Landscaping: Tips for Beginners. DIY landscape design basics

Landscape design do it yourself will require a lot of time, effort and patience from you.

What could be more fun than creating your own landscaping in a bare yard? Where to start the work, how to plan the design correctly, where to get it from interesting ideas and how much will it all cost? You will certainly find out about this if you read the article to the end.

So, for a start, it is important to understand that creating a landscape design with your own hands is a troublesome business that requires certain costs, both time and effort, and financial. If you are ready to devote time to decorating your own site, then let nothing stop you, including modest cash savings. You set the terms for improving the territory yourself, which means there will be no rush. You can bring ideas to life gradually, without significant damage to the family budget.

Getting to know the work algorithm

On the initial stage, contrary to the prevailing opinion that you need to immediately draw a project, you will need to measure the site as accurately as possible. To do this correctly, it is better to invite specialists from the housing service, whose job is precisely to survey the sites. Perhaps the organization's employees have a plan for your site, but if not, then you can draw it up with your own hands. Use a pen, notepad, measuring tape, and pencil. It will be good if someone can help you. Using sticks, pegs, and stones, measure the area with a measuring tape. Territories that are very modest in size can be easily measured in steps (for an adult, a step is 40-50 cm).

When the measurements and data collection of the property on the site is over, you can move on to the next no less interesting and important business- depicting the plot on paper or drawing up a map of the yard. Remember to scale to a map when sketching. The more carefully you do all this, the less time will be spent on possible alterations.

How to draw a yard map? Very simple, you need a little tracing paper with a site plan, with it you will need to go out into the yard. On the plan of the territory, mark the best and most unfortunate places in the yard in your opinion, taking into account the peculiarities of the soil, also mark any features of the area, for example, trees, sewers, and so on. The resulting plan with marks can be considered a full-fledged map of the courtyard.

Design work for a new landscape design

There is nothing difficult in design. The project is your future design.

When the preliminary work on measurements and mapping is completed, you can begin the most exciting process at the stage of creating a landscape design - design. Do not be alarmed, in fact, this process is not as difficult as it seems, it is really interesting to design your site!

How to design? Everything is also on tracing paper. Put it on the sketch and depict on it everything that you would like to see on the site. Experiment - move, rearrange, swap elements, it can and should be done on tracing paper.

For confident PC users, programs have been specially developed for creating landscape design, including those working online. One of the well-known services, for example, bears the symbolic name "Landscape in 5 minutes". Basic knowledge is required to use it. in English and high speed internet access. The advantage of the service is its availability, you will not have to pay anything for using it, unlike the same applications available for download only for money.

The scheme of work with the service is simple: choose a landscape design suitable for your site, place buildings, plants on it, choose suitable materials... In general, do the same as on tracing paper, only in color and on a computer monitor. It is noteworthy that with the help of the service it will be possible to learn about plants, their properties and characteristics, requirements for soil composition and illumination. The obtained results can be saved in order to return to them at a convenient time.

Regardless of whether you used an ordinary tracing paper or decided to opt for a more civilized method using computer services, you have at the end preparatory work there should be three plans:

top view plan;
plan in 3 D;
garden plan in 10 years.

Each of these plans will allow you to plan further actions as accurately as possible, including a plan "in the future." With its help, it will be possible to see what the plants will become after such an impressive period, whether some of them will be unnecessarily large and spreading, block the entrance, the entrance to the house, prevent the flow of light into the site.

Where can I get interesting ideas?

Your design is a reflection of yourself. Experiment!

The most interesting ideas usually appear in the mind of the author of landscape design. Carefully consider what ideas visit your bright mind, analyze the prospects of each of them, you may not have to apply for additional sources.

If nothing worthwhile comes to mind, you can browse catalogs of ready-made ideas on the Internet or specialized landscape design magazines. There you can also choose ideas for designs in a specific style, for example, designs in the English style, in the American style, in the French or in the southern Mediterranean - there are many options.

The only moment, when choosing an idea for landscape design, take into account the characteristics of the territory, its size, the climate in the region.
Do not be afraid to experiment with ideas, play with them and you will get the most original and functional design landscape.

About the timing of work

What is good about designing landscapes with your own hands is that no one can dictate to you the deadlines for the completion of work, except for yourself. What time frame should it be? Let common sense tell you the answer. Just draw up an approximate schedule of work, taking into account your own employment and financial income, and follow it whenever possible. Remember that many jobs are seasonal and postponing them means waiting for the next season. We are talking about plantings, which are most often carried out in the autumn and spring periods.

Below are some tips on the best order for the job:

Try to finish with rough work first, carry out the installation of the reservoir, for example, install drainage system, all kinds of communications, prepare the ground for planting.
Prepare areas and equipment for work that are on the waiting list for some time.
Plant trees first as they need the most time to grow.
Of course, you can buy already mature tree and transfer it to the site, but it will be very expensive, in addition, some varieties of trees will not tolerate such stress and will never take root on the site.
Plant shrubs on the site, they will decorate the site for the period while the trees are still very young.

