We design landscape design for a small summer cottage

Having a suburban area or a summer cottage, you always want both the house and the plot to look beautiful, reflect the individuality, accuracy and originality of their owners. However, in a small area, it may not be possible to do what is planned, there is not enough space for it. But you can decorate the territory beautifully in any area, having carefully thought out the landscape design in advance.

The main task in the development of landscape design is to plan the territory of the yard, in accordance with the wishes of all family members. Someone wants to leave a place for a vegetable garden, someone wants to put up a gazebo and a barbecue, and if the family has children, it is imperative to provide a place for games. Having decided on the functional areas, the rest of the space can be set aside for decorative elements, flower beds and trees.

To make a small area really functional and beautiful, you need to adhere to three rules of landscape design:

• There should be no massive buildings on the territory. Of course, premises are needed, the main thing is that they are small. It is better to place the house vertically, adding additional floors as needed. It is better to distribute the rest of the buildings evenly over the territory. A barn and a bathhouse can be located at the edge of the site, and the gazebo can be located in a secluded place near a large tree or hedge.
• You should not choose blank fences. They are categorically not suitable for a small yard. The feeling of a closed space is created, which is reflected in the mood and well-being of people. In addition, a blank fence visually reduces the area. Light fences will do.

• When choosing trees, it is better to stop your choice on stunted species. Large trees, as they grow, will absorb more and more space, which is already very small. For even greater space saving, several types of trees can be grafted on one trunk at once: several varieties of apple or plum and cherry together. For trees, it is better to set aside a separate area, rather than distribute them throughout the territory.

It is better to start planning the design of the site by drawing up a detailed preliminary plan. You can use special computer programs, or you can sketch a sketch on paper. On the plan, it is imperative to indicate all buildings, designate all planned zones, and also note where it is planned to plant trees and shrubs.

In addition to the scheme of the territory, you need to decide in what style the space will be decorated.

The style can be regular or natural:

• Regular style assumes some kind of symmetry, the concentration of bushes and trees around an imaginary axis. Everyone on the site draws geometric shapes without smooth lines. Tracks are laid in a straight line only. This style is more suitable for large areas, however, it can be applied to a small area.

• Natural style (or landscape) assumes maximum closeness to natural nature.All plants should look like they have grown on their own. Paths are laid with curves and irregularities. Rough ground is encouraged. If it is not on the site, you can create a small hill artificially. A good solution would be to decorate it with a small waterfall or stream with a decorative bridge or an alpine slide.

When you start planting plants, you should be guided by some rules:

• Each plant needs its own level of light and moisture.
• The height of bushes and trees should increase from south to north. Low-growing seedlings are located in the south, and tall ones closer to the north.
• It is necessary to assess the fertility of the soil. If the soil is infertile, you can bring it to the site to order. Manure and compost will only start to be beneficial after a few years.

• It is necessary to plan the color scheme of the entire area in advance. Correctly selected colors will help to visually enlarge the space.
• Stop your choice on just a few types of flowers and ornamental shrubs. An excess of various varieties and colors will create a sense of tastelessness and clutter up the space.
• It is better to start gardening with flower beds. The flower beds, located on opposite sides of the entrance, look organically. To arrange a flower bed, you can use any available tools and materials. So, the flower bed will become original and unique.

At each site, it is imperative to think about creating a cozy courtyard where the whole family will gather. This does not require a lot of space. It is enough to fence off this area, to make it a secluded place for a quiet rest.

If space allows, it is imperative to think over a place for eating in this area. You can build a wooden platform on which to place a table, armchairs with a soft cape, barbecue or stove and sun loungers. However, you can limit yourself to an ordinary beach table with chairs on a beautiful lawn.

It is imperative to think about how to organize a place for children to play. For kids, it will be good to put a sandbox and a small slide, if the area allows, leave space for an inflatable pool. For older children, you can put a sports complex, a tennis table.

Also, in the recreation area, you can place a gazebo, garden swing, hang a hammock under a tree, or simply leave a clean lawn, where, if necessary, spread a large blanket or play various games.

Several interesting ideas can not only visually expand the space of a small summer cottage, but also add uniqueness, originality and a well-groomed look to it:

• Planting a lawn and a flower garden on the roof of buildings. This technique allows you to visually equalize the land and the house, which gives additional volume and space. In addition, the green roof provides additional thermal insulation to the home. Even on the hottest day, it will be cool in such a room.

