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A beautiful, well-groomed area is the calling card of any site. It’s good when, among all kinds of plantings in the garden, there is a central element that stands out from the general background.
This element can be a rock garden - a rocky elevation, decorated with flowers and plants and imitating a fragment of a mountain landscape.
Summer residents often confuse two similar concepts - rock garden and rock garden. In fact, they are not too mistaken, because rockery is the general name for rocky gardens, and alpine slide is one of its varieties. At the same time, many landscape designers We are accustomed to defining a rock garden only as a flat composition.
Alpine slide on the background log houseA rock garden, unlike a rock garden, is an elevated composition, necessarily tiered, with slopes and a peak.
Compared to a rock garden, it is more difficult to make an alpine slide with your own hands, but it has a more pronounced relief, attracts more attention due to its height, and makes the landscape noticeably more picturesque not only in summer, but also in winter.
You can also zone a rock garden country cottage area, for example, visually separate work area from the front door. In addition, a rocky hill will beautifully cover embankments that are unsuitable for planting.
From this article you will learn how to make an alpine slide with your own hands and get ideas landscape design from 50 photos of rock gardens.
So, how to create a composition, how to select and arrange plants and stones? Complete answers to these questions will not fit into one article, but in short, here are a few main rules and principles that need to be followed:
When choosing the design of an alpine slide, be guided by a sense of proportion - the composition should look natural and fit organically into the landscape. Cliffs and rocks (see photo below) in summer cottages most often seem foreign. But simple imitations of a slope or mountain valley without a pronounced peak are appropriate everywhere.
On a small summer cottage, tall types of rock gardens as in this photo are not very appropriate Now let's talk about choosing plants for an alpine hill. If you build a rock garden strictly according to the rules, then the flora for it must be selected strictly of alpine origin: miniature conifers, shrubs, ground cover, bulbous and herbaceous perennials.
However, real “Alpines” are not so easy to find and raise in middle lane, so you can choose any plants that are characterized by stockiness (height up to 60 cm), unpretentiousness and, of course, decorativeness. It is better to plant on the northern slope shade-tolerant plants: tenacious, periwinkle, fern, bergenia and others. On the southern slope, accordingly, light-loving plants grow better: lavender, barberry, adonis, iris, acena and others. Evergreen plants such as mountain pine, Canadian spruce, juniper and others will fit very harmoniously into the “mountain ensemble”.
It is advisable that the plants of your rock garden remain decorative throughout the season, otherwise withered leaves will spoil the entire composition, and it is unlikely to be possible to hide them behind their blooming “neighbors.” For this reason, it is good to use flyers in the design of an alpine slide. Although they are not entirely “canonical”, they will decorate a rocky garden for a long time.
Having roughly imagined what our rock garden will be like, we can begin to create an alpine slide with our own hands.
The technology for creating an alpine slide consists of the following stages:
Now let's talk about each stage in more detail.
It is best to start creating even the simplest alpine slide with the development of a project. The simplest option is a schematic sketch, observing the approximate sizes of stones and plants relative to each other. For example, it could be something like this.
1 – Mountain pine, 2 – Creeping thyme, 3 – Canadian Phlox, 4 – Evers’ sedum, 5 – Gray fescue, 6 – Rocky alyssum, 7 – Angustifolia lavender, 8 – Sedum, 9 – Fragrant rue, 10 – Steller’s wormwood. Note: the alpine hill diagram is shown without taking into account the flowering time of plants Ideally, a slide, especially a large and multi-tiered one, should be designed on a scale of, say, 1:50 or 1:25 (1 cm on paper corresponds to 50 or 25 “natural” centimeters) and with a grid with 2x2 cm cells (that is, with transferring the grid to nature, the cells will correspond to cells of 50x50 cm at a scale of 1:25).
Here are some tips for choosing a location for an alpine slide:
An example of an alpine slide against the background of a fence. By the way, the rock garden here is designed to hide water communications 
This small alpine hill would look much better if the fence was entwined with vines or planted with shrubs Suitable places:
In accordance with the plan, we mark the outline of the future slide in the selected area: we drive in pegs and stretch a string through them.
