Today, compositions from coniferous ornamental shrubs are very popular. If we compare them with representatives of other species of the plant world, then they not only have an attractive appearance, but also adapt well to almost any climatic conditions. In addition, they retain their decorative effect throughout the year, so the summer cottage will always cause rave reviews from your neighbors and friends. In this case, conifers are universal. Of these, hedges, flower beds or rock gardens are equally good. But these are far from all the options for decorating the landscape of a personal plot, which can be arranged with the help of spruce, fir or pine. Other, most popular solutions will be described in detail in this article.
Varieties of plants
Many people are convinced that conifers are represented only by spruce, fir and pine, but this is far from the case. This class has many subspecies that are also great for creating landscape compositions. Despite the fact that each of them has certain distinctive features and some differences in appearance, they have one thing in common - they always remain green and attractive. Let's take a closer look at the trees and shrubs from which the best coniferous compositions are obtained.
Yew
The height of these trees can reach from 5 to 20 meters. The bark is brown in color with a slight reddish tint. The crown is very thick and has a regular round shape. The needles are bright green and very dense. There are no resin channels in it, so the plants have almost no smell characteristic of, for example, spruce or pine. Yew trees perfectly tolerate rejuvenation and for a long period of time retain their desired shape, so there will not be any special problems with caring for them. With their help, you can create incredibly beautiful coniferous compositions on a plot like rock gardens and topiary figures.
Cypress
This class is represented by many species, however, evergreen varieties are best suited for landscape decoration. They not only look great on their own, but also combine well with other types of plants. Cypress got its popularity thanks to the crown. It is easy to trim and is stored for a very long time in its original form. With the help of rejuvenation, the growth rate of trees is also regulated, so you can keep to the required height. The trees do not exude any smell, and also do not attract mosquitoes, flies and other flying insects to the infield, so the rest in a country house will become even more comfortable.
Pine
Compositions of conifers of this family are also very common throughout our country, but their greatest concentration can be found in the northern regions. This is due to the fact that they tolerate severe climate conditions and grow splendidly on any type of soil. In landscape design, low-growing varieties, especially mountain pine, are especially popular.
Among its main advantages are the following:
- compact sizes;
- attractive appearance;
- high resistance to severe frosts;
- simplicity in leaving;
- pleasant aroma that has a healing effect on the body.
In addition to all of the above, mountain pine has a very dense crown, due to which it is combined with many plants that do not like a lot of sunlight.
Tall
Coniferous deciduous compositions from tall perennials look best on land with a large area. As a rule, they are placed in the center of the garden or park area, so that they focus on themselves, and cultures with a small height are planted around.
Crohn tolerates pruning well, however, its predetermined shape is relatively short-lived, so rejuvenation should be done every year. Otherwise, the trees will look untidy and lose all their attractiveness.
Among the most common species, the following can be distinguished:
- cedar;
- thuja;
- juniper;
- Pine;
- spruce;
- fir.
Plants are excellent both for the formation of hedges and for creating separate compositions. For example, an alpine slide will be an excellent decoration for the garden. However, other coniferous compositions will look equally good.
Medium
As practice shows, for most average Russians, a country house is located on a small land plot, so they have no way to ennoble the garden at the cottage. If we consider medium-sized trees, then the task becomes quite feasible. These plants are:
- yew;
- panderosis;
- Navaki
- pine of the Nana variety.
From such crops wonderful hedges are obtained. In this case, the coniferous composition can be planted either separately or in combination with other elements of landscape decoration.
Dwarf
If the site is very tiny, and on it every piece of land is literally worth its weight in gold, then dwarf trees can be used to decorate it. They grow small and do not take up much space, so even on a small plot of land it will turn out to place a beautiful composition.
Among these decorative trees that have received the most popularity, the following can be distinguished:
- spruce varieties "Konika";
- mountain pine;
- Velda;
- Balkan pine;
- "Pinus Flexilis";
- pine of the Negishi type.
It is worth noting that all these varieties are appreciated not only because of their compactness. They have excellent decorativeness, so they will become a good decoration for any landscape.
The importance of conifers in the decoration of land
Coniferous compositions in landscape design have gained great popularity because they have many advantages.
The main ones are the following:
- good adaptability in regions with any climate;
- lack of need for a regular trim;
- pleasant aroma;
- universality.
To make the composition look complete and harmoniously fit into the landscape, you need to be very responsible in choosing specific tree species.
When buying, you need to consider the following factors:
- where will the plant be planted;
- what type of soil on your personal plot;
- climatic conditions in the region of your residence;
- how the planting will be carried out.
