Pine for alpine slides. How to choose conifers for an alpine slide

Rock gardens cannot be imagined without conifers, but some gardeners go further and create compositions entirely consisting of conifers. The desire to use them is understandable - coniferous for Alpine slide just perfect, they are decorative, unpretentious, retain an attractive appearance all year round and allow you to create a spectacular corner in the garden, even if there is not too much time to care for the plantings. The main thing is to observe the naturalness and imitation of the natural mountain landscape.

Features of the construction of an alpine hill from coniferous plants

The advantages of an alpine hill from conifers include the fact that you do not need to select plants according to the timing of flowering and you can almost immediately make the hill the way you intended. Minus - coniferous seedlings are not cheap. A compromise option is to plant young plants, hoping that they will grow, but for now, decorate voids with stones or ceramic elements.

When planting conifers, you need to remember that they need space

Choosing a place, taking into account the conditions necessary for conifers

In all the photos of the alpine hill from the conifers, it can be seen that it looks impressive if you choose a place that is viewed from different sides, preferably sunny. Some types of spruces, pines and arborvitae tolerate shading well, but junipers will suffer from a lack of light. Plants with colored needles must be in the sun. When creating an alpine hill from conifers in the country, it should be borne in mind that most of these plants:

photophilous;
need space for normal development;
usually grow well on sandy-clay or even stony soils;
unpretentious, but do not like high level ground water.

Unpretentious thuja will decorate any rock garden

Creating drainage and forming a slide

Since coniferous trees for the alpine slide do not like excess moisture be sure to do drainage. To do this, remove upper layer soil and cover the hill with crushed stone, pebbles, small construction waste. The height of the drainage is from 10 to 20 cm. The soil layer is poured on top and the laying of stones begins. The stones are laid parallel throughout the hill. First, choose a place for larger ones, then put small ones.

So that the hill does not warp, there should not be cases when the stone lies on the lower cobblestone with one end, and presses on the soil with the other. Coniferous trees and shrubs have developed large roots, so pits are made between stones for their planting. The voids are filled with soil. After the construction of the hill, you need to let the soil settle, so it is better to start planting after a while. Ideal option: in the fall - to build, and in the spring - to plant.

Combine different types hvoynikov - real art

What types of conifers are suitable for rock garden

For coniferous rock garden fit trees and shrubs small sizes or dwarf species. Creeping varieties must be present. Combination different shapes crowns and coloring needles creates interesting solutions. There is a green, bluish and yellowish shade of needles. Some are bright yellow in color.

Miniature cypress is ideal for landscape compositions

Names and photos of the most suitable species

For middle lane from conifers for an alpine slide it is worth choosing:

thuja - plants with a dense crown, which tolerates a haircut well. Most of the varieties common in Russia come from the western thuja: Danica with light spherical crown, Filiformis resembling a cone, Golden Globe with yellow needles. Thuja propagates by cuttings, but it is better for inexperienced gardeners to buy a ready-made seedling;
cypress trees - fashion idea for rock garden from Europe (hedges from this plant are popular in Britain). Not all varieties are hardy. The easiest way to grow Lawson's cypress and pea. It is better to overwinter low plants that can hide under the snow. Cypress trees love to spray, but the water should not be icy;
ate - a lot was bred undersized varieties: dwarf - up to 1.5 m, mini-varieties - up to 1 m, micro-specimens - up to 30 cm. For example, the Alberta Globe variety with a crown resembling a ball squeezed from above grows by 50 cm in 10 years. Nidiformis spruce is very beautiful with silvery needles. Attractive varieties canadian spruce with small gray needles and a pyramidal crown;
pines of all kinds are valued by gardeners. Dwarf and slow-growing varieties have been developed. Fluffy bushes of Scots pine Watereri or mountain pine Cobold with emerald needles fit perfectly into the landscape of rock gardens. The slow-growing dwarf Globosa Viridis reaches a height of only one meter and is suitable for small garden;
junipers of all kinds. Pyramidal plants are planted both singly and in small groups, creeping ones are arranged so that they have room to grow. They cover the ground and contrast with more high grades. In winter, many junipers need shelter with spruce branches.

Juniper Dahurian

Coniferous plants for the alpine slide, the photos and names of which were given above, are suitable if you take specially bred dwarf varieties. To prevent them from growing, you need to pinch new sprouts and pruning in a timely manner. Fertilizers should not be abused. It is also undesirable to allow animals to "mark" the trunks of "babies". If this happens, rinse the affected area with water.

In alpine landscapes, plants of bizarre shapes and shapes are often found. Special place among them are 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 mix 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 stony 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.