Next, remove the turf to a depth of just over 30 cm and leave it aside for a while. Later, based on it, we will prepare a soil substrate. When doing land work, do not forget to remove weed rhizomes.
So, we have a “pit” for the rock garden. Now we need to fill it with a “sandwich” of drainage and soil. Broken bricks, pebbles, crushed stone or small gravel can be used as the first layer of drainage. We fill it with a thickness of 10-15 cm, depending on the size of the stones. Next, pour a layer of sand 5-10 cm thick, tamp it well and fill it with water to achieve maximum density.
When laying the drainage layer is completed, you can begin preparing fertile soil. We will mix it from equal parts: previously dug turf, peat, humus and sand.
The construction of an alpine slide begins with laying the most beautiful and largest boulders along the perimeter of the future rock garden.
The stones should lie as stable as possible. To do this, they must, firstly, be placed on the ground with their largest side, and secondly, if necessary, place smaller support stones under them or add gravel or soil. The bottom row of boulders needs to be completely dug a third or two thirds into the ground - this way you will achieve not only stability, but also the desired natural effect.
Having folded the first row of large stones, we pour the prepared soil into the center of the composition and at the same time lay out the medium stones, forming the second tier.
Finally, small stones are placed at the top of the hill and on the slopes where voids need to be filled. At the top of the slide you can place one large or two medium stones. When erecting an alpine slide, do not forget to check your diagram and leave enough space for planting. Upon completion of the construction of the alpine slide, it needs to be watered abundantly and left for a couple of weeks to shrink.
Some experts recommend forming the core of the slide not from fertile soil, but from sand mixed with a small amount of crushed stone (the soil is poured only into the planting holes, and then the entire embankment is covered with it to hide the light sand). This way the elevation will be more reliable and durable. High slides require a core of three layers: gravel (or other rocky scattering), sand and soil (see diagram below).
When you are satisfied with the composition of stones, proceed to the most enjoyable stage - planting the flora. To do this, first arrange the pots of seedlings on the slopes according to your design, starting with the large ones and ending with the small ones. Planting should begin from the top, gradually going down. The depth of the planting holes depends on the size of the root systems specific types. Finally, the finished slide needs to be watered, washing away the soil from the stones.
Hurray, the alpine slide is ready! Now you can add filling (pebbles, gravel or crushed stone) to the slide where necessary, or install decor ( garden figures, lanterns, etc.)
Finally, we invite you to watch a visual master class on how to make a simple alpine slide with your own hands.
See also the gallery of ideas for rock gardens in the country.
Decorating your garden or summer cottage is nothing easier. You can arrange them with a variety of flowers that will delight their owners all summer. You can plant flowers along garden paths or just near the house. Or you can build an alpine slide to your delight and to the envy of your neighbors. This landscape design object is becoming more and more popular from year to year. You can turn to professional designers for help, or you can build this miracle yourself. Each element should be thought through so that the alpine slide fits harmoniously into the landscape.
A rock garden will perfectly decorate any area, and it can be placed on the territory different sizes. Small piece The rocky surface of the Alpine mountains looks very good against any background. To create such a miracle on your site correctly and beautifully, you need to know several nuances, otherwise it will have to be disassembled and wasted time and money will be irretrievably lost.
First you need to choose a place to place the slide. Natural irregularities can be used; it is also possible to use flat surface. The most important thing is that there is enough sunlight, ideally in the center of the site.
If this is not possible and personal plot cannot meet all the requirements, there is no need to be upset.
Next, the base is marked. At the same time, you should consider approaches to the slide. For work you only need gardening Tools. You will also need stones of different sizes, stone chips, drainage material, sand, fertile soil, seedlings of flowers and small shrubs.
