Do-it-yourself stone garden on a small plot. Japanese garden in the country

A rock garden is not just a beautiful corner of nature, but also a place for meditation where you can relax and clear your mind from everyday worries. Of course, not everyone can organize a real garden.

In this article we will tell you how to make a miniature rock garden with your own hands, even if you live in a one-room apartment and move often.

In our project we will try to follow the basic canons by which real rock gardens are built. We will have an area with grass, of course, the stones themselves, a Buddha statue and white sand, which we will tidy up with the help of small rakes.

Materials and tools for making a miniature rock garden:

• deep frame, casket or decorative box
• artificial moss
• thin polystyrene foam
• cardboard
• black marker
• stationery knife
• scissors
• clean sand
• pebbles and stones
• miniature rakes

How to make a miniature rock garden

Make sure that all the items are the right size and that they can be placed in the box or frame of your choice.

Using a marker, draw a wavy line on a thin sheet of polystyrene foam at an angle of about 45 degrees. Cut the corner of the polystyrene foam along the marking line. To do this, use a stationery knife. Make sure the cut piece fits into the frame or box along its short side. If necessary, cut off excess.

Place the polystyrene foam blank on a sheet of artificial moss and trace its outline. Cut out the artificial moss according to the markings.

Apply glue to the base of the artificial moss and fix it on top of the polystyrene foam.

Glue the polystyrene foam with moss into a frame or box. Fill the part of the box that does not have “grass” with sand. Try to keep the sand a few millimeters below the surface of the artificial moss.

Glue pebbles and a Buddha statue to the artificial moss. The lawn of the rock garden can be decorated with decorative flowers.

If desired, you can organize an island of grass in the sand. To do this, cut a blank from a sheet of artificial moss, glue it to cardboard and place it on the surface of the sand.

Your own country plot gives you the opportunity to fully express your creativity and realize your dreams. One of them may well be a rock garden with your own hands, which you can build thanks to our recommendations. In addition, in the article we will talk about its miniature version.

In the photo - how to make a tabletop stone garden and on summer cottage

General information

Imitating the natural landscape of mountain slopes with the help of rocky gardens is one of the most popular ways of arranging suburban areas and gardens. These are retaining walls and steps from wild stone, on which greenery has already clearly appeared. It is considered a special skill to create a composition in such a way that it merges with part of the mountain landscape and seems old and long abandoned.

Often a Japanese stone garden is combined with an artificial one. This makes it possible not only to install an aesthetic element on the territory, but also to solve the problem of space on the site.

The main prerogative of stone gardens is:

• creating a secluded cozy place in a small area;
• division of the site into separate zones;
• hiding unattractive objects.

The instructions allow the construction of artificial structures and full use of the natural unevenness of the terrain, which are very often considered disadvantages of the site. Therefore, you can have a beautiful stone garden even in the most unsuitable territory.

For example, if the slope of a ravine or a ditch spoils the entire suburban area with its appearance, they can be used as the basis for a rock garden or rock garden, which we will help you create.

Species

Although there are several types of rock gardens, they have a main idea that unites them: flowers and plants are planted among rocks on a mountainside. Thanks to this, a spectacular combination of stone and flora, complementary to each other.

The most popular and widespread is a stone garden in the form of an alpine slide or rock garden. It is an artificially created hill with stones or a natural slope, where herbaceous plants and shrubs “emerge” between the cobblestones (the main element). The latter complement the blocks and emphasize their color and texture.

Initially, low-growing perennials and various bulbous plants were used for artificial alpine slides. Currently grown in rock gardens various types plants and flowers, guided only by your taste.

It is not difficult to create, but the work will take a long time. A rock garden differs from a classic flower bed with annuals, as they function for several years, becoming better every year.

How to create a Japanese-style rock garden

Contemplation and gradual unity with nature, a special philosophy of existence, the desire for naturalness, symbolism and minimalism - this is what a Japanese stone garden is.

If you are tired of the riot of colors and diversity, create a calm corner on your site where you can simply:

• relax;
• relieve stress;
• think alone;
• calm down.

To create a site, you will not need to carefully prepare, since the basic requirements for it are minimal.

1. Start your Japanese garden by choosing a location and layout of the area.
2. Make good soil drainage with your own hands, select an area with optimal sunlight and ventilation.
3. The most important elements are water and stones. But, everything should be done as close as possible to natural contours, so do not arrange a pond in the form of a square, as such are not usually found.

