These days, compositions of 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. At the same time, conifers are universal. Of these, hedges, flower beds or rock gardens are equally well obtained. But these are far from all the options for decorating the landscape of a personal plot, which can be arranged using spruce, fir or pine. Other, more popular solutions will be discussed in detail in this article.
Plant varieties
Many people are convinced that conifers are represented only by spruce, fir and pine, but this is far from the case. This classhas many subspecies, which 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 that make the best coniferous compositions.
Yew trees
The height of these trees can reach from 5 to 20 meters. The bark is brown with a slight reddish tint. The crown is very dense 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 practically no smell, characteristic, for example, of spruce or pine. Yew trees perfectly tolerate rejuvenation and retain their shape for a long period of time, so there will be no special problems with caring for them. With their help, you can create incredibly beautiful coniferous compositions on the site like a rock garden and topiary figures.
Cypress
This class is represented by many species, however, evergreen varieties are best suited for decorating the landscape. They not only look great on their own, but also blend well with other plant species. Cypress gained its popularity thanks to the crown. It is easy to cut and remains in its original form for a very long time. Rejuvenation also regulates the growth rate of trees, so you can stick to the desired height. Trees do not emit any odor, and also do notattract mosquitoes, flies and other flying insects to the backyard, so the rest in a country house will become even more comfortable.
Pine
Compositions of coniferous plants 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 harsh climate conditions well and grow excellently on any type of soil. In landscape design, low-growing varieties are especially popular, and especially mountain pine.
Among its main advantages are the following:
- compact size;
- attractive appearance;
- high resistance to severe frosts;
- easy care;
- pleasant aroma that has a healing effect on the body.
In addition to all of the above, mountain pine has a very dense canopy, making it compatible with many plants that do not like a lot of sunlight.
Tall
Coniferous deciduous compositions of tall perennials look best on land with a large area. As a rule, they are placed in the center of a garden or park area so that they focus on themselves, and crops with a small height are planted around.
Krone tolerates pruning well, however, its given shape is relatively short-lived, so rejuvenation should be done every year. Otherwisethe trees will look untidy and lose all their attractiveness.
Among the most common types are the following:
- cedar;
- thuya;
- juniper;
- pine;
- spruce;
- fir.
Plants are great for both forming hedges and creating separate compositions. For example, an alpine slide will be an excellent decoration for a garden. However, other coniferous compositions will look equally good.
Medium height
As practice shows, the majority of average Russians have a country house located on a small plot of land, so they do not have the opportunity to improve the garden when giving. If we consider medium-sized trees, then the task becomes quite feasible. These plants are:
- yew;
- Panderose;
- nawaki;
- Nana pine.
These crops make excellent hedges. At the same time, the planting of a coniferous composition can be carried out both separately and in combination with other elements of landscape decoration.
Dwarf
If the plot is very tiny, and every piece of land on it 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 you can place a beautiful composition.
Among these most popular ornamental trees,the following can be distinguished:
- spruce variety "Konika";
- mountain pine;
- "Velda";
- Balkan pine;
- "Pinus Flexilis";
- Negishi pine.
It is worth noting that all these varieties are valued not only because of their compactness. They have excellent decorative effect, so they will be a good decoration for any landscape.
The importance of conifers in decorating land
Coniferous compositions in landscape design have become very popular because they have many advantages.
The main ones are:
- good adaptability in regions with any climate;
- no need for regular trims;
- pleasant fragrance;
- versatility.
In order for the composition to look complete and fit harmoniously into the landscape, it is necessary to take a very responsible approach to the choice of specific tree species.
When buying, consider the following factors:
- where the plant will be planted;
- what type of soil is in your garden;
- climatic conditions in the region where you live;
- how the planting will take place.
This is all very important as all types of ornamental plants have different characteristics and preferences. If you plant a thermophilic species in a region with short summers and cold winters, it will simply die.
Features of home garden decoration
To date, in landscape design there are no recommendations for the design of coniferous compositions. Finished 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 coniferous trees, 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 particular project, it is recommended to maintain some restraint with a touch of elegance. You have complete freedom for creativity, so you can try to realize the most daring ideas. And if you have certain problems with fantasy, then later in this article the most popular and interesting options for compositions from coniferous plants will be considered.
Rockary
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, 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 on your backyard.plot.
Coniferous compositions made in the rockery style can be of three types:
- English;
- European;
- Japanese.
In the first two, the emphasis is on plants, while in the last, stones are the central element, and representatives of the flora are given a secondary role. At the same time, coniferous trees 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 are good options.
Alpine slide
The design of coniferous compositions in this style looks very natural and at ease. In appearance, it resembles a mountain landscape overgrown with firs, pines, spruces or other trees. The spectacle is truly amazing, so it is simply impossible to look away from it. And your garden will look amazing both in summer and winter.
To give contrast, trees with different crown shades are selected. The maximum height of trees is one and a half meters for large and about 80 centimeters for small plots. Tall plants are rarely used in climbing.
With regard to specific breeds, the following are most commonly used:
- mountain pine "Winter Gold" or "Pug";
- golden thuja;
- Canadian or common spruce;
- fir;
- juniper.
On the background of coniferous treesPlants such as:will look good
- wormwood;
- liver moss;
- common yarrow;
- heather;
- edelweiss;
- geheira;
- lobelia;
- ampel diascia.
The last two cultures are flowers and are used to give bright colors to the composition. At the same time, you must understand that even if you fully follow all the tips and recommendations, it will be very difficult to create an alpine slide on your own without the help of professional designers. If you are not too lazy to make an effort, then the result will not disappoint you.
Hedge
Increasingly, coniferous trees are used to create plant fences and fences in the garden. Regardless of 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, through which it is impossible to pass. This is achieved by planting trees 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 tree species, 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 uniform.
When arranging such decorative coniferous compositions, the following types are most often chosenplants:
- pine;
- fir;
- spruce;
- cypress;
- thuya;
- juniper.
The last three crops have a low height, so they are best used for planting medium hedges.
Mixborder
These coniferous compositions are considered universal because they look great on any land plot. A wide variety of plants can be used to create them, 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 whole composition. The remaining crops are planted sequentially as the maximum height decreases.
- In the process of improving the land, it is absolutely not necessary to strictly observe geometric shapes. But for natural harmony, on the contrary, you need to follow. It is very important that high-growing trees are planted on large plots of land, and low-growing trees on small plots.
- All plants should be rotated so that they repeat at regular intervals. This will give the overall background a unique rhythm and make it more interesting and picturesque.
Similarly, you can make a composition in the forest style, which is also very popular, especially among urban residents.
This is just a small part of the landscape design options. Actually todaythere 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 according to all your wishes. This option will be no worse than those offered by professional designers.
