Dwarf conifers for the Alpine slide. Do-it-yourself alpine slide photo and video step by step instructions

Conifers for rock garden are especially valuable for creating a composition.

They help to cover construction defects - after all, it is not always possible to successfully dock terraces, pick up and naturally lay stones. In addition, columnar varieties visually increase the height of rockeries and stones near which they are planted, while rounded varieties emphasize the volume of the garden. Finally, the conifers on the hill serve as an excellent backdrop for any composition. The same kinds coniferous plants you can use for any type of garden, you just need to choose more or less dwarf varieties. Even for miniature rockeries, you can find many forms that do not rise above 30 cm.

For coniferous plants on the lpiyskaya hill, several general rules concerning care and growing conditions:

They develop best on moderately rich slightly acidic loams. They prefer loose soils, take root on heavy and clay soils for a long time.
Most are photophilous, but tolerate shading.
Ephedra are drought-resistant, but during the period of active growth, take care to provide them with sufficient moisture.
Transplant in early spring before the start of growth. Keep in mind that varietal forms take root much easier than species. Transplant adult specimens only after preliminary pruning of the root ball.
It is not necessary to feed. Fresh organics are not allowed.
Propagate by layering (creeping forms) and cuttings. Optimal time for these procedures - early spring, before bud break. Most species can be propagated by seeds. The range of conifers depends on the size of the garden, but even when creating large compositions, it is better to take slow-growing varieties with a dense crown.

Below are photos and names of coniferous plants for the alpine hill, tested over the years, the most stable in the Russian climate.

First of all, coniferous plants such as, and are suitable for rockeries.

Spruce - Picea in the photo
Needles of all shades of green, gray

Spruces are unpretentious and frost-resistant. Any dwarf varieties are suitable for rockeries. Cultural forms have various types of crowns, needles of all shades of green, gray and even golden yellow.

Norway spruce
European spruce

Serbian spruce varieties (R. omorica) are also good.
Spruce Serbian

Gray spruce in the photo
Canadian spruce in the photo

Columnar varieties of spruce with gray, or Canadian (P. glauca) are beautiful, but burn on spring sun: Be sure to shade them.

See photos of such conifers on an alpine hill:

It has many dwarf varieties with dark green, bluish-blue or golden needles, divided into three groups:

These photos show rockeries with conifers:

For rocky gardens, choose not large natural forms, and dwarf slow-growing varieties with dense crowns.

The most frost-resistant varieties of juniper:

For example, J. horizontalis ‘Plue Pygmy’, J. virginiana ‘Grey Owl’, J. sabina ‘Blaue Donau’, J. communis ‘Berkshire’.

Admire how beautiful the alpine hill with conifers is in these photos:

Fir - Abies

Most species are unpretentious and frost-resistant, but if last year's growth is poorly matured, in spring it can burn in the sun. Suitable for rockeries dwarf varieties with a dense crown have balsam fir, or black (A. balsamea), and Korean fir (A. kogeapa).

Pay attention to the photo - for rockeries from conifers, varieties with a spherical, wide pyramidal and flattened crown are especially valuable:

Pine - Pinus

For rockeries, dwarf varieties descended from northern or highland species are suitable.

The view provides ample opportunities for experimentation: there are varieties with a narrow pyramidal, spherical, flattened or exotically curved crown, with green, blue and even golden needles.

Dwarf varieties with a dense crown are suitable for rockeries.

However, even this hardy plant for good development you will have to provide sufficient moisture and fertile garden soil- on poor dry soils, the branches of the thuja will be rare, with faded needles.

The most beautiful alpine slides with conifers are presented in these photos:

Rules for the care of shrubs in rockeries

Deciduous woody plants are used in rockeries much less often than conifers, since only a few of the most unpretentious and compact species are suitable for rocky gardens in the temperate zone: evergreen magonia and boxwood, dwarf varieties of barberries, almonds, cinquefoil, daphne, spirea, stefanander, cotoneaster.