Alpine slide is a fashionable attribute of the arrangement of modern garden and park areas. Do-it-yourself rock garden device in the country: step by step photos, schemes, selection of plants.

Choosing a place for an alpine slide

When choosing a place for an alpine slide, it is important to provide for the following conditions:

In landscape design, there are many styles of garden design, including elements of a desert landscape, rocky gardens, ponds and bridges, which must be in harmony with the erected hill.

Making a slide with your own hands is most preferable when decorating a garden. By doing the work yourself, you can avoid high costs for the services of a landscape architect. Having step-by-step photos and schemes for arranging the slide, it will not be difficult to do the construction of a rock garden with your own hands.

It is very important to do it right preparatory work so that the slide is stable

Alpine slide - preparation

First you need to determine the place on the site where the slide will be located. Should not grow nearby perennial shrubs and trees, which may over time shade the plants on the hill. A place open on all sides, accessible for viewing from all corners of the garden, must be dry. A high level of groundwater will adversely affect the durability and strength of the base of the slide. In this case, the groundwater level must be lowered using special drainage.

Do-it-yourself drainage under an alpine slide (step by step guide).

Do-it-yourself alpine slide arrangement scheme

While natural soil shrinkage occurs, you can draw up a diagram, determine the location of boulders and stones on the hill, select the type of vegetation for planting. To create a rock garden you will need:

natural stones, including - pebbles;
coarse sand;
ornamental plants and flowers, including – miniature trees and shrubs;
moss-sphagnum.

Scheme: arrangement of an alpine hill

Scheme and detailed plan, on which the rock garden will be created, should take into account that the construction of the slide is carried out at a height of 1 to 3 m.

Advice. With a rock garden height of more than 1 meter, a slide core is required.

Alpine slide is a very unusual element of the garden, changing its appearance several times during the season.

Scheme: alpine slide in layers

Stones for rock garden - choose the right one

Usually, when building a slide, natural stones of rock are used: basalt, granite, sandstone, limestone, as well as rare rocks characterized by low porosity and strength. It is undesirable to use tuff, shell rock and dolomite for slides. These rocks highly absorb water, as they are porous, so the stones quickly collapse.

Stones for an alpine slide must be durable, of different sizes

The shape and color of the stones are of great importance. It is worth avoiding rounded stones, as well as overly acute-angled boulders. Stones of different colors look harmonious only on alpine slides of a certain type. The classic version of the arrangement of the slide involves the use of stones of the same breed, but different shapes.

Scheme: deepening stones for an alpine slide

The stones are placed on the hill in such a way that the edges in the viewing area have the most attractive shape. It is necessary to disguise stones with defects, arranging them in the most favorable way. Stones should be laid taking into account the size and weight, following the most harmonious appearance created hill. Stones should be placed randomly, most naturally, so it is better not to use stone blocks and artificial boulders made in an industrial way.

Do-it-yourself Alpine slide - selection of plants

The arrangement of an alpine slide, especially the selection of plants, requires additional knowledge about plant varieties and agricultural technology. Plants are selected depending on the type of slide. rocky hill for sunny places requires certain drought-resistant plants. The classic version of the rock garden provides for the planting of miniature trees and shrubs, perennial herbs and flower crops.

Example #1. Making an alpine slide with plants

Perfectly proved themselves when planting in rockeries: fescue, lavender, rock beetroot, geranium, stonecrop, iberis, young, backache. Small-bulbous plants planted in small groups feel great on rocky hills: crocuses, scilla, miniature hyacinths, undersized tulips and hazel grouses. Small-bulbous plants bloom in the spring, when there are still few plants in bloom and the hill looks unpresentable. Everything changes when bright, blooming crocuses appear from under the snow.

Example #2. Plants for an alpine slide

To create a highly decorative slide, it is required to provide for a landing perennials having different periods flowering. Then the slide will look unusual and decorative throughout the entire period. Riot of colors flowering plants will please the eye from spring to autumn.

It is especially important to consider the height of the plants used when planting in rockeries. Too tall specimens should not oppress undersized varieties, thereby affecting their full development. Bright plants should be placed in the foreground, in the viewing area.

The composition is based on miniature trees, especially conifers: spruces, junipers, cypresses, pines. These plants have a different crown shape and look great on an alpine hill.

Decorative flowering shrubs used for arranging an alpine slide: rhododendrons, erica, blueberries and lingonberries.

From perennial crops perfectly complement the alpine hill: bergenia, astilba, daylily (undersized), drooping reeds.

Alpine hill surrounded by lawn

Tip: when shaping rockeries, preference should be given to decorative deciduous plants that retain their beauty even in the absence of flowers.