How much will do-it-yourself landscape design cost?

Given the fact that landscape designers, architects and planners will not be involved in your project, the cost should be reasonably acceptable. On average, it is customary to spend about 15% of the cost of the entire house on landscaping.

If your goal is to create a unique, luxurious design and the price does not stand up, then it's up to you, just use the more expensive ones. Decoration Materials, for example, timber, natural stone. Do not limit yourself in choosing the most beautiful and expensive plants, be sure to pamper yourself with a parterre lawn (it is the most beautiful and most expensive), do not forget about fountains, waterfalls and original lighting.

Landscaping can work wonders. You probably have a question, how can an inanimate land plot, planted with plants, strewn with stones and decorative elements all the time, can create something? Very simple. Go to a city park or visit the main attraction of a city. What a pleasant atmosphere there. How does this place make you feel? Most likely very pleasant and warm. Isn't that a miracle? Place, shapes, colors can convey so many feelings and emotions, tell about its creator, about his life and interests. Well-known and sought-after designers are so imbued with the idea that they are able to create truly impressive landscape art objects.

Landscaping of the site is the creation of beauty and harmony around your home

Russian universities train certified design specialists. But design is not science, it is creativity. Creativity, as everyone knows, is unique and unique in its manifestations. In other words, every person who creates landscape objects brings in a drop of his own, unique and one-of-a-kind soul. Only by listening to the clues of their subconscious, famous designers created historical architectural compositions that have survived to this day. But they were not immediately recognized, for this time had to pass. Therefore, you do not need to be afraid to take the initiative in arranging your site. Sometimes, the most extraordinary and strange decisions create a unique atmosphere of the territory and reveal the true beauty of the human soul.

It takes a lot of work to create a practical vacation spot for the whole family.

In order to learn the basic lessons of landscape design, you need preliminary preparation... At this stage, you need to take the time to study guides, manuals and magazines dedicated to the design of suburban areas and their gardens. Fortunately, the Internet is generous as always. In these books, you will find tips from designers who will share secrets with you, show you the most common mistakes newbies make, and set your aspiration in the right direction.

Always start small and implement your ideas slowly, enjoying the process itself, and not just its result

Of course, nothing can replace live communication with a person. But if you find a proper book written by a competent author, then you will absorb the makings of a true landscape master.

Good garden design has several attention-grabbing compositional centers. It can be anything - a tree, a bush, a pond, or a bench.

Usually, two or three books read during a week inspire a newly minted creator to such an extent that he runs at the same hour to the nearest gardening store and buys up everything he thinks he needs. Starting from decorative elements and ending with flowers and trees. It is strictly forbidden to do this. Haste will not lead to success, you will only forget all that little that you have learned. First you need to figure out the order, observing which you will be able to choose the right material for the fence and gazebo. The further choice of elements of small architectural forms, trees, flowers and plants depends on this.

Start your journey to your dream garden with one small flower bed or mixborder

Go out into the garden when you have the time and desire, work and do not try to do everything at once and in one day

Basic principles of landscape design

The first step is to analyze the backyard area and figure out the relief of the site. Further arrangement largely depends on this.
Dividing the land into zones. This includes markings on the plan of the recreation area, garden (vegetable garden) and small architectural forms.
Marking of backyard paths. They should provide ease of movement between zones, taking into account the width of the aisles.
Determination of the general composition of zones and architectural forms. At this stage, the choice of the building material, its color and shape, as well as the determination with the color of the tracks and the material of their manufacture takes place.
Selection of green spaces and flowers. At this stage, varieties of trees (their shapes) and flowers are selected, as well as the territorial location of mixborders, alpine slides.

Consider scaling and rendering with plant growth in mind

An important point in landscape design is the size of the personal plot. The arrangement of flower arrangements, as well as the choice of a place for planting trees, depends on them. In a small area, it becomes necessary to visually increase it. This effect can be achieved in different ways. One of them is the correct selection of the color of the fence and an asymmetrical fit. conifers trees along it. Here you need to understand that the square or rectangular shape of the fence creates certain frames. To remove them, the fence is painted in light colors, and trees are planted in groups of 4-5 pieces in a row.

Each element of the garden should organically fit into the overall landscape composition

Trees must be bought at least half a meter above the fence. This creates a visual extension.

Coniferous hedge

If you want to add depth to your hedge, plant the trees in a checkerboard pattern.

Alpine slides are also arranged, which can be supplemented with multi-colored stones. A good idea to expand the area is to set up a mid-rise slide with a stream. And at the foot of the brook is dug up small pond, along the banks of which you can plant a moisture-loving fern. If we talk about a recreation area behind the house, then such an object is best placed near the fence. A curly ivy carpet is put on the fence. Such a cascade of architectural forms will create the effect of perspective, that is, an external observer, when contemplating this beauty, will feel the depth of space, saturation and volume.

Against the background of a perfectly mowed lawn, a path of concrete slabs looks good, the space around which is covered with small pebbles

The article mentions small architectural forms. On the Internet, they can also be found under the abbreviated name MAF. For a person unfamiliar with this concept, below are the main elements of the LFA involved in landscape design.

