Planning a garden to properly arrange it and obtain the required amount of harvest will help solve many problems. Inexperienced summer residents and gardeners, having planted their own convenient garden, complain that there is not the required abundance of fruits and vegetables that they were counting on.
3D layout option for a plot of 15 acres with the location of a garden, house and vegetable garden
How to plan a garden and dacha plot
Site planning is considered the most important stage in its arrangement. The planning of a summer cottage and garden plot directly begins with a preliminary study of the soil where garden and vegetable crops are to be grown, and the climatic conditions that affect the number of fruits. If the soil is excessively clayey or contains sand impurities, then you need to additionally add peat to it, feed it with black soil, other substances and fertilizers, on which the proper nutrition of the roots will directly depend.
In the climate, the fundamental factors that negatively affect the fruiting process are:
- excess humidity;
- frosty winters;
- spring frosts.
Therefore, it is important to select trees and crops that are most suitable for a particular region.
Sketch and layout of a vegetable garden, garden and the entire plot of 10 acres
Important aspects are the layout of the garden and the proper selection of trees. Locally selected trees are considered the most frost-resistant. They adapt perfectly to any climatic conditions and give good results, if not annually, then every other year. The hardiest trees are cherries, pears, apples, and plums. Apricots and peaches are considered the least resistant to frost and high humidity.
Cherry does not tolerate closely located groundwater at all, and if reclamation is not carried out in time, then in just a few years it will dry out.
Planning for the arrangement of a small suburban area
There are a variety of options for planning a summer cottage and garden, therefore, when selecting the required assortment of trees and plants, it is necessary to take into account their future productivity.
An example of planning a vegetable garden on a small plot
To decide how many trees need to be planted on a garden plot, you must first mark out the dacha plot, taking into account the existing buildings. This must be done because every object casts a shadow, so when planting bushes, trees and other crops in the shade of buildings, they will not bear fruit, but will be drawn into the area of natural light. This will continue until the top of the plants is slightly higher than the barrier that limits access to natural light.
Therefore, on the developed plan it is necessary to indicate the height of each existing building and the cardinal directions. It should be noted that the shadow will most likely be located on the east and west sides, tapering somewhat to the south. It is necessary to shade the places on the diagram where the shadow is more than half of the day. These places are not suitable for planting plants.
In shady places you can lay decorative paths, arrange lawns, a pond, and make flower beds. In order for trees to provide a good harvest, the shade area must be excluded from the planting plan.
Front garden
A properly designed front garden under the windows of a house is more than half of the pleasant visual impression made by the garden. It is this kind of front garden that creates the feeling of painstaking work done on the territory. In this case, the rest of the area can generally be left as a lawn surrounded by bushes. And instead of flower beds, in this case it would be logical to create mixborders with a free plant arrangement. These, even if overgrown with weeds, will still look attractive.
As for varieties, you need to choose plants that are resistant to the local climate for mixborders. And you should make sure that they are combined with each other according to:
- color;
- height;
- and form.
The best place to design such “lazy flower beds” is at the intersection of paths, where mixborders complicate the image of the garden, making it more meaningful and thoughtful.
How to combine a garden and a vegetable garden
Planning a vegetable garden is considered a fairly important stage, because it is imperative to correctly distribute the usable area. The program for designing and planning a site begins with the idea of directly arranging the beds, which must be ideal. If you need a layout for your vegetable garden and garden, then you need to make two separate diagrams that will display your dacha plot at different times of the year. Thus, it is possible to achieve a more competent distribution of free space. When making calculations, you need to take into account not only the area of the dacha plot itself, but also take into account the fact that the planted crops can grow over time.
Drawing and layout of a plot of 6 acres with a combination of garden and vegetable garden
In addition, it is worth remembering that planting vegetable and garden crops should not be done too densely. You need to think about where the vegetable garden will be located on the dacha plot being developed. Experienced gardeners recommend planting all crops on the south side, however, if this is not possible, then it is worth selecting sunny areas, but with some periods of shade.
It is imperative to take into account the rules for planting each plant, its compatibility with neighboring crops, the need for natural sunlight and fertilizer, and the frequency of watering.