Common to them are following rules care:

Transplant in early spring, before bud break, or in late summer - early autumn, after the annual growth is woody. Before transplanting in adult plants for two years, cut the roots several times according to the diameter of the crown to form a compact earthen lump.
Reproduction by seeds is individual for each species, but in most cold stratification causes seed germination.
Vegetative reproduction is varied. The most simple reproduction is horizontal layering. For better rooting, make an incision or constriction of the bark at the place of the dig.
Most shrubs are easily propagated by cuttings. The best cuttings- growth of the current year.
Sanitary pruning and crown formation should be carried out in early spring, before the juices begin to move, and in autumn, after growth has ended. Beautiful flowering shrubs prune immediately after flowering.

by the most suitable shrubs for rockeries are barberry, boxwood and spirea.

Thunberg barberry - Berberis thunbergii

Graceful shrub, completely strewn in early summer yellow flowers, which turn into red berries by autumn. Height is not more than 150 cm, there are dwarf varieties that do not rise above 30 cm. Extremely unpretentious: sun-loving, but tolerates shade, drought-resistant, but tolerates waterlogging. It is frost-resistant, but in snowless cold winters the crown freezes.

It lends itself perfectly to a haircut, although it is not necessary - the plant looks compact on its own. Particularly valuable are dwarf varieties with golden, variegated or purple leaves.

Evergreen boxwood - Buxus sempervirens

Dwarf evergreen tree, one of the few hardy evergreens deciduous plants. Dwarf varieties wintering under the snow are best suited for rockeries. The main condition for normal growth is dry, well-drained soils. The nutritional value of the soil and its density are not too important, but fertile loam is preferable.

It is shade-loving, but shoots ripen better in the sun and winter more successfully.

One of the most beautiful views kind. Dwarf varieties are especially good, forming almost spherical bushes covered with small green, golden or purple leaves. "Dwarfs" bloom almost all summer. Winter-hardy, but in very cold winters they freeze slightly.

To prolong flowering and crown formation after the first flowering, spend light pruning. 'Golden Princess' is slightly larger than 'Little Princess' so it can be trimmed more.

Alpine slide has many styles and options for decoration. The best place location - slight slope. It can be laid out with stones, and between them plant undersized plants characteristic of the mountains. As a basis for a rock garden, a slope running along the terrace or near the edge of the site can serve.

When a rocky garden is created, irregularities and elevations are always formed. In addition to placing large stones, crushed stone is added to the soil.

In order for the alpine hill to bloom profusely and be well visible, you need to place it outdoors with plenty of sunshine. Some mountain plants are able to live in a poorly lit space, such as near a house or a fence, but they should also be illuminated by the sun for at least a few hours a day.

If you plan to place a rock garden in the shade of trees, then the choice of plants will be very limited, since after rain the water under the crown will dry out very slowly. In this case, you need to install massive stone blocks and plant ferns, such as ostrich and kostenets.

Drainage formation

The top layer of soil must be removed, usually it takes about half a meter.
Laying a layer of gravel or broken brick provide a quick runoff of water from the roots of plants.
To garden soil crushed stone or gravel is added, mixing with it in a ratio of 3: 1. If the soil is clayey, and also heavy, you need to additionally mix coarse sand.
Aesthetic stones should be laid on the surface in free placement, as the composition should look natural. The stones are laid a third underground with the flat side.
When choosing stones, several types should not be mixed, for example, solid boulders along with granite fragments. Depending on the color of the stone, plants can be selected. If they create a dark background, plantings that have green foliage with a silver sheen work well. A light background allows the use of dark, saturated leaf colors or their burgundy hue. If you can pick harmonious combination more small stones with massive, the site will resemble a highland landscape.
Plants sit in the gaps between the stones. If those varieties are selected that deteriorate from waterlogging, a layer of gravel is poured on the bottom of the dug hole before planting for drainage.