How to properly care for rock garden?

In the first year, it will be necessary to backfill the soil several times, which is washed out during irrigation and precipitation, and also, if necessary, to strengthen the stones. View various videos and photos taken by professional landscape designers will help to complete these works correctly. The soil is poured neatly and compacted.

The soil should be evenly distributed between the stones

Plant care consists in timely watering, removing faded flowers, damaged leaves, pruning. During the season, plants should be fertilized with appropriate fertilizers several times. Do not use nitrogen fertilizers, they cause rapid plant growth, which should be avoided when planting on a hill.

Advice. Do not overfeed plants on an alpine hill. Plants should not be overgrown.

Plants are watered carefully with a hose or watering can with a spray, while making sure that the soil does not erode.

It is desirable to strengthen loosened and falling stones.

Various small reservoirs will look very beautiful on the alpine hill

If necessary, plants are treated with pesticides. Diseased plants that cannot be cured must be removed with the replacement of the soil at the place of their growth.

When transplanting plants, you can use a special drug, epin, to relieve stress.

Alpine slides in landscape design

An alpine slide that does not require painstaking care will be a wonderful decoration for everything. suburban area

The design of park areas increasingly includes the creation of decorative rock gardens. Rockery serves as a continuation of rocky gardens, harmonizes perfectly with ponds, bridges, decorative lanterns, lawns and vertical gardening. Creating an alpine slide with your own hands in a summer cottage will perfectly decorate the territory, bring charm and variety to the landscape design of the site.

How to create an alpine slide from scratch: video

Alpine hill: photo

Alpine slides always attract attention with their beauty and unusual design. They not only complement landscape ideas, but also able to set the tone for the entire garden, and the quantity original solutions will help in the organization of individual projects that can satisfy the most demanding taste.

Alpine slide design and decoration

Having decided to make an alpine slide in your own summer cottage, you first need to decide how it should look. The most popular today are:

Alpine slide with a waterfall;
Alpine hill with a pond;
Alpine hill of conifers.

Having decided to start creating an alpine slide with a waterfall, you need to prepare the following components:

hoses;
Pump (high efficiency);
sealant;
Geotextile.

You can make an alpine slide with a waterfall yourself, it is only important to know a few basic steps:

Water should be brought to the top of the slide. This will require hoses;
Having finished working with hoses, they must be decorated with stones of different sizes;
The reservoir should be located below:
- Dig a pit;
- Place sand at the bottom, coarse is better;
- Lay geotextile on top;
- Put another layer of sand;
- The next layer is pebbles;
- Next are the big rocks.
When the work is completed, the resulting container must be filled with water;
Connect the pump;
Start system.

When arranging such an alpine slide, it is important to pay attention to the fact that the soil must have a special composition: ½ part of peat and ½ part of garden soil.

To organize an alpine slide with a pond, you will need:

Film (black);
Sand;
Large stones or cobblestones;
Stones for decor.

The sequence of actions for the device of such a slide is as follows:

First you need to dig a small pit;
Remove tree roots and other debris from the pit;
Next, you need to make special recesses around the entire perimeter of the pit;
Lay a black film on the bottom and decorate the perimeter with stones. For this, recesses are needed;
Soil is poured over the film, on which cobblestones will be laid;
Fill the pond with water.

Having decided to make a rock garden from conifers, it is important to know that such a design should look like it was created by nature itself, and you did not put your hands on it. For this reason, conifers are the most suitable plants. Alpine hill for some part consists of stones and cobblestones, and coniferous plants grow well in such conditions in natural nature. Best suited:

Fir subalpine;
Cossack junipers;
Pea-bearing cypresses;
Mountain pines;
Cedar salad bowls.

How to make an alpine slide?

The arrangement of alpine slides is not too complicated and such an object landscape design it is quite possible to do it yourself. You just need to know the sequence of actions. Below is an example of a classic alpine slide with several tiers of stones:

The first tier must be executed in the form English letter"V". At the bottom of each tier, large stones should be laid, which will play the role of key ones and prevent small pebbles from sliding and sliding down the slope. Each large stone around is sprinkled with earth so that it is more tightly fixed. After the completion of the device of the 1st tier, a part of the plants is planted;
 Each next tier is made in the same way - a little soil is added, leveled, stones are laid and plants are planted;

In order to properly compose an alpine slide, on each subsequent tier it is necessary to lay stones slightly smaller than on the previous one.