Terraces, verandas and gazebos.
Trellis, pergolas and arches.
Garden fences, mixborders, fountains and sculptures.
Reservoirs, streams and bridges across them.
Other decorations ranging from free-standing flower vases to garden gnomes.

Wooden bridge over a "dry" stream

Beautiful decoration of a blank fence

In addition, every person living in the city, the LFA meets every day. These are bus stops telephone booths, urban and park benches and many other elements.

Terraces, gazebos and pergolas

These structures play the same role in the landscape design of a land plot. They are built to create a recreation area, do your favorite things and just have a pleasant pastime. Their distinctive features are the location relative to the country house, as well as the design.

Outdoor terrace with gazebo and barbecue area

Pergola came to our country from abroad. Italy is its historical homeland. The structure of this building is simple: four or six support beams are topped with horizontal roof dividers. Most often it is made of wood, less often of metal.

Corner pergola made of wood with a sofa for secluded relaxation

It is undesirable to use metal, as it heats up strongly in the sun and can spoil the plants that entwine its elements.

Climbing plants are used to create shade under the pergola. It is preferable to choose densely creeping grapes. It grows without flowering, but it has a non-uniform leaf shade (from dark green to burgundy and even red). The space under the pergola is equipped with rain-resistant garden furniture. Also, in some cases, you can place a pool under it. This solution is convenient in very hot climatic regions.

Climbing plants can hide anything, anywhere

On an open terrace, it is practical to use rattan furniture with removable cushions

The resting place can be arranged both on a cobbled stone platform and on a wooden platform.

The device of the terrace implies its location near the house, or rather, it is attached to it. The main difference between such a structure and a veranda is open placement. That is, there is no canopy or one wall. This characterizes the building as a purely summer holiday option. If it is planned to use the terrace in winter, then it is done with retractable glass doors which is very convenient. But then it will no longer be a terrace, but a combined veranda.

An original terrace with a seating area inside

Closed gazebo for winter recreation

The device of the gazebo implies the presence of garden furniture, a fireplace and a barbecue.

When installing the gazebo, you must pay attention to the presence of the leeward side. If there is one, then one wall must be made deaf, or loaches must be planted.

The blank wall of the gazebo is placed from the leeward sorona

When organizing a general landscape style, all zones should overlap with each other. The flowing lines of paths and tree crowns are complemented by rectangular shapes gazebos or other structures.
For a relatively small area, use methods to visually increase the space.
Installing flowerpots in several levels will save space, as well as simplify the daily care of flowers and plants.
If the home plot is located on a slope, which implies a large amount of land work, you can use this in favor of design. Create decorative retaining walls using natural stone. Also in this case, alpine slides, a pool or a pond are arranged at the lowest elevations of the earth.
With especially large differences in ground level, it is necessary to organize a site in several levels, separated from each other by retaining walls. From the point of view of landscape design, on such sites it turns out to arrange extraordinary and very beautiful architectural compositions. The only drawback is a decent cash investment.
On large land holdings, the possibility of installing a fountain and large flower arrangements opens up. If finances do not allow you to purchase a fountain, then you can make decorative elements such as boats, mills, or multi-level flower arrangements with your own hands. Also, an excellent solution would be to organize a large alpine slide.
Before choosing one or another design option, you need to reconsider different combinations and combinations of architectural elements. For a visual representation of compositional solutions, use computer programs allowing you to combine LFAs and pre-evaluate your performance. The advantage of this software is the presence of prompts and ready-made images and solutions.

Stones different sizes and the shapes create the effect of a mountain landscape

Color in the landscape is the most important rule for creating the desired effect. The main one is always green, but blotches of other shades give greater expressiveness.

Perennial flowers and shrubs require less maintenance than annuals and should be used as a basis for landscaping

Landscaping is a very interesting and rewarding business. You will get mass positive emotions and have a great time with your family.

Low-growing flowers are planted along the edges of the flower bed, and large flowers are planted closer to the center of the flower garden

Improvement of a suburban area is a long process that takes several years

Video: how to change the design of a narrow section

Photos of landscape design and garden decorations

No need to be afraid to do something yourself, you will succeed!

You have your own house with the site and you are thinking about how to equip the landscape design of the adjacent territory on your own? We can note that you are thinking in the right direction. Indeed, it is possible and even necessary to equip the territory with your own hands, since in this case it will be possible to achieve harmony of the "picture" outside the window with your own inner world for very modest money.

Below we will give useful tips on creating landscape designs for beginners, and also tell you about the most common mistakes in the process of landscaping.

So, if before that you have never had anything to do with doing landscape design with your own hands, then it will not be easy to decide on the choice of idea. Huge selection Plants, decorative elements and styles can make anyone confused, so follow the recommendations and act clearly, without fuss.

Sketch the landscape plan on paper

To get started, just write a list of what you would like to see on your site. Write everything, including what seems difficult to implement. In the future, the list will be updated. What do you expect from the site? Are you planning to equip it with a playground for children? Or maybe your dream is Orchard and vegetable beds?

