How to make an alpine slide in the country. How to make an alpine slide with your own hands: examples with photos

The arrangement of a rock garden is an unusually exciting activity, requiring creativity. In the process, a great abundance of opportunities opens up before you, the main thing is to show imagination and imagination.

What is an alpine hill? In fact, this is an imitation of a mountain landscape with perfectly matched beautiful flowers and plants. Such a composition in the garden should harmoniously fit into the overall landscape, complementing it favorably.

Creating a rock garden is a phased process that requires attention to the nuances. First of all, you need to consider the dimensions of the slide itself, optimal location transitions, paths, steps and the structure as a whole.

Choosing the location of the alpine slide

It is very important that the location of the rock garden is well lit. Alpine plants are photophilous: it is the amount of sunlight that affects their growth and development. If we talk about the soil, stony soils with a limited amount of water will be optimal. Excessive moisture is extremely detrimental to mountain flora, so it is important to prevent stagnant water in the drainage.

On personal plots, quite a lot of shapeless varieties of stones are often formed, which the owners sometimes use for the future rock garden. In this case, there is a risk instead of beautiful design get a meaningless and ridiculous mountain of stones. Here, experienced landscape designers still recommend carefully selecting pebbles in appearance, size and shape in order to obtain an exquisite mountain landscape.

How to choose the right stones for rock garden

For the future rock garden, try to select stones of no more than two rocks of the same size and structure as much as possible.

Also consider characteristics plants and flowers that you plan for the slide. As a rule, they take root well on calcareous rocks with a porous structure that facilitates the penetration of the root inside. But such soil periodically needs to be acidified, as it has an alkaline reaction. And it is desirable to embellish the gaps between plants and stones with marble chips or gravel. So, the rock garden will get a beautiful finished look.

Tip: buy stones in specialty stores. Only in this way you will be sure of the quality of the material, because the stones must be environmentally friendly and have a heterogeneous structure.

The most suitable rocks are granite, travertine, limestone, slate and sandstone. Use the same type of stones weighing about 100 kg and with signs of erosion. The optimal height of the rock garden is up to 1.5 meters.

Varieties of Alpine slides

The most common and simplest type is a rocky cliff. Naturally, it is possible in the presence of a steep slope. Work in this case begins with the base, where large blocks of stone are laid, and then various plants are planted.

The next view is a mountain composition that transforms the design into a unique place of extraordinary beauty. To create such a charm, stone blocks are hidden in the ground by two thirds and arrange chaotic paths that form a stunning mountain landscape.

Color spectrum

The maximum effect in creating a rock garden can be achieved by a skillful play of color transitions.

Combinations of three shades are considered luxurious. For example, yellow harmonizes perfectly with pinkish, or lilac flowers. Thus, yellow, as it were, is balanced by two similar shades.

You can visually zoom in on an object by combining yellow and orange, and move it away with the help of of blue color. Take a closer look at any landscape design. Surely you will notice that blue and blue flowers planted in the distance are almost invisible, and plants with warm shades, on the contrary, visually bring objects closer.

Since ancient times, designers have used the game of contrasts to emphasize the splendor and uniqueness of another thanks to one element. One large plant looks much brighter and more expressive if undersized species envelop it from all sides. But compositions with solid and dissected leaves look the most advantageous against each other.

dominant element

The rock garden will look much more elegant if it is dominated by a bright dominant element. As such, the most spectacular flowers or plants, an original stone or a stream can act. This accent must be visible from all sides, because it is it that gives the final completeness to the design, and the landscape is perceived as one whole.

How to choose plants for mountain composition

When choosing plantings, it is necessary to take into account their susceptibility to light in the place where the rock garden is planned. Remember, not all plants are suitable for slides and are combined with stones or other types of plantings.

So, for example, the location of the rock garden in the northern part suggests shade-tolerant types. They will also need enough moisture. These include primrose, bergenia, fern and host. Light-loving plants, for which soil drainage is less important, are much easier to choose. These are tulip, young, thyme, iris, etc.

There are also many universal varieties that are perfect for both the sun and the shade - this is violet, bluebell, crocus, muscari, phlox.

AT winter period looks good Canadian spruce, mountain pine, juniper. Variegated and evergreen plantings make the greatest impression.

Alpine hill in the country

In general, there are no absolutely two identical rock gardens, since each site owner tries to bring something new, individual to the design. By the way, many people think that The best decision for mountain composition - an option without any construction work (cement, brickwork etc.). This approach makes it possible to redesign the entire structure in the future and greatly facilitates the workflow.

Are you decorating your yard? Tell us, which version of the design of the alpine slide did you like the most?

Alpine hill. What a romantic title! It literally breathes freshness and even smells of emerald green grass, which covers the mountain slopes. The atmosphere of pristine nature can be successfully recreated in a summer cottage. And the rock garden will help in this - an original composition of stones and plants, which in recent times very actively used by masters of landscape design.

