A beautiful, well-groomed area is the calling card of any site. It’s good when, among all kinds of plantings in the garden, there is a central element that stands out from the general background.
This element can be a rock garden - a rocky elevation, decorated with flowers and plants and imitating a fragment of a mountain landscape.
Summer residents often confuse two similar concepts - rock garden and rock garden. In fact, they are not too mistaken, because rockery is the general name for rocky gardens, and alpine slide is one of its varieties. At the same time, many landscape designers are accustomed to defining a rock garden only as a flat composition.
A rock garden, unlike a rock garden, is an elevated composition, necessarily tiered, with slopes and a peak.
Alpine slide against the backdrop of a log house
Compared to a rock garden, it is more difficult to make an alpine slide with your own hands, but it has a more pronounced relief, due to its height it attracts more attention, and makes the landscape noticeably more picturesque not only in summer, but also in winter.
You can also use a rock garden to zone a summer cottage, for example, to visually separate the work area from the front door. In addition, a rocky hill will beautifully cover embankments that are unsuitable for planting.
From this article you will learn how to make an alpine slide with your own hands and get landscape design ideas from 50 photos of rock gardens.
Basic installation rules
The alpine slide first appeared in Japan. Since ancient times, the local population learned to wisely use every centimeter of free space. This became the idea of installing cascading decorations in courtyards. The organization of decor should be carried out according to several important rules:
- the structure should be installed in a visible place, preferably in the center of the yard;
- the shadow of trees should not fall on the location;
- make sure there are no gusts of wind in the area.
To keep the decoration bright and natural, it is advisable to plant living plants on it.
Alpine slide made of different types of stones Source yandex.ru
Slide with neat fencing Source tumbral.com
Do-it-yourself Alpine slides at the dacha: photos of compositions, original ideas
To create an alpine slide, a large amount of materials is required. What to choose depends strictly on what shape the decoration will have and what it will be complemented with. In the photo below you can see in detail the most sophisticated and “living” examples of home decor.
Broken flower pot for decoration Source houzz.de
The rocky structure of the boundaries, laid in a chaotic manner, repeats the features of rocks. Usually a small alpine slide is made of bright stones with sharp edges.
Wild stone slide Source kamen64.ru
The participation of cobblestones and large sea stones in the design of an alpine hill helps to create unusual flower beds for decorative plantings. Coniferous bush plants are very reminiscent of a park of miniature trees.
Alpine slide with succulents Source iylia.ru
An alpine hill with several areas for flower beds, built of flat decorative stone. In such mini-plots, it is customary to plant small flowering perennial plants in varying quantities. This element is usually raised to the height of the curb and complemented with decorative lanterns.
Greek vase is an important decorative element Source roomester.ru
See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in landscaping work on sites.
A multi-level rock garden near a fence on a hill is an ideal design option. For decoration, homemade flower beds made of wood or thoughtful decor from broken flower pots can be additionally used.
The emphasis of landscape design Source list.in.ua
Multi-level decoration with a waterfall should be placed in a wide courtyard. Such a slide requires a lot of space and an automatic water supply. It is important that the pond itself is equipped correctly.
Rock garden with a pond and waterfall Source anturag.com.ua
The alpine slide with a low bridge is made of large sea stone, and fine crushed stone is used as an embankment. Looks great from the outside due to the chaotic plantings.
Ground cover conifers are an excellent solution for planting near a hill Source rehouz.info
Blue spruce is the main decoration Source landio.ru
An evergreen hill made of large cobblestones. Flowerbeds in several levels and miniature coniferous plants perfectly highlight the murmuring waterfall and rocky steps that seem fragile and graceful.
Waterfall is a complex, but such a beautiful solution Source yandex.ru
Evergreen shrubs for decoration Source design-hapy.ru
Predominance of purple and yellow colors Source tarifi.info
Designer tips for creating a rock garden
The design of the decoration is considered complex, despite the fact that it can be constructed from available materials. Without knowledge of special technologies and advice from experts, it is unlikely that you will be able to become the owner of a chic decor in your yard. Therefore, it is very important to follow the recommendations provided.
