The Japanese, suffering from crowding, perceive any natural corner as something bestowed upon them from above. They have learned to see the whole world in small things and realize this vision in the arrangement of their gardens. Why not take advantage of the great experience of the Japanese and try to make the country landscape design perfect?
So, you are the owner of a new country house, lonely rising on the empty, stunted islands of sluggish greenery and snags, the surrounding area? You will naturally be concerned about the development of this dull virgin land. Let's see how experts propose to approach the solution of the problem.
Landscaping, what is it?
Before you get started, you need to understand what exactly you have to do. The idea of landscape design is a skillful transformation of a nondescript piece of land into a piece of paradise filled with harmony and some special tranquility. To master the basics of the finest art within the power of everyone. All you need is the desire and the possession of supporting information. The first, apparently, you already have, so it's time to replenish the theoretical base.

Learn the basics of landscape design for everyone
Landscape design of a summer cottage: where to start?
Probably, after all, from the definition of who exactly will be involved in the transformation of the summer cottage: you personally or a professional. Attracting the latter will cost a lot of money, so the majority is inclined to independently resolve the issue of ennobling the territory. And this is highly commendable!
Make a plan
Like any space design work, do-it-yourself landscaping of a summer cottage should begin with a plan. Those who are friends with a computer can engage in the process by turning on their imagination and picking up a mouse. Special programs will help to recreate a realistic picture in 3D graphics. You will clearly see how the site will look if you equip a decorative pond in this place, put a bathhouse there, set up a flower garden here, and push a gazebo into that far corner.

Modeling landscape design using a computer program
If working with a computer is not your thing, start sketching out a landscape design plan for your summer cottage. For ease of calculation, use graph paper and a scaling of 1:100.
Zone your space
What does it mean? You need to consider locations:
1. Household buildings.
2. Garden.
3. Flower gardens.
4. Vegetable gardens.
5. Reservoirs, etc.
Your task is to outline the routes of the main paths and secondary paths. The landscape of a summer cottage should not be “cut” with straight lines. Let the garden alleys please with unusual configurations. This will make the area more attractive.

Mark the location of all buildings and paths
Being engaged in the transformation of the country landscape with your own hands, pay attention to its features and the specifics of relief. Analyze where drainage or water supply may be required, where lighting will need to be installed.
Algorithm of actions in the preparation of terms of reference
“Make a calculation according to the list and see if you manage to meet the estimated project for country landscape design”
1. Calculate the estimated work and determine the budget.
2. Make a list of all landscape objects, breaking them down into: priority and desirable.
What will the last item look like? Like that:
- Ornamental and fruit shrubs (planting is required).
- High flower beds at the gate (mandatory).
- A hedge near the bath (desirable).
– Flagstone alley connecting the house with the gazebo (mandatory).
– Open lawn (mandatory).
– Playground (necessary).
- Fountain (optional).

Estimated example
Carry out a calculation according to the list and see if you manage to meet the estimated project for country landscape design. If everything is in order, then you can start landscaping the site. No - try to resolve the issue, for example by changing the materials or revising the landscaping list. You may have to reduce the area of \u200b\u200bthe decorative zone or abandon some object altogether.
Don't rely on luck. Look around. There are many unfinished landscape projects in the village. With the end of funding, work also froze. Years have passed, and there is still nothing to admire. The key to success is rational planning of landscape design.

Rational planning of landscape design is the key to success
Landscape design of a summer cottage in various stylistic solutions
The beauty and aesthetics of the design of a summer cottage depends on how recognizable the stylistic solutions of its decor will be. How should a site designed in a certain style look like?
traditional landscape design ideas
The leitmotif of the traditional design is symmetry and rationality. The effect of absolute order can be achieved by planting vegetation with compact crowns, easily amenable to topiary shearing, rectilinear tracing of paths and breaking down geometrically regular flower beds and parterres.

Country landscape design in a classic style
The idea of landscape design in the forest style
This solution is relevant for summer cottages surrounded by forests. Intrusion into the environment of such territory should be minimized. Perhaps it will be quite enough to place some accents by introducing islands of wild flowers into the landscape, equipping a stream or a reservoir of another type. This will help emphasize the connection between the forest landscape and the country house. The main part of the space should be given under the lawn with real forest grass. For its decoration, wooden benches and stone paths should be used.

Country landscape in the forest style
The idea of landscape design in the English style
The English landscape in the landscape of a summer cottage is winding alleys, hilly lawns with lush, neatly trimmed landscaping, natural ponds, bushes and trees with figured crowns, flower beds with daisies, asters, dahlias and freesias.