Features of the Alpine slide

We can say that the projects of alpine slides are absolutely unique design solutions. Exist general rules their arrangement, but the embodiment of the idea is a completely creative activity. From the same set of source materials, you can create an infinite number of interesting variations.

A mandatory attribute of a rock garden is a large stone (one or more). This is the symbol of the mountain peak. And its conditional slopes are planted with undersized shrubs and plants that are most suitable for the mountain climate.

Do not be naive to believe that a handful of stones and vegetation breaking through between them can claim the proud title of an alpine slide. For the arrangement of such landscape composition it will take a lot of effort, financial investments and a flight of fancy. To make it look natural and harmonious, space is needed. The larger the scale, the more organically, as if in a natural environment.

From the history of rock garden

motherland stone gardens considered to be Japan. Pra-rock gardens began to be built there a thousand years ago. On the islands of the Land of the Rising Sun, there has always been a shortage of free land - probably that is why they liked to create beauty there. small areas. According to the Japanese canons of beauty, the true value lies in natural phenomena. The combination of the hardness of stone and the tenderness of flowers creates an unusually enchanting duet of true beauty.

AT European countries alpine slides appeared only in the 16th century. Then, on such flower beds, outlandish plants were grown, transplanted from the natural mountain environment. Fashion for them came to Russia in the 18th century. Today, many gardeners are thinking about how to build an alpine slide with their own hands on own site. After all, it is very unusual decoration any suburban area.

Rock garden and rockery: similarities and differences

There is often confusion between these two concepts. Let's see why. Rock garden and rockery are two different types of flower beds. More precisely, two methods (or principles) for arranging a flower bed. In both cases stones and plants are used.

However, rockeries can be called stone garden in the classical sense. The predominant part of such a composition is occupied by stone. And only one breed is used.

The stones are laid out in parallel stripes or in random order. Such a chaotic technique allows you to create the illusion of a natural environment. Rockeries are also supplemented with vegetation, but here it acts as a background, plays a secondary role.

In rock gardens, flowers and grass are always in the foreground. They catch the eye with a variety of colors, surprise with a combination of opposites.

How to choose plants for rock garden

We have already said that it is better to plant unpretentious plants on an alpine hill. In this decorative corner of the garden, flowers that do not need careful care will look most harmonious.

Indeed, in the mountains there is a harsh atmosphere, and each individual stalk has to fight for its place under the sun. Under gusts of wind or blows of heavy rain, only strong plants survive, which are able to fight for their own existence. When planning to break a rock garden, think about what flowers and shrubs you would like to decorate the cottage.

If you want to update the appearance of the flower bed every year, plant annuals. And to get a stable result, give preference perennial herbs bright coloring. Think also about the change in flowering seasons, because some plants please us earlier, others later.

Here are a few concrete examples. These plants for the alpine slide are literally created by nature itself:

The symbol of the Alps, which fits perfectly into the Russian landscape. This perennial is frost-resistant, no cold to him at all. Edelweiss lines the slopes of the alpine hill with rugs, the diameter of which reaches 20 cm. It blooms in June-July.

There are several varieties of this humble plant. Absolutely unpretentious, securely fixed on any soil with its creeping stems. Under the influence of sunlight, the leaves of stonecrop become brighter, as if sunbathing. It can be used to decorate the edging of the rock garden, as it destroys weeds within the radius of its "rug".

The most popular inhabitant of the Alpine slides. Its fleshy leaves will make any flower bed stand out on its own, and its light purple flowers can compete in modest beauty with many of its congeners.

In the spring, these pretty rugs are literally strewn small flowers. The plant prefers dark areas, even covering stones with its green nets.

An ideal perennial for an alpine slide of the buttercup family. People call it sleep-grass. One of the first to bloom in early spring. Drained soil is favorable for backache, in such conditions it actively grows.

Shrubs and flowers are also suitable for rock garden:

• juniper (various types),
• dwarf barberry,
• Japanese spirea,
• aquilegia,
• aster Alpine,
• viola horned,
• crocus,
• Phlox subulate.

By combining different types of plants, you can create an alpine slide whose design will be absolutely unique. Here it is important to create the effect of the atmosphere of the mountains due to the multi-tiered. For example, such an arrangement of shrubs and flowers can claim the title of classic.

An ideal place for arranging a rock garden

Having decided to build a rock garden, try to critically examine your hacienda. Of course, a flower garden can decorate any corner of it. But in this case, it is necessary to choose a spacious area that is well lit by natural rays.

It is also important to think about how the future alpine flower bed will be viewed. After all, such beauty, created with my own hands you will surely want to show your guests.