• Garden for growing herbs and herbs. This does not require a lot of space, you can arrange it in hanging pots, and it will look very original. In addition, the herbs are very fragrant and ornate.
• To unite the family and involve all its members in the gardening process, you can plant a family tree... Children and adults alike will love to watch how it grows and gets stronger, to take care of it. It can become the center of the entire landscape, around which new compositions and plants will gradually appear.

• To decorate a beautiful corner, you can create coniferous compositions. This will allow you to win a useful area of ​​the territory.Conifers have a rich crown, so a few bushes and trees will be enough to lushly decorate a certain area.
• Mini garden. If there is not enough space for full-fledged beds, you can plant decorative vegetables that grow miniature in size. Another option is to grow full-fledged vegetables, but limit yourself only to those that are loved exclusively by all family members. To save territory, the garden can be made bunk.

• Garden on the terrace or veranda. It can be organized using vertical gardening or planting plants in pots.
• Organization of a Japanese-style garden. In such a garden, everything is presented in miniature: trees imitating centuries-old trunks, small waterfalls, a rock garden that resembles majestic rocks, mini-shrubs. In such a garden, everyone can feel like a giant.

In order to make the site visually larger, you can use several techniques:

• All lines and shapes should be as smooth and smoothed as possible.
• It is better to make the track smooth, with bends and loops. The longer the track, the more bends it has, the longer it takes to walk along it, and this creates the feeling of a wider space. The end of the path can be “dissolved” in greenery by planting hanging vines and voluminous shrubs at the edge of the site. The impression will be created that the garden has a continuation behind these vines.
• On the site, you can disperse decorative compositions of flowers and garden decorations. The more elements that you can pay attention to, the less a person will look at the entire site as a whole, assessing its size.

• Do not arrange and plant too many flower beds and plants. Excessive vegetation will create a feeling of congestion and clutter.
• The presence of a mini-reservoir will add freshness and lightness to the territory. You can build a small pond, stream, well. However, if you plan to make a reservoir with flowing water, this point must be agreed with the neighbors. The sound of running water can be annoying and overly intrusive.
• Remote areas of the territory need to be lightened as much as possible. For this purpose, you can plant white and yellow flowers around the perimeter. So, the boundaries will visually move away.

• It is better to choose the fence as transparent as possible, lightweight, not deaf. However, sometimes adjacent lots are too close, and the sparse fence creates an uncomfortable feeling. An excellent way out of the situation would be a fence-blinds, which hides the territory only when necessary.
• If a building with a blank wall is located on the border of the territory, mirrors can be attached to it, which will visually make the site larger. The mirror can be large and single, or it can be a composition of small mirrors, which will additionally act as an original decor.
• Plants are best planted around the perimeter around the center of the site. This will give you the feeling of being in a large and spacious garden.

A few useful tips will help make a small area even cozier and more beautiful:

• Apply vertical gardening. In a small area, this method will help create a lush, green area. To do this, you can use multi-tiered flower beds or make a green wall based on a frame and weaving plants. Arches, gratings, fences, building facades can serve as a frame. It is better to choose a variety of plants so that there is no feeling of monotony.
• An excellent solution is to plant plants on a cascade principle. Small plants move to the fore and tall plants to the back. For this, you can use decorative pots and flowerpots. Using this technique, it turns out to create the effect of a garden extending upward. In addition, flowers in pots and vases can be rearranged from time to time, creating new compositions.

• Divide the area into zones. One of the best practices is the organization of multi-level zones. The recreation area can be located on the podium, and a lower place can be prepared for the vegetable garden. However, it is not necessary to designate zones with different ground levels. You can apply illusions by choosing a coating of different materials and shades for different areas.
• Sow your lawn. No matter how small the site is, be sure to provide a lawn. Firstly, it creates an ideal site for planting flower beds and composing compositions, and secondly, due to the size of the site on it, most likely, it will not be possible to build a full-fledged system of paths with access to all corners of the territory and you will have to walk on the lawn.
• When decorating areas with decorative fences or trellises, choose white products. In everything it is better to adhere to a light scale.

Even such a tiny area can be turned into a real piece of paradise. The bright colors of the lawn are effectively set off by the multicolor of all kinds of plants that frame it around the perimeter.

A great option for those who prefer to have breakfast outdoors.

A very effective design option for the local area. Elements of forged metal and wood are used as decor.

In the next video, a famous American designer gives advice on arranging a summer cottage.