In order for the alpine slide to look harmonious, you need to dig a shallow hole under it, its size is made on a scale of 1:2, no more than a meter deep. Strengthen the bottom of the pit with a gravel cushion, brick battle or other construction waste, and pour plenty of water and compact it.
In the central part, the drainage layer should be larger than at the edges. A ten-centimeter layer of sand is poured on top of it. Water, tamp, add sand where needed.
Cover the top with soil with a high clay content, you can purchase it in a store or mix it yourself, the proportions of clay soil with peat are 4:1, add a little peat to the soil in a proportion of 5:1. This stage is very important for an alpine slide; if the drainage is done incorrectly, then everything will spread out and settle after falling out large quantities precipitation.
The stones are laid on top. Moreover, their size and number will depend on individual fantasies. The shape of an alpine slide can be either horizontal or vertical. It is advisable to use natural stones and avoid sharp chips. If flat stones are chosen for the rock garden, then they should be laid with one edge raised.
Stones an integral part of alpine slide. The sizes of the selected stones should be proportional. Huge boulders cannot be used in a small alpine slide. Stones need to be taken different sizes, large stones are placed in the base, and smaller ones are installed on them.
For structural strength, large stones are covered with earth. The stones must be of the same type. Symmetry when laying stones will ruin the appearance of the alpine slide; they should look as natural as possible.
Harder stones will last longer. Soft stones, such as limestone, will become covered with moss over time, this will give the alpine hill an original and primitive look. Lay out the pebbles from bottom to top, determining a place for each.
Large stones should be placed at the very bottom; it is advisable to place small stones at the top. Be sure to provide “pockets” for planting. The basic rule on at this stage is the stability of the stones (if necessary, they are additionally strengthened) and the asymmetrical arrangement of all elements. The almost finished slide should be spilled with water and, if necessary, soil should be added in sagging areas.
Plants for the slide must be chosen from different flowering periods. From early spring to late autumn it will look playful.
Another rule is the location of plants. They cannot block stones. Perennials are better suited small plants, they must be unpretentious. When choosing plants, it is worth remembering seasonal changes.
The top of the hill is usually decorated with small trees or shrubs; these can be juniper, thuja, and dwarf pine. Flowers that complement the composition are better of natural origin; they can be found in the nearest forest; they should not be tall so as not to cover the stones.
Plants such as saxifrage, edelweiss, poppy, violet, cactus, spirea, and cinquefoil are suitable for this. The main thing is that they get along with each other and withstand the conditions of your climate.
Plants for rock gardens - phlox awl-shaped and young 
Multi-colored purslane on an alpine hill Plant in shallow holes, covering with soil with added small quantity very small stone. This will prevent weeds from growing and will help retain moisture.
50 examples of alpine slides for every taste
Arranging a rock garden is an incredibly exciting activity that requires a creative approach. In the process, a great abundance of possibilities opens up before you, the main thing is to show imagination and imagination.
What is an alpine slide? In essence, this is an imitation of a mountain landscape with perfectly selected beautiful flowers and plants. Such a composition in the garden should harmoniously fit into the overall landscape, complementing it favorably.
Creating a rock garden is a step-by-step process that requires attention to nuances. First of all, you need to think about the size of the slide itself, optimal location transitions, paths, steps and the structure as a whole.
It is very important that the location of the rock garden is well lit. Alpine plants are light-loving: it is the amount of sunlight that affects their growth and development. If we talk about soil, rocky soils with a limited amount of water will be optimal. Excess moisture is extremely destructive for mountain flora, so it is important to prevent stagnation of water in the drainage.
In private plots, quite a lot of shapeless varieties of stones often form, which owners sometimes use for a future rock garden. IN in this case there is a risk instead beautiful design get a meaningless and ridiculous mountain of stones. Here, experienced landscape designers still recommend carefully selecting pebbles according to appearance, size and shape to create an exquisite mountain landscape.
For the future rock garden, try to select stones of no more than two species of the same size and the same structure.
