Content
IN landscape design Plants and natural materials have always come first. Stones are most often used to connect and design the details of projects. They fit organically into the coniferous composition, thematic figures, and zones of different styles.
For what purposes are stones most often used in landscape design? In any project they can be used to design:
- flower and coniferous beds;
- paths, paths and passages;
- walls of buildings, garden and construction premises, fountains, gazebos and ponds;
- rock gardens and slides;
- garden figures;
- dry streams and waterfalls;
- Japanese-style zones.
There are a lot of ideas for using them in landscape design.
Don't think that you'll have to repeat someone else's creative combination. When creating compositions, natural boulders or artificial industrial ones are used.
What breeds do designers prefer?
Firstly, they try to combine any project with the design of the territory. There are always stones of certain types and sizes on the site. In order to smoothly fit the remaining elements, you have to take this factor into account.Another one is the strength of the material. It symbolizes permanence, so it should be a durable element in landscape design. Attractiveness is also not the last place in the list of requirements.
This is especially true for artificial varieties, which should not only organically blend into the surrounding natural ensemble, but also have a unique charm.
Let's look at the main groups of stones for landscape design. The best way to study the stones used in landscape design is to take photographs.
Natural
Natural stone is considered the most valuable for landscape design.
Granite
A common breed that is used to decorate various elements of landscape design - slides, paths, benches, gazebos. Its volcanic origin makes it durable and beautiful. Finding the right shade to suit your taste will not be difficult. The cost of granite is quite high.
Gneiss
The composition is very similar to granite, the main difference is the color.
Basalt
The strength is like granite, but the structure is porous. It is found in shades - black, black-green, smoky gray.
Slate
Valued for its color variety from black and gray to green and red.
Dolomite
Belongs to a group of rocks. A very attractive stone for landscape design. You can choose amazing warm shades combined with an unusual shape. Important! It should be borne in mind that this material is hydrophobic and is completely unsuitable for decorating reservoirs.
When working with dolomite, you need to remember a couple more nuances - it can lead to liming of the soil and break due to frost.
Sandstone
Its properties are similar to dolomite, but the color scheme is much more interesting. Shades vary from gray to red.It is easy to process due to its composition, which contains clay, quartz, carbonate, and silicon. But for the design of surfaces that must have good strength, it is not worth using. In addition, it is susceptible to water and can dissolve in it. Therefore, it is not used in the construction of ponds and reservoirs.
Limestone
Not durable, but looks good in a green area. The pale colors of the limestone harmonize with the rich greenery of the plants. The stone is subject to crumbling, delamination and weathering.
Marble
Crystalline rock. A very popular stone for landscape design, although its strength is lower than that of granite. Valued for ease of processing.
Tuff
Porous and moisture absorbent. Used by designers for certain purposes in landscape design.
Glowing
Separately, it is worth considering a group of luminous stones for landscape design.
They are suitable for decorating areas of any size and style. Such stones have the property of glowing in the dark. Therefore, there is always a place for them when designing a pond or path. Glowing stones even serve as a source of lighting in the garden. An excellent decorative element for reservoirs, they do not change their qualities when in contact with water. A flower bed creates a unique illumination at any time of the day.
Artificial
Brick
Popular in all types of design. The variety of colors and resistance to natural fluctuations make it very popular in landscape design.
Concrete
Opinions on it vary, but this does not prevent concrete from being used very actively in landscape design.
With the help of extraordinary combinations of boulders with other elements, it is possible to create beautiful shapes in landscape design.
What can be done on the site
The most popular forms are paths, walls and rock gardens. The last option can perform several functions on the site:
- create comfort in a secluded place;
- divide the site into functional zones;
- mask objects that do not fit well into the landscape.
Rock Garden
Anyone can make a rock garden at their dacha with their own hands.
To do this, just familiarize yourself with various types of ideas and recommendations from professionals. Such an element of landscape design is placed in relief areas. The rock garden fits well between the buildings and the fence,
in remote corners of the garden, on slopes and near water.
To make your own unique rock garden, follow a few practical steps:
Designate the area for the stone composition in the landscape design of the site.
Remove the top layer of soil, select weeds and debris, and treat the area with herbicides if necessary.
Cover the bottom with agrofibre and decorate it with pebbles.
Place large boulders in recesses.
Place small stones so as to ensure their stability. If necessary, deepen it.
Add plants if desired.
Decorate the rock garden with furniture, architectural details, lanterns or water features.
Conclusion
Stones play an important role in landscape design. The site is transformed by harmonious compositions of natural stones, plants and human creativity.
