▷ Landscaping a new plot: where to start?

New house, new block, new land? If there are no old trees, previously installed paths, slopes, flowerbeds, hedges, it seems that we have to create the environment as if on a blank sheet of paper. A house, a pile of land and a lot of desire – landscape often finds its beginning here. Without experience, it is difficult to understand where to start so that everything appears in the right order.

There are endless options that can be found in beautiful images. To rule out the wrong ones, let’s start by evaluating the situation.

First of all, let’s look at the context we already have: quarter gives a lot of ideas. If there is a pine forest nearby, repeat the same thing in your plot, plant a few decorative pines. If the house in the new quarterfind out if there are any planting requirements and recommendations, maybe even specific plant names. Don’t take it out of contextso that the plot blends organically with the environment. If your neighbors grow certain types of plants, introduce each other to your environment. This way you will not only strengthen the overall style of the block, but also be confident in the choice of plants: after all, your conditions for plants and essence similar as in the nearby land.

TO growing conditions take a closer look. Squeeze the clod of earth. If it crumbles immediately when released, then your land is there sandbar or sand If the piece holds its shape when released and you can also roll it into an oblong shape and twist, the soil is heavy, smoking. When considering drainage, consider it when choosing plants.

Keep your eyes open prevailing windslook where the puddles are in spring. These things will already determine whether it is necessary to plant shelter plants and from which side, whether it is necessary to level or improve the soil. Pay attention to the path of the sun at any time of the year to know when and how long the shade lasts. Choose a sunny place for the lawn and garden, the reception area and the flower garden can also be in partial shade.

The architecture and interiors of the house determine the style and ambiance. Keep that style throughout the plot – from paths, to additional structures to plant selection.

Take a photo of the image from the living room windows, from the terrace where you will have your coffee in the morning, from the entrance through the gate. You won’t do everything perfectly, but make these images as beautiful as possible. If the image is not good, think about how to cover it, disguise it, what to divert attention to, so as not to irritate the eye.

THE LANDSCAPE BEGINS WITH… PLANNING

Landscape specialist Ingė Auželiene says one of the most important things when preparing land for landscaping is planning. Get your plot plan, mark it functional areas. Try to imagine where the outbuildings, the gazebo, the floral arrangements and possibly a fountain will be positioned. Mark it on the plan, make it happen different options and consult the family. In your project you will see if the lines are very different or disproportionately arranged somewhere, maybe this will help you find new solutions. If you want to check if you are stuck for ideas, consult a specialist or visit short courses focused on plot planning.

In the courses”My garden project” We follow all the design phases together with a specialist.

To avoid ill-advised purchases it is a good idea to make a separate plan for the plants. In it you will write down how many and what types of plants you will need to plant. When you make a plan, remember that it’s worth it plant in groupsand not individually scattered throughout the plot. This makes it look better and maintenance is easier. Floor fewer plant speciesbut of all kinds after multiple units – repetition will help create a unified whole in the plot. So feel free to eliminate some species from the list of plants you created and repeat the ones left behind.

You need to know when planning where to plant plants minimum requirements. I. Auželienė emphasizes that trees should not be planted near the neighbors’ fence: “Remember that bushes should be planted at a distance of 1 meter from the boundary of the plot. Larger trees – at a distance of 3 meters.” There are reservations and other requirements, check at the planning stage. Plants should not block light from your neighbors, but they should create a shadow for you.

The specialist reminds that you should always check how tall it will be mature tree or shrub. It happens that trees become larger than expected, overshadow other plants, block passage, berries are no longer available, cast too large a shadow, etc. Buy plants from reputable sellers with a clearly marked variety, find out how much they will grow and choose a well-thought-out location on the soil.

A tree that is too large, too close to the roots, inaccessible berries, disproportionate height, too much shade: during the planning we try to evaluate the situation and choose the right variety and location. Photo used by www.bigtreebb.com.

Where the landscape begins: FIRST WORKS

Once the plan is in hand, you can get to work. After construction, the land is usually filled with various garbage or other construction waste. Everything must be removed. If necessary, prepare a suitable black. Perennial weeds must be eliminated, because they will cause many problems in the future if spread over the ground. Weeds must be carefully selected, or adult ones will have to be sprayed with special herbicides. When the base is clean and tidy, smooth it.

If you need to do it drainage or spend electricitythese works are carried out after leveling, when the ground level has already been determined. When you create a project, external lighting it is the last phase, when the routes are already planned and the plants that will need to be illuminated are clear. Once you get to work, wiring is one of the first things to do. Here we clearly see how important it is to have an accurate plan of the plants when starting to manage the plot. After you have laid out the cables and laid the drainage, you can prepare sow the lawnyou will finally let greenery into the yard. However, the lawn is just a beautiful horizontal surface and alone will not fix the picture, so not only landscaping is needed, but also other vertical elements in the texture.

Choose the fence OR the hedge. You can build a fence right next to the hedge if you need to keep pets away or keep wild animals away. In this case, choose a simple, unsophisticated fence that will ultimately hide in the thicket of the hedge. It is not recommended to plant a hedge next to a wooden fence, as it will be difficult to prune and repaint the fence later.

A hedge provides good structure and a backdrop for other plants.

Up to major environmental management works, paving paths, landscaping, do not rush to build a fence at the entrance. Leave space for the entry of special vehicles, to unload the pile of gravel, etc. Use temporary fencing while work is underway.

What is the correct work order, you can have a detailed outline look here.

Landscaping and finance

If you don’t want to make large investments at once, divide the work into phases.

To avoid having many jobs started and not finished at the same time, choose a part of the plottidy it up completely and plant the plants. Next season, prepare another part of the soil and plant a group of plants there. It is better if the plants are already larger, grown up. Planting the tallest ones, even in stages, will immediately show a beautiful result.

“You shouldn’t buy a lot of small plants. This way you will spend more money and wait 8-10 years until the plants grow and there is something to look at. If you don’t want to plant in stages, buy some smaller plants and some larger ones. The smaller ones will reach the taller ones later and you will see a beautiful view as soon as you plant them,” advises I.Auželienė.

If you are still considering the layout of your land, but immediately want a tidy image, a specialist recommends sowing a lawn. With proper maintenance, the lawn will look clean, dirt will not accumulate and you will be able to think calmly about where and what plants you will plant.
The article was published in the magazine “Statyk!” in 2015 in the January-February issue. Thanks to Karolina Žemaityta for her help in preparing the article and to Inga Auželiene for her consultations.

Do you need solutions for your garden?

We invite you to the gardening courses”My garden project“, in which you will quickly learn the most important design principles and plan real transformations in your plot. The groups are small and each participant creates the design of his plot during the course. More information about the courses here.