Trees with figured crowns in the English landscape style
Benches are hidden in secluded corners, surrounded by deciduous plants.
The recreation area is decorated with an elegant concrete flowerpot planted with petunias.
The idea of landscape design in the Moorish style
The hallmark of the Moorish garden is the fountain and the endless variety of green hues. This is the realm of lush flower beds. Zones free from plants and greenery, as well as the bottom of the fountain pool, are paved with colored tiles or decorative stone, preferably with oriental motifs in patterns.

Fountain - the main decorative element of the landscape in the Moorish style
japanese style landscape design idea
To recreate the Japanese vision of nature, you will need to use a dozen elements, without which the Japanese garden loses its meaning:
1. Stone.
2. Moving water.
3. Deciduous varieties of trees with original and aesthetic flowering.
4. Moss.
5. Sand.
6. Pebbles.
7. Flowers.
8. Sheared conifers.
9. Traditional national decor elements.
10. Walkways.

Country landscape design in Japanese style
All this must be skillfully arranged and endowed with meaning. The landscape of a summer cottage in the Japanese interpretation should encourage reflection and relaxation.
chinese style landscape design idea
If you are looking for calm and beautiful scenery, take a closer look at Chinese motifs. Such country landscape design pleases the eye with splendor and exudes an atmosphere of serenity.
The rules for designing a Chinese garden and its difference from the Japanese landscape
Traditional landscape Chinese architecture is famous for the constant change of scenery. Looking at the same space from different points, you will perceive it differently.

The Chinese landscape exudes an air of serenity
The smoothness of the lawns and the symmetry of the arrangement of flower beds are not typical for the Chinese garden, but the traditional pagodas, tall bamboo and carved dragons are quite in the spirit of the style. The latter can be done with calligraphic painting, carving or sculptural solution.
The idea of landscape design in Provence
Provence - the style is light and quite expressive. In the landscape design of a summer cottage, it is recognizable by the abundance of small accessories. The thematic environment is formed by the interweaving of garden paths made of bark or artificial wood chips, streams, flower beds and garden sculptures. The main representatives of the Provencal flora are aromatic herbs:
1. Rosemary.
2. Thyme.
3. Lavender.

Fragrant herbs play an important role in the Provence style landscape.
The landscape design is dominated by shades of purple and pink. No less characteristic feature of the style is garden furniture, which certainly bears the stamp of time.

Aged garden furniture harmoniously fits into the Provencal style
Colonial landscape design ideas
The formality of the atmosphere of a colonial garden can be softened by the addition of pastel colors.
A characteristic feature of the style is a house with a large veranda. The absence of the latter is compensated by a gazebo, pergola and a cozy patio, next to which a swing sofa is placed. Representatives of climbers must be planted on the site:
1. Wild grapes.
2. Ivy.
3. Weaving roses.

Colonial Garden
The idea of landscape design in modern
The minimalist garden landscape is characterized by the presence of a large number of labyrinths and asymmetric patterns. Art Nouveau highlights the intelligence of the layout and the use of materials such as concrete, stone, metal in the design. Landscaping of the site is carried out with plants of various color palettes. In favor of the game of contrasts. The refraction of colors is achieved by arranging in flowerbeds:
1. Bright delphinums.
2. Lily.
3. Rhododendrons.
4. Irises.
5. Peonies.

Modern landscape design in modern style
Be sure to use the night illumination of the site in the country landscape design by installing LED lights.
African landscape design ideas
Sultry Africa in the garden is a limitless scope for stylistic maneuvers with natural materials. The most desirable in such landscape design will, of course, be a tree. Even paths are made from it, along which it is so pleasant to walk barefoot. The general color solution for the design of the garden is warm, sunny. There are always a lot of bright colors here.

Bright country landscape design in African style
aged gardens
Another trendy idea for landscaping summer cottages.At first glance, these are abandoned territories with chaotically growing wild vegetation, but it is not so easy to give such an appearance to the site.
If you decide to reproduce the vintage country landscape with your own hands, take care of arranging an arch-pergola decorated with ivy or a wild weaving rose from old boards. Age stone fences of flower beds and paths, walls of buildings, tubs of water, treating them with a mixture of moss and buttermilk. Forget about pruning trees and getting rid of weeds in flower beds.

Landscape in vintage style
Add furniture, preferably homemade, rough-hewn textured wood, to your garden setting and break up the Moorish lawn by planting it with perennials.
back to index ↑Do-it-yourself country landscape
Flowers and plants
"The organization of lawns and flower beds of continuous flowering is the starting point for country landscape design"
Landscaping the site must be according to special rules. In this case, techniques are used that require the compatibility of plants, and in everything: both in form, and in species compliance, and in shades of buds, and in flowering periods. The organization of lawns and flower beds of continuous flowering is the starting point for country landscape design.
Variants of flower beds for landscape design of a summer cottage:
1. Rockeries.

Rockery - a composition of stones and plants
2. Alpine slides.
3. Flowerbeds of vertical and horizontal layout.
4. Rabatki.