Advice: every little thing should be taken into account; maintain special harmony when choosing elements so that the final result will please you.

1. The space should not be cluttered; strive for symmetry and harmony.
2. Decide in advance - you will use the plants only in the warm season or it will be a winter garden, then the price may be higher.
3. When choosing materials for a recreation area, follow a number of certain rules:

• It is advisable to select cobblestones of the same type, so we recommend taking 2-3 large stones rather than a mountain of small ones;
• the basis is large material;
• use small to emphasize it;
• do not bury cobblestones deep into the ground - keep it natural;
• Place the stone upright without pushing it too far into the ground.

As an option, you can install the main boulder in the center of the site, and slightly smaller ones along its edges. This will allow us to identify the plan with the triad in Buddhism.

The Japanese stone garden, unlike other options, also serves as a place for meditation. You can show it off to your friends, relax in it, get rid of stress, find peace and achieve inner harmony.

Rockery

Another option for a rock garden, which experts recommend starting with for inexperienced gardeners. Unlike an alpine hill, the area here is flat and few plants are usually planted on it. The decorative effect is based on the beauty of the stone.

We recommend filling the free space between individual stone fragments with a layer of gravel, which will effectively shade the stone. For example, light gravel and dark cobblestone are successfully combined, and multi-colored river pebbles are combined with light limestone.

Tip: place a fertile layer of soil under the pebbles, which will provide nutrition for the root system of the plants.

It happens that a rock garden has an architectural form. For example, it represents steps made of flat large stones that are framed by creeping plants characteristic of mountainous areas.

Tip: you can create a complex terraced rock garden when the natural topography of the area contains a slope facing the surface of the rocks.
This will be able to unite all natural objects - stone material, shrubs and plants planted next to it.

Elements of stone gardens

To improve the territory, you must also have:

retaining wall

A common element of a rock garden. Set up as a support for a terrace. Functionality comes first, decorativeness comes second. Unpretentious plants are planted in the cracks between the blocks. The structures allow for vertical landscaping of the site, as well as dividing it into separate zones. Very often included in the alpine slide.

Terrace

Complex view of a stone garden. The reinforcement is provided by retaining walls of different heights. Typically the system consists of the following elements: retaining wall; alpine slope; stone steps. They create a terraced garden on the slope of a ravine, river bank or slope. You can choose a variety and their combinations. Typically these are dwarf trees and shrubs, as well as climbing herbaceous plants. Heathers, Ericas and low-growing rhododendrons are common.

Small rock garden

A miniature rock garden is a relatively new element in landscape design. It has become widespread in small areas or if it needs to be arranged for a short time.

Sometimes its base is a stone of an interesting shape, which has a natural depression. You can also use an old basket, trough, or a specially made hole in the ground. Such a fancy structure is even made in portable containers and placed in a convenient place, for example, on a home terrace.

Their originality lies in complete imitation appearance alpine slide or rock garden. Super-dwarf plants, mosses and lichens are selected for such mini-gardens. The same applies to stone material, which should also be miniature.

Tip: a piece of limestone will look especially beautiful if you can see natural cracks and depressions that imitate natural rock.

Conclusion

Of the many types of gardens for a suburban area, stone is distinguished by its “philosophical” orientation, in which the Japanese version is most successful. Today you learned how to make a rock garden at your dacha with your own hands, how such structures differ from each other and from others, what basic and additional elements are used in them.

The concept of innovative miniature rock gardens that you can even carry with you has also been introduced. The video in this article will help you find additional information on this topic.

Recently, new trends have emerged in the design of a summer cottage. Flower beds are being replaced by fantasy mini-gardens. One of these compositions is a rock garden - an extraordinary rocky lawn that you can build with your own hands.

The combination of austere, cold stone with delicate plants creates the feeling of being in a corner of the wild. Therefore, the rock garden becomes a suitable place for relaxation. This is a worthy decoration for every suburban area and a wonderful way to hide the imperfections of the relief. Even the most unattractive ditch or ravine slope can become the basis for original garden stones.

In general, a rocky garden at a summer cottage has several important benefits:

• creating a cozy, secluded place even in a small area;
• dividing the garden into functional zones;
• camouflage unsightly objects.

Creating a rock garden with your own hands at your dacha is quite simple - to do this you need to look at photos of original stone compositions and follow the recommendations of experts.

