Coniferous compositions of the planting scheme. Landscaping with compositions of conifers: photo Design of the site using roses and conifers

The use of conifers in landscape design is practiced everywhere. In addition to high decorative qualities, conifers have another indisputable advantage - these crops are beautiful throughout all seasons, since they (except perhaps for larch trees) do not shed needles for the winter. If you care for such plants properly and prune the crown in a timely manner, they will be a worthy decoration for your garden for many decades. In all regions of the Earth, these noble plants are used for alleys, clumps and hedges. Even for the southern gardens, so rich in evergreens, conifers are absolutely necessary - only they can effectively shade and create a backdrop for exotic species. Moreover, some coniferous species have become characteristic elements of southern landscapes. It is impossible to imagine the shores of the Black and Mediterranean Seas without columns of cypress trees; Italian landscapes are inconceivable without pine-pine tents. The parks of China, Korea and Japan are always associated not only with, but also with their traditional cryptomeria. And even in the design of northern gardens, conifers are completely irreplaceable, since there are no other evergreens that can support garden compositions throughout the year. In the spring, conifers contrast with the delicate foliage of deciduous species with their noble severity and seeming firmness. In summer, they create the perfect backdrop for flowering grasses, shrubs and trees, set them apart and oppose their inconstancy. In autumn, with their calm greenery, compositions of conifers soften the brightness of falling foliage and give hope for the revival of elusive beauty. In winter, the role of conifers in landscaping the site becomes dominant - only they preserve the volume of the garden, maintain its proportions, without them winter Garden would be flat and boring. On this page you can see a photo of a beautiful landscape design in the country with the use of conifers, as well as learn how to decorate the site.

The best decorative conifers for the garden (with photo)

The best decorative conifers for midland gardens are yews and. The unusual needles and the shape of the crown of these plants give the compositions a southern flavor, significantly distinguishing them from local species. Cultivars (varietal forms) of conifers are of particular value. The number and variety of them is truly incalculable. Almost all conifers introduced into cultivation have varieties with altered growth patterns, with an unusual crown shape, type and color of needles. Look at the photo - decorative coniferous crowns can be any - spherical, spread out, free-growing:

The needles are not only green, but also silver-blue, golden and even variegated. Sometimes varieties of the same species are so different from each other that it is not easy even for a specialist to recognize their relationship. The more varietal forms, the wider their variety, the more interesting the work of the designer, the more original and colorful the garden will be. The only thing that should not be forgotten is the compliance of the selected species with the climatic conditions of the region. These photos show the best coniferous compositions in garden landscape design:

Compositions with dominant conifers and photos of garden landscape design

In the garden, decorative conifers are assigned an important task - thanks to their inviolability and monumentality, they become the main structural elements of the entire composition. Conifers are dominants, the main high-altitude "points" of the whole garden, as well as any of its fragments. As you can see in the photo, tall conifers in landscape design are always the first to attract attention in the garden:

Beautiful evergreen pyramids, pseudo-lakes, impeccable columns are wonderful solitaires. The noble forms of these slender trees are suitable for isolated planting in the background of a meadow or large lawn. As tapeworms, undoubtedly, powerful pines are also good, and. The spreading crown, beautifully curved branches and powerful trunks of adult specimens of these plants are the best decoration for any large lawn. Old trees are of great value - being the “patriarchs” of the garden, they radiate a special aura.

In creating a composition, conifers always play the main role in any garden. Large and beautiful coniferous trees involuntarily attract the eye. It is with their planting that it is necessary to begin the garden planning, it is they that become the skeleton of the future garden. But we must remember that when landscaping a plot with conifers, not only large verticals can be dominant. In a limited space, plants will perform well: on uneven boles; having a horizontal form of growth, or even creeping along the ground. Pay attention to the photo - in landscape design with conifers that have a vertical form of growth, you can emphasize the importance of any small architectural form:

Moreover, the plant itself, having such a winning neighbor. Often in gardens, conifers solo, having not only a varied crown shape, but also its different colors, which change over the seasons.

Beautiful group compositions with conifers in the garden

Creation of group coniferous compositions in modern gardens of various types is a very interesting and responsible task. And here the harmonious combination of sizes, shapes, colors of those plants that are supposed to be planted comes to the fore. In large gardens, it is rational to plant conifers in groups consisting of plants of the same species: arrays, backstage. They will become the backdrop not only for lawns, but also for smaller conifers and deciduous plants. In regular gardens, conifers are usually used to emphasize the precise geometry of paths, hedges, small and large architectural forms. These parkland gardens are interesting to visit. How to make it so that in a rather limited space, measuring 3-6 acres, to create a correct, eye-pleasing, beautiful composition of conifers? First of all, you should not plant groups of rocks of the same species, it is boring and irrational, a small garden should be varied. In small gardens, conifers tend to be dominant. That is why thoughtfulness in their layout is especially important. The choice should be stopped on the most original conifers. Will look spectacular art groups created according to the principle of contrast of shape and color.