Or is the purpose of the garden exclusively decorative: artificial reservoirs, a gazebo, a barbecue will become the best "friends" for a period of rest in the yard? Ask yourself these questions and put the answers on paper. It may not be a full-fledged project, but when thoughts are transferred to paper, it will be easier for you to decide on further actions.

Observe the site

Analyze your site, find recreation areas, flower beds and maybe even a pond in it.

What else you will need to do is explore the sunny sides of the site and the wind roses. Let a place be allocated for the recreation area where it is sunny during the day and there is practically no wind. Consider such a moment as the changing seasons.

Do not rush to divide the site into zones, make the right decisions based on your own analysis of the facts regarding changes in it at different times of the year. Mark up the plan on paper.

"Don't Drive Your Horses"

It may seem like creating a landscape design is a simple process that can be completed in a few days. We hasten to assure you that this opinion is wrong. Therefore, there is no point in trying to do everything at once and quickly.

Start small gradually, measure realistically own strength... Let the process begin with cleaning and preparing the territory, continue with the creation of a small flower bed, for example, and then follow the plan.

Consider a focal point

Pick a focal point on the site and work around it. This can be, for example, a gazebo, fountain or pond, as well as a group of trees or a flower garden.

Don't forget the scale

Remember that plants have the ability to grow: some faster, others slower, but eventually all will grow. Consider this fact when planting different varieties trees, shrubs and flowers on the site.

Be patient

If you set about creating landscape design on your own, then remember that only patience and diligence will help you in this difficult task!

The main mistakes of beginner landscape designers

Speaking of mistakes, it can be noted that many of them can be avoided if you properly prepare for gardening and read the recommendations below.

One of the main mistakes is the lack of a plan and a project (even a homemade one) on paper. Novice landscape designers often overestimate their strengths, as a result, they cannot achieve what they want on the site. It is better to try to draw a full scale plot of the site or, in extreme cases, an amateur sketch with all the details of the future design.

An equally common mistake is the desire to create a large lawn on the site by all means. Yes, it is beautiful, yes, it is fashionable, but! It will not be easy and expensive to make the grass carpet in the garden look perfectly beautiful and well-groomed on your own, in addition, today there are alternatives to lawns, perhaps you should study the information about them in more detail.

Often, beginners forget that the site will look different at different times of the year. It is important to choose the right plants so that the garden “dresses” in colorful clothes with the onset of each new season, pleasing the eye.

It is possible to list the mistakes of novice landscape designers for a long time, but we will not do this. The main thing for you at the planning stage is to understand what you want and how it can be implemented on the site. For inspiration, you can look at ready-made projects on the network or specialized magazines, even better - find a description of the work on creating a particular landscape design on the site and follow it. For now, we will give a few basic secrets of landscape designers, which, perhaps, will help you decorate your garden in a stylish and unusual way.

"Trickery" of landscape designers

The mirror window is an interesting move.

Since the time of the manor houses, landscape designers have used various tricks and tricks in order to change the visual perception of the site. For example, canvases with images of a garden on its borders were often installed, and for the effect of deep perspective, a giant mirror was placed at the end of the alley.

Modern landscape designers are also adept at using additional elements in order to transform the site. A good idea is a mirror window in the fence, which will display the garden, making the area more spacious, as you can see in the photo.

A garden pavilion on the site, for example, decorated as a temple in the style of Ancient Greece... You can fit a bench between its columns, while there will be nothing behind the facade. When planning the creation of a plot for painting blank walls on a site, it is important to remember that seasons change each other, therefore, the same "jungle" or "sea shore" on the fence will look wild among the snow-white snowdrifts in winter.

Quite often, landscape designers mask the unsightly elements of the site with decorative trellises or climbing plants (lianas, girlish grapes, climbing roses, etc.).

Basics and principles of landscape design

In addition to deceiving tricks, it is important to adhere to certain principles in landscape design. So that the garden becomes harmonious and holistic, it is important to adhere to a clear sequence, combining shapes, shades, plant sizes and individual elements... Plants can be combined, planted separately, grouped into flower beds, alleys or creating alpine slides.

Proportionality is another important principle of landscape design. It is necessary to ensure that all elements in the garden are arranged according to:

width;
length;
depth;
height.

The plot should be not only proportionate, but also proportional. Here you can adhere to symmetry, or you can focus on the asymmetry of the compositions. Naturally, it is easier to implement the first option, for this you will need to divide the site into two zones, each of which will become a reflection of the other with slight distortions. Plants in both zones should be similar, but small deviations are acceptable, because landscape design is, first of all, experiments!

Your house has already been built, everything has been completed internal work, and it seems that all that remains is to move in and live. However, in fact, it is still important to take care of the improvement. adjoining territory... Landscape: where to start - experts will answer all your questions, but if you wish, you can try to figure it out on your own.