Also consider characteristics plants and flowers that you are planning for the slide. As a rule, they take root well on calcareous rocks with a porous structure, which facilitates the penetration of the roots inside. But such soil needs to be acidified periodically, since it has alkaline reaction. It is advisable to embellish the gaps between plants and stones marble chips or crushed stone. So, the rock garden will take on a beautiful finished look.
Tip: buy stones in special stores. This is the only way you will be confident in the quality of the material, because the stones must be environmentally friendly and have a heterogeneous structure.
The most suitable rocks are granite, travertine, limestone, slate and sandstone. Use stones of the same type weighing about 100 kg and showing signs of erosion. Optimal height rock garden - up to 1.5 meters.
The most common and simplest type is a rocky cliff. Naturally, it is possible if there is a steep slope. In this case, work begins from the base, where large blocks of stone are laid, and then various plants are planted.
The next type is a mountain composition that transforms the design into a unique place of extraordinary beauty. To create such beauty, stone blocks are hidden two-thirds into the ground and chaotic paths are arranged, forming a stunning mountain landscape.
The maximum effect in creating a rock garden can be achieved by a skillful game of color transitions.
Combinations of three shades are considered luxurious. For example, yellow harmonizes perfectly with pinkish, or lilac flowers. Thus, yellow is balanced by two similar shades.
You can visually bring any object closer by combining yellow and orange, and move it away using of blue color. Take a closer look at any landscape design. Surely you will notice that the blue and blue flowers almost invisible, and plants with warm shades, on the contrary, they visually bring objects closer.
Since ancient times, designers have been using the game of contrasts in order to, thanks to one element, emphasize the splendor and uniqueness of another. One large plant looks much brighter and more expressive if it is surrounded on all sides by low-growing species. But compositions with whole and dissected leaves look most advantageous against each other.
The rock garden will look much more elegant if it is dominated by a bright dominant element. These can be the most spectacular flowers or plants, original stone or stream. This accent must be visible from all sides, because it is what gives final completeness to the design, and the landscape is perceived as one whole.
When choosing plantings, it is necessary to take into account their sensitivity to light in the place where the rock garden is planned. Remember, not all plants are suitable for a hill and are combined with stones or other types of plantings.
So, for example, the location of the rock garden in the northern part suggests shade-tolerant types. They will also need enough moisture. These include primrose, bergenia, fern and hosta. Light-loving plants, for which soil drainage is less important, are much easier to choose. These are tulip, young, thyme, iris, etc.
There are also many universal varieties that are perfect for both sun and shade - violet, bellflower, crocus, muscari, phlox.
IN winter period Canadian spruce, mountain pine, and juniper look beautiful. The most impressive are variegated and evergreen plantings.
In general, there are no absolutely two identical rock gardens, since each owner of the site tries to bring something new and individual to the design. By the way, many people believe that The best decision for a mountain composition - an option without any construction work(cement, brickwork etc.). This approach provides the opportunity to rework the entire structure in the future and significantly facilitates the work process.
Do you decorate your garden plot? Tell us which version of the alpine slide design did you like the most?
Reading time ≈ 12 minutes
An alpine slide is a spectacular element of landscape design, but somewhat labor-intensive to create, implying many nuances and rules. Today we will look at a step-by-step guide to building an alpine slide with your own hands out of the blue with photos and diagrams.
Rock garden with a stream of rounded stones.
An alpine slide, or rock garden, is an element of landscape design in the form of a slide, built of stones with high-altitude plants planted on it, growing in the Alps. In other words, this is an artificially created miniature of a mountainous area with its inherent relief elements. So, a rock garden can be created in the form of:
Rock gardens are also often called rock gardens. The structure of such an element involves several tiers or levels. If element large sizes, it is usually called a rock garden, and structures with more modest dimensions, designed on a small area, are called an alpine slide. It is obvious that high mountain flowers and plants require special conditions, and since rock gardens have become widespread, the plants are not selected to be truly alpine, but based on the climate of the area. We’ll talk in more detail about choosing flora for a rock garden later.
