If you own only a small plot of land, then the task of landscaping it is more acute than for the owner of the cottage on 12 acres, because you need to place many different objects. The art of landscape design in this situation should provide an increase in the used space both visually and physically. There are several ways to achieve this. Read more about how to properly plan a small patio, read further in the material.

Features of landscape design of a small courtyard

Not everyone is the owner of a large plot, the more important it is to use the possibilities of landscape design to the maximum. As soon as you start to study the issue in more detail, you will realize that you can afford not only the house, but also the garden in front of it, as well as the barbecue area and much more. Most of the work you can do it yourself without the involvement of specialized specialists.

Important! The most common self-design error — lack of a single style. Be sure to read the information about the main landscape styles and select one of them. The list of basic elements in them (buildings and plantings) is the same, but the presentation — Other.

Start by assessing the area. Take a pencil and paper and make a diagram of the available area. Mark on it not only the existing buildings, trees and shrubs, but also uneven terrain. If there are communications - water supply, sewerage, lighting, then they also need to be marked so as not to damage during the work. Also sketch the available malls.

Try to execute all the images on the exact scale - this will help to avoid layout errors.

Now go on to plan. Write down what you would like to have on the site. Do it in measurable quantities. For example, the phrase “we need an indoor area for lunch and dinner in the fresh air for 3 people in the summer from June to September” sounds more understandable than “we need a place for gatherings with friends.” You may also need a garage, playground, garden, vegetable garden or any other objects. Add specificity to all descriptions.

Mark on the chart the cardinal points and the intensity of solar illumination of different zones. This is important for planting planning. Most of them like sunny areas, which means that the most shady area can be used to place farm buildings there. Check out the plants that nurseries offer.

Opt for the ones you like. But pay attention to the type of soil, lighting and humidity that the selected crops need. Also note the size of the adult plant. Finish by deciding on the proportions of the elements and at the same time detailing the plan. This will help you to choose those objects that you need and are precisely placed on the site.

If buying large trees for a small garden is impractical, then opt for dwarf varieties or columnar varieties. The latter can be grown not only in soil, but also in containers.

Various elements of architecture

The first courtyards near the houses appeared on the territory of Mesopotamia as a place for livestock at night. Then people began to grow gardens. To relax from the modern metropolis, next to a country house, a place for outdoor recreation, playgrounds for children and much more are equipped. The yard must at the same time ensure confidentiality and security.

Instead of dragging the grill from the house each time, a small dining room with a grill, wood-burning stove, smokehouse or barbecue is equipped in the courtyard. Outdoor activities can reduce stress and strengthen your immune system, so these areas will not be superfluous.

If there are no buildings on the site yet, then when designing them, the following should be considered:

1. On a rectangular section they are placed on the short side. This makes the area visually larger.
2. The center of the private courtyard should remain free. It can accommodate a dining area or a small pond. Placing large objects in the center creates a sense of clutter.
3. All buildings should be located so that their basements are dry.
4. Outbuildings should not occupy more than 10-15% of the territory. If this is a barn, then create shelves and tools for convenient storage of equipment in order to use the area as efficiently as possible. For example, to perform carpentry or drying herbs, you can provide a folding table.
5. The wall of the barn can always be decorated with grapes or curly flowers, including roses.

As for the garden and beds, pay attention to the direction of the wind in winter. So, roses or hydrangeas need shelter from the wind, so their planting should be planned so that they are covered by a building wall or trees.

Important! Do not use too many decorative elements in a small space. — this creates a sense of clutter.

The beds themselves can be combined with a flower garden. Phytoncides calendula, mustard, wormwood, mint scare away pests from vegetable beds. Near roses for this purpose it is good to use onions or garlic.

On the site, you can also place a children's swing, a swing bench or hang a hammock under an awning. This is a great solution for a recreation area.

Tracks

Paths can be made of gravel, brick, tile, mosaic and any other materials. Some of them can be done very quickly and cheaply, while others require a solid investment of capital.

Important! Before buying plants for flower beds, make sure that they have the same soil, lighting, and watering requirements.

The main ways to create tracks:

1. The easiest way is to sprinkle gravel on the ground where you plan to move around the site. But do not forget that such a path is quickly washed out by rains and snow. A slightly more difficult option is to dig a small trench up to 20 cm deep, install pieces of brick in the form of a curb on its sides, and pour gravel into the pit.
2. The next option is brickwork. Such a design can be represented as solid masonry or with a laid out pattern.
3. A wooden pallet mall can be used in the garden and between the beds.
4. The concrete track is painted in various shades and even textured with stone or gravel.
5. A tile or mosaic track is the most expensive way to create an alley, but it’s very beautiful. The mosaic path will impress anyone, as it is practically a work of art.

Resting-place

When designing a recreation area, consider the color palette. Bright colors stimulate the senses, so where you will relax, use neutral or pastel tones to keep your brain serene. Of course, bright accents are needed, but pastel colors should be the main ones.