All this is very important, since all types of ornamental plants have different characteristics and preferences. If you plant heat-loving species in the region with short summers and cold winters, then it will simply die.
Features of decorating a personal plot
Today in landscape design there are no recommendations for the design of coniferous compositions. Ready-made projects can be very diverse. It all depends on the imagination of each person. Some people like minimalism and maximum proximity to pristine nature, while others want to achieve a certain elegance and stiffness. But you can compromise and do something in between.
As for conifers, compositions that resemble the natural environment are more suitable for them. But at the same time, the plant must be trimmed to have a neat attractive appearance. When developing a specific project, it is recommended to adhere to some restraint with a touch of grace. You have complete freedom for creativity, so you can try to realize the most daring ideas. And if you have certain problems with imagination, then later in this article we will consider the most popular and interesting variations of compositions from conifers.
Rockery
This term, translated into simple language, means "stone garden". Examples of this method of decorating the landscape can be found around the world. Despite the fact that, at first glance, the rockery looks a bit rustic and unpretentious, it allows you to implement various unique projects. If you plan everything correctly, then such a rock garden in combination with living plants will become a real highlight in your personal plot.
Coniferous compositions made in the rockery style can be of three types:
- English;
- European;
- Japanese.
In the first two, the emphasis is placed on plants, while in the latter the stones are the central element, and the representatives of the flora are given a secondary role. At the same time, conifers can be planted together with other shrubs and flowers, which will create an amazing contrast and fill the composition with unique colors. For example, snowdrops, sunshine, buds, and many others will be a good option.
Alpine hill
The design of coniferous compositions in this style looks very natural and relaxed. In appearance, it resembles a mountain landscape overgrown with fir, pine, spruce or other trees. The spectacle is truly astounding, so it is simply impossible to look away from it. At the same time, your garden will look amazing both in summer and in winter.
To give contrast, trees with a different shade of crown are selected. The maximum height of the trees is one and a half meters for large and about 80 centimeters for small plots of land. Tall plants are rarely used in mountain climbing.
As for specific breeds, the following are most often used:
- mountain pine "Winter Gold" or "Pug";
- golden thuja;
- Canadian or ordinary spruce;
- fir;
- juniper.
Against the background of conifers, plants such as:
- sagebrush;
- hepatic moss;
- yarrow;
- heather;
- edelweiss;
- heheira;
- lobelia;
- ampelous diasion.
The last two cultures are flowers, and are used to give the composition a vibrant color. At the same time, you should understand that even if you fully follow all the tips and tricks, it will be very difficult to create an alpine hill on your own without the help of professional designers. If you are not too lazy to make efforts, then the result will not disappoint you.
Hedge
More often conifers are used to create fences and plant fences in the garden. No matter which coniferous composition scheme is chosen, the hedge will turn out to be of incredible beauty. In most cases, preference in landscape design is given to monolithic walls, which are impossible to pass through. This is achieved by the fact that the trees are planted in several rows, usually from 2 to 3, in a checkerboard pattern. But at the same time, you must understand that before the composition becomes completely finished, it will take several years until the plants grow to the desired height, so be prepared to be patient.
When choosing specific species of trees, you can not particularly bother. The main thing is that they have the same color of needles, so that everything looks the same, and the hedge turns out to be homogeneous.
Equipping such decorative coniferous compositions, the following types of plants are most often chosen:
- Pine;
- fir;
- spruce;
- cypress;
- thuja;
- juniper.
The last three crops have a small height, so they are best used for planting medium hedges.
Mixborder
These coniferous compositions are considered universal, since they look excellent on any land plot. To create them, a wide variety of plants can be used, regardless of shapes, sizes, colors and configurations.
However, in order for everything to work out, you must adhere to the following simple rules:
- Tall plants are placed in the background and act as a kind of background for the entire composition. The remaining crops are planted sequentially as the maximum height decreases.
- In the process of ennoblement of the land, it is absolutely not necessary to strictly observe geometric shapes. But natural harmony, on the contrary, needs to be monitored. It is very important that high-growing trees are planted on large tracts of land, and low-growing trees - on small ones.
- All plants should be alternated so that they are repeated at a certain frequency. This will give the general background a unique rhythm and make it more interesting and picturesque.
Similarly, you can perform the composition in the forest style, which is also very popular, especially among urban residents.
This is only a small part of the landscape design options. In fact, today there are a huge number of them, so you will have plenty to choose from. In addition, you can try to develop a project yourself and make it taking into account all your wishes. This option will be no worse than those offered by professional designers.