In the photo below you can see a simple but very picturesque alpine hill with stones in the country, which is easy to repeat with your own hands:
Rocky garden on the site.
It is believed that rock gardens first began to be built more than a thousand years ago in Japan. Due to the acute shortage of free space, the Japanese have learned to build real masterpieces on limited space. Stone gardens were also popular in China and other South Asian countries. Around the 16th century, the fashion for building rocky gardens came to Europe, and a couple of centuries later it became popular in Russia.
The main beauty and charm of alpine slides lies in their maximum proximity to natural contours. Lack of symmetry, slight carelessness, exclusively natural materials create an extraordinary atmosphere.
Alpine slide with massive stones.
There are many varieties of rock gardens. Here are some of the most common types of slides:
Types of alpine slides.
Important! It is necessary to distinguish rock gardens from rockeries - these are two different elements of landscape design, although both use stones and plants.
Typically, rock gardens are much larger in scale, unlike, and also have a greater height (sometimes up to 2-3 m compared to maximum height rockery 1 m). Another distinctive feature - vegetation - can be used minimally or not at all in rock gardens, while in rock gardens it is a mandatory element.
The construction of an alpine slide is limited only by your imagination and the characteristics of the site. The compositions can be completely different. To make it easier for you to choose, consider some examples of photos of alpine slides in the garden - the most simple options, which you can repeat with your own hands, as well as complex compositions with a fountain, a pond and a bridge.
Rock garden with a bridge.
Rock gardens with ponds will bring freshness to the garden design. It is better to place such an element near the recreation area.
Large alpine hill with a stream.
Even small streams and ponds can transform an area:
Rock garden with waterfall and pond.
In the photo below you see how you can arrange a rock garden near your house:
Rock garden near the house.
For construction you can use the following schemes:
Rock garden diagram.
Scheme No. 2:
Scheme of an alpine slide.
Scheme No. 3:
Alpine slide option.
Scheme No. 4:
Slide with a pond.
To arrange a beautiful rocky garden on your site, you must initially choose a suitable location.
Advice: if there are natural uneven terrain on the site, it is advisable to use them for arranging an alpine slide.
If the site does not have any changes, it’s okay - you can arrange a rocky garden on flat ground, but in this case you will have to put in a little more effort. It is important that during an artificial construction this element harmoniously and smoothly transitions into the rest of the flat landscape.
Rock garden on a natural slope along the steps.
In addition, there are other criteria for choosing a location:
It is not recommended to build large-scale rocky gardens directly in the center of a large empty space - this will give the landscape element a very implausible appearance. As for the size of the slide, there are no strict boundaries or standards; you need to choose the dimensions based on the area of the site. After all, it is not the size of the rock garden itself that is important, but its harmonious combination with the design of the territory of a dacha or country house.
Another important point– selection of vegetation for the slide.
IN classic version When arranging a rock garden, unpretentious, perennial alpine plants, resistant to harsh climates, and compact in size (ground cover or low-growing) are selected.
However, with the growing popularity of rock gardens, the range of plants used in their design has also increased. When arranging a hill, the following groups of flowers are planted:
It is important to select plants based on the conditions on your hill - soil type, light-to-shade ratio, protection from wind, etc. All plants should have more or less similar requirements for conditions. Also be guided by the size of the hill - the larger its dimensions, the taller plants can be planted. For compact rock gardens, select low crops.
Let's list which specific types are best used for slides:
In the photo below you can see what plants are needed to set up a rock garden:
Plants for alpine hills.
When choosing and arranging stones for a slide, it is necessary to start from the basic principle - naturalness. Based on this, using several types of stones that do not occur together in nature will not be a very good solution.
The following types are most often used for arranging slides:
For natural look slides, it is necessary to use cobblestones of different sizes irregular shape. Place smaller ones between large specimens. For flatter areas, you can choose smooth stones (not perfectly rounded), and for steep slopes– lumpy.
In addition to the listed types, you can also use shell rock and slate. Gravel and crushed stone are used to create drainage; pebbles are usually used to lay out alpine slides with real or dry streams.