When choosing a place, consider the nature of the soil. On sandy soil, the arrangement of an alpine slide will be less problematic, since it can be broken right on the ground. But for clay or oily soil, it will be necessary to carry out additional work- prepare drainage.

An indication for the drainage of the site is not only the nature of the soil. Mountain plants do not like when water stagnates and to avoid this, experienced designers recommend for rock garden be sure to make a special basis. It is necessary to remove the top soil cover, but you should not go deeper than 30 cm.

You can make not a solid pit, but several pits. Then fill them with rubble (as an option, construction debris will fit perfectly, broken brick, fine gravel). Then the sand is poured, on top - the earth. Each layer of the base must be watered and allowed to dry.

Soil mix and stone laying

To form a rock garden mound directly, it is necessary to prepare a specific mixture. In equal proportions, clean soil, coarse sand and crushed humus are combined.

By the way, in order for the alpine slide in the garden to be truly as natural as possible, use the soil that the mole brings to the surface as soil. Such black mounds are often found in forest plantations, in abandoned areas. On the rock garden diagram in section, you can see a mound from soil mixture.

It is marked yellow. As a rule, the height of the slide is on average 1 meter. Guided by this picture, you can create a multi-tiered flower bed using several stones.

After the drainage is done and the mound is formed, you need to take a break in construction work. Two or three weeks should pass so that all layers are slowly compacted and shrink. The stones are arranged in tiered order. They should create the illusion of rock coming to the surface.

To achieve this, you need to bury them in the ground by at least a third. So you get an amazing effect of the meeting of strength and tenderness, which is symbolized by the stone and flowers.

The size of the tiers decreases from the bottom up, according to the pyramid principle. At the lowest point of each individual tier, a massive stone should be laid so that the structure is strong and small stones do not roll down the slope. Making alpine slides with their own hands, amateur designers form an odd number of tiers. Schematically, the placement of stones looks like this:

The figure shows that the stones should not be laid symmetrically, because in the natural environment we do not observe such geometric accuracy. The space between them will be occupied by flowers, so try to leave enough space. An alpine picture will look organic if you use stones similar in texture and color.

Construction of rock garden peak

There are two options for decorating the top of an alpine hill. In the center of the composition, you can hoist the largest, most massive stone. Such a simple technique will protect the rock garden from erosion of the soil under the influence of precipitation. Or decorate the peak with a few small stones. They can be tightly invested nearby, and also to build a pyramid.

Decoration with vegetation

The labor-intensive process - the creation of an alpine slide - ends with magic. But how else can you call that amazing action when a mound of earth is “inhabited” by plant life! This procedure can be carried out both in spring and autumn, up to frost. First you need to add the soil mixture and carefully plant shrubs or flowers. Here you should be guided solely by the rules of your own taste, everyone sees in their own way color solution rock garden.

Finally, I would like to note that, like a flower bed, an alpine slide cannot be decorated with artificial accessories. For example, glass or plastic, as well as various garden figurines, will simply not be appropriate here. Remember that a flower garden in this style is designed to create a natural atmosphere of the mountains. Stones and plants are completely self-sufficient decorative elements in this case, and do not need a variety of tinsel at all.

To create a rock garden, it is not necessary to resort to help professional designer. Anyone can make an alpine slide with their own hands. To do this, it is enough to study the plants that will get along in the rocky zone, and correctly carry out the preparatory measures.

Preparatory stage

Owners of personal plots strive to create a beautiful landscape design around their home. Today, the alpine slide is almost required attribute on the central flower bed near the house. The name is associated with the European Alps, stretching across eight countries. At the foot of the mountains, magnificent flowers and shrubs grow, which look amazing against the background of rocky heights. A unique building with a combination of various plants and stones is a miniature copy of European hills.

Creating a composition is a long but enjoyable process. It is necessary to carry out the preparatory work correctly.

Before you start work, you should decide on the location of the flower bed, draw a diagram desired result, pick up plants, find stones required size and decide what other elements should be used when creating a rock garden.

Choosing a place for an alpine slide

Most often, the rock garden is the central part of landscape design. Not bad if it is well viewed from all sides. It is advisable to choose the south side so that the flower bed is under direct sunlight for the maximum amount of time. In this case, the plants will delight with bright colors and lush flowering.

At first glance, it seems that a rock garden does not need a lot of space. This is misconception. During the creation of the slide, it may take much big square than was intended. Moreover, it should organically fit into the surrounding exterior. So, you need to think about what will be next to it. Of course, the main flower bed should not be hidden anymore tall plants and shrubs, otherwise it would lose all meaning.

With the help of an alpine slide, a personal plot can be turned into a picturesque corner

Do not worry too much if there is limited space. In the process of work, it can be reduced and not made too high. The main rule is that the rock garden should look natural, as if nature itself created it in the right place.

