A flowerbed made of stones will look harmonious both in contrast, surrounded by lush greenery, and on a sandy island, and will naturally fit into a textured corner of wild nature. The project will perfectly complement the beautiful natural landscape with rocky paths and paved paths, a cozy patio area, an open barbecue area, and will become a colorful accent of the retaining walls. Regardless of the tasks set and the complexity of the conceived options, when creating structures made of stone, it is necessary to carefully consider many points.
Flowerbed compositions using stones are practical and durable, universally fit into any style of garden or summer cottage
Advantages of flower beds made of stones
You're probably wondering why rock beds are so popular. Such flower beds received their recognition for a reason.
Firstly, stone is a very strong and durable material, so stone flower beds will last much longer than others.
Secondly, decorating a flower bed with stones is a very good design decision.
Stone flower beds can transform the appearance of your dacha for the better.
Slate
It is a plastic, waterproof material. Its distinctive features are:
- layered structure;
- division into separate plates;
- retains its original appearance for decades.
Its condition is not affected by fungi, chemicals and temperature changes. Disadvantages include overpricing, but you can look for substandard ones or wholesale prices.
Types of flower beds made of stones
If you look at photographs of flower beds made of stones, you will understand that there are many types of such flower beds. We will tell you about the main ones:
- Arabesque.
- Rockery.
- Japanese garden.
- Gabion.
- Rock garden.
Here are the main types of stone flower beds. We will tell you about each type in more detail.
Quartzite
This mineral is used for finishing the structure. Its performance properties:
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- reflects light;
- has good strength;
- has a rich palette.
Used to create high flower beds.
Arabesque
This type of stone flower beds is used quite rarely. This is due to the fact that the design of this flower bed is quite formal and suitable for decorating any government buildings.
The arabesque itself looks like a large canvas on which flowers are located. In addition, you can use your imagination and plant flowers so that they are arranged in a pattern.
Let us remind you that this method is one of the most expensive, since the canvas itself is quite large and you will have to plant a lot of flowers.
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In addition to the fact that planting flowers will take a lot of money, they are also very difficult to care for. They only need to be watered using a special hose with a special spray nozzle.
Considering that this method has quite a lot of inconveniences, it also has a plus. The main advantage of this method is that it looks incredibly beautiful and large-scale.
To summarize, this method of laying flower beds is only suitable if you have a fairly large dacha and have a lot of time and money.
But, if you have a rather small dacha area, then it is better to pay attention to other types of stone flower beds.
Some design tips
The stone is characterized by durability, thanks to which for many years, built buildings and decorative finishing inside and outside retain their original properties and external data.
There are a few tips to follow, and the look of your own DIY garden flower beds will serve as seasonal decorations for a long time to come. For what:
- It is recommended to make stone structures reliable, stable and beautiful. That is, the stones must be laid in such a way that over time they cannot damage the plantings by unexpectedly falling apart;
- There is no need to be overly zealous when decorating your structure. The whole secret lies in the simplicity of the flowerbed design. The most seemingly simple execution looks in complete harmony with the surrounding space;
- It is necessary to carefully approach the choice of location for each flower bed, so that the rather massive composite stone structure does not become an obstacle in the future for the execution of other work on the dacha;
- It is necessary to take into account all the conditions when maintaining the flora intended for planting in a stone flowerbed. Let’s say the soil moisture in the area is quite high. Then it is best to make flower beds on a small hill.
Rockery
Quite a beautiful and simple way. It is distinguished by its brightness and color contrast.
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The main plants present in rockeries are greens. As for the stones, the main feature is that the stones are selected in different shapes in order to diversify the appearance.
Making a rockery can be quite simple, here are instructions for making a beautiful rockery.
To begin, decide on the location of the flower bed and dig a trench for the stones.
After this, fill the trench with stones; it is advisable to lay the stones as tightly as possible so that your flowerbed does not fall apart over time. If you cannot fit the stones tightly, then fill the cracks with cement mortar.
Then, compact the stones tightly. If you have cracks in the stones, then lubricate them with sealant.
After the fence is completely secured, you can plant flowers.
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All! Your rock garden is ready!
Preparatory work
Using driven stakes and a thick long string (cord, wire), mark the outlines of the future flower bed, transferring them from the scaled drawing on paper. The sample for the diagram can be copied from a photograph from gardening magazines or you can think of it yourself. It is also worth making at least approximate calculations of material consumption in advance, deciding on the color scheme and choosing suitable plants.
A layer of soil 20-30 cm deep is removed from the site along a slightly larger perimeter than the intended structure. The base is leveled using a building level and reinforced with a metal grid or other rigid frame. For small compositions, it is permissible to cover the bottom with dense agrofibre or membrane. The grating and/or panel is fixed with staples or fastening anchors, the outer edges are covered with plastic or a flange is made to prevent the spread of small lightweight fractions and pebbles. Next, a drainage layer of the foundation is made with coarse sand interspersed with small crushed stone and construction waste, compacted thoroughly and leveled again.
When laying pieces of arbitrary shape, they are adjusted to each other as much as possible to achieve the greatest joint density
When constructing a high or multi-level flower bed, large fragments are laid out first, and smaller ones are installed on them. Periodically check the plane and measure the angle of inclination. The seams between the stones are filled during the laying process, applying the solution directly to the places of their contact, or the internal and external walls are coated with an adhesive compound after completion of the work.