In the photo below you can see an alpine slide, created with your own hands at the dacha from scrap materials:
Alpine slide made from scrap materials.
So, when we have discussed the main aspects of making a rock garden, we can proceed directly to work. We will give a step-by-step guide and show in photos and diagrams the process of building an alpine slide with your own hands out of the blue.
Important! Just pouring a pile of stones, filling the gaps with soil and planting flowers does not mean creating a rock garden. With this approach, the stones can quickly move, causing the shape to disintegrate and the decorative effect to be lost.
If we talk about the time frame for creating a rock garden, it will take from two weeks to a month. The exact timing depends on the rate of soil shrinkage.
After you have chosen the size and shape for the slide, these parameters must be transferred to the site. It is worth fencing it around the perimeter with rope and pegs, clearing it of debris and stones, and uprooting plants. Next you need to do the drainage:
At this stage, there should be approximately 30-40 cm left to the soil level - we will fill them with soil.
Construction of an alpine slide.
To prepare soil for a rock garden, you can use one of the “recipes”:
Important! The soil for a rock garden must be thoroughly cleared of weeds and rhizomes, otherwise it will be more difficult to care for the hill.
The resulting mixture is poured on top of the sand around the perimeter of the future rock garden. The thickness of the soil layer can reach 1 m - this will be an excellent basis for stones. Next, you should wait about 1.5-2 weeks until the soil settles. Sometimes you have to wait up to 5 weeks.
Construction of a rock garden step by step.
In addition to the diagram above, we attach step by step photo process:
Now let's get to important stage– laying stones. We tell you step by step how to make an alpine slide with your own hands near your house:
Avoid a symmetrical arrangement - try to arrange the stones a little chaotically so that the composition has a natural look.
This is the final stage of designing an alpine slide. First, plant trees and shrubs, then fill the main volume with perennials.
Important! A little accumulates at the bottom of the slide more moisture, therefore it is better to plant moisture-loving species here.
The process of planting plants in an alpine hill.
The advantage of rock gardens is that, despite all their decorativeness, they require incomparably less attention than flower beds and flower beds. But some care is still required:
For the winter, the composition must be covered with agrofibre. In the spring, the film is removed, dead plants are removed (if this happens), loose stones are corrected, and leaves are raked. Next, you need to renew the layer of soil and mulch and add new plants.
Now you understand that creating an alpine slide with your own hands, even on level ground, is not difficult if you follow step by step guide with photos and diagrams.
Video: how to quickly and easily make a rock garden.
Do you want to improve your skills in landscape design? Try making an alpine slide with your own hands. We warn you: it’s better not to get down to business without confident skill, otherwise you risk creating a mess in your flowerbed, making your neighbors laugh and being disappointed in the design. The editors of the publication understand the benefits of a rock garden and how to make one yourself.
This exterior element is based on a combination of mountain plants and stone. The Alpine slide is a serious and confident competitor to traditional flower beds and plaster sculptures. The latter is already difficult to surprise anyone, not to mention creating a unique atmosphere in the exterior.
Photo 1 - Composition by Debora Carl Landscape designAlpine slides are used for decoration:
The design of the alpine slide is multi-level. There are many diagrams for beginners that help you avoid getting confused in the arrangement of design elements.
Mainly used conifers and flowers. In terms of cost and practicality, the leaders are:
Photo 5 - Composition from Petriv Landscape Design: conifers and wildflowersIMPORTANT! The main rule for selecting plants is a competent combination of all elements of a mini-ecosystem.
A few tips before you start arranging your rock garden:
"Wonderful Garden" "Wonderful Garden"IMPORTANT! It is this kind of vegetation that is typical of the Alpine mountains, the atmosphere of which has become the basic idea of the described landscape element.
Creating a rock garden requires the presence of such elements as:
Therefore, if you want to build an alpine slide, take care of these elements.
