Alpine slide can be the pride of all landscape design

Engaged in the process of equipping a rock garden, literally before each a wide field of activity opens, because this occupation is unusually creative and fascinating. And there is where imagination and imagination can take off. If everything is carefully thought out to the smallest detail, an alpine hill can become a real pride of its owners. What is she like? You can answer this way - this is simply speaking, a structure that imitates a mountain landscape, which is adorned with wonderfully selected beautiful plants and flowers. Such a design should fit perfectly into the overall landscape of the site design and be its successful and profitable addition. Here, for example, like here:

The very first thing that needs to be done is to divide all the work into separate stages, taking into account all the nuances: what will be the area of ​​the hill itself, how will the steps, transitions and paths be located. In other words, a detailed plan needs to be developed. Next, you will need to prepare the material necessary for the work and decide on the main point - where the future alpine hill will be located.

How to determine the choice of location rock garden

The rock garden can have a completely different shape and size, which depend solely on your imagination, and of course, on the landscape of the site. It is very important to calculate the required dimensions so that subsequently the structure does not look too bulky. As for the choice of location, it must be well-lit - this is the main condition, because plants from the highlands are very fond of the light, which they absolutely need for growth and development. In general, stony soils with a small amount of water are ideal. In no case should stagnation of moisture in the drainage be allowed - this is extremely detrimental to mountain plants. Very often in household plots a large accumulation of shapeless stones is formed, which some owners use to create a rock garden.

However, in this case, there is a fear instead of an alpine hill to get a strange and meaningless pile of stones. Therefore, it is better to carefully select all the pebbles in a certain shape and size if you want to get a real beautiful mountain landscape that will become your pride.

What stones are needed

You will also need to take into account the characteristics of those plants that are going to be planted on a hill. Usually they take root well and grow well on stones having a calcareous rock with a porous structure that allows the roots of plants to penetrate. True, periodically such soil will need to be acidified, because she is endowed with an alkaline reaction. In addition, the gaps formed between stones and plants should be decorated with gravel or marble chips. This method will help to get the finished rock garden design. And one moment. It is advisable to purchase stones in specialized stores, as only this material is truly environmentally friendly with a heterogeneous structural surface.

If you do everything yourself, the most suitable stones are shale, granite, limestone, sandstone and travertine. Moreover, it is desirable that the stones are of the same type and with traces of erosion, and also, weigh up to 100 kg. The optimum height of the alpine hill is up to one and a half meters.

What are the options for alpine slides

The simplest option is the so-called rocky cliff, however, it is possible only if there is a fairly steep slope. In this case, work should begin from the base of the slope, where large blocks of stone are laid by dry laying, after which plants are already planted.

Also a good option is a mountain composition (high plateau), which turns the design into a unique and unique place. And this is done like this: stone blocks burrow into the ground by about two-thirds and create chaotic paths that form a mountainous landscape. For the effect of a mountain gorge, you will need to boulder hillsides with boulders, and the walls are created by dry masonry using different heights and planting rocky plants.

In general, it is impossible to meet absolutely two identical rock gardens, as each owner of the site inevitably puts his soul into his creation, bringing something of his own, individual. By the way, there is an opinion that the best option for an alpine hill is an option with a complete absence of construction work (brickwork, cement, etc.). Such a solution provides in the future the possibility of reconstruction of the entire structure and greatly facilitates the process.

And further. Because our main task is to imitate the natural landscape, we should avoid straight lines, especially long ones. All lines in rock gardens should be smooth and twisty, they should not have sharp corners, but should be smooth.

As for the flower arrangement, here the lines are divided into three types: horizontal, vertical and falling. To create vertical lines, you need to use vertically mounted stones and vertical plants. To achieve horizontal lines, you will need areas covered with carpet plants, for example, juniper with a horizontal form of growth. Creating flowing lines is the most difficult task. The most expensive way is to create an artificial stream with waterfalls. However, the project does not provide for the creation of such a stream, so the stream can be made of pebbles "dry stream"

A few words about the color scheme of rock garden

Ideally, in creating an alpine hill, it would be possible to achieve the effect of a continuous transition scale with color shades.

