Great ideas for landscaping a small site

The arrangement of a summer cottage with a very limited area is a very fascinating occupation. To create comfort in crowded conditions, designers have come up with many ways. How to successfully arrange the landscape design of a small site in detail in the text of the article.

To create a landscape design of a small area, there are certain rules for the visual increase in space

For any city dweller, a country house is a rest from the noise, the bustle of cities, unity with nature, relaxation, and pacification. To create a “piece of paradise” for yourself and your relatives, you will have to try very hard. When the summer cottage is small, then the finance, time spent on upgrading it will take a little. She can please the owners anyway.

Individual elements can visually limit the area of ​​the garden, they will have to be hidden or removed

Site zoning

When zoning a small area, you need to think carefully about where and which zones to place. Most of the places are usually allocated for a garden. Three times less will have to rest, flower beds, and everything else - the house, outbuildings. This ratio allows you to harmoniously, functionally place everything. Instead of a garden, some make a small pond with green grass around.

Site zoning outline

What you need to consider when developing a plan with your own hands.

• The form. It is easier to work with a quadrangular or oval pad than with an irregular shape.
• Microrelief. An even area is more convenient than with a large slope, many irregularities.
• The composition of the soil. Fertile soft soil is ideal for plants, good for construction. The stony composition of the earth will cause some difficulties.
• Groundwater. The foundation is laid with a deep arrangement of waters, for planting trees this also matters.
• Determine the cardinal directions with respect to the orientation of the plot.

To divide the territory into zones it is better to use low partitions made of natural stone

Very popular is the design of a small garden in the Japanese style. In such a garden, trees, figurines, ponds, rock gardens, stones, etc. will be miniature, then the space of the site will seem large. The abundance of moss, ground cover plants, small flowers will produce the same effect.

A dwarf tree, a tiny gazebo and stones - why not a “piece” of Japan in the center of the green lawn

Three basic rules

In the landscape design of a cottage of a limited size, three rules should be followed:

1. We remove artificial walls. No "deaf" high fences - they will make the space quite crowded. Instead of a large dense fence, you should choose a fence from a low fence, mesh netting, wattle, along which climbers are planted.
2. Free the center. Large buildings, tall decorations, trees should be placed around the edges. In the middle of the site you can dig a pond, make an even green lawn.
3. Create an accent point, the highlight of the plot. It can be a luxurious flowerbed, mainly with bright colors, a small fountain with lighting, a platform with a stone hearth, a bridge over a stream or the house itself.

Covered with greenery or flowers, the vertical support for a climbing plant creates perspective and the space becomes more voluminous

Illusion of scale - all paths going to the center of the garden pass through tall plants, only a corner for relaxation remains open

Visual increase in space can be achieved using multi-level platforms

Forged fence is originally combined with the same benches, table, barbecue. If for some reason the fence has to be made concrete, it is made out with convex mirrors - visually it will seem that there is twice as much space in the yard than it really is. Hanging flowerbeds-pockets, in which purslane, begonia, alissum, fuchsia or even strawberries, lettuce, parsley are placed on a high fence.

Techniques for visual expansion of the site area

Limited cottage space is its disadvantage, which is difficult to hide. But you can emphasize the advantages of this place by adding bright details. A colorful playground, home-made benches, hand-painted wooden sculptures, an unusual garden.

It seems that behind the opening in the wall is a garden surrounded by greenery. This is actually a decorative poster that creates the illusion of deception

We use the help of a garden path. It should be made winding so that the distance between the objects seemed as large as possible. Paths can be made of stones, gravel, the remains of bricks, concrete tiles laid directly on lawn grass. The location of the arch anywhere in the country house will give the impression that there is another garden on its side.

Winding paths help create the illusion of a large garden

Even a small pond will contribute to the optical effect. Calm water, like a mirror, reflects clouds and nearby objects - the garden seems much larger than it really is

An artificial reservoir with clear water, a waterfall will give the territory "airiness". If several large mirrors are placed above the pond in the corner of the fence, they will not only emphasize the uniqueness of the space, but visually make the area much more spacious. The path leading “into the mirror”, set at an angle, creates the illusion that the garden is much larger than it seems.

A stream in stones attracts the eye, distracting from the size of the garden

Mirrors should not be hung too high so that birds do not crash there. It should be taken into account how the sun's rays fall on it - the reflected light should not cut your eyes. It is advisable that the mirror reflects something beautiful - when you install it opposite the flowerbed, the effect of an endless flower field will be created.

Garden furniture should not seem bulky, preferably portable, light colors. Proper lighting of the resting place will visually give it extra space. Buildings, statues, trellises are also recommended to be made white or silver.

Use combined buildings. The glazed part of this hozblok is suitable for a mini-greenhouse, and in the house there is a place for storing garden equipment

Practical recommendations for landscaping

For landscaping a summer cottage area of ​​small size, vertical flower beds are suitable - in the form of a tower, a pyramid. Various plants can be planted in wooden barrels, “hemp”, floor vases to decorate with car tires, painted in different colors.