The planning of the garden plot is carried out taking into account the fruiting periods of all existing trees and shrubs. It is best to place all crops in the garden and vegetable garden taking into account the periods of their full ripening. The scheme for planting all crops at the dacha must certainly be planned very competently. In order to think through everything correctly, you need to prepare a photo of your dacha with the adjacent land.
The fourth season from the beginning of the development of virgin lands
In May 2013, work had not yet begun, the site looked like this.
At the beginning of July, they got around to the long-suffering tea house and the same contractor began building a firewood shed.
In August, they began installing wooden gratings along the corrugated sheet fence, and this process ended in 2021 - “because it’s expensive.”
In the garden, something began to emerge only towards the end of October - the heathers and turfs are already showing themselves as a bright spot.
What models can there be for planning a garden?
There may be a variety of options for planning a garden, but with each of them you must take into account:
- number of designated acres;
- soil characteristics of the garden and vegetable garden;
- required number of arranged beds.
Layout and placement of beds in a vegetable garden measuring 4 acres
Decorative design of a summer cottage is ideal for those who prefer arranging a rather unpretentious garden and vegetable garden, which implies the use of mainly ornamental crops and green spaces. Often this model is in the shape of a circle. It should contain exquisite beautiful flowers and other plants to fully show off their beauty.
Outside, a certain design is created, consisting of green spaces. It is best if these are low shrubs so that the beauty of the planted flowers can be fully demonstrated. If the size of the dacha plot is quite impressive, then fruit trees are planted behind in a semicircle, the number of which directly depends on the area of the proposed model. A rather interesting option is the rectangular shape.
Drawing and site layout
The peculiarity of this model implies that in this case you need to plan the garden and vegetable garden together. Often, the design of such a summer cottage involves the use of a square shape. The peculiarity of such a plot is that it is possible to plant as many vegetable beds as the size of the plot allows.
You can place a few berry bushes next to garden crops. For the best view of your summer cottage, it is worth planting additional fruit trees, but placing them a little away from all other crops. The peculiarity of this layout is that despite the abundance of species, the original form remains.
Sketch and layout of plantings on a plot of 5 acres
An interesting and unusual option is the free layout of the existing land. The shape and size of such a plot depend directly on the available acres. When developing such a scheme, you need to consider whether it is possible to combine several different crops with fruit trees.
If the area of land for a vegetable garden remains quite small, then it is best to use the method of arranging vertical beds. Tall vegetables and legumes will thrive on nets and various supports. When organizing a vegetable garden, it is necessary to take into account the compatibility of crops and the need for well-arranged natural lighting. In addition, it is worth considering that to design a garden plot, you do not need to plant old trees. In this case, young seedlings are quite suitable.
Season five - the house is ready, in the garden, if not the final, then the main
Compared to May 2013, in May 2014 the site looks “more cheerful”, but if you don’t take care of the reservoir and only appear intermittently, it takes on a very unpresentable appearance.
Mid June.
The mentioned attempt to crossbreed a tea house with a decking board, after which the contractor was sent from the site. But the terrace board came in handy later.
By the end of September, the house is finally under an adequate roof, and the rest of the garden areas are looking good. All the work in the house had just been completed, and Alexander had the opportunity to live in it comfortably and spend more time on the site. That is, to work closely with the garden, mainly on your own, attracting performers for some of the work.
The season closes at the end of December.
How to make the best choice for arranging an orchard
Taking into account various kinds of landscape tricks, you can competently arrange your plot of land, taking into account all the norms and requirements. To organize a site with your own hands, you must first correctly select the location of the future orchard, select the types and varieties of trees, while taking into account the existing natural and climatic conditions at the dacha.
When arranging an orchard and vegetable garden, you need to remember that the depth of groundwater should be no more than 1.5 m. Otherwise, to significantly lower the groundwater level, you will have to make certain channels or lay drainage pipes. Trees located on land with high groundwater levels will:
- grow poorly;
- produce a rather low yield;
- does not tolerate winter frosts well;
- be susceptible to fungal diseases.
Design and layout of a garden on a plot of 10 acres.