Before creating on garden plot alpine slide, you should familiarize yourself with their types. This will make it possible to arrange everything as competently and thoughtfully as possible.
Photo 12 - Exterior by Huettl Landscape Architecture Photo 13 - Project by Banyon Tree Design StudioTypes of alpine slides:
The arrangement of an alpine slide of this type is more complex than in previous versions. But there is an opinion that such a rock garden is visually the most spectacular.
Photo 15 - Rock garden from Case Design/Remodeling, Inc.There is another type of landscape elements that stand alongside alpine slides in popularity, but differ from them. This is a rockery - a garden consisting of stones that act as a background for decorative vegetation.
Photo 16 - Exterior project by The Philbin Group Landscape ArchitectureAlthough it is not an alpine slide, it has quite an important positive feature. It can be built on completely flat terrain.
We decided to keep it simple and, for convenience, divided the process of creating an alpine slide with our own hands into steps.
Draw a sketch of what your alpine slide should be like. It is not necessary to make full drawings. The main thing is to calculate the number of tiers and think about the vegetation. This approach will make it possible to avoid the mistakes of incorrect planning.
Photo 19 - Multi-level flower bed by Remick Associates Architects + Master BuildersAt this stage, it is important to remember the decorative function of the rock garden and the fact that it will be looked at from different angles. It is necessary to plan the location of the alpine slide so that it looks interesting from different angles.
Photo 20 - Statue in composition. Idea: Westover Landscape Design, Inc.IMPORTANT! Don't forget to plan a place to relax near the rock garden. Nearby you can place a small flat area where you can put a sun lounger, a table, chairs and even install a gazebo.
In order for plants to thrive in the ecosystem, the slopes should be located to the east and south. This way the vegetation will receive enough sunlight and heat.
Photo 21 - Exterior idea from the designers of the studio Neumann Mendro Andrulaitis Architects LLPIf there are a lot of natural unevenness in the area, best place Can't find one for a rock garden. Located on natural slopes, the alpine slide will look organic. And stones and plants will become a wonderful decor.
Photo 22 - Landscape design author Kimberley BryanLines from the sketch at the appropriate scale are transferred to the site, making it possible to indicate which element should be located and where.
Photo 23 - Landscape design idea from Princeton Scapes Inc.The first large boulders should be installed around the perimeter. To make everything look organic, they can be slightly deeper into the ground. This solution will make it possible to visually ensure that the stones are perceived as a natural and integral part of the existing landscape.
Photo 24 - Exterior project from the All Oregon Landscaping design groupWhen the boulders are laid around the perimeter and there are clear outlines of the hill, care should be taken to prepare a place for plants. To arrange it, pour in inner space rock garden suitable soil and plant vegetation.
IMPORTANT! The soil of each previous tier becomes not only a habitat for vegetation, but also the basis for the previous one.
This should be done in layers and gradually, separating each tier of the slide with stones. Otherwise, you will end up with something like a “slanted flower bed.”
Photo 25 - Landscape design project from Porebski Architects ChippendaleWhen the tiers are ready, it's time to form the top. This element can be one large stone or a pair of small ones folded in the shape of a pyramid. In addition to the fact that the top is of decisive importance in the formation of a visually complete image of the composition, it also protects against soil erosion.
When flower beds and flower beds cease to amaze with their originality, rock gardens become excellent option. If you understand a simple algorithm for creating a composition, you can try making an alpine slide with a waterfall with your own hands. It can be not only with a waterfall, but also with a fountain.
Photo 27 - Design project from Huettl Landscape Architecture studioA rock garden with a waterfall is more difficult to set up, but it is worth all the effort because it looks more impressive.
Photo 28 - Succulents in the design of a rock gardenThe sequence of its creation is as follows:
When all these steps are completed, the fountain is ready.
Photo 29 - Exterior rock garden from Envision Landscape StudioIf you don’t have ideas for independently developing sketches of an alpine slide, the design of beautiful rock gardens, photos of which can be seen below in the gallery, will lead to interesting ideas.
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