The combination of various landscape objects allows you to effectively use every square meter of a summer cottage, while maintaining their aesthetic appeal. For example, having successfully arranged a small garden of fruit trees and a comfortable walking path, we will get a new fresh solution - the device of a shady alley. At the cottage, the garden alley can be anything: a zone for walking, children's games, friendly gatherings and tea parties, and even a place for afternoon relaxation in a hammock or in a comfortable armchair.
The design phase is the key to success
The arrangement of any suburban area involves the planting of green spaces - fruit and ornamental trees, shrubs, flower beds. When arranging complex alpine hills, rockeries and columbaria, we often forget about simpler solutions for landscape design, such as convenient, cozy, requiring minimal care of the alley.
Designing a suburban area implies the designation of all significant objects, including garden paths. As you can see, paths connect the house with a bathhouse and a veranda, and one of them leads to the exit. Any of the designated paths can be turned into an alley, picking up trees or shrubs that are suitable in style
The easiest way to plan an alley at the design stage of the entire garden plot. However, if the project has already been implemented, and there is practically no free space, we use the backup option: we turn one of the garden paths into an alley.
Thus, we will kill two birds with one stone: we will competently organize the planting of the necessary plants and preserve the pedestrian or transport communication important for giving.
The question often arises: how to designate green planting on plans or diagrams? There are several ways - using pictures or symbols. For example, in this diagram, all plants are marked with green circles of various shades.
To present the project visually, you can draw several sketches or draw a simple diagram.
Types of alleys - from the pergola to the main tract
Even at the design stage, you should determine the type of planting. Given that suburban areas have a different area, relief, style, consider the features of the alleys, which differ in length and design.
The purpose of all summer cottage objects is important, therefore, based on functional features, two types of avenues are distinguished: main and secondary; the second, in turn, are divided into access and pleasure. The main alleys are typical for the palace and park landscapes, therefore it is inappropriate to consider them within the summer cottage theme, but access and pedestrian options are good for territories of any size, even the most tiny 6 acres.
Suppose a small orchard, even consisting of 10 apple trees or cherries, can be arranged in the form of a short cozy alley from the gate to the house or from home to the gazebo. With laconic pergolas even easier - they can be placed on any part of the garden path.
Fruit trees in large country gardens are planted, as a rule, in even rows. If the garden is already an adult, you can use one row (for example, the central one) to create a beautiful flowering alley - just lay a walkway convenient for walking
Complex structural combinations are more suitable for spacious areas, while in the country, the optimal solution is a simple avenue consisting of two rows of plants on both sides of the path. The width depends on the purpose of use: the access lane for transport should be 2 times wider than the walking option, for which 1.5-2 meters is enough.
The order of tree planting along the edges of the path may also vary. There are two types of arrangement of plants: symmetrical and checkerboard. The degree of illumination and visibility of the surrounding landscape depends on the landing intervals. For example, the Russian manor landscape is characterized by a dense planting of trees and shrubs, forming real green fences along the edges of the path.
Rarely located trees are not suitable for a limited area, while on a spacious plot they will look appropriate, without blocking the surrounding landscape.
If the size of the plot allows, and the gates are on the side opposite the house, you can create an extended park alley in a free style
If the width of the pedestrian (carriageway) allows, it is worth thinking about a two- or three-tier arrangement of plants. Large trees are used for the outer row, low-growing trees or lush shrubs for the middle row, low shrubs, dense greens or flowers for the inner row.
When choosing a particular type of alley in the country, observe the stylistic nuances. For example, for a landscape in the Russian rustic style, spreading birch trees, cedar pines, dense thickets of wild rose or berry bushes - raspberries, currants, gooseberries, are suitable. For a regular garden, slender geometric shapes are good - pyramidal cypresses, larch, poplar.
The same principle applies to the shape of the alley itself. It does not have to be straightforward, connecting, like a string, two summer cottages. There are curved, winding, zigzag, arcuate alleys, as well as located around the circumference or around the perimeter of the summer cottage.