In them, plants not only coexist, but also emphasize the originality and dignity of each other in shape or color. Perfectly in coniferous compositions on the site, the needle needles of junipers, spruces and pines are combined with scaly needles of thuja and cypress trees, with flat glossy yew leaves. In small gardens, fragments created on raised terraces look very beneficial. The artificially transformed relief helps to locate each plant in the most advantageous way. Competent use of geoplastic techniques will allow you to land in a limited space enough variety of plants. Wherein the right combination of all kinds of shapes and colors will only enhance the natural perception of this fragment. As shown in the photo, when choosing conifers for composition in a small garden, you should prefer miniature forms:

But we must remember that after stable rooting, they also begin to actively grow back. Miniature varieties grow much more slowly, but they still thicken over time. The plants close together, as a result of which the entire fragment becomes little decorative. At the same time, the plants themselves lose their attractiveness. Poor ventilation in such plantings can lead to the development of all kinds of fungal diseases.

For compositions with conifers in the landscape design of small gardens, container and pot planting of plants are very relevant. This pattern is very typical for compact European gardens. Unfortunately in middle lane when creating miniature gardens in containers due to freezing of the earthy coma, there is a risk of losing the entire plant or any part of it. Another problem is the significant weight of the compositions, which makes it difficult to move them to a safe place for the winter.

These photos show beautiful landscaping of the site with conifers:

Mixborders with ephedra in site design

Conifers in landscape design are the ideal material for creating modern prefabricated flower beds-mixborders. Harmoniously combining conifers with deciduous shrubs, herbaceous perennials, you can achieve very effective compositions. They attach particular importance to the texture and color of needles, foliage and a variety of forms of growth of jointly planted plants. Remember that the natural perception of the created mixborder depends on the correct ratio of lines, volumes, color spots.

Rhododendrons, dwarf barberries, maples, mahonia, spireas, oaks coexist perfectly in the garden landscape next to conifers. Perennials include berry, ferns, mountain goats, dwarf hosts, cereals, shoe orchids. In the foreground, heathers, stonecrops, thyme always look spectacular. The modern coniferous mixborder is a complex multifunctional piece of the garden, where each plant plays its own special role.

When creating a mixborder for landscaping with conifers in the central part of the garden, it is important to consider that it can be bypassed and viewed from all sides. Therefore, it is necessary to adhere to the following rule - the largest conifers should be planted closer to the center of the composition, and lower ones to the periphery, observing the height reduction.

With such a panoramic arrangement of plants in the "coniferous-parade" group, the composition becomes voluminous and easy to read. But these mixborders are pretty rare. Fragments created against a wall of a house or fence are more common. But they already have different configurations and purposes. In the background, one or more vertical dominants of decorative coniferous trees should be planted, most often with an offset from the center of the composition. Its central part, and again with an offset relative to each other, can be occupied by spherical and weeping forms.

In the foreground, the most dwarf plants are planted, as well as conifers with a creeping form of growth. In this kind of mixborders, when creating coniferous compositions in landscape design, it is necessary to remember the important role of the lawn. It is he who will lead the eye of the beholder to what you have created. His Smooth surface and timely is the key to success. Carpets of creeping conifers, primarily junipers, can play the same role.

If the priority task is to cover nondescript garden buildings, and the artistic component of the flower garden is of less interest, then the auxiliary background is created from homogeneous tall plants.

When planting conifers near the walls of a house with windows, as well as near garden paths, it is necessary to take into account the growth rate and the final size of trees and shrubs in advance. Otherwise, additional work cannot be avoided. In conclusion, I would like to say that often a spectacular modern mixborder does not obey the classical rules of landscape design. Like the garden as a whole, it is a product of your imagination and skill and will always reflect your individual tastes. See how beautiful the coniferous compositions presented in these photos on the site are:

Beautiful landscape design with conifers and photos of rock gardens in the country

Conifers and shrubs in landscape design are the most valuable material for decorating any type of rock garden. They look especially natural in landscape-style rocky gardens. In such compositions, the images of mountain plateaus, peaks, rocky valleys and gorges are connected by means of a variety of conifers. As tapeworms, compactly growing columnar varieties of western thuja, yew, juniper and pine are suitable. Planted at different levels, they visually increase the volume of both the rock garden itself and the garden as a whole.