The ideal rocky hill with plants is not formed in one day. Sometimes the owners of summer cottages spend several seasons in order to create the rock garden of their dreams. During the arrangement of the flower bed there is no place for haste. Before fixing a stone or planting a plant, you need to put them in the intended place, move away and see how the resulting composition looks from the outside.

To start work, you need good weather. Optimal time a warm spring is considered when the sun has already warmed the earth enough, and heat have not yet dried the surrounding plants.

In summer or autumn, creating a slide is also possible. The main thing is that you feel comfortable working. Stone laying can take several days or weeks. This means that even in the cold season you can practice initial stage creation of landscape design.

When planting plants, their characteristics should be taken into account. Do not plant flowers and shrubs in the ground, provided that frosts may begin the next night. In this case, the seedlings may not withstand low temperatures and die.

Device diagrams

Classic alpine slides are formed according to one of two schemes:

One-sided rock garden looks good against a wall or fence

The rock garden is located near a blank wall and you can only approach it from one side. In this case, an embankment is created, which conditionally rests on the barrier. All decorations are made taking into account the fact that it will be possible to enjoy its view only from the front.

The main aspect of the design of the alpine slide is the modeling of the natural landscape

The hill is located in a central location land plot. This determines the main part on which the main composition will be located. The frontal zone occupies 2/3 of total area finished flower bed. Thus, the front side of the conditionally obtained triangle should have an increased length.

All alpine slides have several tiers, usually three. Each of them is separated by boulders or small stones. Plants in rows may vary. It is important to maintain balance and place flowers and shrubs in accordance with their size in adulthood.

People with the ability to create beautiful shapes and visualize the planned view of the designated area, they can draw up their own rock garden scheme. It could be a few hills or other ideas. The main thing is that the end result delivers aesthetic pleasure and looks natural.

What plants to choose

Alpine hill is an important component of landscape design, so such a flower bed should look attractive at any time of the year. In order to cold period the rock garden looked aesthetically beautiful, it is necessary to use evergreen shrubs, such as small arborvitae.

The attractiveness of a rock garden largely depends on the combination of plants in it.

If the owner wants to see a bright palette on the site, plants should be planted with alternate flowering - in this case, a riot of colors will be provided with early spring until late autumn.

Perennials will not require annual planting and are preferred for creating a miniature European Alps. It should be remembered that each type of planting will increase in size several times in 2-3 years.

You should not occupy absolutely all the voids - leave room for growth. In the first year, annuals can be planted in these zones.

Planting plants in the alpine hill is carried out from the upper tiers

For each tier, certain plants are selected:

• Moisture-loving flowers and shrubs are planted in the lower part, requiring good fertilizer. These include pike soddy, young, saxifrage.
• At the middle levels, there are less picky flowers that can be in the shade: phloxes, backache, primroses. Voids are organically filled with any ground cover.
• At the top of the mountain, sun-loving flowers and shrubs are placed that feel good in dry soil.

Some homeowners prefer rock gardens completely filled with non-flowering evergreen shrubs. Suitable for this: junipers, thuja, mountain pine, Korean fir, spruce.

Video: flowers for an alpine slide

Selection of stones

The choice of stones should also be approached responsibly, as they perform similar aesthetic functions as plants. The larger the alpine slide, the larger the boulders should be. The shape of a stone block can be any: flat, round, shapeless. It all depends on the preferences of the owner.

Stones for the composition must be of the same breed

An important indicator is porosity. Some types of stones absorb water well, which means they risk crumbling over time.

• Granite is a hard, difficult to process material that is not subject to destruction. When using it, it is necessary to prepare the drainage system in advance to avoid stagnant water.
• Slate - contains clay and quartz in the base, has a flat shape and a smooth surface.
• Sandstone is an excellent material for creating an alpine slide. Most plants get along well next to it. However, it has strong porosity.
• Limestone - beautiful bright stones, while not suitable for plants that need an acidic environment.
• Shell rock - stones are easily formed, recesses for planting plants can be made right inside the rock.

In addition to the above, tuff, travertine, expanded clay, pebbles, crushed stone, gravel fit perfectly into the design of the rock garden.

How to make an alpine slide with your own hands - step by step instructions

After determining the place where the landscape composition will be placed, you can begin to work.

1. First of all, you should ensure good drainage so that one day the flower bed does not turn into a hole. For this, a foundation pit is dug in the area of ​​​​the future rock garden. If the diameter of the finished flower bed is 2 meters, the pit should have a depth of about 70–80 cm.
2. Sand, crushed stone, broken bricks are poured to the bottom, construction debris can be used.
3. A slide of the required height and shape is formed from the drainage material.
4. The formed hill is covered with sand, then with soil.
5. After creating a hill, it should be well tamped; for this, the future flower bed can be poured abundantly with water.
6. Now you can start laying stones. The layout can be any. First, the largest boulders are installed, then the turn comes to small samples. After placing one copy of the rock, you should step back and see how it looks from all angles. Do not rush into this, because it will be problematic to change the location of the heavy material later.
7. Each stone must be fixed - dig a small part of it into the ground.
8. Planting flowers and shrubs is carried out from the largest to the smallest, ending with ground cover plants that fill the remaining voids. Tall specimens of wildlife are located in the back of the composition or near a large boulder so as not to cover smaller specimens with them.