Absolutely suburban option, suitable for a site of any size - a two-story alley of rarely planted, decoratively trimmed poplars and lush flower beds
The creation of a shady alley of a closed type requires special art: trees with dense foliage must be planted with an interval of no more than 3-4 meters, and dense thickets should be used for the lower tier.
Sometimes, to create a darkened corner, the construction of frames is required, and the result is magnificent arched bersos or pergolas with flat ceilings. For the north, they are less characteristic, and in the southern regions they are saving islands in extreme heat. For the picturesque design of arched and rectangular ceilings, grapes, clematis, wood pliers, honeysuckle or fragrant climbing roses are ideal.
Such a peculiar mini-mall can be created using instead of trees several arches and planting lushly blooming ampelous plants: petunia, begonia, lobelia, viola, diasia, climbing roses
How to ennoble the garden path?
Suppose that in our beloved, but too “bare” summer cottage there are not enough green spaces. You can plant trees around the perimeter, as most conservative summer residents do, but we will be smart and act original - we will turn a boring, naturally trodden path into a picturesque and functional alley. Its functionality is that we will plant not simple poplars and birches, but useful fruit plants - apple trees, pears and plums.
Stage # 1 - drafting
The main thing in any planned event is the right start, and in our case, the preparation of the project. It’s not worth arranging an alley in any ill-conceived place, because in a few years the trees will grow and create a lot of problems: they will close sunny areas with flower beds, violate the pond waterproofing with their roots or divide the territory into uncomfortable zones. It is necessary to choose a place comfortable both for plants and for owners of suburban lands.
Performing preliminary calculations, carefully study the nuances of planting and growth of all trees. Depth of the pit, optimal landing intervals, average height - and, as a result, the appearance of the future alley depend on their individual characteristics
Perhaps, for the device of the alley, a path leading to the garden or bath is suitable - it is nice to walk in the shade after working on the beds or a hot steam room. Another winning option is a path running towards the gate. Guests who visited the cottage will be pleasantly surprised by the unusual organization of a kind of kindergarten.
When choosing fruit or ornamental plants, do not forget to include in the project and material for arranging a convenient garden path in advance, especially if it is used daily
Stage # 2 - marking on the ground
Having drawn up the project, choosing plants and material, you can begin to dig. They will consist of two parts: the construction of the track and the planting of green spaces. But first you need to make markings so that both the landings and the pedestrian zone occupy strictly allotted places and look harmonious. The places of holes for seedlings can be indicated with pegs, and the borders of the track with a construction cord.
Park option suitable for a spacious suburban area. Birch trees are planted along the edges of the alley - quite tall and sprawling trees, bearing mainly an aesthetic load. Get ready to see a similar picture only after 10 years, when the trees grow
At this stage, you can bring the necessary materials - tiles, bricks, paving stones for the track. Perhaps it will be just sandy or pebble, but even in this case, you should consider such nuances as runoff for rainwater or a low curb.
Stage # 3 - pedestrian area decoration
To make it pleasant to move around the alley in any weather, you need to take care of a comfortable, even cloth that would maintain relative dryness even in rainy weather.
The ideal option is a paved surface - the most expensive and time-consuming, but surprisingly durable and aesthetically perfect. For its design, paving stones, brick, paving slabs, home-made concrete blocks, natural stone are suitable. Of the elements of various colors, you can make beautiful geometric patterns and ornaments that will create an interesting combination with blooming greenery.
Make sure that the material of the tracks is combined with the surrounding objects and not out of style. Suppose the gray and red paving stones are in perfect harmony with both the green spaces and the wrought-iron fence on brick supports
The tree must be used with extreme caution, since the walkways are not entirely appropriate for the alleys; moreover, during the rain they get wet and become slippery. If you still like wood flooring, pay attention to garden parquet - decking, created specifically for suburban street use.