Rock garden from conifers

Spruce best suited for rock garden. Caring for her is not difficult, and the choice between species is great. For alpine slides created in middle lane, spruce, Serbian, Canadian, prickly are considered the most suitable. They are quite hardy, show resistance to frost. Need to land on open places, in the shade it is not desirable to have. With drought or excessive soil moisture, these plantations usually do not get sick.

It should be taken into account that Canadian spruce should not be in bright sun, as it may burn a little.

Pine- quite a popular tree. Usually used for rock gardens Scotch pine. You can not spend a lot of time caring for this plant. Depending on the overall design, low pine, mountain pine or wanderer cedar are used. Mountain pine is usually big plant, however, some varieties are strikingly compact. The cedar wanderer does without cultivars, however, it is excellent according to the criteria for a rock garden.

Plants should be planted in March at a depth of 70 cm to 1 meter. During planting, the root should not bend. Sod must be mixed with river sand. by the most harmful factors that can disrupt the vital functions of pine are excessive moisture or a strong, long drought.

cypress trees quite rarely used as plants for rock gardens. Most plant species cannot be planted in mid-latitudes, so choose suitable option quite difficult. Scientists are trying to frost-resistant varieties Lawson's cypress, however, attempts to grow it in cold regions do not lead to success. Pea cypress can be adapted, but provision will be required additional conditions. It should be in the shade, and in the spring to hide from the bright sun. Cypress blunt must be additionally wrapped in winter.

The reduced humidity of the soil and air is detrimental to these plants, therefore, before planting, it is necessary to ensure the possibility of constant care for them.

Larch differs from other conifers in its unusual appearance. Quite unpretentious in care, can tolerate pollution, but for full growth it must be located on nutrient soil. Do not allow it to dry out or expose the plant over watering. Japanese, European, Latin American larch look great on the alpine hills. They always shed their needles before the onset of the cold season. Among the varieties, you can choose between options with winding branches or weeping.

Fir, hemlock, thuja are considered elite plants. Classic fir will seem too bulky for a rock garden. One color, balsamic or subalpine is suitable for him.

Moisture should always be enough, you need to check the soil before watering for its excess. Among the thuja, the western thuja will be the most suitable. It must be planted openly and the soil regularly watered. To decorate the rock garden is suitable canadian hemlock, it can be planted even in the shade. These plants do not require special measures to care for them.

Juniper It has big variety varieties and types. Almost all of them can be used in cold climates. Varieties with blue needles can burn out in the spring sun, so care should be taken to build a temporary fence for them. Only Cossack juniper does not need additional protection. Columnar plants for the winter need to be linked, as there is a risk of their deformation under the influence of a mass of snow. The most favorable wintering was noted in creeping varieties.

Juniper should be planted in a rock garden by choosing between early autumn and early spring. Between seasons, you can put the plant in a plastic container. The distance between the juniper and other plants should be from one and a half meters. The pit breaks out with a depth of about 0.7 m. If necessary, it is filled up with earth. The main thing is that the tree does not drown in it. It is imperative to take care of the plant.

The plant is watered 3 times a season, the crown is sprayed regularly, once a week, it is necessary to periodically mulch the soil with peat.

This video talks about conifers for an alpine slide.

With pond and waterfall

To build an alpine slide, complicated by the design of a reservoir or waterfall, you need to familiarize yourself with the stages of their design and arrangement. To make them yourself, you need to understand general scheme and order of work.

The construction is divided into stages:

The place under the reservoir is pre-marked using driven pegs and a rope. Next, a pit of the required depth is dug.
A shape should be established in the pit garden pond, then checked general level. The resulting container is slowly filled with water. The surrounding space must be covered with sand, while pouring it with water. It is necessary to seal it along with filling all the voids formed. For convenient watering, you can connect a hose.
A hill is poured from the sand, the stones are laid with a slight slope back, however, parallelism should be visually indicated. To make the embankment natural, all lines should diverge smoothly. If the site has a slope, then the embankment does not need to be made, and it is better to place the reservoir at the end of the slope. If the place is chosen absolutely flat, then the hill is strengthened retaining wall built of brick or stone. At the same stage of construction, a cascade is made, it is needed for a waterfall. For this you can buy finished structure, however, the location of flat stones at a given height is possible.
There must be a pump in the reservoir, which must be placed completely under water. The hose runs through the ground, so it needs to be buried a little, it is well camouflaged by plants and stones.
A layer should be built on the alpine hill fertile soil. It is made from compost, sand, crushed stone and sawdust mixed with soil.
Plants can be planted both on the shore, alpine hill, and inside the reservoir.