But of course, the main forms of ornamental conifers for a rocky landscape are spherical, or as gardeners like to call them, "pillow-shaped" cultures. "Witch brooms" found in nature on spruces, pines, firs, larch, most often have just such a shape.

They, grafted onto the corresponding rootstocks of species plants, gave birth to numerous miniature varieties. Conifers with this form of growth will most organically look in the "pockets" between stones, filling the voids and masking the defects of the stony structure. Conifers will be good in landscape design and in the foreground of the "mountain valley", flowing around the rocky outcrops and enhancing the naturalness of these elements.

On the terraces and on the tops of separate groups of stones, weeping forms of various types of spruce and Canadian hemlock look great. Lacy flowing branches of the latter are especially graceful and harmonious. Alpine plants will become excellent companions of conifers on rocky hills. Dwarf varieties of Thunberg barberry will not yield to them. Bright-leaved varieties of barberries look great among the stones, tint the green picture created by the conifers. These photos show the design of a rocky garden using conifers:

Conifers in the landscape: decorative collections

Collecting conifers is both interesting and responsible. It, like any other type of collecting, is subject to general rules... A collection is not a disorderly collection of something, but a systematized association according to a specific characteristic. Starting to create a coniferous collection in the landscape design of a summer cottage, it is necessary to determine for yourself the basic principle of placing collected plants in the garden.

There are gardens in which conifers are planted in solid massifs of many meters. Other plants in them are assigned the role of just extras, and the main party is played by unusual and rare conifers. A more complex and interesting task is set by the gardener, who seeks to subordinate the placement of his collection to the general style of the garden. Here each plant is selected for its exclusive place.

It must be remembered that over time, the gardener may change his addictions to certain plants, therefore, in the already established structure of the garden, without violating the style, you will have to plant something new.

After the end of the first, cumulative stage, as a rule, there is a rethinking of what has already been collected. The gardener suddenly begins to understand that many conifers that make up the basis of his collection have a very similar habit, and their names are full of catalogs of most nurseries. Well, if you have already learned to see and understand this, then the time has come for a more rigid and accurate selection of plants. Get ready to part with some of your pets. At the same time, make sure that ornamental conifers for the garden take their rightful places in the plots of your less sophisticated gardening friends. And in your own garden, the vacated spaces will be occupied by new, more complex and rare varieties.

As a rule, collectors are energetic people. They try to travel around the world in search of cherished plants, visit coniferous arboretums, nurseries, private gardens of people who are just like them. But this is followed by a reward in the form of new and rare plants, ideas for growing them, new design solutions. Be aware that a collectible virus can fly by your garden. But if he does visit him, then do not expect peace, be prepared to live by his laws. Do not be intimidated by this and believe me, creating collections is an interesting and exciting experience.

A few tips to help you create your own unique collection of conifers.

• The collection is not created at one time. It takes many years to create it. Accept that the main thing in collecting is the process; by definition, there can be no ultimate goal.
• Develop a working concept for the collection you are creating, outline the types and varieties that you would like to have in it.
• The basis of the coniferous collection in our modest-sized gardens should be compact varieties.
• It is impossible to remember the names of all varieties, in addition, sometimes they can simply be forgotten. Plates indicating species and varieties, statistical records are indispensable attributes of every coniferous collection.
• Unnamed plants are a minus of any collection, and conifers are no exception.
• A collection cannot only consist of rare plants. Coniferous "extras" will only emphasize the greatness of the "main characters" - rarities. But remember that after the end of the first, cumulative stage, you will increasingly have to turn to the 10-step rule, the essence of which boils down to choosing the most characteristic, recognizable plants for your collection.
• Compact varieties of rhododendrons, barberries, maples will be excellent companions for your conifers. Also, in rocky gardens, under conifers, there is always a sufficient number of comfortable seats for the Alpines.
• Communication with other collectors, visiting their gardens will diversify your knowledge, and accordingly improve your collection.
• Don't be afraid of risk. Create rare, borderline conifers and cultivars optimal conditions growing in your garden. Subsequently, they can become a decoration of your collection.
• The rarest and most valuable varieties of conifers, as a rule, have the most unusual shape and unpredictable color. They are easily recognizable.

Conifers in the landscape design of a summer cottage: alleys, hedges, curbs

In the landscape design of the site, conifers are one of the best plants for creating alleys, hedges and even curbs. There is nothing to be surprised at, because most of them retain their compact crown shape until old age. Varietal conifers are an inexhaustible source. For alleys and hedges, breeds with a pyramidal, columnar and pin-shaped crown shape are especially valuable - these plants clearly hold the line and practically do not need formative pruning. The dwarf pyramidal and spherical shapes are ideal for creating low hedges and curbs.

