to it. A gazebo is an area of privacy, relaxation, comfortable, quiet rest. Such a building should be closed and open at the same time. An ideal option for a summer house is a wooden gazebo with lattice window openings that can be decorated with climbing plants. On a large plot (20 acres), you can put a gazebo with columns in a classic style, creating an appropriate environment for it.

Practical and beautiful arrangement of a pergola gazebo for shelter from the sun and relaxation

Open kitchen with oven or tandoor, patio. Such a place will gather the whole family and become not only a dining area, but also a place to relax. This could be a wooden veranda with a stone stove or a more substantial brick building adjacent to the house.

A bridge over a miniature pond. Containers for such ponds can be purchased at almost any hardware store.

Arches and bridges. Such elements are most often used to clearly delimit space; they must be integrated into the surrounding landscape. It is recommended to plant flower beds near such buildings.

Landscape design with a small waterfall

Children's playground or place for active recreation. This could be a wooden deck with installed equipment: swings, trampoline, swimming pool.
Outbuildings - barn, garage, storage room, bathhouse. They also need to be designed according to the general style, otherwise a holistic design will not work.

Summer kitchen equipped for barbecue and simple relaxation at the stone bar counter

Advice! The style of buildings should be consistent with the rest of the site; you should not mix, for example, elements of Japanese and European type - successful combinations are very rarely obtained.

“Smart beds”: the yield will definitely not disappoint you

Reservoirs

Reservoirs not only decorate a summer cottage, they fill it with movement, enliven it, and give it the appropriate mood. The dacha is not always located next to a river or lake, so the best solution is to create an artificial pond with your own hands. Before making a water feature, determine what exactly you would like to see on your summer cottage, what function the reservoir will serve:

Pond. An ideal pond if the landscape of the future site is defined as a landscape style. It can be used exclusively for aesthetic purposes; in this case, suitable plants are planted along the banks, including trees, for example, willows, and a gazebo is also installed nearby. But ponds can also be of a practical nature, for example, you can put fish in a pond, especially if the entire garden is designed in Japanese style. A pond can be a source of water for watering green spaces.

Small pond with stone fencing

A pond with a bridge. Essentially, this is the same pond, but differs in its elongated shape; the presence of a bridge allows you to use the pond as a place for walking, as well as connect different zones along the banks. When designing ponds, it is worth taking care of the necessary materials, thinking through the water supply and cleaning systems, selecting plants and living creatures.

A fountain will help even in a small area to obtain a source of moving liquid; in addition, it is a full-fledged decorative element that can decorate and designate a specific area.

Landscape design with a decorative waterfall

A water mill will effectively fit into an array of green spaces and add movement.
Circulating rivers (mini-channels).
Waterfalls or cascades. Such structures are especially good in areas with sloping or uneven terrain; with their help, you can effectively play up the features. Such ponds look beautiful framed by rockeries or green plants.

DIY artificial waterfall

Green corners

The main element of landscape design is plants, which as a result will create their own ecosystem

Therefore, plants should be selected so that they complement each other and do not compete for moisture, light or soil. The main thing is to maintain moderation, not to get carried away by the number of plants planted; in a small area such “abundance” looks ridiculous.

Exotic plants decorating the landscape design of the site

Advice! When designing green spaces, consider how quickly they will grow and how they will look over time.

Landscaping of a summer cottage can be divided into several groups:

Planting trees and shrubs. Low shrubs can effectively frame a recreation area, fruit trees are best planted in a walking area, and conifers are suitable for a recreation area. Trees create shade, which can also be used in the landscape design of a summer cottage.

Landscape design using variegated plants

Design of flower beds, flower beds. Flowers should be selected based on the characteristics of the site, soil, and climate. Be sure to combine perennials and annuals. In small areas, use vertical planting (from shorter to taller plant heights), planting flowers near the walls of a building or hedge. The design of alpine slides can be included in this category. On a large plot you can install a glass greenhouse.

Make your site original by using improvised objects for its design, such as a stone or a board

Decorating ponds and gazebos with the help of vegetation; all kinds of buttercups, reeds, climbing plants, and some types of shrubs are suitable for this.
Lawns are simply necessary for a summer cottage; they give a well-groomed appearance and serve as an excellent means of combining zones with different purposes.

Paths and paths

Without garden paths, the functional design of a summer cottage is out of the question. They not only help you move unhindered, but also serve as functional decoration and create a sense of orderliness and graphics. Paths are especially used a lot in Japanese-style landscape design.

Winding paths will add fantasy and exclusivity to the landscape

Paths can be paved with paving slabs, natural stone, pebbles or gravel. Particular attention should be paid to their framing - borders and vegetation along the edges. Paths can lead to a gazebo, pond, flower garden, or outbuildings. They connect the entire area and make it whole.