Alpine slides in the garden in the country and on the site of your house: photos of different designs, diagrams

Before planning a design own rock garden, you need to familiarize yourself with successful options its formation. You need to compare your site, the possibilities with the sample you like. Highlighting interesting solutions from the schemes and their embodiments, you can safely use them in the design of your own alpine slide, decorating with your own developments.

Photo gallery: Alpine slides in landscape design with a waterfall, a pond, with conifers and other photo examples.

And this video tells about alpine slides from cereals.

When choosing it is necessary to take into account their need for care, fertilizers, watering, as well as compliance with requests for weather conditions a certain area.

The selection of ornamental and coniferous plants, the arrangement of a reservoir and a waterfall are additional difficulties that must be taken into account when planning work.

In alpine landscapes, plants of bizarre shapes and shapes are often found. Special place among them are occupied by coniferous plants. For an impromptu mountain landscape, any dwarf conifers are suitable - miniature pines, firs and spruces, as well as creeping, pillow-shaped arborvitae and junipers.

Emphasis on form

On an alpine hill, it is not necessary to plant coniferous plants too close to each other, otherwise the individuality of their forms is lost. There are two ways to arrange plants in groups:

1) by contrast of shape or color;

2) by transitional forms, which, as it were, continue each other, creating dynamics of growth or decrease in composition.

Agricultural technology for growing conifers on an alpine hill

It is necessary to prepare a substrate for planting coniferous plants on an alpine hill according to their biological features. In addition, the time of planting in open ground various coniferous species may also differ. Not all representatives of conifers prefer sunny places and put up with excessive soil moisture. Many of them prefer shelter for the winter, which is also important to consider when planning an alpine slide.

JUNIPER

Juniper is planted on an alpine hill in early spring or September. Contrary to the recommendations of using container plants for planting in the ground at any time of the year, during the off-season, it is better to place juniper in a container on an alpine hill. So root system will remain undamaged, and in the fall the plant can be transplanted to permanent place. The distance between junipers and neighboring plants, depending on the form of growth, is from 0.5 to 1 m. The depth of planting depends on the clod of earth and the root system; for junipers, they usually prepare a planting hole 0.7 m deep and pour the earth to the desired volume.

soil mixture for juniper - sod land, peat and river sand (2:1:1).

Fertilizer for juniper is applied in the spring - nitroammofoska - 30 - 40 g / m2.

Locations on the hill are open sunny places, green coniferous species are planted on any exposure of the hill, golden and variegated species prefer the western and southern ones, gray ones prefer the northern and eastern ones.

Juniper care includes 2 - 3 times watering per season, and spraying in evening time once a week, mulching the soil with peat.

Juniper in rock garden

FIR

Dwarf firs are planted in a permanent place in an alpine hill in April before the shoots begin to grow or in September after the formation of apical buds. The recommended distance to a neighboring plant is 0.5 m. The depth of the planting hole should be such that the root is straight in the hole, and root neck- at ground level.

falls asleep landing pit soil mixture - leafy earth, peat and sand (3: 1: 1).

If the plant is planted in the spring, then top dressing with complex fertilizer is necessary.

Locations on the hill - penumbra, northern or eastern exposure.

Fir care includes regular watering, providing air humidity, and mulching the soil with peat. In winter, it requires shelter not so much from frost damage as from burns from the winter sun.

Korean fir "Cis"

SPRUCE

Soil mixture for spruce - leafy soil, acid peat and river sand (3:2:1).

