Secrets of a beautiful and harmonious garden

Garden secrets

Today, the basics of garden art are available not only for professionals, but also for amateurs. Knowing the fundamental principles will help you personalize your garden, fill it with harmony and beauty.

The application of the basic principles of gardening art does not require special knowledge or skills - it is enough to pay due attention to planning and not be afraid to embody the most daring ideas into reality.

The main secrets of a beautiful and harmonious garden

Any seemingly most complex design principles become clear, one has only to try to implement them - inevitably comes the understanding that any concept is based on simple logic and well-known compositional laws.

For their successful application in practice, the most important thing should be remembered:

- the unity of the concept should be manifested in everything, from the choice of plant varieties to garden accessories;
- a creative approach will only make the task easier - it is advisable to capture all your ideas with the help of sketches, sketches, tables, photographs;
- from the general to the particular: style determines the choice of plants or materials, and not vice versa;
- beauty should be practical - you should take into account the correspondence of the chosen concept to your lifestyle, financial capabilities.

7 basic professional criteria, which will be discussed below, will help to determine the degree of completeness of the garden composition, its perfection and harmony.

1) Garden secrets: the main motive

The integrity of the project and its harmony for the most part depends on the basic ratio of forms. Following the main motive in everything, even in the smallest things, will allow the composition to be completed, to bring together disparate parts and elements. This does not mean that all flower beds, paths, ponds should be of a strictly defined shape. However, it is necessary to follow one of two basic concepts and select decorative elements in accordance with this choice:
- natural forms suggest smooth lines, the absence of harsh contrasts, a general atmosphere of ease and closeness to nature;
- geometric shapes refer to strict lines, clear contours, axial system, which gives the garden a ceremonial look.
If we are not talking about creating, but about retouching and correcting an existing project:
- it will be necessary to analyze the existing compositional features and understand what wins in this case - strict geometry of forms or smooth bends;
- to understand what needs to be changed in order to give the project a unity of forms and completeness - to add rigor or, on the contrary, to emphasize naturalness.

2) The main secrets of the garden: the need for zoning

The functional unit of the project, which defines the entire appearance of the garden, is a separate zone. Zoning does not imply the allocation of favorite corners or important areas in the garden; here the principle of dividing the common territory of the garden into segments that differ in their purpose and design is in effect. For example, it is customary to allocate a site with a reservoir, a local area or a rock garden into separate zones.

Traditionally, there are transitions or borders between individual zones: hedges, curbs, arches, potted gardens.At the same time, the style unity of the garden territory is preserved - it is extremely rare for individual zones to have a design different from the main part of the garden. Sometimes it is enough to change the paving material to mark the transition between two separate areas.

3) Garden secrets: balancing architectural and plant elements

The unity of style is achieved to a large extent due to the successful combination of objects of material culture and plant elements. Simply put, the connection between home and garden should be obvious. So, the selection of material for paving paths, building hedges, arches is dictated by its presence in the design of the house. In addition to combining with the power of materials, it is important to connect directly, to connect the house with the garden. This task is achieved by landscaping the walls of the building and the adjacent territory.

Basic methods:
- the walls of the house are draped with vines and other climbing plants;
- the entrance to the house is decorated with a support for climbing crops;
- a potted garden around the house or green sculptures at the entrance act as connecting links;
- in parallel to the walls of the house, ridges and curbs are broken, closing the building in a green frame;
- decoration of the terrace with flower arrangements;
- decorative compositions from summer houses are located on window sills, balconies, verandas.

4) Places to rest

Regardless of the degree of decorativeness and complexity of the composition, the purpose of any garden is relaxation and the opportunity to plunge into contemplation. Therefore, vacation spots are the most important components of a garden project and always bear the imprint of the owner's character and individual style preferences. The list of such places is not limited to terraces - it can be solid gazebos or pavilions, or elegant benches in secluded corners of the garden, on the banks of reservoirs, near fountains. The main thing is to designate the intimate nature of the recreation area, protect it from prying eyes with the help of decorative fences, create shading with the help of trees, and provide comfort with comfortable furniture.

5) Garden secrets: an atmosphere of mystery

An important component of the garden's atmosphere should be its ability to surprise and leave room for imagination. Hiding or disguising the most interesting objects in the garden, creating secret rooms, secluded corners that hide surprises - small sculptural objects, benches or garden chairs protected by hedges, small ponds will help to avoid boredom. Plants are the main means of camouflage: lush shrubs, hedges, labyrinths help to hide a secret corner until a certain moment. The main task is to create the effect of layering, understatement, mystery.

6) The concept determines the choice of little things

What gardener has not faced the temptation to fill his garden with randomly attracted plants, following a spiritual impulse. Meanwhile, such an approach is capable of ruining the project, depriving it of completeness and unity. When choosing plants, materials and accessories, you should first of all be guided by the general concept, connecting motives. Each element - be it a flower, a liana, a garden gnome or a potted arrangement - should lead to a common goal, be part of a harmonious picture.

The following planting algorithm will help you not to get confused in the selection of little things:
- representatives of tree crops are the first to take their places;
- followed by the turn of tall bushes;
- then - small bushes;
- then the queue for large perennials;
- then their smaller brothers follow;
- finally, you can think about ground cover;
- the final stage is the planting of seasonal plants.

This method of planning does not exclude spontaneous acquisitions - you just need to always keep in mind their relevance and conformity to the general style.

7) Vertical structure

A garden is not only about placing objects on a plane, it is in many ways creating relief and giving depth to the composition with the help of vertical lines and accents.

Cultures of different heights are able to create a background, beautiful contours, contrasting accents - playing with them creates a truly fascinating sight. Even a perfectly flat lawn or paved area should certainly be enlivened by vertical lines of trees or sculptural elements, lush clouds of flower beds, openwork patterns of arches and pergolas.

The main thing is to maintain balance: the proportion of horizontal surfaces should be in balance with the verticals. Each flat part must have a vertical element as a counterweight. And the transitions between them, connecting moments or contrasts are determined by the fundamental motive from which our conversation about the secrets of a harmonious and beautiful garden began.

Secrets of the garden photo