Plants located in the country will help determine the acidity of the soil. Those areas where cereals and legumes do well are ideal for gardening. If there is a lot of sorrel on the ground at the dacha, this means that the soil is quite acidic, which can have a bad effect on the normal fruiting of trees. You can reduce the acidity of the soil by adding lime to it. The program for arranging a garden and vegetable garden involves a preliminary study of the topography of the site.
The best option for arranging a garden is the southern side, and the worst is the northern side.
There is no need to locate the garden at the lowest point of the plot of land, since this is where cold air will concentrate, which can cause serious harm to many plants. When deciding on the location of the garden, it is necessary to take into account the orientation of the cardinal points.
Ten years later – garden in spring-summer 2021
It is impossible to cover more than fifty pages of a topic within one article; for details, refer to the source. But ten years after the start of work, the site looks like this.
And this is last season.
Despite all the difficulties, mistakes and rework, Arnau achieved the desired result, but does not plan to stop there. As you know, there is no limit to perfection, and no matter how many years pass, something changes in the garden every season and will continue to change.
On the topic, we have an article about how a landscape designer equipped his site. The corresponding thread on the forum will help you avoid at least common mistakes when planning. In the video - the first experience of landscape design on your own.
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Arrangement of an orchard on a plot of land
Transforming the common space around your country house into a truly excellent place for a comfortable holiday is the dream of many. To get an excellent result, when arranging a garden with your own hands, you need to carefully consider the design and take into account various kinds of landscape tricks. First of all, you need to identify the required style in which the exquisite garden will be designed. In order for an orchard to be not only decorative, but also beneficial, you need to choose plants based on the area of a certain area.
Scheme of arrangement of an orchard on the site
The ideal option is a plot of 15 acres, because in this case it is possible to realize all your preferences. Based on the existing specific conditions of the summer cottage, you need to select one of the available types of layout in order to achieve the truly required result.
For those who prefer laconic lines, rectangular ones are perfect. This is an ideal option for modern summer cottages. They will create a certain classic feel. Rectangular motifs are indeed most advisable to use on fairly long elongated sections. This location is especially ideal on a summer cottage plot measuring 15 acres. It is quite possible to visually enlarge a small summer cottage using an interesting diagonal layout.
An example of zoning a small summer cottage
When drawing up a plan for arranging a summer house, you must first apply a grid of certain diagonal lines on it, located directly at an angle of 45 degrees directly to the wall of the house or the fence being arranged. Additionally, you can beautifully arrange a hedge using stone flower beds and a decorative fence made of bushes.
A dacha plot of 15 acres in size can be arranged according to your own wishes, fully translating all your ideas and desires into reality. The free layout in the garden allows you to correctly arrange the plants, while creating a unique composition. Using landscape tricks, you can increase the beauty of the area.
To give a unique look to your summer cottage, it is best to use original flower beds and flower beds of continuous flowering with properly selected perennials.
Distressed gazebo-tea house
Back in 2010, simultaneously with the bathhouse project, Arnau commissioned the architect to design a gazebo, also known as a tea house. There are no complaints about the bathhouse.
Things didn't work out with the house from the very beginning. And they had to “pull it out” from the designer, and there was no luck with the implementation.
ArnauFORUMHOUSE Member
The first contractor stole the advance payment for it, and then fed me breakfast for a year. The second one made it so that the house could fall from the slightest breath of wind. The third strengthened the house for one season, then left everything to chance. In the second season I started making a roof - from terraced hardwood boards, terrace corrugated boards! You have never seen anything worse in the area of tea houses, believe me. And only Vladimir was able to finish the unfortunate tea house and cover it with larch shingles. For which I am very grateful to him.
Visualization.
During the summer of 2011, the garden did not undergo any major changes - the main efforts were devoted to the construction of a site for the tea house and a pond in front of it. The area of the reservoir is about 30 m², depth is up to 1.2-1.4 m, decorative purpose. Having already covered the pond bowl with a membrane, they finally brought in a batch of shrubs and trees. This time, Arnau strictly monitored the quality of the planting material and chose it from “far from the cheapest nursery.” At the end of October, we planted everything we bought and completed the stone wall that should separate the “forest” part of the site.