When planting, complex fertilizer is applied.

Locations on the hill - sun, partial shade, any exposure.

Spruce care includes watering once a week, 10-12 liters per plant, soil mulching with peat. In winter, it requires shelter from sunburn.

Gray spruce "Nana"

PINE

They are planted in a permanent place in March, the planting depth is 0.8 m. The root neck remains at ground level. In no case should the root be bent during planting.

Soil mixture for pine - sod land and river sand (2: 1). If necessary, add 250 g of lime to the pit.

Locations on the hill - the sun, any exposure.

Pine care includes watering 2 - 3 times per season in the amount of 15 liters per tree. You can slow down the growth of shoots and increase the density of the crown by pinching the buds.

Assortment of conifers for alpine hills

The height of coniferous plants for an alpine hill should not exceed 0.5 - 0.7 m for small rocky areas (5 - 6 m2), 1.5 m for large ones (more than 40 m2). Therefore, when selecting coniferous assortment for alpine slides, the estimated height of an adult plant must be taken into account. Below is a list decorative forms that do not exceed 1.5 m.

Dwarf forms of thuja western

"Danica" - crown shape - spherical; height of an adult plant - 0.8 m; diameter - 0.8 m; the color of the needles is dark green.

"Little Dorrit" - crown shape - spherical; height of an adult plant - 0.8 m; diameter - 0.6 m; the color of the needles is dark green. Winter-hardy variety.

"Hoseri" - crown shape - spherical; height of an adult plant - 0.5 m; diameter - 0.6 m; the color of the needles is dark green. Winter-hardy variety.

Dwarf forms of mountain pine

"Mughus" - crown shape - shrubby, spreading, sometimes creeping; height of an adult plant - 1.5 m; diameter - 0.6 m; the color of the needles is dark green.

"Gnom" - crown shape - shrubby, dense, spherical; height of an adult plant - 1.5 m; diameter - 1.5 m; the color of the needles is dark green.

"Mors" - crown shape - shrubby, spherical; height of an adult plant - 0.5 m; diameter - 0.5 m; the color of the needles is greenish-blue.

"Winter gold" - crown shape - shrubby, spherical; height of an adult plant - 0.5 m; diameter - 1.0 m; color of needles - in summer - bright green, in winter - golden yellow. Winter-hardy variety.

Dwarf forms of Norway spruce

"Little Gem" - crown shape - spherical-flattened; height of an adult plant - 0.5 m; diameter - 0.5 - 0.7 m; color of needles - light green.

"Nidiformis" - crown shape - nest-like, with a deepened middle; height of an adult plant - 0.5 - 1.0 m; diameter - 0.8 - 2.0 m; the color of the needles is dark green.

"Will" s Zwerg "- crown shape - narrow-conical, dense; height of an adult plant - 1.0 - 1.2 m; diameter - 0.4 m; needle color - young - pale green, old - dark green.

"Echiniformis" - crown shape - cushion-shaped, compact; height - 0.2 - 0.6 m; diameter - 0.4 - 0.8 m; the color of the needles is green.

Creating an alpine slide is a fascinating process that requires not only imagination, but also attentiveness. Even one incorrectly selected plant can spoil the whole impression, breaking the harmony between other inhabitants of the rocky garden. Therefore, you need to do right choice from an extensive list of plants suitable for composing an alpine slide.

To make the alpine slide look attractive throughout the season, you should select a place for planting plants, taking into account their flowering time and the principle of layering:

The top of the hill. It is more open to the sun's rays than the tiers below; therefore, it is rational to plant plants here that love sunlight and not in need of in large numbers moisture.
middle tier- a place for plants that feel good in partial shade. Here, the average soil moisture, so the middle of the alpine hill can be called universal: milking most flowers here ideal conditions which gives you a wide range of choices.
The foot of the hill- logical ending landscape composition. The plants planted here should be combined with the rest of the rock garden and choose those that love moisture and tolerate shade. After all, most of the sun's rays will go to the neighbors from above.