The top should be shaped like a pyramid. For this, stones are used small size, fix as close as possible to each other using the ground;
Then the entire hill needs to be sprinkled with soil a little more to provide additional fixation;
Then you can start planting the remaining trees. For this, it is better to choose coniferous creeping plants. various forms and shades.

The work may seem simple enough, but first you will need to compile detailed diagram future design, as well as a plan for its device. If you are worried that you may not be able to do everything right, then it is better to contact a landscape design specialist.

When developing a scheme on your own, you need to remember that such structures can be arranged at various heights - from 1 to 3 meters. And when digging a foundation pit, it is important to consider that its height should not be less than 30 cm, since in the end it will shrink a little (about ¼ of its own height), which should not spoil the composition.

Alpine slide scheme includes:

Black pine;
Juniper "Gold Star";
Thuya "Teddy";
Barberry thunberg;
Five-leaf girlish grape;
Buzulnik toothed;
Plantain "Rubra";
Thyme;
styloid phlox;
Sheep.

Alpine hills, photo gallery

By entrusting the work to professionals, you can get very beautiful design solutions. Here are some of them:

Alpine slides:

In the photo, the second stage is the installation of stones and backfilling with fertile soil
Mini alpine slides:
Rockeries and alpine slides:

Video

Decor such as an alpine slide requires not just an idea, but the ability to combine plants and their colors. If you don’t want to experiment, refer to the video instructions for building a beautiful alpine slide:

Alpine slide is perhaps the best component of landscape design. Such a decision will not only please the owners of the summer cottage, but also their guests, and the quiet murmur of water will bring peace and a sense of satisfaction.

Rock gardens cannot be imagined without conifers, but some gardeners go further and create compositions entirely consisting of conifers. The desire to use them is understandable - conifers for an alpine slide are simply ideal, they are decorative, unpretentious, retain an attractive appearance all year round and allow you to create a spectacular corner in the garden, even if there is not too much time to take care of the plantings. The main thing is to observe the naturalness and imitation of the natural mountain landscape.

Features of the construction of an alpine hill from coniferous plants

When planting conifers, you need to remember that they need space

Choosing a place, taking into account the conditions necessary for conifers

photophilous;
need space for normal development;
usually grow well on sandy-clay or even stony soils;
unpretentious, but do not like the high level of groundwater.

Unpretentious thuja will decorate any rock garden

Creating drainage and forming a slide

Since coniferous trees for an alpine slide do not like excessive moisture, they must make drainage. To do this, remove the top layer of soil and cover the hill with crushed stone, pebbles, small construction waste. The height of the drainage is from 10 to 20 cm. The soil layer is poured on top and the laying of stones begins. The stones are laid parallel throughout the hill. First, choose a place for larger ones, then put small ones.

Combining different types of conifers is a real art

What types of conifers are suitable for rock garden

For a coniferous rock garden, small trees and shrubs or dwarf species are suitable. Creeping varieties must be present. The combination of different crown shapes and needle colors creates interesting solutions. There is a green, bluish and yellowish shade of needles. Some are bright yellow in color.

Miniature cypress ideal for landscape compositions

Names and photos of the most suitable species

For the middle strip of conifers for an alpine slide, you should choose:

thuja - plants with a dense crown, which tolerates a haircut well. Most of the varieties common in Russia come from the western thuja: Danica with a light spherical crown, Filiformis, resembling a cone, Golden Globe with yellow needles. Thuja propagates by cuttings, but it is better for inexperienced gardeners to buy a ready-made seedling;
cypress trees are a fashionable idea for rock gardens from Europe (hedges from this plant are popular in Britain). Not all varieties are hardy. The easiest way to grow Lawson's cypress and pea. It is better to overwinter low plants that can hide under the snow. Cypress trees love to spray, but the water should not be icy;
spruces - many undersized varieties have been bred: dwarf - up to 1.5 m, mini-varieties - up to 1 m, micro-specimens - up to 30 cm. For example, the Albert Globe variety with a crown resembling a ball squeezed from above grows by 50 cm in 10 years. Very beautiful spruce Nidiformis with silvery needles. Attractive varieties of Canadian spruce with small dove-gray needles and a pyramidal crown;
pines of all kinds are valued by gardeners. Dwarf and slow-growing varieties have been developed. Fluffy bushes of Scots pine Watereri or mountain pine Cobold with emerald needles fit perfectly into the landscape of rock gardens. The slow-growing dwarf Globosa Viridis reaches a height of only one meter and is suitable for a small garden;
junipers of all kinds. Pyramidal plants are planted both singly and in small groups, creeping ones are arranged so that they have room to grow. They cover the soil and contrast with higher varieties. In winter, many junipers need shelter with spruce branches.