For tall evergreen alleys, when landscaping with conifers, pines, spruces, fir and pseudo-slugs are surprisingly good, for lower ones - yews, thuja and junipers.

For hedges, as a rule, plants are chosen that can withstand a shaping haircut - yews, spruces, thuja and junipers. For planting, relatively cheap off-grade material is used, which seems to be justified from an economic point of view, but this is only at first glance. The fact is that these plants subsequently require expensive, skilled shearing. And do not forget that this procedure will have to be repeated annually. It is much more rational to use compact varietal forms that do not require shearing. As you can see in the photo, in landscape design with conifers, almost all types and cultivars with a dense pyramidal, columnar, ovoid or spherical crown shape can be suitable for this purpose:

Only dwarf dense bush varieties are suitable for creating borders. Of course, a border from such plants will not be cheap, but it will be durable and amazingly beautiful. Dwarf varieties of cypresses, junipers and spruces are extremely effective, but the main material for borders, undoubtedly, becomes spherical varieties of thuja. It should be remembered that in winter they must be protected from snow.

Rounded crowns easily disintegrate and break under its weight. Finding a suitable replacement for damaged plants is usually extremely difficult, the aesthetics of such a border is hopelessly lost.

Varieties of decorative conifers for landscape design

The seasons that replace each other paint the dominant shades of green in coniferous compositions with bright, unusual tones. In some conifers, this color change is very short-lived, in others it stretches for several months. Most suitable for site design with conifers of pine and spruce.

These varieties of mountain pine are very popular among collectors. (Pinus mugo) how Ophir, Winter Gold, Zundert, Gold Star, Golden Glow, Schweizer Tourist, Little Gold Star, Starkl, Hostyn Gold, Laarheide, Lemon. As a rule, the first, at the end of August, the growths of the current season in the Ophir variety turn yellow. Then it’s everyone else’s turn. This rich golden color will last in such plants until spring, gradually coloring the whole plant in golden. See how beautiful such compositions from conifers look in these photos:

Another group of mountain pine varieties is very interesting. Entering it: Kokarde, Rositech, Fruchling Gold, Chameleon, Sunshine, Dikobraz... They have bright, but not as evenly, as in the varieties from the previous group, the young spring increments that have just finished their growing season are colored. They become striped, yellow-green. This color will last until autumn.

Scots pine varieties are very effective (Pinus sylvestris) Trollguld, Candlelight, var. lapponica Fritche, Jakutsk, Meffengofd, Moseri.

In late spring and early summer, Trollguld turns yellow-golden, while Candlelight paints the needles in milky-cream tones. This color, changing its intensity, will delight you until next spring. And P. sylvestris var. lapponica Fritche, Jakutsk, Meffengofd, Moseri will turn golden in late autumn, and turn green again in late spring.

In the last couple of years, golden varieties of Weymouth pine have appeared in our gardens (Pinus strobus) Louie, Wendy, Golden Candles.

Louie is practically all year round has, depending on the season, changing its intensity. The bright yellow branches of these trees look great in decorative coniferous compositions both against the background of a snow-white winter blanket, and in early spring... For Wendy and Golden Candles on this moment not enough information has been accumulated. It is believed that closer to winter, from the base to the periphery of each branch, the needles on them should be painted in a golden color.

Twisted pine varieties are very rare in our gardens. (Pinus contort a) Taylor's Sunburst and Golden Striker , which are an adornment of any coniferous composition. Look at the photo - in May, young growths of these ornamental conifers become bright golden, by the end of summer losing this rich color, becoming light green in September:

Variety Chief Joseph turns golden in early October and remains so until spring.

Varieties of various types of spruce are no less brightly colored. In them, unlike pines, this almost always occurs in the spring. Aurea Magnifica, Gold Drift, Perry's Gold, Geel UH, Holub Gold, Vermont Gold.

The listed varieties of common spruce ( Picea abies) increments in May turn golden. In almost all, it persists for several months, losing its intensity over time. But the very compact variety of common spruce Aurea WB turns golden in autumn, and in the Rydal and Cruenta varieties, for about ten days in May, the young growths will be bright crimson. The growths of the same unusual color dwarf variety Spring Fire. But at the moment, due to its complexity, it is practically inaccessible for Russian gardens. I would like to believe that only for now.

Varieties of spruce prickly ( Picea pungens) Bialobok, Fruchlings Gold, Maigold, Byczkowski, Nimetzl in mid-May, for two weeks, young growths are practically simultaneously colored in creamy yellow tones of varying intensity. Given the general similarity of these varieties, we will point out some of their individual characteristics. In Maigold, unlike all the other varieties listed, the needles themselves are green-blue, and the growths are painted in yellow-gold tones.