To provide continuous flowering from early spring to late autumn, should be selected flowering plants according to the principle of change. Evergreen shrubs and dwarf trees will look great in winter, looking out from under the snow.

Creating an alpine slide is a fascinating process that requires not only imagination, but also attentiveness

Plant layouts in rock gardens

Before you start creating an alpine slide, you need to create a graphic scheme. It will reflect the general idea of the composition, help to generate new ideas and even before planting the plants to find possible errors.

First of all, stones are designated. The largest should be at the base, and the rest should create a gentle slope so that there is room for soil and plant roots. You can experiment by coming up with terraces, sharp cliffs, a pond and other interesting solutions.

Here are a couple of examples of circuits:

spicy hill, on which fragrant flowers are located: oregano will occupy the top, heather, hyssop, monarda and medicinal sage will feel good on the middle tier, and basil, bright nasturtium and fragrant thyme will sit at the very base.
Coniferous hill: thuja, planted at the top, looks great in the environment creeping juniper middle tier (you can use different types) and weeping cypress. The rock garden is completed by dwarf spruces or pines, the soil under which is disguised by a saxifrage carpet.

Each site owner has the opportunity to create a unique design landscape slide. After drawing up the scheme, you can start laying stones and soil, and then planting plants.

Gallery: plants for the alpine slide (25 photos)

What plants are suitable for an alpine slide (video)

Names and descriptions of perennial flowers for alpine hills

Perennials form the basis of the alpine slide. Therefore, their choice must be approached responsibly: it depends on which plants will be chosen. appearance compositions. You can introduce new colors and accents annually by planting annual plants.

Armeria maritime

A compact plant whose bushes form fluffy green cushions narrow leaves. Above them rise numerous inflorescences (about 10), which are lilac balls. Outwardly, the armeria looks like a decorative bow. hardy plant, unresponsive to high humidity soil. Therefore, the armeria will feel good at the top of the hill or on the slope of the middle tier.

Dicentra exceptional

This plant is popularly called broken hearted" behind original form flowers. Usually dicentres are a large bush, but the Exceptional does not exceed 25 cm in height. It goes well with coniferous and creeping plants, so it will be an excellent highlight of the rock garden. The green-gray foliage of the dicentra is exceptionally similar to the leaves of a fern, and flowers in the form of disconnected halves of the heart can be white or pink.

Dicentra exceptional

gypsophila

The plant belongs to the clove family. It has an erect or creeping stem with a small number of small lanceolate leaves, crowned with panicle inflorescences with small white (rarely pink) flowers.

bulbous flowers

These are crocuses, daffodils, snowdrops and blueberries. They appear immediately after the descent of the tender cover, reviving the landscape in a spring way. For a change, you can plant varietal Greig tulips with flowers beautiful shape, reaching 30 cm in height, and Kaufman tulips.

gypsophila

rejuvenated

stone rose, as it is also called young, is distinguished by excellent endurance. At the same time, the plant is very beautiful: its fleshy angular leaves are collected in rosettes. They can be both quite miniature and up to 10 cm in diameter. The color of the leaves varies from gray-green to burgundy. A stone rose is suitable for decorating the slopes of an alpine hill. Looks spectacular young, growing in the cracks between the boulders.

Primrose

Primrose (popular name of primrose) is a perennial herbaceous plant. Its advantages: early flowering, variety of shapes and colors of flowers, pleasant smell. Primrose is undersized (height 10–30 cm), with single landing forms a small shrub with leathery leaves and bright inflorescences that attract bees. If you plant primroses close to each other, you get a motley carpet.

Edelweiss

In the people, the plant is also called the mountaineer. It loves the sun and grows wild on the well-lit sides of mountains. Therefore, it will adequately take a central place on the hill - its top. In summer, edelweiss will surprise you with beautiful star-shaped flowers.

