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In landscape design, plants and natural materials have always been in the first place. Stones are most often used to connect and design project details. They organically fit into the coniferous composition, thematic figures, zones of different styles.
What are the most common uses for landscaping stones? In any project with their help draw up:
- flower and coniferous beds;
- paths, paths and passages;
- walls of buildings, garden and building premises, fountains, arbors and reservoirs;
- rock gardens and slides;
- garden figures;
- dry streams and waterfalls;
- Japanese-style zones
There are a lot of ideas for their application in landscape design.
Do not think that you have to repeat someone else’s creative combination. When creating compositions, natural natural boulders or artificial industrial production are used.
What breeds do designers prefer?
Firstly, they try to combine any project with the design of the territory. On the site there are always stones of certain breeds and sizes. To smoothly fit the rest of the elements, you have to take into account this factor. Another 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 of artificial varieties, which should not only organically merge into the surrounding natural ensemble, but also have a unique charm.
Consider the main groups of stones for landscape design. It is best to study the stones used in landscape design, photos will help.
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, arbors. The volcanic origin makes it durable and beautiful. Picking the right shade to taste is not difficult. The cost of granite is quite high.
Gneiss
The composition is very similar to granite, the main difference is in the color.
Basalt
Strength 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 the group of rocks. Very attractive stone for landscaping. You can choose amazing warm shades in combination with an unusual shape. Important! It should be borne in mind that this material is hydrophobic and is completely unsuitable for decorating ponds.
When working with dolomite, you need to remember a couple more nuances – it can lead to liming of the soil and break from frost.
Sandstone
It resembles dolomite in properties, but the color scheme is much more interesting. Shades change from gray to red. Easily processed due to its composition, which contains clay, quartz, carbonate, silicon. But for the design of surfaces that should have good strength, you should not take it. In addition, it is exposed to water and can dissolve in it. Therefore, it is not used in the construction of ponds and reservoirs.
Limestone
Short-lived, but looks good in the green zone. The pale colors of the limestone are in harmony with the rich greenery of the plants. The stone is subject to crumbling, delamination and weathering.
Marble
Crystalline rock. A very popular stone for landscaping, although its strength is lower than that of granite. Valued for ease of processing.
Tuff
Porous and moisture absorbent. Used by designers for specific purposes in landscape design.
Luminous
Separately, it is worth considering a group of luminous stones for landscape design.
They are suitable for decorating the territory of any size and style. These stones have the ability to glow in the dark. Therefore, there is always a place for them when decorating a pond, a path. Luminous stones even serve as a source of lighting in the garden. An excellent element of the decor of reservoirs, when in contact with water, they do not change their qualities. In a flower bed create a unique backlight at any time of the day.
Artificial
Brick
Popular in any kind of design. A variety of colors, resistance to natural fluctuations make it very popular in landscape design.
Concrete
Opinions on his account are different, but this does not prevent the use of concrete in landscape design very actively.
With the help of extraordinary combinations of boulders with other elements, it turns out to create beautiful forms in landscape design.
What can be done on the site
The most popular forms are paths, walls and rock gardens. The latter 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 in the country with their own hands.
To do this, it is enough to get acquainted with various types of ideas and recommendations of professionals. Such an element of landscape design is placed in relief zones. The rock garden fits well between the buildings and the fence,
in the back corners of the garden, on the slopes and near the water.
To make your own unique rock garden, follow a few practical steps:
Designate the territory for the stone composition in the landscape design of the site.
Remove the top layer of soil, select weeds and debris, treat the area with herbicides if necessary.
Cover the bottom with agrofiber and decorate with pebbles.
Install large boulders in recesses.
Arrange small stones so that they are stable. Deepen if necessary.
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 from harmonious compositions of natural stones, plants and human creativity.