Little composition

Creating a small alpine slide involves all of the above steps.

Alpine slides have replaced the classic flower beds

For small size compositions are better to choose medium-sized stones.

Miniature plants should look organic against the background of similar rocks. The highlight of the rock garden is a large number of colors and shades.

For miniature flower beds, it is better to choose plants with small buds or leaves. Ground covers that do not have a large root system feel good. They will complete the composition perfectly anywhere.

Rock garden with a waterfall

Own waterfall on the site - what could be more beautiful? And most importantly, the ego can be made with your own hands.

Decorative waterfall will make the composition more natural

This will require a water tank, a hose and a pump.

In this case, the stones should be laid in a cascade - it is better to use flat forms.

A hose is hidden under the upper rocks. At the foot is a container in which water will circulate. It can be hidden under a pile of stones or arranged in the form of a pond. A pump is installed under the water, which will ensure uninterrupted movement of the liquid. Its power depends on the height of the rock garden. The miniature mountain river is ready.

After the formation of the waterfall, you can start planting plants. When choosing flowers, it should be borne in mind that the lower tier will always have well-moistened soil.

Hill with a decorative pond

At the foot of the Alpine mountains, you can often find magnificent lakes. Such a composition in miniature can be made in your yard.

A small pond at the foot of the hill looks impressive

The simplest method is to install a water tank of the required shape and size at the base of the hill. And you can also cover the pit with a special film used for garden ponds. The edges are decorated with stone compositions. Creates the effect of a natural pond.

In such an impromptu pond, birds can fly to a watering place all summer. Several types of plants can be planted in the pond itself, for example, water lilies or water lilies.

Video: do-it-yourself alpine slide

Features of care

A rock garden, like any flower bed, needs to be looked after. Even the most unpretentious plants need periodic watering, so you should take care of it in advance.

Most of the work will take place in the spring. It is necessary to remove protective shelters, loosen open areas land, remove dead plants. If necessary, make a new landing.

Some stones may change their position during the winter. If necessary, they will have to be moved and reinforced again. Mulch can save plants from many problems: in winter it will warm the roots, in summer it will provide moisture retention and good aeration.

If there is a problem of overgrowing with weeds, you will have to clean the alpine hill from unnecessary plants a couple of times a year. A special film can solve the problem for several years, in which holes are cut only for desired colors and shrubs. All other soil will be covered. For an aesthetic effect, the film is covered with small pebbles.

Before winter, it is necessary to cover heat-loving objects of wildlife. The waterfall is turned off, it is better to dismantle the pump for the period of cold weather.

Some plants do not tolerate frost well. Experienced flower growers they dig them up and overexpose them in a garage or other utility room.

If the plot is small, you can make a small rockery. More about its types, choice of plants and arrangement in our material:.

Alpine slide design ideas

To create a flower garden of plants and stones, you need to use your imagination. Each rock garden is unique. It is impossible to repeat landscape compositions exactly. Plants are living organisms, each of them will behave differently.

However, in order to understand what kind of design you want to see in your yard, you should consider other ready-made options. After that, you can start creating your own work of art.

Stones emphasize the beauty and grace of ornamental plants

In the flower bed, access to each plant should be provided. Improvised steps made of flat stones look organic and make it possible to take care of the upper shrubs.

The green base of the slide can be made up of ferns and other undersized plants

Along with large boulders, small pebbles are scattered over the entire surface, which creates a complete composition.

Small plants in an alpine hill are best planted in groups

On a low hill, small plants with small flowers look great. In the center are small spherical thuja.

For an alpine slide with a pond, an arrowhead and sedge are suitable

If you have a large pond, you can experiment with aquatic plant species - duckweed, water lilies. In the upper part of the composition, dense impenetrable thickets are visible, creating a beautiful exposition.

Alpine slide with a waterfall requires more attention

Garden figures, organically installed in the rock garden, will help create the right mood.

Alpine slide against the backdrop of trees fits well into the landscape

Plants are ranked from lowest to highest. The forest behind the alpine hill seems to be a natural continuation of landscape design.

After planting the plants in the rock garden, you can add some garden decorations to the composition

Large boulders are located in the far part of the rock garden. Wherein backside should also have a nice finished look.

Alpine hill loves the sun and is afraid of the winds

The place to create the European Alps in miniature should be sunny. This may be the southern or southwestern part of the yard.