To ensure ease of maintenance and reliability of the flower bed, it is necessary to thoroughly fasten the stones together. Without the use of cement-concrete mixtures, if necessary, the volumetric creation can be disassembled, moved or remodeled in the future, but in this case, to increase stability and to avoid accidental collapse, it is more advisable to limit ourselves to a minimalist structure. Here it is quite justified to assemble a wide flower bed with compacting soil filling the cracks and free space, as well as container planting of “green inhabitants”.
After the building is folded, it needs to be given at least a day or two to shrink and dry. Then the soil is poured and the plants are planted.
The final stage of work is finishing, for example, filling the area around the flowerbed itself or the plants planted on it with gravel or bark
Gabions made of durable wire mesh with anti-corrosion properties are usually filled with uniform fragments of rubble stone.
Japanese garden
This species is very special, as it came to us straight from a country where gardens are very common. The Japanese garden is not very common in our country due to the complexity of its construction.
As a rule, the overall composition takes a very long time to assemble and is not limited to just stones and flowers. The general appearance can be complemented by figures in the form of various animals, or garden gnomes.
Unfortunately, such flower beds are not very suitable for Russian gardens. This is because our harsh climate does not allow some plants to grow.
As for stones, there is little choice. Smooth decorative stones are mainly used for flower beds. The stones themselves are taken in medium or small sizes.
Pebbles
It is famous for its minimal cost; it is often used in the design of flower beds. Has advantages:
- beautiful view;
- smooth surface;
- variety of colors.
This material allows you to create contours. Pebbles complement the decorative design.
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Gabion
Gabion is one of the most popular types of flower beds. This species is unusual in that it is a kind of container in which flowers are immersed.
Fences are made of metal or aluminum wire. The stones that are poured inside the container should be small in size so as not to give the flowerbed a sloppy appearance.
Gabions come in different shapes and sizes. The most common shape is cubic. But, especially inventive individuals make gabions in the shape of a snake or a labyrinth.
So, you can adjust the design of such a flower bed. It all depends on your personal preferences. You need to plant low plants that grow at a moderate speed.
Avoid planting aggressive plants whose growth is difficult to control. There is no need to purchase special decorative stones for gabions. It will be enough to choose completely ordinary stones. The main thing is that they fit in size and shape.
It is necessary to fill the flower beds with earth so that the flowers that are planted in the gabion do not become loose and are not broken by wind or rain.
Granite
This material has high strength. It is characterized by the following properties:
- stable in humid environments;
- has a beautiful surface;
- has a long service life.
Disadvantages include the ability to oxidize the soil and high cost. This is taken into account when choosing plants.
Rock garden
As you might have guessed from the name, a flowerbed is a small hill of flowers and stones. You most likely thought that this flowerbed looked very sloppy and ugly. But this is fundamentally not true.
If you choose the right stones and flowers for your rock garden, you will get a pretty beautiful flower bed that will decorate your dacha.
Due to the fact that the flower garden has a multi-level shape, stones need to be selected in different sizes. It is also important that the stones should look organic next to each other. Depending on what kind of dacha you have, you need to make a rock garden of the appropriate shape.
In general, this is a fairly universal flowerbed that is suitable for any area. The main thing is to learn the technique of correctly laying stones on top of each other. This should be done as the size increases.
As for plants, you need to use perennials that will last you a long time.
As for care, everything is not so simple. You need to care for both stones and plants. Yellowed leaves need to be removed from flowers so that healthy leaves do not die.
The main task when caring for stones is to analyze the stability of the entire structure. Simply put, you need to check whether the stones lie securely on top of each other.
These are the main types of flower beds made of stones, which are the most famous and widespread. Make your choice yourself.
We will advise you to experiment and eventually you will find a flowerbed that will look perfect in your dacha.
Important Layout Aspects
Beautiful flower beds can be placed in any area of the site; it is only important to remember what specific expectations are placed on a particular structure. For example, unique and original arabesques will advantageously decorate sloping slopes.
Tall, multi-level flower beds look best in the center of the garden. Arabesques can add charm to the recreation area.
Sandstone
It is a good building material with a porous structure. Has advantages:
- removes excess moisture;
- allows the soil to breathe;
- has a variety of colors.
Large stones look impressive. Disadvantages include rapid aging of the material, destruction and loss of attractive appearance.
Shell rock
This is limestone consisting of calcium salts. It also contains mollusk shells, hence the name. It has a fairly soft sedimentary structure.
The advantage of this breed is that rodents do not like it, which means they will not spoil the flower bed, which is very important for country buildings.
Shell rock is recommended to be used to create a flower garden for plants that prefer high acidity of the soil. The disadvantage is that over time it begins to crumble.
Limestone
It has a porous surface and is painted in light colors. Used as a building material or for decorating a finished structure.
Fragile, easily susceptible to mechanical stress. Moss is planted in the cracks that appear.
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Flagstone
The shape of the plates is almost the same size. It has a porous-layered structure. Calmly tolerates sudden changes in temperature conditions and is durable.
How to place a flower garden
It is important not only to know how to make a flower bed, but also where it is best to place it. To do this, follow some rules:
- Stone flower beds should not be in the way. Their main function is decoration, so the best place for them would be an area in the center of the territory or along the fence;
- The flowerbed should be simple in shape. The simpler the better;
- If you think it’s better to make one large flower bed or two small ones, then it’s better to go with the first option. It will be easier;
- Planting plants in a flowerbed should correspond to their needs for space, light and moisture;
- It's best to choose flowers that require the same growing conditions or that will bloom at different times so that the flower bed doesn't just stay green for a long time.
Imitation meadow
Consists of the same type of boulders. They are placed in a limited horizontal space. Pebbles are placed around large cobblestones.
This is an ideal background for small shrubs, juniper, thuja.