This is especially evident if you manage to plant this variety in the immediate vicinity of Albospicata or Fruchlings Gold. Ayl of the Nimetz cultivars, the growths are colored a little later than in the others. Their bluish-cream color gradually turns to snow-white blue.

The oriental spruce variety is wonderful ( Picea orientalis) Aurea, which colors the growing growths golden from the end of May to the middle of July. And of course, one cannot but say a few words about larch and. With the onset of the first cold days and with the arrival of night frosts, larch trees become the most noticeable figures in the coniferous garden. Their bright, light yellow, and subsequently rich red crowns will surely attract your attention. And here it does not matter which species the one that you liked belongs to. At this time of year, they are all equally good, but we are most often admired by the common in the gardens of the northern temperate zone of Russia:

European larch ( Larix decidua)

Larch Japanese ( Larix kaempferi)

American larch ( Larix laricina)

And if you managed to "tame" the Glyptostrobus metasequoia in your garden, then no other plant is able to repeat its autumn yellow-peach color. This is the undisputed favorite of the October garden.

Mulch as an element of the design of a coniferous garden

Previously, when growing conifers, mulching was practically not used. But over time, numerous trips to European gardens made us take a different look at this aspect of gardening. It turns out that mulch is an excellent element for decorating a coniferous garden.

You can mulch with all kinds of materials: from shredded twigs and cut grass to pine nut shells and coconut fibers. But the most effective mulch is the bark of larch or all kinds of pine. The most convenient to use fraction of the bark, having a size of 5 × 5 cm. Of course, the most spectacular is the pine bark. But, unfortunately, it is not often on sale and at the same time is very expensive.

So what are the goals we pursue by mulching our conifers? There are several of them, and, in our opinion, they are all important and functional.

• Moisture retention is an essential mulch property. Even in the driest periods with its help root system plants will avoid overdrying.
• A five-centimeter layer of pine mulch will reliably shelter conifers from weeds and seed germination.
• Adding a 2-cm layer of finely processed pine bark fraction (1 x 1 cm) under the main, larger pine mulch, enhances the formation of an extensive network of additional suction roots in it, which not only contribute to the growth of the crown and increase the mass of the main root system, but also help the plant more actively assimilate water from the surface of the earth.
• By decomposing, mulch improves the quality of the soil, helps the earthworms living in it and numerous beneficial microorganisms to develop.
• In snowless frosty winters, a 5-8 cm layer of pine bark mulch helps to reduce freezing of the coniferous root ball. This is especially true in the first years after their planting.

Conifers are the decoration of any garden.

They are good both on their own and in the company of other green neighbors.

If you want to entrust them with the main roles in the design of a summer cottage - read our tips.

Composing a coniferous garden

To implement such an exciting idea, conifers will be needed. different types, shapes, heights and even shades... It is the variety of textures that will allow you to "play" with interesting garden special effects and fully show your own imagination.

If the plot is located on a slope, it can be turned into a giant alpine slide. To do this, "stretch" the garden path from top to bottom, connecting any two objects - a house, a gazebo, a recreation area or a cozy bench.

If you want to make it loose - use crushed stone or fine gravel, securing the sidewalls with wooden blocks treated with an antiseptic. If you like jumping up the stairs, build a staircase from natural stone tiles. Arrange stones in random order on either side of this symbolic border, grouping large boulders and smaller ones.

Important: the foundation is not needed this time, because conifers are not "Alpines" and do not need "special training" for planting.

Having prepared the "disposition", plant a variety of conifers between the stones, placing them in such a way that tall plants do not obscure the "babies". Determining the choice of "candidates", give preference compact and slowbut growing forms conifers. Plant representatives of miniature creeping forms in such a way that over time they, "flowing" over the stones, form beautiful cascades.

Free spaces that remained after all carried out plantings, mulch with pebbles, gravel or crushed bark.

Decorative rock "Sea Harbor" (KEKKILÄ) - perfect option for decorating and mulching the soil. Reliably protects the surface from weeds, and the soil itself - from drying out.

Advice: so that the kindergarten always looks neat and does not deliver special trouble, for backfill be sure to lay geotextiles, it will help prevent weeds. Keep in mind that for such a "garden" you will need a lot of plants, but believe me, the result is worth it. We recommend paying attention to junipers(scaly, Chinese, Cossack and common), ate(prickly, gray, conic and "bird's nest"), thuja(western and spherical), pine mountain, cypress pea, yew berry.