It is difficult to imagine an alpine hill without ground cover plants.

Ground cover flowering plants grow beautifully and literally cover huge boulders. At the top gracefully settled dwarf.

Bush perennials with a dense root system and erect shoots are suitable for planting between the stones of an alpine slide

Lovers of bright colors use a variety of colors of different colors. Plants with small rhizomes do not need in large numbers fertile soil. They can be planted in small shallow voids between stones.

Do-it-yourself alpine slide is not only an aesthetic pleasure, but also the joy of realizing that it was made independently. Every plant in it matters. Any stone or boulder should be placed so that the appearance of the overall composition looks good. For the creator of the composition, every detail is important. Subject to all the above conditions and stages of creation, the rock garden will become the main asset personal plot and the central part of landscape design.

Alpine Hill - a reduced copy of the highlands. Usually, in the central part of such a flower bed, a cobblestone or several cobblestones are installed, which are a symbol of a mountain peak. Terraces are created on the slopes, on which low-growing vegetation is planted.

In the natural environment, such areas are formed in the place where natural fractures of rocks appear. Under the influence of the environment, a fertile layer appears on them, on which plants subsequently grow. To recreate such a mountain landscape in your backyard or dacha, you need certain knowledge.

For such a large-scale structure as a rocky flower bed is suitable spacious plot. When building an alpine slide with your own hands, you should strive to ensure that the composition of vegetation and cobblestones looks naturally.

Video. Alpine slide device

Creating an alpine slide with your own hands

Alpine slide, made by hand, will decorate the entire local area. To decide on the design of your future rocky garden, you can study photographs of alpine slides. In order to create such a composition, it is necessary to adhere to certain rules and a certain order of work.

Step-by-step instructions for creating an alpine slide with your own hands

First, determine the location. In order to do this, you need to pay attention to lighting. For a rock garden, a site is suitable that is illuminated as long as possible. sun. Also, the composition should be clearly visible from all sides.

1. Designation base contour(soles) slides and removal of the upper fertile layer to a depth of about 30 cm.
2. Device drainage system. The bottom layer can be made from small gravel, pieces of brick, or, in extreme cases, from construction debris. After that, a layer of sand about five centimeters thick is laid. A fertile layer of earth is laid on top of the sand. You can do without a drainage system if a slope with not too dense soil is chosen for arranging an alpine hill.
3. At this stage, start placement of stones and core erection slides. Of all the stones, the largest and most beautiful cobblestone is chosen. He will be the main one in the lower tier. The stone must be stable. To do this, you can add soil or gravel. The classic alpine slide in the country house consists of an odd number of tiers. Between these tiers, moist soil is laid, which must be well compacted.
   

   Tip: when laying stones, symmetry should be avoided. Between the stones, you can leave places for planting plants or group stones next to each other. It is also necessary to immediately determine the supporting stones on which it will be possible to stand when caring for vegetation. They should be sealed and fixed.

4. plant vegetation.

Alpine slide plants - selection rules

Building an alpine slide with your own hands requires knowledge and certain skills. This is especially true for the choice of vegetation. The first step is to decide on the color palette of the rock garden. After that, you should draw a sketch of the future rocky garden. To trace color scheme it is necessary to decorate the sections of the slide with the appropriate colors. Only after that you can start choosing a plant for an alpine hill to the country.

Alpine slide with your own hands. A photo

look good low coniferous plants. You can also use small shrubs that bloom in spring and bear fruit in autumn.

Coniferous plants that are suitable for landscaping an alpine slide with their own hands

• dwarf spruce. This plant tolerates drought well;
• juniper. This is unpretentious plant grows in its shape resembles a cone. Foliage - green;
• thuja grows in the form of a bush. In good light, it acquires a reddish-brown color;
• cypress- topped plant golden color and a dark green base.

Deciduous plants for an alpine slide

For landscaping an alpine slide with your own hands, you should not choose deciduous plant species. Since fallen leaves must be cleaned regularly so as not to harm other vegetation. For slides choose the following plants:

• cotoneaster horizontal. This shrub with a dense crown has dark green foliage in the warm season, and acquires a reddish tint by autumn. The plant blooms with small flowers;
• iberis. Semi-shrub that does not lose its attractiveness throughout the season. The flowers, collected in an umbrella-shaped brush, are painted in white, pink or purple. Later, in their place, fruits appear in the form of pods;
• dryad. A miniature shrub with large white flowers. The flowering period falls on July-August. Later, fruits of an unusual shape appear in their place. They look like fluffy balls.