You can consider buying garden floor cushions. You probably met such on the lawns near the cafe. They are also well suited for home gardens. For complete relaxation, a hammock should be placed in the relaxation area. If you equip it with an awning, then you can perfectly relax in the garden at summer noon or in the evening. Simple and easily portable seats are placed by the pool. They are perfect for morning or evening relaxation.

Those who like to freshen up on a hot day are welcome to create a small pool. If not, then confine yourself to a fountain. The gentle murmur of water has a calming effect and brings peace after a busy week. Get a couple of sun loungers in the garden. A pair of stools and a table is a perfect decoration of the dining area, but you need sun loungers or at least a swing-bench for relaxation. A rattan wicker sofa would also be a good solution. Do not forget to supplement it with a pair of pillows.

Flowerbeds and flower beds

Look at the plot from the window of the house. The most beautiful object outside the window is most likely a lawn. It can be oval, round, square, octagonal and any other. Pick 3-5 varieties of flowers with flowering that could be planted there. The ideal lawn size is 1 m. This allows you to place several tall plants in the background and a sufficient number of small ones in front.

Did you know? Playground equipment for children was made of steel. Safe plastic and wooden swings were launched only in the 1970s.

Pay attention to the little things. For example, gray or white paving slabs or curbs perfectly combine with purple or white flowers. And the black and silver lighting elements along the track will look great with such bright colors as red, orange and yellow. Flowering plants adorn the garden for no more than a couple of weeks, so consider shrubs with ornamental foliage that could decorate the site when there are no flowers.

Pay attention to seasonality. For example, bulbs, tulips and hyacinths, will bloom in the spring, but the flower bed should still be smart. In winter, evergreen shrubs will support this impression.

When planning a garden, do not forget about places where you can sit, enjoying the contemplation of trees and flowers. These are not necessarily benches. The same role can be played by a side at the fountain or a swing in a recreation area. Separation of different functional zones is mandatory. If a hedge takes up a lot of space, then you can install arches or delimit them with berry bushes. Any site is limited by a fence. Solid designs are often installed now. But if you do not like such a fence, you can decorate it with flowering liana-like plants or grapes.

Private courtyard lighting

Relaxing in the backyard of a country house in the evening with friends is a great way to spend time. If you install lighting, then even the sunset will not interrupt your wonderful vacation. Start creating lighting with a selection of fixtures.

Where to begin:

1. Provide general lighting and accent. General create using pendant lights. Accent - these are spotlights on the beds or LED candles in the dining area.
2. Before you go shopping, find out how many fixtures you need. Take the area in square meters and multiply it by 1.5. For example, per 100 square meters. m need a power of 150 watts. Distribute them evenly or only in the rest area.
3. Examine your space and how lighting falls from the house, from streetlights, in order to understand where you would like to install lighting fixtures. Verify correctness by drawing a diagram.
4. If you are not a professional electrician, then to install and connect fixtures, contact the company that provides such services. Remember that outdoor lighting and wiring must be weatherproof and away from children.
5. Using LEDs can help you save on electricity, as they consume it much less than other lamps.

Artificial ponds on the site, pools, fountains

Building a small pond is not too difficult. It can be placed next to the house instead of a flower garden or inside the garden. This will allow you to enjoy your vacation in silence and away from the bustle of the street. Begin by sketching a future body of water. Think about its shape and depth right away. So, if it is a decorative small pond, then its depth can be 30 cm, but if there are fish living in the reservoir, then the required depth is at least 2 meters. You can also create a decorative pond by decorating it with a fountain, but then you need to connect its pump to the power supply system at home.

Did you know? Landscape designers are advised to give preference to deep reservoirs. They better retain temperature, which is good for aquatic plants and fish.

Building an artificial pool:

1. After you have decided on the shape and size, lay it on the ground using pegs and a building cord.
2. Now remove the top 20-30 cm of soil - this is useful soil that can be used on beds.
3. Take out the rest of the soil removed during digging outside the site. In most territories below 30 cm there is clay, and if it cannot be used to create decorative hills, slides or rock gardens, then it will not be useful for anything else.
4. The walls should be a little steep - the angle of inclination is 45 °.
5. The bottom soil is tamped with a tamper or plate if you create a large pond or swimming pool.
6. A layer of rubble is laid on top. They also compacted it tightly. To achieve maximum compaction, water it well.
7. A layer of sand is laid on top of the rubble and also tamped.
8. The walls can be strengthened with a metal mesh and coated with clay and sand.
9. The surface is covered with waterproofing material, and then laid with stones and pebbles.

If you have enough resources, you can also create a concrete pond and veneer it with ceramic tiles. The space around it is covered with the same or contrasting tiles. For ponds that should be similar to natural, the space around can be decorated with pebbles and small stones.

Of course, placing everything you need in a small area is difficult. But it’s quite possible if you use the space correctly: divide the garden and rest area into tiers, plant dwarf trees, install small swings, and use portable garden furniture. Then your yard will be functional and not cluttered with various elements.