At this stage, the understanding came that we would have to change the contractor again, since the current one is more likely a “foreman, not a designer,” which causes a lot of problems. Yes, the team did some things well, but for this they had to literally stand their ground. And when there was no such opportunity, the work either stalled, or the result turned out to be far from planned.
Planning a garden at your dacha
The program for planning a garden at the dacha implies that it is advisable to plant fresh herbs and a variety of vegetable crops. To arrange a garden, you should first draw up a clear plan that will help you really properly arrange your free space and additionally save money and time.
The area in the dacha reserved for planting vegetable crops should be well lit, because they are all quite light-loving. Vegetables directly need careful and competent watering, especially in hot weather. Having previously decided on the shape of the garden, you need to carefully plan the arrangement of beds made of plastic panels. The arrangement of paths directly between the beds is of great importance.
Original arrangement of beds and paths on a slope
Before you begin selecting garden crops, you need to carefully study the soil available on the site and the requirements for it for individual crops. For good potato growth on a plot, light sandy soils are ideal. It is advisable to use mineral and organic fertilizers as fertilizers. Cucumbers and zucchini will grow ideally if you first add a variety of organic fertilizers to the soil.
To create the best fertile vegetable garden, it is really important to correctly combine vegetable crops. When planning the land, it is imperative to take into account fire and sanitary standards and rules.
Important landing nuances
When planting, be sure to ensure the correct depth of the root collar. If it is buried, the tree may dry out for no reason after 5-10 years (especially on heavy soils). On light sandy loam soils (especially in the south), it is better to bury the root collar somewhat deeper into the soil (8-10 cm), “hiding” it from the upper drying layer. In seedlings that form adventitious roots or shoots (figs, currants, plums, apple trees), deepening does not interfere with the normal development of the tree. Seedlings of these crops quickly rebuild their root system, often on insufficiently moist soils.
For self-rooted seedlings, the root collar should be located at the level of the planting hole or 2-3 cm higher (no more). In grafted seedlings, the grafting site is located 4-8 cm above the root collar. Beginning gardeners often confuse the root collar and grafting and plant deep down to the grafting site. In this case, the root collar is deeply buried in the soil and the tree dies early.
If you have correctly identified the root collar and planted the seedling so that it rises 4-5 cm above the soil, then the tree is planted correctly. Compact the soil around the planting. At a distance from the trunk with a radius of 30-50 cm, make a roller 5-7 cm high and fill in another 2-3 buckets of water. Along with the absorbed water, the seedling will also be drawn into the soil. Make sure that the root collar remains 2-3 cm above the soil. If necessary, add soil after watering and mulch with a small layer of fine mulch (peat or humus, sawdust). If you bought live seedlings and planted them correctly, in 2-3 weeks your garden will turn green with the first young leaves.
Apple trees on trellises. © starkbros
How to determine the root collar
- For a young seedling, use a wet cloth to thoroughly wipe the lower part of the trunk and the beginning of the root. The root collar is defined as a transition from greenish color (trunk) to light brown (root zone).
- For older seedlings (3-4 years old), wipe the lower part of the trunk with a wet rag and, after the wet area has dried, carefully scrape off the bark with a knife at the site of the subtle expansion of the trunk into the root. If at the site of expansion the scraped-off color of the young subcortical layer is green, then it is the stem, and if it is yellowish, then it is the root zone. The place where one color changes to another is the root collar.
- In some seedlings, the place where the upper lateral roots originate from the trunk is clearly visible. This is the root collar. The origin of the roots should remain above the level of the planting hole.
What not to do when planting seedlings
- When planting, you cannot use half-rotted manure, only humus mixed with soil.
- You should not frequently water seedlings with small amounts of water. They only dry out the soil in the planting hole.
- Do not water seedlings with cold water (from an artesian).
- It is impossible to fertilize plants in the first year after planting, especially with nitrogen fertilizers.
- After planting, you cannot mulch the tree trunk circle with a large layer of mulch. In the event of prolonged rains, water accumulated in the mulch will cause damping off of the young bark and the death of the plant. A thick layer of mulch is applied in the fall, which will protect the soil from freezing and the death of seedlings from low temperatures.