Many people, if they want to improve the local area on their own, face some problems. The main one is ill-conceived parking located in front of the house, because it violates the landscape design of the site. These problems include non-observance of borders during tree planting, poor placement of wells and communications. All this inevitably leads to the fact that when decorating a backyard territory, one has to confine oneself to primitive garden paths and flower beds.

To avoid all these troubles when creating a unique landscape design, experts recommend developing its project even at the stage of building a house. The creation of a landscape project is a picture of the future personal plot, which schematically shows all its constituent elements. The joint work of an architect and a landscape designer will make it possible to translate everything conceived into reality. At its core, it will be something like this, but as a result of the joint work of specialists, you will get the perfect landscape design of your site.

When landscaping the territory, it is important to build on the landmarks of the house on the cardinal points. You should also take into account the location of windows in a residential building. The bedroom should not get a lot of light, it should not overheat from the sun, but the kitchen should always have good daylight. All this can be ensured by properly planting trees around the house.

In the process of landscape design, one should take into account what exactly the owners will see from the windows of their house. It is desirable that these are beautiful shrubs and original flower beds With unusual design... In principle, the improvement of the local area depends only on your wishes.

Work on the project of the future landscape country house it is better to start in the autumn-winter period, so that with the arrival of spring it will be possible to immediately start ennobling the territory. Before translating your project into reality, you should carry out preparatory work.

Relatively the new kind services for Russian market- registration of a personal plot. The service is designed for people with an income above the national average who have their own homes. When drawing up a business plan for landscape design, this must be taken into account.

Introduction

Landscaping is a quick landscaping of the site, laying garden paths, arranging man-made reservoirs, fountains, cascades, laying out a garden of stones, an alpine slide, planting a green hedge and ornamental plants, working with boxwood decorations, creating a recreation area, building gazebos, playgrounds, decorating a fence, dividing the garden space into zones.

Despite the diversity of the work carried out on the site, the main costs when opening an office are:

purchase of high-quality office equipment;
installation of professional software for 3D modeling;
development of projects for a portfolio and further implementation at customer sites;
creation of a site with a colorful gallery, modeled projects;
business registration with the IFTS.

Landscaping is one of the few types of business in which the main thing is imagination and idea. For the full-fledged work of the bureau, 2-3 main employees and several reliable partners- contractors who are able to efficiently implement the artist's idea on the site.

Business Description

The full range of services of a landscape design bureau is not limited to the development and implementation of ideas on the ground. To a large extent, the result will be influenced by the climatic features of the area, the composition of the soil, the mobility of the soil layers. To avoid unpleasant consequences caused by natural phenomena, will allow such measures as chemical analysis of the soil, geodetic studies of the area.

When developing, you will have to consider:

sunny and shady side of the site;
its protection from the wind by natural (natural) barriers;
remoteness from a natural reservoir;
irregularities that cannot be removed;
distance between capital objects.

A layout or electronic design is provided to the customer for approval or clarification of details.

Based on the approved project, an estimate is drawn up for the work and the purchase Supplies... From this it follows that the following should work on the preparation of the documentation:

communications specialists;
designers (engineers);
material scientists;
designers making a list of necessary goods;
economist or accountant.

As a rule, creative people, namely, they work for the company's image, cannot combine all the qualities necessary for organizing the work process.

Unlike construction organizations, where a foreman monitors the progress of work, in landscape design, a designer is the leader. He announces to workers the tasks developed by specialists of different profiles, selects and orders necessary materials corresponding to the parameters specified by the plan.

Features of the character of the designer, his role in the transformed area

When choosing subcontractors, it is necessary to choose companies that are ready to clearly fulfill all the requirements for the manufacture of decor parts, the method of installation. Another rule is that a project is considered to be successfully completed if all stages carried out by different subcontractors look like a whole.

The difficulty of fulfilling this requirement, in the absence of its own staff of auxiliary workers, is that each company is responsible for the quality of one front of work. This must be taken into account when choosing a designer for a bureau, he must be not easily versed in all the intricacies of his profession, but also be a demanding leader, infecting workers of different professions with his enthusiasm.

An introvert, a fluttering elf, raising the spirits of people by his mere presence, able to convey his idea briefly, succinctly, intelligibly, to find an approach to workers - this is how a contractor should be. The result of common work depends on mutual understanding in the team, even if it is temporary.

Description of services

Perhaps the most demanded service for the transformation of the site is its landscaping. Planting and germination lawn grass- it is a troublesome business, in many regions the result is unpredictable. Artificial green turf contradicts the concept suburban area, it should have natural grass. The only exception is the golf course.

The fastest result will be provided by landscaping the site using a roll lawn. For its germination on the ground, you will need qualified care for two weeks. Maintenance of the lawn does not end there, it will have to be mowed periodically. This can be one of the services of a landscape design bureau.

Preliminary preparation involves leveling the site. You will need to cut off the sod, remove stones - these stages of work are done manually. A bulldozer is required for final alignment. An excavator is indispensable for laying a water supply system. It also comes in handy when filling garden paths.