How to make an alpine slide with your own hands (video)

Creeping and ground cover plants for an alpine slide

Ground cover plants are an integral component of the alpine landscape on the site. They decorate the soil and make the slopes of the hill truly alive.

For example, this:

Antennaria(). undersized plant, whose peduncles do not rise above 15 cm. It has small leaves with a silvery tint and pubescence create a dense carpet on the ground up to 5 cm thick. Basket inflorescences white color, so the cat's paw cannot be called a bright plant that attracts glances. But it is very durable!
periwinkle. Forms an evergreen rug that blooms from May to September with delicate blue flowers scattered among leathery small leaves. Suitable for growing under the sun and on a shady slope: the plant is unpretentious to light.
Alpine dwarf low plant, forming a decorative turf, which does not exceed a height of 3 cm. In May and June, inflorescences up to 15 cm appear on it, which are brushes with numerous white flowers.
Saxifrage. One of the most popular ground cover plants. Their flowering time is in the middle of summer, and the color of different types differs: from snow-white to maroon. He loves light, so you need to plant on the western or southern slope of the alpine hill or closer to its top.
Aubrieta. Covers the ground with a lush carpet. It blooms profusely throughout the spring, and during this period it is covered with pink and purple flowers. It loves sun and loamy soils, although it grows well in any soil.
Awl-shaped phlox. A plant 15–17 cm tall, named for its narrow and pointed leaves at the ends. The shoots are densely covered with numerous inflorescences of pink, white or lilac color. Flowering begins in May-June, and it continues in early September.

On the same hill, several types of ground cover plants coexist if they are in harmony with each other. Given their flowering time, you can make sure that the soil is covered with a bright carpet from spring to autumn.

Ground cover plants are an integral component of the alpine landscape on the site

Shrubs for alpine slides

It is not recommended to use deciduous shrubs in landscaping alpine slides, because their leaves, stuck in the cracks between the stones, are difficult to remove, and the composition will look untidy. It is better to opt for small evergreen bushes.

For example, cotoneaster horizontal whose branches grow parallel to the ground. They are decorated with small leathery leaves, which acquire a crimson color with the onset of autumn. After flowering, small red berries appear, remaining on the branches all winter and giving the cotoneaster a special charm.

An interesting solution would be to use boxwood barberry. Its bush grows no higher than 50 cm, it represents a spreading crown of numerous branches. Highly unpretentious plant well tolerated by frost and drought. Loves the light, but when grown in the shade retains its decorative properties.

In landscaping alpine slides, it is better to opt for small evergreen bushes

Dwarf plants for rock garden

Alpine hill is a repetition of a mountain landscape in miniature, so for naturalness you need to use small plants. large bushes will occupy half of the composition and divert attention from other inhabitants of the rocky garden.

You can use dwarf varieties herbaceous plants (for example, annual marigolds or alpine aster). It is desirable that their height does not exceed 30 cm. And, of course, dwarf conifers are the regulars of rock gardens: spruce, pine, etc. Thanks to them, the hill really looks like a reduced copy of the alpine relief.

Ephedra for alpine hills

To create an alpine landscape, use undersized species and varieties of conifers:

dwarf firs, whose height does not exceed 60 cm. They lend themselves well to shaping and require almost no maintenance. The shape of the crown different varieties may be sprawling or pyramidal.
Juniper. Species look spectacular, the branches of which grow parallel to the ground. The needles of the plant often have yellow tint, and the branches are decorated with small cones. Juniper in the wild can be seen on the slopes of the mountains, so it is undemanding to the soil and grows well on stones.
thuja- a shrub or tree of a pyramidal shape, less often it is cut in the form of a ball.
Mountain pine "Pug" grows very slowly and by the age of 10 has a crown with a diameter of up to 50 cm, which allows planting a tree on an alpine hill. Green needles have a pleasant blue tint.
cypress: its decorative dwarf varieties will effectively decorate the rock garden slope. You can choose a bush with golden, silver or traditional dark green needles. And the Philifera cypress has hanging branches, which looks like a coniferous cascade.