Principles of composition

The basis of a rock garden is usually large stones, and small ones are used for backfill. There are several principles for the location of objects stone composition. They are based on zen buddhism concepts with an emphasis on concentration and meditation.

1. The main principle is the orientation of the structure around only one points of contemplation. This point is selected according to the time of day when the person is in the garden. Typically the point of contemplation is located on the north side, but other variations are also suggested.
2. The next important principle is maintaining a contrast between the empty and filled areas.
3. In addition, it is necessary to take into account compliance asymmetry in the garden concept. In this regard, the Japanese even calculate the reflection of objects in the water and their shadows.
4. Another principle - odd number of elements rocky garden. In the classic version, objects should be located according to a regular heptagon.
5. One of the basic principles is to balance vertical and horizontal lines. There should be more stones placed in a horizontal position than vertical ones, of which there are already quite a lot in the garden: trees, fences, structures.

In a rocky garden, attention is focused on the stones, the feeling of unshakable natural strength and amazing beauty. A few plants perform only one role - they emphasize certain edges of stone fragments, increasing the impression of a combination of grace and strength. The purpose of such a rock garden is to encourage a person to think about eternity and feel a sense of peace.

DIY rock garden: step-by-step instructions

A rock garden in a country house is usually built where there is an interesting topography. It can be placed in the gap between the fence and the house, which will create a smooth transition from the yard to the buildings. Some forgotten and hidden corners of the garden are also great for this purpose. If you have a site with a steep slope, you can decorate it with skillfully placed rocks, between which you can place colorful flower arrangements.

In Japan, this art is practiced by special craftsmen who take into account all surrounding factors - the position of the site, the size, type and color of the stone. But since for Europeans a rock garden is primarily a decorative element, the process of creating it is greatly simplified.

• Creating a rock garden with your own hands starts with preparing the appropriate foundation. At the summer cottage, the contours of the future composition are indicated using rope and pegs. It is not recommended to make a rock garden too correct form, it is advisable to arrange it in a natural style.

• Next you can proceed to removing the top layer of soil. The turf is removed with a bayonet shovel to a depth of 8-10 cm.

• From the soil eliminate weeds and, if necessary, treat the soil with herbicides.

• In the hole made, the base for the rock garden is prepared and covered agrofibre and fill out pebbles, gravel or sand.

• The basis of the landscape ensemble is one or several large picturesque stones. To install them, you need dig holes, slightly larger than the base of the boulders.
• Place a layer of gravel on the bottom. Then install the block, and fill the space formed around it with a mixture of fine gravel and soil and carefully compact.

• Using the same principle, smaller stones are laid out, which are also deepened for stability. By choosing small stones of different tones, you can lay out all kinds of patterns.
• The design of a stone garden involves the use of not only stones, but also plants. When planting them, you need to think through everything down to the smallest detail. Large blocks look great with tall plants, and low-growing flowers are suitable for areas with small stones. It is advisable not to overfill the composition with vegetation. It must be remembered that in a rocky garden the main role is played by stone.
• To add some finality to the finished composition, you need to move on to the final stage - decorating. Arrange garden furniture, make paths, install lanterns. Connoisseurs of aesthetics can build arches, an artificial pond, waterfalls, put up garden figurines, and a sundial.

Rock garden care

A rock garden does not require any special maintenance. But there are still general recommendations, if followed, the rock garden will always have an interesting and impressive appearance.

1. If there are plants in the rocky garden, then first they need to be systematically water so that they take root well. Over time, watering should be reduced and plants should be watered only when needed. Small stones retain moisture for a long time, preventing the soil from drying out. Therefore, after the plants have adapted, you can stop watering for a long time.
2. Main problem rock garden is weeds. When these plants actively germinate, it is very difficult to remove them from under the gravel layer. Because of this, agrofibre is laid at the bottom of the site, and the soil is first carefully cleared of roots. In order not to destroy the garden, you need to get rid of emerging weeds in a timely manner.
3. Clearing debris– this is another important task. To do this, you can use a wire rake and a stiff brush. It is necessary to carefully sweep away all rubbish from the stone platform. And if the backfill is loose, then the debris must be removed by hand.
4. In a few years it is advisable update the gravel bed, using gravel or the stone that was originally used.