- It all starts with project preparation. It is necessary to correctly draw up a drawing, indicate on it all the dimensions, possible additions, and related objects. This will help you not miss anything during construction.
- As for the choice of stones, it is advisable to give preference to options that are similar in structure and shade. A strong contrast in a rock garden will look very defiant.
A small pond in a rock garden with lighting Source landas.ru
Many small flowers are a wonderful background for a rock garden Source interior.jilishta.com
Fences made of wood and cobblestones of various shapes Source cvsasa.access.ly
Plaster figure in the center of the rock garden Source krov-torg.ru
Choosing a location for an alpine slide, layout diagrams
When choosing the area where the decor will be located, they rely not only on its visibility on the territory, but also on several other significant factors:
- The size of the slope must have an angle of at least 10-15 degrees.
- The slide should be harmonious in size: a small slide should not be made too high, and a wide one should have enough empty free space around it.
- The area must have a well-separable top layer of soil. Ideally, it is loose and previously dug up.
- It is allowed to independently create a slope by pouring sand or fine screenings.
Diagram of the structure of the reservoir Source idachi.ru
A uniform arrangement of plants in a rock garden will look banal, so it is better to plant the seeds in a chaotic manner. Of course, flower beds with soil must be prepared in advance for them.
Stage of placement of stones and vegetation Source lanshaft.com
Laying out the levels in an alpine slide is done with large cobblestones with a similar structure. Such a structure rises to several levels with a small height. The drainage layer should be the same for any terrace, but no more than 40-50 cm.
Correct installation of drainage depending on the ground level Source chrome-effect.ru
The height from the foot of the slide to its highest point can be 0.6-0.8 m. In some cases it is made higher, provided that the foot is wider. The top is always a solid point (rock, pebble).
Correct calculation of the size of steps Source optolov.ru
A rock garden with a waterfall and a small pond nearby is usually installed on the lawn, and non-flowering perennial plants are planted on top. To equip a reservoir, you need a pump and a small pit.
How to choose a suitable stone?
When choosing a stone for a rock garden, you need to pay attention to its size, shape and surface features. Considering that the rock garden imitates a mountain landscape, where the stones are polished by precipitation and winds and have an irregular but natural shape, it is undesirable to use a round stone of river origin or scrap stone with sharp edges for an alpine slide.
A good choice for a rock garden would be limestone or sandstone. Dolomite is suitable - sedimentary rock, slate with a layered structure, basalt, travertine, calcareous tuff, light gneiss. A forest boulder overgrown with moss and lichen will be a particularly valuable specimen for a rock garden.
To form an alpine slide, it is necessary to select stones of different sizes - from huge blocks to fine gravel
An excellent choice for an alpine slide would be sandstone - a layered stone of light beige tones.
Stone options for creating a rock garden:
- White-green quartz is a fragmentary stone, smoothed in fragments, ranging in size from 20 to 60 centimeters, mined in the Orenburg region;
- Milky quartz is a stone with an uneven rough surface from 30 to 70 cm, mined in the Urals;
- Sirpantenite is a silver or green stone, 25-45 cm in size, mined in the Caucasus, 15 rubles/kg;
- Elbrus – gray or beige stone, size 20-90 cm, 11 rubles/kg;
- “Petrified wood” made of oblong quartzite, yellow-beige color with veins, size 20-50 cm, 16 rub./kg;
- Jasper green and red, size 20-60 cm, 12 rub./kg;
- Green coil - stone size 20-80 cm, 19 rubles/kg;
- Quartz “Rainbow” – a yellow-brown stone, size 10-70 cm, 11 rub./kg;
- Sandstone is a stone of arbitrary rounded shape, sandy or gray in color, with a size of 30-90 cm.