Rabatka at their summer cottage
5. Mixborders.
6. Vases.
7. Curbs.
8. Front gardens.

Small country front garden
9. Rosaries.
10. Arabesques.
11. Water flower beds.

Picturesque water flower garden
12. Edges.
In space modeling, special attention should be paid to lawns. They act as soft terraces for family holidays. Their territory can be turned into a playground.
For those who do not want to part with vegetable beds, and in the chosen style of landscape design there is not much room for them, it is worth equipping bosquet beds. Undersized shrubs serve as a fence in them, and the inner part is divided into varietal sectors.

An example of the design of beds-bosquet
It will be no less difficult to properly plant trees when landscape designing a summer cottage. Here it will be necessary to calculate the step distance between the seedlings, taking into account the large size of the trees in the future. Solving the problem of tightness in the garden with pruning will be less rational than planting empty space with berry bushes.
Rock gardens in the landscape of a summer cottage and their alternative
Alpine slide is a spectacular element of country design, but quite expensive. For those who cannot imagine their site without stone inclusions, it makes sense to think about alternative solutions that are more economical and no less aesthetic.
What can be a real stone hit?
rockery
In fact, this is the same rock garden, only in a planar image. By the way, this should be considered its main advantage, because you will be deprived of the cost of arranging the foundation and relief work. In this case, everything will cost drainage and sand-gravel substrate.
The size of the rockery is not so important. Even in a very miniature form, it will look very dignified. The secret of this effect lies in the object's love for frames. Its borders in the landscape of a summer cottage can be distinguished by gravel filling, mosaic laying or paving stones.

Rockery is not difficult to do with your own hands
When working on rockeries, do not be afraid to let your imagination run wild. Introduce unexpected and completely uncharacteristic decor themes for rock gardens, such as backfilling with multi-colored gravel or broken colored ceramics.
Alpine garden
When creating a country landscape with your own hands, please note that for an object of this type, the main emphasis will be on plants, and not on the beauty of stones, which are relegated far to secondary roles here.An excellent design technique would be the creation of a monosad, that is, a composition dedicated to a specific type of plant. Despite the fact that the object looks very interesting, its arrangement is not at all difficult to implement. Your rock garden will certainly become an accent, eye-catching inclusion in the overall landscape design.

Alpine garden
A win-win option would be compositions using heather, juveniles, undersized conifers and subulate phloxes.
rock garden
This type of rock garden is universal. It is created on a different terrain and will not be a stranger in the decor of a garden of any subject. The leading roles in the composition belong to the stones, regardless of their faction. Not only large-sized stone monoliths, but even placers of the smallest pebbles should be striking.
There will be no place for vegetation such as shrubs and trees in such a garden, but herbaceous perennials will come very close to the yard. However, don't go for variety. 5-6 types will be enough.

Laconic rock garden
When selecting plants in the landscape design of a summer cottage, take care of their perfect combination with stones. Landscaping should not distract attention to itself.
alpine step
This element of landscape design looks like a miniature retaining wall lined with natural stone. Plants characteristic of rock gardens do not occupy a vertical surface here, but are planted on the step itself.
When arranging an alpine step, a drainage hollow should be provided, on top of which soil will be filled up and stones will be laid out. Only after such preparation can you start planting plants.

Alpine step for the landscape of the site can be an individual object
The original alpine step for the landscape of a summer cottage can be either an individual object or a decorative component of one of the components, for example, a garden staircase.
Container rock gardens
A mobile version of the rock garden, ready for a regular change of habitat. You can move the object around the area according to your desires. To create, you will need ceramic containers or original stumps, fireclay troughs, dugout logs. You can even use coconut shells. In general, in the landscape design of a summer cottage there is a place for anything, except for plastic and other synthetics. To decorate a mini rock garden, you need to stock up on small pebbles and dwarf plants.

Container rock garden - mobile version of the rock garden
A container rock garden, despite its modest dimensions, must be formed in compliance with all canons and have a harmonious appearance. "Pocket" masterpieces are eternal. In the summer, they will become an adornment of the recreation area, garden stairs, arched structures, and in the winter they will move to the house, where they will continue to delight you with their aesthetics.

Container rock garden can be easily moved
Stone improvisations in landscape design
These are objects in an arbitrary interpretation, sometimes having nothing to do with alpine slides. Stone placers will only satisfy your aesthetic needs, and will be created by you according to the principle of writing on a free theme. Here everything is in your power. You yourself will select suitable stones for country landscape design and lay them out in the order you have determined.

Improvised scattering of stones in landscape design
The landscaping will be carried out according to the same principle. The only requirement for such a site design solution is harmony and compatibility with the surrounding space.
Reservoirs in country landscape design
The suburban area may be small and it is not always possible to accommodate something global on its area. However, water facilities are so desirable that the owners are ready to carve out a place for them in any case. Running water enriches the monumentality of boulders.If you want to see a fountain in the landscape of your summer cottage, save space and arrange it in a pond. A reservoir can also be made a compositional center by organizing a relaxation zone on its shore.