Building a rock garden with your own hands may at first seem like too difficult and a long process. In fact, if you follow step by step instructions and approach each stage responsibly and, including imagination, then you can soon boast wonderful composition. It will always provide unique aesthetic pleasure and arouse the interest of neighbors and guests. You will be able to constantly enjoy your own creation, which guarantees a feeling of celebration and a great mood.

In the meantime, for your inspiration, we suggest viewing photos of the best rock garden compositions. Perhaps among them you will find an option suitable for you.

Stone. What do you associate it with? Most likely, with calmness and serenity. The inherent desire for beauty in a person can manifest itself in different ways. And the desire to make your family nest cozy and beautiful is no exception. And here we are talking not only about the house, but also about the territory near it. Nowadays, trends in landscape design are very different, and every day designers are coming up with more and more new ideas. Recently, rock gardens that came to Europe from the East, namely from Japan, have become especially popular.

Are you interested in this landscape idea? In this article you will learn how to make a rock garden with your own hands.

Land of the Rising Sun style

It is worth noting that among the Japanese, rock gardens are created exclusively by special craftsmen, however, for Europeans, most often a rock garden is a decorative element, and not part of a religious cult, so almost anyone can make it. So let's begin. You will need large naturally shaped rocks, large boulders or pebbles, crushed stone, sand and small pebbles.

The main elements of a Japanese-style garden are stones and water. But this does not mean that it is possible to arrange a pond on the site with the correct geometric shape. Why? Yes, simply because you won’t find anything like this in nature. And the style of the Land of the Rising Sun is closely related to natural harmony. Be attentive to all the little things! You can’t clutter up space, but you shouldn’t leave it soulless either. Remember, the main thing is symmetry and harmony.

Pay attention! Before arranging a Japanese garden, decide what it will be like? Winter garden can be planted with evergreens. Or you can focus on plants that grow exclusively during the warm period.

Preparatory process, site arrangement. To begin, remove the soil to a depth of about 10 centimeters. Clear the area of ​​roots and weeds. Fence the area with a rope that needs to be pulled over pegs.

Cover the bottom of the area for the rock garden with agrofibre. Now add a layer of pebbles, sand or gravel. Install a border along the edge of the stone garden. Then intuitively place large stones on the prepared surface. The main task is to create a harmonious composition. Around the stones you can draw patterns that would resemble circles of water. A Japanese rock garden may contain plants, but their number should be limited.

Pay attention! A rock garden designed in the spirit of Japan must be created in accordance with the rules of Feng Shui. It must contain elements of 4 elements: air, fire, earth and water. An imitation of a pond can be circles around large stones.

A rock garden should be thought-provoking. Perhaps this is where you can make important life decisions. Stones in the garden landscape design will help create a truly picturesque corner.

Addition of various elements

Stones are not the only elements of Japanese gardens. The landscape must be complemented by compositional structures. There is a place for paths, fences of various shapes and stone statues. All this is an original part of the garden, made in Japanese style.

Paths of a soft winding shape only emphasize the harmony of the garden. Designers skillfully disguise the originality and beauty of the material, thereby not disturbing the balance of regal grandeur and simplicity.

The fence is designed to create a calm environment and the possibility of privacy. Opaque fencing is encouraged in Japanese stone gardens.

Tsukubai was originally used to wash hands before starting the tea ceremony. These are peculiar bowls made of stone, with a standard height of about 30 cm. Now tsukubai are just an additional decorative element.

Principles of composition

The most important principle of composing a Japanese garden is the orientation of the composition around a single point of contemplation. It is selected in accordance with the time of day that you will spend in this garden. Most often, the point of contemplation is located on the north side, but other variations are possible.

The next principle to consider is the need to maintain contrast between filled and empty space. In addition, the basic concept of the garden should contain asymmetry. As for Japanese designers, they even take into account light and shade and the reflection of objects in water.

Another principle is the number of elements, it is worth considering that the number must be odd. Objects in a rock garden should be oriented according to a regular geometric heptagon.

Pay attention! Landscape designers in Japan recommend maintaining a balance of horizontal and vertical lines when creating a rock garden.

Stones located horizontally should prevail over those located vertically. The fact is that there will still be more vertical lines in a Japanese stone garden due to structures, trees and fences. Horizontal orientation will dilute the verticality of other structures.

Rockery

Large numbers of plants cannot be planted in rockeries. Decorating the garden here is achieved through the natural attractiveness of the stone. Fill the space between the garden fragments with gravel that shades the stone. If you chose limestone as the main stone, then combine it with river pebbles of different colors.

