Landscaping for a summer cottage - 60 photos of ideas

Man and nature are the eternal theme of any kind of art. Landscape design is not only a way of self-expression, but also part of direct communication with pristine nature. The area adjacent to the private house gives a wide scope for imagination, opening endless opportunities for designers around the world.
Regardless of the size of the summer cottage, you need to strive to create a unique atmosphere for solitude and contemplation of nature, for a family vacation with children and friends, for romantic dinners to the rustling of leaves and for quiet dinners while reading books at a small home pond. Nature provides all the tools to create the necessary mood. You just need to be able to use them.

Fundamentals of modern landscape design

Landscaping of a summer cottage is an integrated approach to landscaping a personal plot. This space is designed to harmonize with the inner world of the owner, to be a reflection of his tastes and interests.

In landscape design, as in any other kind of ennoblement of space, there are modern trends that most professionals follow.

The origins of the aesthetic design of the site go far into the depths of time. Over the centuries, styles and trends in landscape design have undergone many qualitative changes. At the moment, among specialists in the improvement of the site there is a desire for naturalness and pristine. Alpine hill, a Russian folk garden with an admixture of technological advances: the use of glass, metal, clear geometric shapes, straight lines, is very fashionable.

Eclecticism prevails in modern landscape design. You need to have a real talent for a harmonious combination of these two incongruous areas. But the result is able to exceed all expectations.

Modern styles of landscape design

Over the long history of the art of decorating a personal plot, many of its directions have been formed.

The main ones are:

• Classic or regular style. Famous French parks are typical representatives of this area. The idea of ​​this design is the idea of ​​the elevation of the human mind over nature, subjecting it to the laws of our usual geometry.
• Landscape style. Historically formed as the opposite of a regular trend. It is a "free", the most pristine landscape.Landscape style is designed to surprise a person with the beauty of natural nature, skillfully thought out and created by designers.
• Country style (country). The "home" course of landscape style, whose representatives are ordinary village gardens in different parts of the world. An arbitrary direction that does not require large investments and careful maintenance of the site. The placement of jewelry is arbitrary, depending on the historical folklore of the area.

• Architectural style. Putting natural beauty into the background, focuses on the decorative buildings of the territory: bridges, terrace, arches, paved areas, architectural reliefs, steps, etc.
• Japanese style. Oriental-style countryside design is an art. It is filled with symbolism. The landscape design of the site is ideal for creating a classic oriental atmosphere. The main components will be stones, boulders, a small reservoir, a place for contemplating the beauty of nature.

Layouts of the area around the house

After choosing the right style, you should plan the design of the territory near the house, determine the constituent elements. Without the planning stage, competent construction of the site is impossible.

There are several standard layout types applicable to most spaces:

• Rectangular layout. The most popular win-win option. The scheme of a rectangular section is easy to zon, conveniently divided into separate sections and is well suited to create a successful geometric composition.
• Round layout. Such a layout is artificially created from a rectangular version with the help of auxiliary elements: flower beds, lawn, green spaces, etc. Direct geometric shapes are masked by decor. The design of the landscape around the house in round motives can be a non-trivial decision.
• Diagonal layout. Based on creating diagonal parallels.Landscaping of a small site with your own hands in a diagonal layout will help to visually expand the space, push its boundaries.
• Free layout. Acceptance of free placement of design elements using the natural terrain. It is important to place accents in such a garden. Otherwise, the effect of neglect may appear and the terrain will lose its landscape attractiveness.

Site zoning

Separation of it into several functional zones will help to make a spacious plot the most comfortable and visually increase a small personal space. Their number and size completely depends on the initial area of ​​the area and its intended purpose.

The territory can be divided into:

• Garden area;
• Rest area;
• Economic zone;
• Dining area;
• Children's area;
• Sports area.

All areas of the territory should make up a single picture, without looking as separate islands on a personal plot. Zones should be united by a single idea, style.

One logical zone should smoothly transition to another. To do this, it is best to use green spaces, arches and decor.

Whatever type of layout would be used, the largest zones are best located along the edge of the square, while the small ones should be concentrated in the center.

Landscape Design Composition

The landscape design of the site is a combination of many functional and decorative elements. Below we will take a closer look at the main ones.

Lawn

As a skilled builder puts flooring on the floor of a house, so a skilled gardener covers his plot with a lawn. If earlier the lawn was a luxury of emperors, then in the modern world everyone can afford to ennoble the territory with a soft grass carpet.

The lawn engraftment process is laborious and requires full return, but at the end it will bring the owners a well-deserved result in the form of an ideal foundation for the rest of the landscape.In addition to the decorative function, the grass lawn positively affects the structure of the soil and the purity of the air, muffles excess noise.

The choice of lawn must be approached with all seriousness: it will last more than one season. Exist:

• Normal lawn. It is a monophonic coating of medium density.
• Sports lawn. It is a denser type of lawn, not afraid of stress.
• Decorative lawn. A beautiful, ideal lawn not intended for walking on it.

garden path

Garden path is a functional element of landscape design. It plays the role of a link in the special zones of the territory; they are the "skeleton" of the entire layout of the area. Depending on the chosen style, the tracks can be of various shapes, sizes, made of different materials.

Although the classical direction of the site design is geometric and straight lines, winding paths look more natural in landscape design. Attracting with their ease, they turn the corner through the garden.

The most important issue in home gardens is the choice of the right material. In landscape design, a variety of finishes is not welcome, but the use of only one material is not necessary. The main thing in this business is harmony and uniformity.