Bulk paths made of sand, pebbles or gravel look natural and relaxed, and their cost is also minimal.
An unusual version of the descent, lined with wooden steps. You can beat him by planting the same green spaces on both sides - dense shrubs or tall slender trees to get a shady alley leading down
Stage # 4 - planting trees and shrubs
Trees can be planted before the construction of the path, and after it, focusing on a more successful, recommended planting period. If you have chosen seedlings of fruit trees, pay special attention to their purchase: they must be healthy and equally developed. Choose a variety that develops well in your area and the type of stock that affects drought tolerance.
Fruit plants for the alley are planted in the same order as in a conventional garden planting. The main thing is to observe the size of the holes and the intervals that affect the light transmission of trees
An apple tree, plum and pear can be planted both in spring and autumn, and cherries, peaches and apricots take root much better with early spring planting. All berry bushes perfectly tolerate spring planting, in the fall they can freeze. Many ornamental plants, such as pyramidal poplar, are planted during one of the growing periods, that is, in autumn or spring.
When planting fruit trees, do not forget that they require closer attention than maples, birch and spruce, which you do not need to regularly care for
Depending on the variety of trees and the conditions for their growth, dig holes in a symmetrical or checkerboard pattern, plant seedlings, not forgetting to fertilize them, and patiently wait for them to grow. Overgrown branches can be cut off to form slender figures, balls or spreading crowns.
How to make a pergola: a brief instruction
An enfilade of pergolas, entwined with hops, roses or grapes, looks simply magical and is a kind of shady alley, ideal for small summer cottages. Having set a convenient little bench on the edge, you also get a great place to relax.
The size and shape of the pergola can be different, however, calculate the height of the building so that inside it, without bending, a person can easily pass
From the bars we collect a couple of buildings resembling horizontal bars installed along the path opposite each other. First we dig in the posts, then with the help of metal corners we mount the upper crossbars. The top can be designed in different ways: in the form of gentle slopes or just perpendicular to the panel.
The sides of the pergola are decorated with a lattice assembled from thin strips. At the base of the pillars we set up flower pots with climbing crops.
For about 2-3 years, perennials will grow, cover with foliage and flowers the entire surface of the pergola, forming a cozy shady corner.
Light lattice structures with curly flowers do not "burden" the territory of the site, unlike the heavier-weighted oak alleys or dense green fences, so they are good in miniature areas
What plants are suitable for malls?
Trees, bushes and flowering crops are selected based on climatic conditions, soil acidity, degree of illumination, features of the relief, etc. For example, birch, maple, oak, pine, spruce, bird cherry, hawthorn - frost-resistant trees that are not afraid of the harsh climate perfectly take root in the northern latitudes. In the middle lane, you can safely plant apples, pears, plums, cherries, which will decorate the country landscape in spring, and will bring a wonderful harvest by autumn.
The shady linden alley looks great, but it is more suitable for vast suburban areas. It is worth paying attention to linden beekeepers, as linden honey is considered one of the most useful
In the southern regions, any fruit trees, shrubs and almost all types of flowering plants grow, so you can create a beautiful multi-tiered fruit-bearing alley - just one that will satisfy thrifty summer residents.
If the territory allows, feel free to experiment with decorative exotic plants and flowers, which are usually decorated with flower beds or mask fences.
Boxwood, which is often used to erect hedges or curly shapes, can form a beautiful avenue in the classic English style
Try planting a low Daurian juniper, a warty birch with graceful hanging branches, or a beautifully blooming prickly hawthorn. Unusually looks green-eared maple with a striped bark and a long-lived tree thuja. An ordinary mountain ash will decorate your mall in any season: in spring - white, in summer - thick green foliage, in autumn - a bonfire of orange-red leaves, in winter - with a scattering of red berries.
With the help of the alley, you can profitably change the summer cottage, divide it into zones or simply ennoble, so do not give up this simple and useful landscape element.