As a distracting accent, the standard rose is perfect, during the flowering period it is simply impossible to take your eyes off it

Original decorative elements perfectly distract from the modest size of the site

For a visual increase in the summer cottage area with their own hands, designers recommend:

1. Remove all unnecessary. If possible, place buildings in corners, make fences low and transparent. Plant trees along the fence so that they cover the fence with their crowns without cluttering the interior of the site.
2. Use a pond, mirror.A pond near one of the walls, a huge mirror above it will greatly expand the space, making it brighter.
3. Different shades. Cold colors visually remove objects, warm colors bring them closer. During the day, the color scheme is implemented using flowering plants, and at night - well-chosen lighting.
4. Apply screens. They are created for zoning of the territory, from small arches, trellises with ornamental and vegetable plants, which is especially convenient when the cottage is located on a hillside.
5. Layered design. The garden, located on several levels, seems large and varied. You can create cascades by placing tall plants along the walls, low - closer to the center of the site. Hanging flowerpots will well decorate the resting place. The arches and arbours entwined with grapes look great.
6. Enlargement of the garden "inland". This effect is achieved with the help of volumetric painting of buildings, fences, the location of trees.

A mini birch alley will create a spatial perspective and add depth to the space.

Pergola - one of the options for vertical gardening

If the owner of the site has the skills of an artist, and the fence is concrete and gray, then on it you can depict a whole huge picture. For example, the seashore, the edge of the forest, sunset, summer flowering field.

Breakdown of a flower garden in a small summer cottage

A creative attitude to the design of the garden will help a lot when there is a choice between vegetable plants and a flower bed. Well-fertilized and well-groomed beds in appearance are not inferior to decorative flower beds. Colored lettuce, even rows of carrots, asparagus beans in the background along the fence. Onions and garlic are easy to combine with flowers that bloom much later.

Beautiful flowerbed with densely planted flowers

The flower beds are best located in the warmest, most sunny place. You can refine them with improvised materials - colored plastic bottles, stones, bricks, and the remains of construction waste. Many flowering plants are planted closer to the fall, when most of the crop has already been harvested. Ipomoea, marigolds, daisies, pansies will do. Gladioli, alpine forget-me-not, petunia, asters, crocuses look good.

An island with flowers in the center of the lawn breaks the space, blocking the view, and the garden is no longer visible through at first sight

The flower garden can be given any shape you like, but to save space, simple geometric shapes are preferred. If the roof of the house or one of the buildings is flat, strong, then the flowerbed can be made there. It is important only to choose drought-resistant, photophilous plants. A great idea is a floating flower garden. It is located on a "raft" of foam, can be attached to the bottom by an anchor.

We look after a lawn and greens

If flower beds are made a little “raised” above the ground, surrounded by wooden boards or stone sides and sprinkled with soil, they can be warmed up more by the sun, it is better to bloom and bear fruit. Caring for them will be simplified - it will be possible to approach watering and processing without dirt.
Watering the lawns is carried out using a diffuser or an ordinary watering can. Timely mowing of the lawn and bushes must be done - the overgrown garden gives the impression of being abandoned. Combing, aeration, pest control, top dressing of lawn grass is also desirable.

Lawn is needed in any garden, even on the smallest

Trees and beds need to be fertilized periodically, and perennial flowers - replanted. Pruning trees, periodic cleaning of fallen leaves and rotting fruits, allows them not to get sick.

If the beds, then only beautiful

If mirrors are installed in the courtyard, it must be borne in mind that sunlight reflected from them, falling on especially delicate plants, can cause burns. For the winter, plants that do not differ in frost resistance should be covered with a spruce tree or special material.

Feng Shui and infield

Ancient Chinese culture believes that to create a harmonious atmosphere of a country house, it is necessary that the energy of Qi flow freely. This is done when the balance of the five elements is achieved - fire, water, earth, wood, metal. The Feng Shui landscape radiates the purest energy that fills a person.

Place a pair of plants of a calm shade, for example, purple, on different sides of the site. Colored bushes echo each other and visually increase the space

In the design of a small garden, color plays an important role. Some shades give warmth, others create a feeling of coolness.

Of great importance in such improvement is the color scheme of space. White and shades of purple soothe, heal people. Red and yellow increase energy, increase efficiency. It is important not to overload the garden and flower beds with an abundance of colors.

The colors of Yin energy are blue, purple, black, white. Yang colors include yellow, red, orange. If the balance of Yin and Yang is maintained, then in such a wonderful space a person truly relaxes.

There should be few shrubs, but their color should be chosen so that the composition pleases with beauty all summer

All plantings and buildings are also performed on the basis of a harmonious combination of the five elements. High-quality furniture, ponds, beautiful plants, sculptures, mirror mosaics on fences, proper maintenance of the garden will help maintain a balance of energy and well-being in the country house.

Garden design should look like a single composition, not a set of random elements

In the design of a small area, it is important to observe moderation, without cluttering it excessively, keeping all the elements in the same style. If you can’t ennoble the space with your own hands, you can turn to professional designers for help.

Expert Opinion

Alina Kvileva

Landscape designer

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Hello, my name is Alina and I am a landscape designer, if you have any questions regarding landscape design, please answer them with pleasure.

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Photo: 50 ideas for designing a small site