Important: do not forget that in the spring "thorny pets" must be protected from bright sun rays.

Korean fir "Silberlok" ("BEST") - a dwarf variety of Korean fir, which was named "Silver Curls" for its special decorativeness, has excellent frost resistance, loves sunny places and partial shade, but does not tolerate strong winter winds.

Ceramic figurines and decorative bark filling will become an excellent addition to the "coniferous garden", but it is better to forget about flowering plants - they will definitely not fit into this "interior".

The only exception is small "islets" of spring bulbous plants, which will revive the landscape at the very beginning of the season. Conifers get along well with hosts (in the foreground) and geykhers (in the center of the photo):

Options are possible

Garden "fantasies", in which conifers will become direct participants, can be very diverse. For example, a picturesque thuja hedge, which will perfectly cope with the role of a garden partition and will help to effectively emphasize certain areas of the site.

From miniature conifers, you can make a border to the garden path leading from the house to a gazebo or recreation area, and from creeping varieties of conifers - an alpine garden. In addition to the "main characters", you will need stones, gravel and flowering "Alpines" - to create color accents.

"Having played" with different kinds pine trees, create a miniature heather garden. It is based on heathers and ericas, but coniferous accents will play an important role here. Compose a charming forest corner right on the lawn or in the middle of a paved area, hiding it in a specially fenced-in module. For these purposes, you will need a spruce or pine, placed in the center of the composition, and a picturesque "rug" of wild lilies of the valley - a worthy background for a "green hedgehog".

I wanted something exotic - arrange a mushroom plantation on the site! For example, a corner for growing oyster mushrooms can be made very decorative by decorating it with driftwood, wild lilies of the valley and coniferous trees. And for a miniature alpine landscape, you will need several mountain pines different heights. Supplement them with Japanese spirea bushes and Erica and make a dump of white pebbles. Another option is also possible - to combine junipers and thuja and decorate the composition with large boulders.

We take care of all the rules

All conifers very disagreeablechoosy and do not need overprotection. That's why they are good. From time to time they should be fed, watered in extreme heat and very rarely cut off.

And not every plant is able to survive this attack. That is why there must be special shelters in the gardener's household, which will not be difficult to make. These are ordinary covers made of spunbond or lutrasil in the form of bags with ties at the bottom, but sewn to the size of a particular plant.

Before dressing up the green "fluffies" in spacious "caftans", drive in a stake next to each of the plants, "growing" a little taller than the ephedra itself. This is necessary so that the covers, sagging under the weight of the attacking snow, do not break the fragile tops. To hide low spherical conifers, use cucumber arches, set in a criss-cross over the crown.

Important: ordinary and blue spruce, pines and larch trees need shelter only for the first three years after planting. You can remove the protective “domes” only when the snow has completely melted.

Text: Olga Voronova.
Photo: A. Lysikov.

Conifers are increasingly being used to decorate a plot of a country house. These unique plants are able to maintain their attractiveness in summer and winter, and a properly composed composition will make your garden uniquely beautiful and aesthetically pleasing.

When grouping plants in a composition, it is important to take into account not the number of planted conifers, but the harmonious selection of conifers, which ideally will coexist with other types of plants, be it shrubs or flowers. Plant next to thuja and juniper white rose or heather and the composition will sparkle with delicate beauty. Alternating plantings of flowering shrubs and evergreen conifers can preserve the attractive appearance of your site at any time of the year.

The choice of a specific site for the organization of coniferous compositions plays a significant role in creating a natural corner. If you organize the planting of conifers at the main entrance or entrance, then this option will give solemnity and splendor country house.

From conifers that tolerate a haircut well, you can plant hedge... Make an unusual haircut and the hedge will look original. Creating a dense hedge, the plants are planted in a checkerboard pattern, in 2-3 rows.

Dwarf coniferous species planted in mixborders will serve as an excellent backdrop for flower crops and highlight bright colors flowering plants... Mixborders are created against the background of houses, fences, along paths and how decorative element covering the unaesthetic areas of the garden.

You cannot do without conifers when creating rockeries, rocky gardens and alpine slides... Conifers planted along the banks of flowing streams, with waterfalls and against the backdrop of a quiet surface of water bodies, will add suburban area natural landscape.

How pleasant it is to walk along a winding path decorated with compositions of low-growing conifers or grouped with tall specimens.

The plot located on the slope is decorated with terraces in the form of a cascade of steps. The lower tier is formed by juniper or dwarf pines trimmed with neat forms in combination with other plants. Creeping junipers with seedlings climbing plants will look great, and in addition, such plantings prevent the destruction of the slope, strengthening the soil from erosion.