So that the grass does not turn yellow under the rays of the scorching sun, it must be systematically watered. For this, the daily presence of a specialist on the site is not necessary, it is enough to install several water sprays with automatic activation.

Drainage and irrigation systems

The appearance of the irrigation system depends on the preferences of the customer. To supply water, you will need to install a hidden reservoir for storing a large volume of water, it can also serve to collect atmospheric precipitation.

To raise the water, you will need submersible pump, programmable system to start it at a certain time. The connection of water supply pipes, the installation of pumping equipment, its debugging and adjustment is carried out by narrow-profile specialists.

It is better to have an electrician and installer of water systems in the office if the range of services includes:

arrangement of a decorative pond with lighting;
installation of frame pools;
construction of recreation areas with gazebos, electric ovens B-B-Q;
creation of fountains and waterfalls;
decorating the garden with plants that require irrigation systems.

The knowledge of these specialists will help you quickly understand technical characteristics materials, their compatibility, suitability of units for use in certain climatic conditions.

Carpenters, joiners, handymen, builders

When creating landscape design on a large plot, you cannot do without masters of carpentry and joinery. Their services will be required in the construction of gazebos, beautifully decorated wooden walkways, decoration of the front porch. Even for the original garden path a wood craftsman may be required.

Handymen help in the construction and planting of ornamental plants in the ground, the preparation of concrete mortar and the pouring of the foundations for the paths. The specialists of these profiles are in construction teams. The conclusion of long-term contracts for the implementation of a certain list of services is mutually beneficial.

For a landscape design bureau, friendship with a large construction company is beneficial for several reasons:

ready-made staff of verified employees;
technical support in the absence of your own vehicle fleet;
delivery of building materials to the site;
professional woodworking on the subcontractor's machines.

The construction company, represented by the bureau, receives a permanent customer of services that contributes to the development of its partner's business by placing a gazebo in the gallery of completed works, garden furniture, playgrounds made by the craftsmen of the subcontractor's company.

Installing gabions to create massive unusual fences is one of the stages that can also be entrusted to builders.

Fences and zone dividers on the site

When creating a landscape design, the fence of the site is a significant element. The selection of material for the manufacture of the fence is dictated by the appearance of the objects on the site. The recreation area, consisting of a gazebo, barbecue oven, barbecue, in most cases becomes the center. The predominance of natural stones or unrooted wood in this zone will look more organically in the frame of massive fences made of natural material.

Design fences are distinguished by the fact that concrete is practically not used in their creation. Stones, logs are placed in boxes made of heavy-duty metal wire - gabions. Taking into account the severity of the fillers, the foundation is poured under these boxes. A natural stone contributes to the creation of the atmosphere of an ancient castle. These fences are most commonly used in areas with uneven terrain.

Logs of different diameters will be an excellent filler for gabions installed around a house made in the style of a Russian tower. And stone and wood fences take up a lot useful place, but in large areas they are justified if the inner territory is delimited by wide strips of dividers made of decorative bushes or gabions by half, lower than those used to make the outer fence.

List of basic services

The price list for the company's services is the first, after the professionalism and competence of the staff, that interests a potential client who chooses a landscape design bureau. All points should look very clear to understand.

Service	Price
Development of the project "Standard"	4000 RUB for 100 sq.m
Development of the "Premium" project	RUB 7,000 for 100 sq.m
Gazebo construction plan	RUB 5,000
Development of a hand-laid barbecue area	RUB 9,000
Visit of a specialist to inspect the site and take measurements	free
Laying paving slabs	RUB 600 sq.m
Filled paths with soil preparation	From 1000 rub. sq.m (depending on the cost of natural material)
Laying roll lawn	420 RUB sq.m
Sowing cereals	RUB 220 sq.m
Composition for a flower bed with annuals	RUB 600 + cost of seedlings
Installation of gabions	RUB 700 per piece + filler cost
Hedge	Negotiated price

When carrying out work on the site, in addition to the basic measures for decorating the landscape, additional services may be required. The customer should also know about their existence. These include:

installation of an irrigation system;
selection, purchase, delivery of seedlings;
soil preparation for laying a lawn, sowing grass, planting flowers;
delivery to the site of fertile soil;
cleaning and removal of garbage from the site;
weed dressing.

The cost of many services depends on the remoteness of the site, the size of the plants, the need to use one or another type of equipment, which affects the pricing.

Green hedges

There are many varieties of green hedges. The similarity with the most attractive pictures from foreign glossy magazines, where gabions are a frame for climbing ornamental plants, gives an artificial boxwood. The disadvantage of using it in areas with a temperate climate can be considered unnatural in combination with snow and bare tree branches.

Most in demand hedge... In its creation, not only deciduous, but also evergreen plantations can be used, which easily tolerate frost. For selection necessary plants, for which the soil of the site is suitable, the climatic features of the climate, a florist is needed.

Thanks to such a specialist in your own state, it is easy to compose the most unusual flower beds, delighting with flowering from early spring to late autumn. The same principle is used to decorate the coastal area. artificial pond, alpine slide. The compatibility of plants, their effect on the environment, and particulars must be taken into account.