Central tracks should be larger and more solid. The mosaic design in different colors will look good. A simultaneous combination of different figures and floral arrangements looks advantageous. Modern manufacturers offer customized footpath services. You can emphasize the central alley using the built-in spotlight.

Dirt paths, decoratively sprinkled with sand or crumbs, will add special charm to the nooks of the garden.

Standard materials for garden paths are:

• paving stones;
• gravel;
• concrete tile;
• a natural stone;
• brick coating;
• decorative tile;
• natural pebbles.

When choosing a material, its compatibility with a specific soil and climatic conditions is mandatory taken into account, in addition to standard operating conditions.

Flower garden and planting

It is difficult to imagine the landscape design of a summer cottage plot without plants. The composition of flower beds can be a real art and the main focus of the entire site. It is important to carry out competent selection of plants. The main selection criteria will be not only their appearance, but also compatibility among themselves, the necessary climatic conditions, survivability, etc.

There are the following methods of planting on the site:

• Flower beds. The most popular flower garden, representing the planting of a certain geometric shape of decorative deciduous plants.

• Group landing. Dense planting of plants in separate groups of several species.
• Rabatki. A kind of planting of deciduous plants with rectangular stripes to frame the borders of lawns, paths or other elements of landscape design.

• Border A type of flower garden in which plants are planted in tiers.

• Tapeworm. The method of single planting.

• Ground flower garden. Geometrically regular complex flower garden, located in front of the entrance to the infield. Usually consists of a combination of several plant species with architectural elements.

• Mobile flower beds. Plants or flowers that are not adapted to certain terrain features (soil, certain weather conditions, a certain season) are exposed in the landscape of the site in decorative pots or vases, without transplanting into the soil.

• Arenaria. An exotic solution would be a corner of the desert in the garden. Various types of succulents and the like are planted in the artificially sandy arena.

Ponds

A pond can be the highlight of any landscape. But before you begin its speedy creation, you should think about the appointment.In areas of different sizes, different types of water bodies will be appropriate.

The owners of a large plot, of course, can afford absolute any size, shape and depth of the water body.

Ponds are very laborious to maintain, so it should be foreseen in advance whether it will be serviceable.

The size of the plot is about 12 acres allows you to build both swimming poolso and small pond small fish breeding. An object size of up to 8 square meters will be appropriate. When planning the reservoir, it is worth considering that the size of the finished pond is visually smaller than originally conceived. Therefore, some margin is needed.

The reservoir should be in direct agreement with the general style of the landscape design. With a regular style, the pool should have direct forms, and asymmetrical brooks made of natural materials are more suitable for landscape.

Alpine hill

The landscape design of the summer cottage qualitatively transforms the creation of the now fashionable alpine hill.

Alpine hill is an imitation of a wild mountain landscape with plant species characteristic of it. Despite the time-consuming process of creation, such a decoration can become the pride of a personal plot of any country house.

Usually, an alpine hill is a peculiar variety of rockeries: compositions of ornamental plants with stone. To create a rock garden, materials available in our area are used: limestone, granite, gerbils. Living composition is combined from rock plants.

The main emphasis on rock garden is given through the play of chiaroscuro. The corresponding effect can be achieved both by the initial selection of a place with beautifully falling rays of the sun, and by creating artificial lighting.

Recreation area with barbecue or fireplace

Owning a country house, you can not only usefully spend time gardening, but also successfully relax in the company of friends, equipping your recreation area with barbecue or fireplace.

The corresponding platform can be both open and closed.Although the first option is less time-consuming, the design of a small canopy will not only give the place more comfort, but also protect it from direct sunlight or rain. A suitable place to place a recreation area would be backyard, spacious and hidden from prying eyes. Well, if next to this place there will be a zone for children, and nearby a picturesque landscape for admiring. Proximity to the pond will give additional freshness on hot summer days.

The location in the recreation area of ​​the brazier, hearth or outdoor fireplace is not only a part of its interior, but also an important functional element. In addition to its main purpose, it can be used for heating, creating a cozy atmosphere in autumn evenings.

Outdoor dining

Landscaping of a summer cottage with an open dining room is a luxury affordable for everyone. Eating outdoors is not just a trend in modern fashion, but also an extremely useful practice that improves metabolism and overall well-being.

To create a summer dining room, first of all, you need a suitable free space. An excellent solution would be a platform of about 10 square meters. For convenience, a stone path should be led from the house to the location of the open table.

The open dining room should not be too far from the main house, otherwise the process of transferring dishes and prepared food can become a rather long and laborious process.

It is important to remember about possible weather surprises and climatic changes: it is necessary to select furniture that is resistant to humidity and equip the dining room with a stationary or mobile canopy. As protection from sunlight, you can use the branches of a large tree, if any, on the site.

The dining room can be decorated as arbors from a variety of materials, surround with a hedge or leave lawns in the free space - it all depends solely on the wishes of the owners.

Plot lighting

The lighting system of any dacha and plot has two functions: practical and aesthetic.

The first involves lighting areas for free movement in the dark, and the second is designed to create a special atmosphere and to emphasize landscape design.

With the help of a skillfully formed lighting system, you can achieve a cardinal nightly transformation of the garden.

Lighting landscape design of a summer cottage happens:

• Pouring. It is carried out through the use of floodlights on auxiliary parts of the perimeter.
• The general. The main part of the lighting, consisting in the installation of classic lamps along the main objects of the site.
• Marking. Used to create visual effects to highlight (mark) functional parts.
• Decorative lighting of plants, reservoirs, architectural structures.