Flowers for the Alpine slide

For the construction of a classic alpine slide with their own hands, low, creeping, "carpet" plants are used. It is best to give preference to perennials. The following flowers can be used for landscaping:

• carnation short stem. This low-growing, rich-flowering plant with narrow gray-blue-green leaves is unpretentious. Suitable for landscaping open sunny areas;
• beetroot rocky- perennial, the leaves of which are painted in a gray-green color. A feature of this plant is that its leaves remain green even in winter. In multi-flowered inflorescences-panicles are small bright yellow leaves;
• young- perennial plant with a wide color palette of leaves. They can be green, silvery, yellowish, pink, burgundy;
• saxifrage- traditional inhabitants of rock gardens. Flowering period - May-August. Five-petal flowers are painted in white, pink or yellow.

In order for the alpine hill in the country to please with its beauty every year, bulbous and bulbous flowers should be planted. To create a contrasting background, long-flowering crops are suitable. Also, a well-groomed lawn will be an ideal frame.

What to do if the alpine hill settles in the spring?

Sometimes an alpine slide, made in violation of the construction technology, can settle. There may be several reasons for this.

• Poorly matched plot or lack drainage. It is better to equip a rock garden on a natural hill or on a site with a slope. If the hill is located on loamy or clay soils, then it is necessary to make a drainage layer. For these purposes, gravel or stones can be used.
  
• Wrongly matched substrate, vegetation and cobblestones. For an alpine slide with your own hands, it is better to choose the following mixture of earth: compost, sand and peat in equal proportions.

How to avoid flower bed shrinkage

• take into account the slope of the site and the type of soil;
• make a drainage layer and let the earth sag in time;
• for planting, choose vegetation with powerful rhizomes;
• correctly select vegetation, cobblestones and soil substrate;
• remove fallen leaves in time, dig up wilted plants, weed weeds.

Alpine hill of conifers

To create rock gardens, not only traditional "Alpines", but also coniferous plants can be used. For these purposes, pines, thuja, shooting juniper, barberry, gray or Japanese spirea, spruce horse. In the classic version, only shrubs and trees should not be present. They should grow there in small numbers.

Stones for alpine slides

For such rocky gardens, natural flat cobblestones of various sizes are suitable. original form. You should also give preference to stones with a heterogeneous surface, with all kinds of "inclusions", recesses in which you can plant moss or a small plant. Limestones, boulders, sandstones, granite, slates look good.

Decorating an alpine slide with your own hands

Stones and vegetation are used to decorate the alpine slide. In order to properly position them, you need to follow some recommendations, namely:

• laying stones begins from the bottom row, moving up;
• for the top of the composition, you must choose the most beautiful cobblestone;
• for each large stone, it is necessary to make a “foundation” of one to three flat stones;
• stones should be laid in such a way that their tops are parallel to each other;
• several stones should be stacked so that they can be walked on;
• after laying each row, a layer of earth is laid, which is well compacted and spilled with water;
• at the top of the hill they set the most beautiful cobblestone.

Rock garden and rockery: differences and similarities

Rock garden and rockery - two various ways flower bed devices. Rockery is a flower bed of stones, most of which is occupied by stones of the same breed. Cobblestones are stacked parallel to each other or in random order. Randomly placed stones imitate the natural environment. Vegetation is also present in rockeries, but in the form of a background that plays a secondary role. In an alpine hill, bright vegetation comes to the fore.

Here is a step-by-step instruction for creating this beautiful landscape composition. If you follow all the tips, your slide will look spectacular and natural, and the plants planted on it will delight you with abundant flowering.

So let's get started.

Highly important point. Rock garden is preferable to place on natural terrain. But if there is none, it is created independently in suitable place household plot. But more on that in the next sections.

The most important aspects to consider when choosing a location:

• the hill should be exposed to direct sunlight;
• it should be the south (in extreme cases, the southwest) of the site;
• the rock garden should be noticeable, not hidden from the eyes; after all, what is the point of making such beauty if it is inaccessible for contemplation.

And how to independently arrange automatic watering of the lawn, read.

Drainage

Drainage is a set of measures aimed at ensuring that the slide does not sag.

How to make drainage for an alpine slide:

• at the chosen place, we dig a pit (the depth of the pit for a rock garden with a diameter of 2 m will be 70-80 cm);
• we fill the bottom with sand or gravel (broken brick, construction waste can be used);
• we lay the ground;
• rammer.

The quality of the rammer will determine how long the hill will remain a hill, i.e. will not sag under the pressure of stones.

To create a drainage you will need this scheme

Selection and placement of stones

For an alpine slide, boulders of any shape and breed are suitable, it all depends on your preferences and the availability of materials in your area.

You can also lay them to your taste, guided by aesthetic considerations and common sense.

A few tips:

• if your rock garden is small, do not lay huge stones on it; firstly, it is ugly, and secondly, the slide will sag under their weight;
• put larger stones at the bottom, smaller stones at the top;
• choose one breed of stones, it will be more natural;
• do not stack the stones too close to each other, remember about the space for plants;
• lay stones in tiers, there should be at least three of them.