The recreation areas are not to be missed. Conifers planted next to the gazebo, near the recreation area or near the playground will protect you from prying eyes, as well as from dust and the hot scorching sun. In practice, container gardening with conifers is used. A patio decorated with container conifers will look cozy - convenient and practical.

It is especially worth noting that all ephedra do not tolerate zones with stagnant moisture. The soil for conifers is ennobled with drainage and sand is added to the soil. In the early years of planting, fertilizing with special fertilizers is necessary. For large and single specimens, a sufficiently large and unshaded space is allocated so that they develop a fluffy symmetrical crown. When making compositions, one should take into account the distance between plantings (at least 0.8 m for undersized and 1-1.5 m for more tall ones).

The color range of conifers is also varied. Grouping the compositions, 3 or 5 conifers are planted. It is important not to overdo it here, in a group with three specimens, two colors are used, and when composing groups of five conifers, you can fantasize with three different colors. If a complex composition is composed of a large number plants, it is necessary to divide into subgroups of 3-5 plants and already work with them separately, taking into account the ratio of different colors of conifers.

The shape and height of the conifers when composing an ensemble is taken into account at the initial moment when planning and composing a composition. It is important to learn how to predict the state of the planted plants after some time, when the plants reach their adult state.

They try to structure each garden around some reference point, some kind of skeleton, which can be artificially created as a sculpture, a fountain, or natural in the form of an evergreen. Now more preference is given to conifers, shrubs, especially their dwarf versions, which also retain excellent decorative properties all year round, regardless of the season. Dwarf conifers for the garden 55 photos of landscape design ideas.

In fact, dwarf and creeping conifers are extremely rare in the wild, yielding to their giant relatives. Miniature plants are mostly created artificially from structural abnormalities known as "witch's brooms" by grafting cuttings onto prepared stock of the desired breed. The second popular method of growing "dwarfs" is the cross-pollination of conifers in the nursery. Conifers for the garden photo:

Amateur gardeners understand by the name - dwarf plants - flora that does not exceed the height of human growth in adulthood, that is, almost up to two meters. Dwarf conifers for the garden, shrubs do not need annual pruning, they perfectly tolerate a curly haircut to correct their shape, are unpretentious to the soil, most of them tolerate shade and frost well. Due to the wide variety of crown shapes, needle coloring, they represent serious tools for the work of landscape designers.

Often decorative conifers for the garden, trees find their refuge on alpine hills, rockeries or other types of rocky gardens. In these options, they act as the center of the composition, grouping other types of plants around themselves, it is worth taking advantage of all the richness of colors, forms of coniferous dwarfs. If you skillfully use the principle of different heights, you can avoid monotony, create several original viewpoints at once.

Already traditionally undersized conifers for the garden are taken for the arrangement of borders, the organization of hedges of low, medium height. Forms with dense bushes of cypress trees, firs, junipers, and western thuja are asking for borders. Medium hedges can be formed by ordinary spruce, yew, junipers, which have a crown in the form of columns.

An environment of heathers will help to emphasize the graceful appearance of low-growing conifers. The entrance to the estate in the form of a thuja arch will look stylish, and the approaches to the porch of the house will be decorated with ordinary spruce, prickly spruce in containers. Conifers for the garden photo:

Trees in garden landscaping

Large-sized trees, trees over two meters in height, as well as conifers for the garden, are widely used in landscape design. When carrying out landscaping work in city parks almost always, so as not to violate " green interior", Large-sized trees are planted with old-timers. On private country estates, adult plants with a well-formed crown can also act as a hedge. In both cases, tree planting is carried out in accordance with the texture and characteristics of habitation of permanent natural representatives.

Landscape krupnomers and dwarf conifers for the garden are grown in nurseries, from where they are delivered to a new landing site. Companies selling large trees monitor the quality of the specimens offered. On their websites, they post offers for the sale of trees of various species without trade margins. Low-growing conifers for a garden photo, see below:

The degree of survival of trees in a new place is influenced by factors such as resistance to woody insects, general condition, compliance with all norms for growing, digging out of the ground, transportation and final planting, also consider the location, where it is better to plant shade-loving conifers for the garden, and where loving the sun.

Nursery experts advise purchasing large-sized ones in winter period time. Planting trees in winter provides a high survival rate in the new site.

Winter planting is recommended after a slight freezing of the soil. The optimal planting period is from late autumn to early spring at temperatures from -15 0С. Since conifers for the garden at this moment are in a state of deep dormancy, its root system is less susceptible to various damages, then the chances of settling down in a new place increase exponentially.

