Garden and plot

10 most common mistakes in site improvement

1

The best that he can do for hissite, an amateur landscape designer - this is to restrain impulses and the first time not to be active. This is akin to Hippocrates' call to doctors "Do no harm!" These words are in the ears of all enthusiasts. It is very easy to translate numerous on paper and in imagination. At the same time, many beginners naively believe that for good luck in landscape design, it is enough to feel the desire. It's a delusion. And the delusion is all the more dangerous because the consequences will have to be corrected. And this is an excess waste of nerves, time and money. The site continues to remain "untidy", although in my head everything turned out so beautifully and successfully. Do not make revolutions in landscaping / decorating your garden and believe that you can do without a "school". There are nuggets that act at random, intuitively - "I feel this way!" And they succeed. This happens in any business, but what reason do you have for believing yourself to be such an exception? Let's act by the rules, because thousands of enthusiasts have stumbled before you along the way, arguing like you. Let's take a look at ten of the most common mistakes newbies make when it comes to getting everything right away. Receive, but not sooner than grass, bushes and trees grow. And not all at once, but only what is planned and meticulously implemented. What happens on the site not according to plan almost always worsens it.

Error 1

Planting a site, especially on loved onesdistances from the house, large-sized (as experts call trees and large shrubs-half-trees) without taking into account their growth. At the moment of planting "by eye" everything looks great, but after a year the overgrown trees or shrubs will block the whole view. The elimination of a large plant, firstly, is a time consuming business, and a technique may be needed that will recalculate the site. Secondly, the plant is just a pity. The foreground should be planted with either low shrubs that lend themselves well to shearing, or small trees like Japanese maple (and similar dwarf forms) that will never interfere with your view. Moreover, you should not arrange something like a hedge in the foreground or middle ground. Such landings are good along the perimeter, for separation from neighbors, for camouflaging a fence or outbuildings. Before planting something, especially near the house, it is necessary to assess the consequences. Remember: it all starts, if not with a full-fledged project, then at least with minimal planning. Project and planning costs will pay off many times over. Self-design - in case you are a confident computer user - is possible using specialized programs. One of the best is “Our Garden. Crystal". Our opinion: - The program complex "Our garden. Crystal "most fully meets all the requirements of both amateurs and professionals. Intuitive work, obvious tips, good graphics quality. In addition, it is a real encyclopedia of plants with their requirements and characteristics. An additional advantage: it is a domestic program, so it was originally created for the Russian consumer.

Error 2

Neglect of decorative ground covers.If you miss at least one season and do not arrange a grass lawn or its other analogues, then the site will be overgrown with weeds. Fighting them is extremely time consuming, it takes a lot of effort and money. If you start the process, then you will have to fight for a very long time and the enemy will not just give up. In addition, the ground covers themselves can become a problem. Naturally, we are not talking about a classic lawn. But ivy or rhizomes will soon strive to get the entire area of ​​the site. Examples of such aggressors in our conditions are the wild violet, purslane, ivy budra, creeping wheatgrass, white grass and so on. And getting rid of them will be problematic. The only way is either to dig everything completely and deeply, choosing the slightest trimming and cutting of rhizomes and stems, or to use targeted herbicides. The latter, despite the definition of "targeted action", will not spare the soil microflora, which is not good. Many ground covers feel great in the shade, for which they are planted there. To ensure that they do not leave the designated area, it is necessary to dig in a particularly high lawn belt along the perimeter of their territory (an obstacle to the growth of rhizomes) and at least once a week to control the perimeter with pruning of shoots seeking to break free. Therefore, before starting work, plan to get rid of all weeds. In any way. The more carefully you do this, the easier it will be in the future. One of the best options is a small rototiller. Even wheatgrass will not withstand weekly (or more often) mechanical digging and cutting of rhizomes.

Error 3

Using the wrong type of mulch.For example, small pebbles that sooner or later "drown" in the soil. Then you can choose them from there for a long time and without much success. It is a mistake to use very light mulch (sawdust, shavings, pine needles), which is carried by the wind throughout the entire site, clogging lawns, flower beds and the entire territory. In addition, such mulch for the next year should be cleaned or buried (plowed) if it does not have time to completely overheat. Colored artificial types of mulch have become popular now. With their help, you can create colorful compositions. A matter of taste, but such mulching, according to professionals, does not contribute to the natural decorative effect of the site. The ideal type of mulch is crushed bark of trees, especially conifers. In addition to excellent work to curb the growth of weeds, preserve moisture and protect the roots from hypothermia during frosts and from overheating in the heat, such mulch is weakly rotting and does not lose its decorative effect for a couple of seasons. And it is not carried by the wind, as it is heavy. It does not need to be removed, it is enough to add new portions in small quantities at the beginning of the season. As it is processed by soil microorganisms, the crushed bark increases the fertility of the soil and improves its structure. The only drawback is some acidification of the fertile layer, which is easy to compensate.

Error 4

The most difficult thing in landscape designdesign is the ability to imagine what will turn out in a year, two, three. Plants grow and develop, the picture is gradually changing. At the same time, it should remain beautiful with minimal "dressing" with scissors, pruning shears, saws, during transplants. When you are at different ends of the site, you should see different attractive views of it, differing from each other. A view park or garden is called that way because they reveal to us many different views, different microlandscapes. On a small garden plot, this rule should also work - taking into account the scale. The site should be beautiful at any time of the year, even in winter. This does not mean that only conifers need to be planted, no. Many plants have beautiful colored branches, their "skeleton" without leaves is pretty in its own way, especially when shone by the dawn or setting sun. And no one canceled giving the territory an artificial relief. If you have many flowers, then they should bloom all season, replacing each other. Here one cannot do without an elementary acquaintance with biology.