Experts say that a rock garden with properly laid stones looks great even with a small number of plants or without them at all. And they are absolutely right

Soil preparation

You can buy it or make it yourself. If you have a clean clay soil or you know where to get it, then consider that most of work has already been done. You will also need peat and gravel. Mixing ratio: 3 parts soil to 1 part peat. Add a little gravel, by eye.

Fertile soil needs to fill the free space between the stones, intended for planting plants.

Two tips:

• make sure that there are no weeds in the soil, they can greatly spoil the look of the rock garden;
• if you are not sure what you can do good soil on your own, better buy it.

The next step is planting. It is important to choose those that fit all the criteria described below.

Plant varieties for different tiers of the slide

Plants to choose different sizes and shapes to give a greater resemblance to wildlife. The choice of plants for rock garden is better to start with undersized and creeping perennials with decorative foliage. They themselves bloom beautifully, and the rock garden will be decorated.

In order for the plants to grow and please you, you need to carefully consider their seating.

Plants that do not tolerate shade well and do not require much moisture should be planted on sunny side slides, and those that can grow even in shady conditions, plant on the north side. Drought-tolerant plants are best planted in the lower tiers.

For rock garden it is preferable rocks plants, shrubs, dwarf trees, you can supplement the composition with moss. If you want to see other plants that are not related to mountain varieties, such a rock garden will be called rockeries.

Step by step instructions for planting plants

In order for the rock garden to please you healthy and flowering plants, and not sluggish and withered sticks, you should be responsible for the seating of the layers.

Each tier has features of planting, we will give detailed instructions for the landing of each of the tiers.

Plants for the top tier

Since this will be the highest section of the slide, it is no wonder that there will be the least amount of moisture and stronger winds than on the other tiers. This means that there is no place for “tender” and moisture-requiring plants.

The best option for landing in the upper tier is Edelweiss. You can buy seedlings, or you can grow your own. To do this, at the end of winter, you need to scatter Edelweiss seeds into a specially prepared box and, covered with glass, put it on the windowsill on the south side so that the seeds are warm and light.

Edelweiss will become ideal option for the upper tier of the rock garden

And at the end of spring, when the time comes for planting seedlings, you need to prepare the soil. Between the stones, earth mixed with sand and gravel should be poured to create natural natural conditions.

You should not feed the soil, everything should be natural, otherwise the plant will refuse to grow.

In the same year, flowering is not worth waiting for, but next year the plant will definitely please you with flowers. Every 2 years it will have to be replanted so that it continues to bloom.

Also, the upper tier can be decorated with Iberis, which will delight with its evergreen color. For a slide, it is better to use the kind that reaches up to ten centimeters in height. And at the end of spring, he will delight you with his flowers.

Will come to the place perennial carnations, those that grow in bushes will look more beautiful, so a large area will be planted and the flowers will delight with their abundance.

The active flowering period of this plant is in the spring, which means that you need to make sure that some other plant takes over the flowering baton so that the middle layer of the rock garden does not remain empty in the summer.

Aubrieta cultural - a good choice for the middle tier of the alpine slide

Cultural obrieta, having begun its flowering in May, will delight until July with its bright flowers.

The main thing is to water the plant regularly and abundantly, but at the same time not to allow an excess of moisture.

You can also plant a Carpathian bell, which takes root faster and begins to grow.

However, it is worth watching it carefully, because rapid growth can interfere with other plants of the middle tier. As soon as it starts to crowd out the neighbors, it should be reduced.

This picture can be supplemented with a cleaner, which will delight with its unusual and unusual silver-colored leaves. Chistets noticeably stands out among other plants, due to its rare color.

More more plants for the middle tier you will see in the photo:

For the lower tier

The lower tier is characterized by high humidity, which means that here is the place for moisture-loving representatives of the plant world.

An ideal place for styloid bryozoan, which will delight you with active flowering in the height of summer. Caring for her is not difficult and does not require much time. Main Feature This plant needs regular and abundant watering. If the plant is provided comfortable conditions, it will cover the lower tier of the rock garden with a green carpet.

This is how awl-shaped bryozoan looks in the lower tier of the hill

Suitable for the lower tier, feeling great in stones and poor soils. It is important to provide her with moderate watering. To obtain seedlings, you do not need to plant it in a box in advance, but only at the end of spring you need to sow seeds on a hill.

The original decoration of the lower tier, and of the hill as a whole, will be an Indian dusheney. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that its flowering is compared with strawberries.

Spikelet lyatris in the middle of summer will delight you with its hairy inflorescences. It is unpretentious in leaving, demands moderate watering, but at the same time it is drought-resistant.

See photos of these and other plants for the lower tier here:

Well, now you know the basics of how to make an alpine slide with your own hands. Now it's only up to your imagination and desire.