Conclusion! To work with plants, you need a specialist with special, in-depth knowledge of botany.

Continuous flowering flower bed

In order for the flower bed to please with its multicolor for more than one year, it is advisable to select for it perennial plants... Unlike annual beds, this one does not need to be renewed annually. Caring for her will be limited to weeding, feeding, pruning perennial bushes.

Low-growing plants not exceeding 30 cm in height are:

phlox;
dwarf asters;
geraniums;
pelargonium;
aquilegia;
carnations;
obriety;
succulents;
gentian;
pansies;
Carpathian bells;
forget-me-nots;
soapworms.

The rules for planting a group of low-growing perennials are as follows:

They need a lot of sunlight for a lush color.
These plants are fed with special complex fertilizers. Nitrogen compounds are not used for flowering plants, they are necessary for ornamental greenery.
Planting of low-growing ornamental plants is carried out at short intervals.
Weeding should be done regularly so that weeds do not interfere with the growth of cultivated crops.

The second tier is medium-sized perennial plants, from 30 to 80 cm high. They have denser stems. Many of them require props and wind protection. This category includes:

peonies;
dahlias;
the radio is pink;
day-lily;
roses;
yarrow.

There is an optimal feeding for each of these types of plants. In winter, the bushes are preserved thanks to proper preparation... They also need to be pruned. Unlike low-growing plants, this category of flowering plants needs personal space. Due to the rarer landing flowering bushes grow without the help of a gardener.

At the end of the formation of the flowering corner, tall plants are planted, exceeding 80 cm in height. The more luxuriant the bushes of this tier, the better the natural protection of the more low plants from the wind.

Attention! Unlike perennial flower beds, annuals give a greater variety of garden images during the warm season. In spring crocuses, tulips, gladioli are used for them. In the summer they are replaced by marigolds, sympodia, asters, bindweed, begonias.

Man made ponds

Before embarking on the arrangement homemade pond, it is necessary to clarify its purpose. The progress of work will depend on this, and accordingly the selection of equipment, plants, materials will differ.

For a decorative pond, you can use a ready-made silicone bowl. For a pond with fish, this option may become inappropriate due to the special sensitivity of fish to artificial materials.

Attention! Soil in artificial reservoir with vegetation is located not only under the waterproofing film, but also on top of it, which is necessary for planting plants.

Both for a pond with plants and inhabited by fish, it is necessary to choose a place hidden from direct sunlight. Plants will be the main decoration and mechanism for the natural cleaning of the pond.

Artificial pond flora

For the coastal zone, it is necessary to choose plants that protect the water from the sun, strengthen the soil with their roots. In order not to clog the water surface with seeds, it is better to give preference not flowering plants with decorative leaves. The same moisture-loving plants can be offered to customers for decorating an area next to a fountain or waterfall.

For the pond, you must use 5 types of vegetation:

deep sea;
oxygen generators;
floating;
shallow;
coastal.

Each of the types of plants in the pond must fulfill some function. Large-leaved deep-sea plants, which are considered to be purely decorative, protect water from the sun, which somewhat reduces the rate of reproduction of floating plants and microorganisms.

They reduce their population and oxygen generators by absorbing carbon dioxide and minerals. The purpose of this group of plants, which are not distinguished by the catchy expressive beauty of the inflorescences, is to purify water. When breeding fish in a pond, these plants are indispensable because they naturally saturate it with oxygen.

Attention! To contain the spontaneous growth of deep-sea and marsh plants, they can be planted in pots, which cannot be done with floating duckweed and other plants that do not need to be fixed to the ground.

Lighting for decorative ponds, fountains, garden paths

The beauty of landscape design is clearly visible during the day, in the evening you can add romance to it, emphasize the beauty of buildings, enhance the magic of water bodies, designate garden paths.

For this, various lamps, garlands, underwater searchlights, and glowing pebbles are used. The lighting gives the garden an attractive look and is being developed as the final stage of the project. The main task of the lighting designer is to create a fairy tale for the inhabitants, that is, almost all illuminated points, a pond, an alpine slide, a gazebo should be visible from the windows of the house.

Attention! Lighting is one of the priority activities of the landscape design bureau in winter.

Decorating the territory with luminous figures of animals, fairy-tale characters, house facades and hedges with unusual garland compositions, transforming playgrounds and recreation areas allows designers not to be left without earning money in winter, when it is simply not the season for planting trees and carrying out earthworks.

You can be puzzled with the procurement of frames already in the summer, because the influx of orders is planned on the eve of the New Year holidays. A wide assortment will allow customers to get the desired garden decorations in a matter of days or even hours.

A separate page in the photo gallery will allow customers to quickly navigate the range. As an additional service, we can offer our clients the rental of luminous garden decorations. Anyway for storing metal garden figures a warehouse will be required, as well as for maintenance equipment for green spaces, ponds, swimming pools.