If you use limestone to create a rock garden, then the soil poured between the stones will have an alkaline reaction, unsuitable for some plants, so the soil will have to be acidified.
Step-by-step instructions for creating a rock garden from various materials with your own hands
When all the points have been thought through and the drawing of the future structure is ready, you can begin to solve the problem of how to make an alpine slide. We offer step-by-step instructions for making alpine slides from different materials.
Forming a slide with your own hands Source landscap.ru
From stones
First, we prepare all the materials and tools. They should always be at hand. Then you can begin arranging the alpine slide.
- We clear the place where the rock garden will be and make its outline. You can draw with the edge of a knife or a rod.
- Let's prepare a drainage system. To do this, we will dig a continuous trench up to 50 cm deep.
- Then add chopped brick or gravel into it. Mix the excavated soil with peat, you can add humus. Pour evenly onto the drainage.
- At this stage, we immediately form high points and create terraces at different levels.
Path made of sea stones Source pinterest.com
- We must place large stones on top of a pre-laid base of small stones.
- Now let's start creating the vegetation. You can first form an interesting composition without removing the plants from the cups. Once you’ve decided, it’s time to plant.
- We plant vegetation with large stems first, then gradually move on to small ones.
- We pour the finished composition with settled warm water.
High slide in the middle of the yard Source zen.yandex.ru
On a note! Plants on an alpine hill cannot be watered from a well installed on the high water. It has very salty water. It is destructive for living decor.
From scrap materials
Many people have various leaky vessels in their household that can be thrown away. Don't rush to do this. They will make a wonderful rock garden. We make a slide according to the instructions.
- After preparing the place, select a suitable container. For example, a bathtub or a metal sink.
- We make several holes in it with a diameter of approximately 5-7 mm. This will be drainage.
- We install bricks in the chosen location or pour a concrete base. Place the prepared container on top of it.
- We can decorate the outer part of the vessel with any available material. Seashells, broken glass, sea stones and much more will do.
- We attach the decorations to the cement mortar. We apply it to the body, wait until it hardens a little, and then press the material.
- Let's make a drainage layer of crushed stone 5-7 cm high, then add soil, peat and eggshells in a ratio of 2:1:1. Mix well and compact.
- We plant the selected plants and water them from the water supply.
Designers recommend thinking through the options for ornamental plants in advance so that the rock garden can be a bright accent in the yard both in winter and summer.
From tires
If you have a friend who repairs cars, then he definitely has ownerless tires. These are the ones that can make a gorgeous slide. We recommend step-by-step instructions.
Old tires with a stone attached Source 1000000diy.ru
- We choose a convenient location and think over the shape that the decorative structure will have. This option can be placed on the sidewalk or simply placed on the lawn.
- Let's prepare the tires. Let's spray paint them from the outside. If necessary, we coat it with varnish or make an artistic drawing.
- When the pieces are dry, place them on top of each other in a checkerboard pattern. They should look multi-layered. Usually displayed in three rows.
- We cover the bottom of each tire with a thick film or fine mesh. If necessary, make holes for drainage.
- Pour fine crushed stone onto the bottom and distribute it evenly over its entire area.
- Now unload the flower soil (you can use regular soil if the plants are not picky about its composition).
- We plant seedlings of decorative flowers and water them. Don’t forget to regularly loosen the soil to allow oxygen to reach the roots.
You can complement the rock garden with garden figurines or night lanterns.
Common mistakes
According to experts, many gardeners who decide to build this element of landscape design with their own hands often make the same mistakes. List of typical myths about arranging a rock garden:
- A rockery can be created anywhere . If you strive to adhere to a natural style, then it is better not to build a rocky garden next to other buildings. In small areas, surrounded by houses, this is difficult to do. To cope with the task, they create a background for the composition, thereby decorating unsuccessful views with the help of plants.
- The more stones the better . This is the most common mistake. You cannot randomly scatter a pile of stones around the site; this must be a pre-thought-out plan.