Fencing

Fences in landscape design are used for clear zoning of an area; with their help, you can play with some ideas with vegetation. Fences are especially relevant in areas with a vegetable garden and a recreation area; with their help, you can effectively and practically separate one from the other. The fence can be stone, wood or plants (a wall of bushes). It is optimal to use light, translucent structures that transmit light and do not clutter up the space.

A modern look for a rolled lawn. A simple fence, for example, made of corrugated board, colored or unpainted, made carefully and carefully, will not spoil the site, but will even modernize it

Decor

All kinds of decorative elements will help to add individuality to the design, highlight the character and style of the site:

Garden sculptures. These can be ceramic figurines of gnomes, animals, as well as statues in antique or Gothic style, it all depends on the nature of the garden itself. They can be installed along paths, near ponds, and gazebos.

Thanks to various garden sculptures, the area will become much more interesting

Flowerpots - will decorate the garden and help with the arrangement of flowers. These can be aged bowls in an antique style or elegant marbled vases.
Benches are a functional decorative element that must correspond to the unified style of the site.

Lighting

Lighting is necessary in any area, it is safer, and with its help you can effectively emphasize all the winning design elements in the dark. These can be tall lanterns installed along the paths, or wall lamps on the veranda, summer kitchen or gazebo. Lamps installed directly into the soil look very impressive; they create a unique, mysterious bottom lighting. Such lamps can be part of a garden sculpture.

A relaxation corner with lighting and ready-made garden decor that is popular today - large mirror balls. Such balls are also very good made from concrete - the favorite material of modern designers

Soil preparation

When choosing a site for landscaping, pay attention to the condition of the soil. Depending on the predominance of chernozem, clay or sand, missing elements are added to the soil. This happens in several stages:

level the ground;
cleaned of old plants and foreign objects;
add humus and other missing elements;
dig up, thereby mixing the contents.

After the work done, you get soft fluffy soil in which the root system of the planted plants will easily develop.

Planting order

Landscape design experts recommend approaching this consistently. The work is divided into several stages:

trees are planted immediately;
after them - bushes;
then - flowers.

The landscaping is completed by planting grass. This ensures the integrity of each plant. You need to calculate the maximum growth of plants in advance so that in the future they do not interfere with each other.

Planting a seedling

Before planting a seedling, you need to prepare the soil. The work is carried out in strict sequence:

dig a hole of the required size;
drainage stones are laid below;
then make a sand layer;
the extracted soil is mixed with peat or rotted cow humus.

The seedling is placed in the hole and the root system is leveled. Fill a bucket of water. The root is covered with prepared soil and compacted thoroughly. The seedling is held in an upright position.

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Attention! When planting a seedling with a closed root system, a hole is dug to place the seedling with the soil on it.

Hedge

Using shrubs, climbing plants and flowers you can make a hedge. The process of planting plants is traditional. The person receives benefits:

a living fence divides the site into zones with different functions;
with a small investment you can create an exclusive landscape design;
You can hide a rickety building or fence behind the plants.

The basic rule of a hedge is to plant plants of the same type next to each other or along the object being covered. For variety, you can alternate several types of plants in a certain sequence.

How to choose a style for landscaping

Landscaping and landscaping of a summer cottage is an important and responsible process that must be approached with full responsibility. First you need to decide on a general style. Here, both the personal wishes of the owners and the architecture of the house and other buildings are taken into account. Some people like picturesque topiaries in front of the house, while others prefer an abundance of flower beds. Ready-made examples of competent landscaping can be found on the Internet and brought to life. Or you can think over the design of the site yourself. But the main thing is to take a certain style as a basis:

classic . Suitable for plots measuring about 15 acres. It shows strict orderliness in everything. The compositions here are placed with strict, monochrome-colored plants. There is no place for pomp and theatricality in classics. The basis of the style is the central part of the site. Here you can place a fountain, plant perfectly trimmed bushes and trees nearby, a smooth and well-groomed lawn, flower beds - parterres. For this direction, thoughtful planting schemes are created in advance, from which strict geometric shapes should be formed;
landscape _ Suitable for medium plots of 10 acres. In it, all plantings are planted in a free order without sequence or priority. Externally, the garden should resemble wild nature. To create it you do not need to make any special efforts or large financial investments. And this style requires little maintenance;
Dutch . Particular attention is paid to a beautiful and well-groomed lawn, the formation of hedges, and bright mixborders. There is no place for tall trees and bushes here. The figurines and figurines placed around the area of the cart with flowers look original;
rural _ A natural, cheerful direction, where a special role is given to planting fruit and berry trees and shrubs. The following decorations are used: carts, wooden wheels, garden gnomes. The direction is suitable for small plots of 5-6 acres;
Chinese . Characterized by soft and smooth outlines. There is no place for artificial contours, sharp angles and symmetry. Attention is paid to stone gardens and ponds. If it is impossible to make a reservoir, it is necessary to develop dry streams;
Japanese _ Quite simple to implement. You can spend hours admiring nature there. Smooth polished stones are used as decoration; dwarf, evenly trimmed trees and shrubs are planted throughout the area;
eastern _ It is distinguished by mosaic ornaments, fountains, and bright flower beds. Everything in it should be colorful and lush. The gazebo is constructed with a domed roof;
exotic . Suitable for those who love to travel. Exotic plants are planted in it in several tiers, creating a corner of the jungle. Particular attention is paid to the placement of stones;
alpine _ Involves the creation of mountainous terrain. This can be done using alpine slides, streams, and granite paths. When choosing plants, preference is given to fir, spruce, thuja, and boxwood;
French . A gentle and romantic direction, quite easy to arrange with your own hands. The lawn is planted from meadow grasses with flowers, the furniture is selected vintage. Forged fences are being built around the site.