Fountain in the pond will save space
The brightest element of landscape design is a dry stream. It is equipped when there is absolutely no way to use living water. A dry stream on the site is a real benefit. First, it is incredibly decorative. Secondly, with its help it is easy to hide the defects in the relief and present modest acres in the favorable light of space. Imitation of a reservoir will never serve as a refuge for mosquitoes. This decision does not pose a threat to small children.

Dry stream is incredibly decorative
A dry stream should be attributed to the universal solutions for landscape design of a summer cottage. It can be designed not only in a standard form, but also in the form of a lake. To decorate the channel, light gravel is usually used, and the coastline is limited by masonry. The bottom of the stream will look impressive, which is planted with flowers, such as Poskharsky bluebells, blooming with unique dark blue flowers. They imitate the water surface in a unique way.

Dry stream in the form of a lake
You can decorate a dry stream in the landscape of a summer cottage with blue pebbles, blue glass granules, or simply cover it with a suitable spectrum of film.
It will take no more than a couple of days to build a dry stream in a country landscape with your own hands. Another day will be spent on decorating the banks of an impromptu reservoir and planting them with plants.
garden paths
They are an indispensable element in landscape design. On them you will freely move around the site, regardless of the weather vicissitudes, and without drowning ankle-deep in soil soaked from rain. Paths made of wooden beams or stone-paved alleys fit perfectly into the country environment. The choice of finishing material should correspond to the overall landscape design of the suburban area, the level of expected loads, terrain relief, and the height of groundwater.

Garden paths - an indispensable element of landscape design
Decorative elements for summer cottage design
“It is enough to simply complete a country landscape design using themed garden figurines”
Remember how we believed in childhood that elves live in the flowerbeds, and gnomes hide in the roots of old trees? Yes, now we have matured, but maybe we should let the fairy tale come back into our lives, especially since it is not so difficult to do this? It is enough to simply complete a country landscape design using themed garden figurines.
In order for such a composition not to become a landscape caricature, it is necessary to choose the right accessories, find an adequate place for their location, and provide an environment appropriate to the idea. So, if you want to make a fairy garden, then its "population" should be specific characters with a specific history. You can create a single composition in the landscape of a summer cottage or arrange a whole “series” in the garden by arranging several unusual corners in a non-competing theme.

Landscape design using themed garden figurines
Advice. It doesn’t matter what scenario you use to “revive” your site - the material of all heroes appearing in the landscape must be identical, and what exactly it will be: metal, stone, carved wood or ceramics - decide for yourself.
Focus on diversity, because in landscape design you can use not only famous characters, but also objects. This refers to miniature bridges, benches, original towers and huts. They will make an excellent company for the main characters of the decor.

Architectural elements for site decor
If you do not feel great talents in yourself and are afraid of not being able to cope with the task of landscaping a summer cottage, look for common household items on the farm, but completely non-standard ones for use in the garden. Perhaps, using them, you will give things another life, and your household - a great mood. In arranging a summer cottage landscape with your own hands, rubber and plastic toys can provide invaluable assistance.
A bright hoop can be used as a support for plants. From an old watering can, boot or iron, you get an intricate flower pot. Broken tiles can be used to create a mosaic border or paving paths. Small figurines of animals will become a decor for miniature flower beds, and an old children's truck can itself be turned into a mobile flower garden.

Using old watering cans in landscape design
Under a flower bed in landscape design, you can decorate a large basket, an old boat, a cart or a trailer. CDs will become elements of a garden screen. To decorate spice beds, you can use a ceramic vase or painted bottles. Use wooden boxes. They will make a wonderful bookcase.
The original composition can be created from a bicycle or a baby carriage. You can add entourage to objects with the help of cobblestones, green spaces and naturally populating the invented world with characters corresponding to the idea.
artificial lighting
In the landscape design of a summer cottage, lighting also plays a role. The luminaires appear in different forms, corresponding to the stylistic solution of the space organization. If this is an imitation of the Middle Ages, then torches can be used. For more modern solutions, LED lighting is increasingly being chosen.

Decorative lighting in country landscape design
Light sources can be paving stones of garden paths, lanterns installed around the perimeter of the cottage, fiber-optic light emitters that outline the contours of buildings. Their presence makes it possible to simultaneously solve a number of tasks of a functional, emotional, decorative and aesthetic plan.
back to index ↑Conclusion
If you are not averse to experimenting and working, then you will be able to equip the dacha landscape with your own hands, and it will be really interesting for you to do this. A little imagination, more desire - and your dream cottage is ready!
Photo gallery - country landscape design
Video