Market analysis

Marketing plan

Production plan

Organizational plan

It is advisable to register a bureau working with contractors as an individual enterprise, while choosing a simplified taxation system. In different regions, the interest rate varies from 6% to 15%.

Within 1 month from the date of approval of the business plan, you must:

register with the IFTS;
rent and renovate office space;
to equip the reception area and workrooms of designers;
purchase office equipment and supplies;
install the software necessary for effective operation;
hire employees;
conclude contracts with contractors and suppliers;
to carry out promotional activities;
fill the company's website.

The business owner is responsible for coordinating the actions of employees, developing marketing moves, and personnel policy. He also negotiates with representatives of supplier firms, equipment manufacturers or their official representatives, concludes contracts for the supply of goods and a certain front of work. In the creative work of drafting projects, professionals are provided with carte blanche. If it is necessary to select building materials, a materials expert of a subcontractor is involved.

The bureau must have its own accountant working on a permanent basis. In fact, the bureau staff is:

2-3 designers;
florist-dendrologist;
accountant;
administrator (business owner).

During the off-season, the salary of key employees is maintained.

Position	Salary, rub.	Quantity staff units, Human	Amount per month, rub.
Accountant	17000	1	17000
	32000	3	96000
Florist + driver	28000	1	28000
Secretary	12000	1	12000
Executive Director	25000	1	25000
Total:			178 000

Taking into account the 30 percent monthly contributions to social funds, another 53,400 rubles must be added to this amount. Monthly expense for wages will be 231,400 rubles.

Financial section

Estimated costs in comparison with income from production in the development and implementation of 3 projects in one calendar month for the average improvement of sites, suggest that the project will pay off within three years, taking into account the seasonal decline in demand for the service.

Bureau monthly costs

Name	Amount, rub.
Premises for rent	40 000
Website + advertising	10 000
Public Utilities	7000
Cellular + Internet	2500
Hospitality expenses	10000
Administrative expenses	12000
Fuels and lubricants + TO	10000
Salary + social deductions	231 400
Tax	41 300
Total:	364 200

One-time costs when opening an office

Name	Cost, rub.
Cosmetic repair	20 000
Furniture	95 000
Office equipment	65 000
Garden tools, tools	27 500
GAZelle car (cargo)	570 000
Website (business card)	35 000
ON	36 000
Advertising	22 000
registration	3 300
Legal services	20 000
Other	14 000
Total:	1 155 300

To the resulting amount, it remains only to add the working capital in the amount of 70,000 rubles. Taking into account the average check for services of 1,300,000 rubles, it turns out that the bureau will be profitable, since the net income per client ranges from 250,000 to 350,000 rubles.

Analysis and insurance of risks

Statistics show that in the business of developing and implementing landscape design projects, the risks are minimal, but still they are. From some failures, such as the loss of important information, which entails the payment of a penalty, an unplanned loss of income for reasons beyond the control of the organization, the loss of working equipment in an emergency, an insured event occurs if this risk is insured.

It is possible to hope for the payment of insurance, but it is better to predict and prevent such cases.

Risk	Ways to get out of this situation
Decrease in income from activities below planned	Revision of the bureau's pricing policy, attraction of additional marketing opportunities.
Impoverishment of the population	Revision of the range of services, cost reduction in the course of work, new contracts, provision of discounts and installments to customers.
Increased competition	Work for the company's image, information materials in the press, colorful photos in the social. networks, interviews in the media.
Seasonal profit decline	A director's fund created at the peak of seasonal demand for the service.
Penalty as a result of untimely performance of tasks by a subcontractor	Working with a permanent companion. At the conclusion of each contract, prescribe a clause on penalties for disrupting the delivery date of the object.
Rising cost of materials	Revision of suppliers, direct contracts with manufacturers, transition from brands to analogues of the same quality.
Loss of PC documentation	Mandatory creation of copies on electronic media, protection of PCs from spyware, viruses, the use of licensed software, a network splitter, an uninterruptible power supply.
Drop in the company's rating	"Black PR" can be contrasted with "word of mouth". Viral advertising, placement of videos on the Internet about work on customer sites with the results "before" and "after". Blogging, participation in thematic forums.

In order for the work on the company's image not to be periodic, and to constantly strengthen the bureau's website and increase its position in the TOP of the search engine results, it must be constantly filled with materials that are of interest to the target audience.

Conclusion

In order to open a landscape design bureau, it is not enough to be a talented artist, you need to have an organizational vein. At positive attitude, the ability to make the client believe in the success of the business, you can start a business without a technical base. The main thing is that the contractor company has everything necessary tools for work on the site and well-established communications for the delivery of bulk materials.

Knowing how to design the design of the site, it remains only to choose the right seedlings, in consultation with specialists or independently studying the features of the plants. True, the list of services provided will have to be significantly reduced. Ultimately, the bureau will expand the scope of the stages, because carrying out a set of works by one company is more profitable for the customer than uncoordinated actions of several disparate teams. The reality is that a business that has working capital, a technical base, and a presentable office will begin to generate substantial profits faster.

How to start a landscape design business - expert advice