If the colors are opposite each other, they are called complementary. This is because the eye gets tired at the sight of one color and additional comes to its aid. The most sophisticated look combinations consisting of three shades. For example, dark yellow will perfectly combine with lilac-bluish or pinkish shades. Thus, you can balance yellow with two close shades. You can bring an object closer to the viewer using a combination of yellow and orange colors, and, on the contrary, move it away using blue. Please note that blue or blue flowers planted in the distance are almost invisible. But warm shades, on the contrary, visually bring objects closer, reducing the distance.

Designers have long used the contrast method to emphasize with the help of one element the uniqueness and splendor of another. For example, one large-sized plant will look much more spectacular if it is surrounded on all sides by low-growing plants. However, the proximity to a large plant is only possible if it never closes a stone block. Regarding plants, contrast should be applied in form. For example, compositions where there are whole and dissected leaves look most impressive against each other.

Do not forget about the dominant

In an alpine hill, there must necessarily be a dominant - the dominant element of the whole composition, which is emphasized by all other elements. It may be some of the most spectacular plants, stream or stones. The dominant must be viewed from all points of view, because it is she who gives completeness to the landscape and makes it possible to perceive it as a single whole.

Immediate work plan

Here is a detailed plan of action, which it is advisable to adhere to in order to get a good result from your work and efforts:

1. the very first thing to do is to prepare the territory, namely, to clear it of debris and weed;
2. then, from the sketch, transfer the entire plan to the desired site and mark the site;
3. remove the turf layer (depth should be up to 300 m);
4. drain, pour a layer of gravel, broken brick or slag (thickness must be up to 100 mm), lay a layer of sand on top;
5. lay out a border along the contour;
6. remove all plant roots and stems from the removed layer of turf, then mix it with sand and peat and pour it on the ground for drainage;
7. carefully compact the soil and pour it with water so that subsequently the rock garden does not sag;
8. install stones at pre-determined levels, and at the edges - large sizes, and those that are smaller,
9. lay up, spectacular rock garden, consisting of three to five tiers;
10. when laying a rock garden, do not forget that the stones and the backfill (marble, granite or gravel) together should make up approximately half of the entire area of ​​the structure, if the number of stones is insufficient, this can cause the soil to crawl or smooth out the slope;
11. lay out the paths necessary for watering plants and other care

When all the work is done and the construction is ready, give him a little "rest", at least for two weeks, because it takes time for the stones to settle before planting. The ideal time for landing is spring. Well, do not forget about the sense of proportion, do not plant too many plants, so as not to turn landscape design into unthinkable chaos.

What plants are suitable for an alpine hill

If the first stage of the work consists purely in laying the plants, then the second in its location and planting, which represents an equally crucial moment in the work. If the plants are not picked up correctly, all the work can be sent down the drain. In order for the landscape for the rock garden to be successful, it is very important to maintain perfect harmony between plants and rocky terrain.

Choosing these or other plants, one should take into account their relation to light in the habitat, as well as the fact that not all plants fit perfectly into the design of the slide and are in harmony with stones and other types of plants. For example, if the rock garden is located in the northern part, then shade-tolerant plants are needed that will "feel good" in these conditions. In addition, they will need increased moisture. Such plants are fern, primrose, host and incense. The choice on the contrary is photophilous plants, for which soil drainage is not so important, is much wider. Such plants are, for example, the well-known tulip, iris, thyme, young, etc. There are also universal plants that feel great both in the sun and in the shade. These include crocus, violet, phlox, bell, muscari and various decorative cereals. In winter, juniper, mountain pine, Canadian spruce look very beautiful. Evergreens and variegated plants look the most spectacular - they give the landscape design of the site as a whole an extraordinary charm.

How to care for an alpine slide

This is quite simple if everything is observed and taken into account (humidity and light) and the plants are planted correctly. All care consists in weeding the weeds on time, as well as periodically mulching the main part of the plants, as mulch should be in harmony with the main stone, without violating the design of the slide. Also, from time to time it will be necessary to pour gravel (or natural crumb). Water the plants carefully and in small portions so that the water has time to be absorbed into the soil. For the cold period, the most tender plants will need to be covered with spruce branches to prevent their death. That's all. If you follow these simple care rules, your Alpine slide will always delight and delight you and your guests.

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