It is worth taking into account the fact that in winter the root system of the tree completely freezes over. This process takes place gradually, while the air temperature is significantly lower than the ground temperature. When digging up plants, their roots are protected with an earthen lump, the size of which should correspond to their size. If weathering and freezing of the coma are allowed, the root system will die. Accordingly, the tree will not wake up in the spring.

Modern landscape design is inconceivable without majestic fir trees, luxurious thujas, mighty oaks, serious larches, frivolous pines, dwarf conifers for the garden are also always held in high esteem. Woody compositions from large-sized trees are a timid reminder of the forest, noisy and green in summer, silent and pensive in winter. Conifers for the garden photo:

Conifers and shrubs are in great demand in landscape gardening, their photos can increasingly be found in magazines and sites dedicated to landscape design. They are frost-resistant, decorative, hardy, unpretentious to care for and differ in a variety of crown shapes.

Gardeners love conifers for their many other advantages:

• many coniferous varieties tolerate limitation well solar lighting, develop well in partial shade
• the well-developed root system of conifers allows them to tolerate well for a long time without watering, some plant species grow well on stony soils. In addition, due to the powerful and developed roots, they can be used to strengthen the slopes.

• most conifers tolerate shearing well, they (some varieties of tui look especially attractive in this regard) can be used to obtain a variety of shapes that are often found in photos of regular English gardens. And some varieties of conifers by nature have a geometrically regular shape, so they practically do not need care.

• coniferous tree - a source of beneficial phytoncides, a walk in the garden with coniferous plantings has a beneficial effect on both the physical and psychological state of a person
• conifers tolerate a smoky urban environment well
• ripening cones will attract birds to the garden, filling it with life and movement

But the main thing is what attracts conifers and shrubs, for which they are "loved by design" - with their green color, they bring variety and liveliness even to a gloomy, gray and gloomy autumn-winter garden.

Conifers: how to place in the garden correctly

Conifers are versatile plants, the abundance of forms and species allows them to be used in landscape compositions different styles(you will find confirmation of this in our photos). At the same time, the size of the plot will not be a problem - if in nature the conifers are high enough, then decorative varieties and the types used for landscaping areas rarely exceed 4 m in height. Design alpine slides it is difficult to imagine without undersized conifers and shrubs (dwarf Hampi pine, Lobers spruce, Mini Pug pine, some types of thujas, coniferous shrubs).

The design of the site can give the coniferous tree the function of a color delimiter that will resist fusion natural shades... Thus, conifers will help complicate the color combination of the garden, make it richer and deeper. Often undersized varieties tui with dark needles, they are used as a border for the club, enclosing the flowers inside in a kind of green frame that sets off the bright colors of the flowers. In the photo of gravel gardens, conifers are always present, while cones or medium-sized cut bark can replace the stone in places.

Mixborder

Hedge

For zoning a site, designers often use conifers and shrubs. It turns out not just beautiful barriers (in the photo they look monolithic wall), but at the same time - practically impenetrable, i.e. just the qualities required for perimeter fencing fence... For this, conifers are planted in a checkerboard pattern, placing them in 2-3 rows. Of course, it will take a lot of time to achieve the full effect, but the result will exceed the wildest expectations.

For zoning a site (garden), medium-sized (1-2 m high) varieties are most often used, which will not cover the overall perspective. Besides, evergreen hedge will act as an excellent backdrop for blooming colorful perennials, this technique is especially common in Art Nouveau or landscape-style gardens.

Advice! To create hedges, it is good to use various types of thuja - thanks to the dense crown, it will be enough to plant them in one row, saving space.

360 degree view composition

Conifers go well with cereals, flowers (especially lilies) and deciduous plants. Coniferous shrubs will look picturesque by the reservoirs, where they will be accompanied by deciduous weeping plants. The intense greenery of thuja with a bluish tint of needles with small speckled blotches will be an excellent photon for junipers.

In order for a composition of conifers to look effective and harmonious, its design should include the following factors:

• the best background for conifers is a regular, well-groomed lawn

• so that the composition of their conifers (both trees and shrubs) looks harmonious and holistic, a place for best view(location of the gazebo or observation deck) should be located at a distance of at least 2 lengths of the composition

• the most spectacular in landscape design is the arrangement of conifers oriented to the west or east
• geometric shapes - in landscape design, it is good to use the principle of contrast, for example, arrange pyramidal tall conifers next to one of the low-growing spherical species of thuja. This arrangement of trees different heights will help to achieve some visual effects - against the background of low-growing mountain pines, several even medium-sized thujas will look very tall

Conifers and bushes are ideal material for curling, with which they acquire geometric and fantastic shapes