Attention : in the Chinese style, the main and mandatory element is the tea gazebo. The path to it takes the form of a mountain landscape.

Ensuring the safety of property

Some gardeners do not approve of hedges along their fence. It is believed that it collects dampness and is a breeding ground for parasites. However, in vain...

Suppose a climbing rose or similar plant is planted as a hedge.

In addition to a beautiful fragrant flower garden, a person receives reliable protection for his property. It is unlikely that anyone would want to climb over such a barbed fence.

Step-by-step paths

To get comfortable access to any part of the garden, you need to think through full-fledged paths. It is important to consider:

Comfortable width so that 2 people can stretch on it.
A certain interval between paths - it is kept in the garden at a distance of at least 3 m.
If the paths have only a decorative function, then it is important to take care of their aesthetic appearance.
The materials that can be used are: special decorative tiles; cement solution and cell shapes with which the pattern is pressed onto the surface; tree cuts that are treated with compounds that do not allow rot to develop; natural bottle

Potted plants

On the Internet you can find a wide variety of photos of landscaping a site using different design solutions. One option is to place flowers or shrubs in pots. This provides benefits:

you can landscape areas laid with paving slabs;
the pots can be moved at any time, thereby changing the combination;
For the winter, pots with plants are brought into heated rooms, saving them from frost.

This is a convenient way to garden your yard. Using pots prevents the spread of parasites in the soil.

Vertical flower beds

Stylish and modern garden design involves the possibility of maximum saving of free and occupied space on the site.

For this purpose, in the garden or in the recreation area, you can use multi-tiered or vertical flower beds, characterized by an attractive design and unusual appearance that attracts the attention of others.

Partial landscaping

There are cases when the purchased country yard already has asphalt or paving slabs. And you want to green it, make it cozy and comfortable for relaxation.

In this case, partial landscaping of the area in front of the house is performed. The following elements will be useful for this:

plants in pots can be placed in a convenient place;
pots with plants can be fixed with brackets on the fence or wall of the house;
near the fence you can install small flower beds where flowers or shrubs will be planted.

No one has canceled artificial decorative compositions with small ponds and fountains. There are no restrictions. With a little imagination, you can landscape any area even with a minimal budget.

And once again about the main thing

Absolutely flat terrain is extremely rare, so you should think about how to turn the disadvantages of the terrain into advantages. The most level areas should be allocated for residential and utility premises. A high hill could possibly be turned into an alpine slide. If there are a lot of hills on the site, then it is preferable to make ledges on their slopes and plant a garden, or create vertical gardening. Sun-loving plants and trees, such as certain varieties of cherries, should also be placed at higher elevations. In the lowlands you can plant moisture-loving plants, as well as set aside space for ponds, make a pond, dig a well, place fountains and place a gazebo in lush greenery. If a ravine is trying to “spoil” your territory, you can make an artificial stream bed in it, and throw a bridge or several bridges on top, also picturesquely decorating the banks with moisture-loving vegetation.

How to turn the disadvantages of a site into its advantages

Artificial reservoirs

When landscaping a plot of land, many people think only about trees, shrubs, flowers and grass. But no one ruled out plants developing in water or an environment with high humidity.

To do this, it is advisable to equip a small artificial pond. This will diversify the landscape design, freshen the air, and allow you to plant algae, lilies or reeds.

Garden design can be ordered from professionals, but in this case there is no guarantee that your composition is already in some country yard.

By doing the work yourself, you are 100% sure of the uniqueness of the work performed. Don't deprive yourself of the pleasure of doing work and getting the expected result. Good luck in your wonderful endeavors!

Alpine slide

Such an attractive landscape element as an alpine hill goes well with stone embankments, a pond or a small stream. In order to properly create such an element, you must first organize and strengthen the embankment. And then plant suitable plants on it, such as irises, Erica, heather, moss, skimmia, saxifrage, rosemary, decia and a number of other low ground cover plants. Then all this is complemented by large and small stones to create the feeling of a small mountain range.

Photos of landscaping the site with your own hands

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