- All stones are the same . Before laying, each boulder is carefully examined to find the most beautiful side. If there are longitudinal strips along the stone, then they try to lay them so that the pattern is parallel to the ground. Flat stones are placed in such a way that they are safe to step on. Large boulders are dug into the ground at half the height, small ones are secured together using clay. There are breeds that easily absorb moisture. If there are a lot of such stones in the composition, then it will quickly fall apart.
- Let's do this as quickly as possible . Arranging a rock garden is not a matter of one or two days. In order for the composition to stand for a long time, it is necessary to prepare the soil in advance. It is compacted, a drainage layer is made, and left for a while to allow natural shrinkage to occur.
- A lot of plants . If you plant a rock garden with large crops, the structure may not hold up. Select small, dwarf plants, do not plant them too close to each other.
Alpine slide with bridge
A rock garden with a bridge is a functional decoration in the yard. It is very convenient if the decor with a pond is placed on a large area, on which there is a temporary shelter, gazebo or other buildings on both sides. You can construct a slide as follows:
- We prepare the place and make drainage.
- Then we pour the required amount of soil, after which we create multi-level terraces from stones of the same structure.
- We leave space for future flower beds.
- Then, starting from the slope, we lay large pebbles.
- We make a trench of the required length, up to 40 cm deep, and line it with sea stones.
- To ensure they stick well, it is better to place them on cement mortar.
- On both sides of the pond, we lay paving slabs perpendicularly.
- After the path has frozen, we install a bridge over the pond so that it overlooks the path.
Placement of decorative elements Source zen.yandex.com
Marking
The next step is to transfer the diagram to the selected area: this can be done using pegs and rope. A pit is dug according to the markings: if the soil is sandy, then 30 cm deep, if the soil is oily, then deeper. The bottom is compacted, a metal mesh and geotextile fabric are laid on it.
Note!
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Proper care of an alpine slide
The active growth of perennial crops and the beauty of the decor depend on the tactics of caring for the rock garden.
- After winter, the cover is removed from the hill and cleaned of debris and fallen leaves.
- Peat and fertilizers are added to the soil and left open for 14 days.
- When the weather has settled, you can start planting new seeds or tidying up the old vegetation (trimming, removing dried branches).
Large rock garden made of several types of stone Source smart-tec.hamburg
- The first week after opening the rock garden or planting new plants, daily watering is required. The stream should be spraying, with low pressure.
- If plants are demanding on the soil, then they need special feeding even in summer.
Multi-level alpine slide Source bg.aviarydecor.com
Unusually installed stone Source kayaflower.co
A small pond in the center of the rock garden Source flauminc.com
- Destroyed stones must be removed and whole material put in their place. This will prevent the pieces from falling into the soil and damaging the root system of the plants.
- Don't forget to weed as needed. All weeds must be removed by the roots. They interfere with the active growth of decorative flowers.
- When the soil subsides, it is necessary to fill it up so that the roots of the plants are not exposed.
- Protect your decor from rodents. Animals can be driven away with essential oils without harming the rock garden.
Using improvised means in design Source m.yandex.ru
Tall rock garden with a waterfall Source kamen64.ru
Rock garden with elements of Chinese culture Source pinterest.com
Planting
Planting process
Anyone who carefully and in advance selects plants for planting will be satisfied with their rapid growth and will save themselves from the unnecessary hassle of caring for them. The choice should take into account the degree of illumination of the site and its soil conditions . Here optimal conditions for plant growth will be provided. In the end, there are no alpine hills that are planted with monotonous deciduous plants.
A rock garden, which will be filled mainly with high-mountain, alpine plants, will look especially luxurious. Evergreen and coniferous dwarf shrubs will complement the image, as they are very beautiful even in winter, under the snow and grow very slowly.
Grasses, herbaceous annuals, perennials or tuberous plants should be among relatively tall plants such as thyme or lavender. Ground cover plants are important for maintaining an attractive appearance throughout the genus. These can be aubrieta, sedum