Error 5

Wrong and wrong pruningshrubs and trees. The most important thing here is to do pruning not at the time of spring sap flow. The optimal time is late autumn, when the plants are preparing for wintering. And during the winter, the wounds will heal, and pests and diseases will not be able to infect the cut plant. Correct pruning improves the shape and splendor of the crown, making it denser and more elegant. This happens because the lateral buds are forced to wake up in the shoot deprived of the apical bud, and instead of one shortened one, at least two new ones appear. But you should not be especially zealous to the left and to the right, because there are plants that do not tolerate crown formation well. But there are others for whom pruning is almost useful. It is from such trees and bushes that masters of topiary art make their living sculptures. Today, in any garden center in Russia, you can buy a decoratively formed tree, which is planted on the site and further corrected 1-2 times per season according to the existing form.

Error 6

Inability to grow your own lawn, nothingdifferent from the pretty pictures on the Internet. The matter is actually not quite simple, but if you follow all the recommendations, then the lawn will turn out. First you need to check what the soil is at the site of the planned grass carpet. Today, in any city and in any serious garden center (and in specialized laboratories), you can order such an analysis with a prompt receipt of the result. And, depending on the recommendations, proceed further. Preparation of the base for the lawn includes planning, loosening, fertilizing the site. The most important thing is to achieve the same high soil quality over the area. And then, without further ado, buy a rolled lawn and lay it like a carpet. With proper care - watering, trimming, ventilating and feeding - there should be no problem. And in no case, no flooding and waterlogging! Like the overwhelming majority of plants, lawn grasses more easily tolerate a temporary lack of moisture than an excess of it. But you can try to grow a real lawn from sown seeds. You should buy grass mixtures zoned for domestic climatic conditions, this will increase the chances of success. And neatly and in time to mow, which strengthens the lawn and increases its density and decorative effect.

Error 7

Overly dense planting of ornamental plants,especially along the paths. First, it interferes with the growth of the plants themselves in their natural form. Secondly, growing annuals and perennials are able to block the "transport network" with branches and stems in a season, and serious pruning will be required, which will inevitably lead to a loss of decorative effect. In addition, the difficulty in moving along the paths will not allow you to easily take care of the site, including in winter. The paths cleared of snow greatly enhance the aesthetic appearance of even the winter garden. Sometimes, during wet snowfalls, there is an urgent need to forcibly free bushes and trees from snow caps that can break them. The availability of an approach to plants in such situations is critical. in itself is a decoration of the site. Our opinion: - This mistake - the desire to plant a site with everything, than it is possible - the most typical. But by the end of the first season it becomes clear that this can not be done. As a result, the most favorite and most convenient and expressive flowers remain on the site. But regret about the impossibility to drop everything you want remains.

Error 8

Landing on a site of beautiful, but extremely "dirty"large-sized. We are talking about plentifully fruiting decorators, behind which it is difficult to clean and which spoil other plants with their litter. In the southern regions, female specimens of Ginkgo biloba are considered the most "dirty" tree. But they are very decorative! From less exotic - cherry plum. In our conditions, such “dirty” cherries can be self-seeded cherries and fruit cherries of new breeding, which are notable for their small size, mulberry trees, linden trees and some exotic conifers, for example, white eastern pine. This tree is famous for its large and abundant cones, as well as the ability to produce large amounts of resin, which contaminates the surrounding plants, paths, and soil. And a tool when cleaning work begins. Naturally, in the fall, deciduous trees lose their foliage, many conifers are also distinguished by the massive seasonal fall of old needles, instead of which new ones grow. Cleaning up plant debris and annuals that have faded and dying for the winter is an inevitable "evil" that cannot be eliminated.

Error 9

Reassessing your capabilities as a landscapedesigner. As in any creative endeavor, here you need special abilities that you can learn, but it is better to have them initially. If a person enjoys tinkering on the ground, doing a garden, and he succeeds - a green light! If such work is perceived as a heavy duty, then it is better to invite specialists. In any case, the work of a professional is ultimately cheaper than amateur art. Not to mention the results. Only by trying to independently create and maintain beauty on your territory, you can understand how troublesome and time-consuming it is. And how many specific knowledge and skills it requires.

Error 10

An error occurred while selecting a site.First of all, the very location of the site relative to busy highways and noisy neighbors. Completely unsuitable for landscaping work - seriously waterlogged or flooded areas with a high level of groundwater. Shaded areas, on the north side of a hill for example. In this case, you will be extremely constrained in choosing plants that will be comfortable in conditions of lack of sun. Slope areas. Here, the opinions of professionals are divided. On the one hand, it is not always realistic to make a classic slope lawn. On the other hand, it is on the slope that a very beautiful and expressive landscaped garden can be organized. And for some reason they are not gaining sufficient popularity in our country. But the costs of implementing it can seriously hit the family budget. However, such plots can be purchased at a much lower cost. Therefore, if a plot on a slope is given "for nothing" and there is a lot of sun on it, it is worth considering. pinterest.com

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