Pay attention! It is very important to place fertile soil under the pebbles, because it will nourish the roots of the planted plants.

In some cases, rockeries are made in the form of architectural forms. Well, for example, they can be made in the form of steps made of large flat stone. It will be framed by creeping plants, which are more typical for mountainous areas. In cases where the area for rock gardens has a natural slope, it is better to make it terraced. This way you can combine natural objects, namely stones, plants and shrubs.

Filling the garden with bright colors

A painted stone, processed by the hands of a craftsman, can come to life before your eyes! It smoothly turns into funny fairy-tale figures, cute animals or beautiful flower bouquets. To paint, you need to purchase special acrylic paints for processing stones. In addition, paints require a solvent, synthetic brushes and a palette to create shades of color. As for the brushes, there should be several of them. It is appropriate to use both thin and thick brushes. A container, for example, made of plastic, can serve as a palette. Part of finishing the stone is to expose it with clear varnish.

For painting, you should choose stones that have a round or flat shape. Sometimes it happens that a natural unprocessed stone already resembles some kind of animal, then the colors will only display and emphasize this image of it.

Pay attention! Stone painting experts advise that before starting work, treat the stones with a primer, and then apply the background color to it. For example, if you have only dark fabrics at your disposal, then to lighten them you just need to open them with a layer of light paint.

Once the stone has dried, you can begin applying the design. Even if you are a small artist, you will be able to sketch some image you like. For example, these could be bugs, emoticons and ladybugs. Drawing a cat or puppy is also a simple matter, and if you hide it in the grass, then at first glance it can easily be confused with a real animal. First, the image can be applied to the stone with a pencil, and then painted with brushes.

Now you can start decorating your garden with painted stones. The base of the site, as in the design of a Japanese garden, can be pebbles, gravel or crushed stone. The skillful arrangement of painted stones will help you create the idea of ​​a stone garden, made in the spirit of Japanese traditions, but with a romantic modern touch. Here you can not only reflect, but also lift your spirits.

Innovative approach

New direction landscape design, a unique innovation is a miniature stone garden. Such activities have gained recognition in conditions where there is a shortage of land. Sometimes a stone with an interesting shape with indentations is used to create a mini-garden. An old trough or basket can also be used. A miniature stone garden can even be made in a portable container. It can be placed wherever you wish, even on the terrace.

The originality of the idea lies in the fact that the composition made is very similar to a rockery or other type of Japanese-style garden. To arrange a mini-garden, select lichen, super-dwarf plants and moss. The stone, of course, should also be miniature. A piece of limestone imitating natural rock looks especially attractive in a mini-garden because it has nice natural depressions and cracks.

Care

Of course, every creation created by man must be looked after. And the rock garden is no exception. Below are important conditions care that will help you keep your creation in its original form!

1. If you have plants in your rock garden, you will need to water them regularly at first. This is due to the fact that the plants should first take root well. Once they are established, you will need to reduce watering according to their individual needs.
2. Gravel, like any stone, retains moisture, preventing the soil from drying out. Therefore, later you can stop watering for a long time. Ornamental grasses and plants growing in meadows are drought-resistant by nature and do not need much moisture.
3. Plants that take root well in a rock garden are unpretentious. They do not need additional fertilizers. In addition, it is worth noting that with minimal moisture and high temperatures, fertilizers only do harm, because they burn the plants and do not nourish them with useful substances.
4. The main problem with a stone garden is weeds. Once they have begun to sprout, it is impossible to get rid of them from under the gravel. In view of this, geotextiles are laid on the base, and the soil is first thoroughly cleared of weeds. In order not to spoil the garden, you will need to remove emerging weeds in a timely manner.
5. Removing debris from a rock garden is another challenge. A wire rake and a stiff brush are suitable for this purpose. Carefully sweep away debris from the stone base. If the backfill is loose, then the debris will need to be removed manually, which takes more time. Once every few years, renew the gravel bed, using crushed stone or another stone that you originally used.

Do you have experience building a rock garden? Or maybe you know how to care for it? Then share your skills with us! We will be glad if you write your comments on the article!

Video

Some more ideas for creating a rock garden:

Photo

Heaps

At first glance, it’s quite easy to create a rock garden yourself at your dacha or estate. But that's not true. The stone garden is ancient art, which Japanese philosophers used in their Buddhist theories. After all, his magnetism really captivates. In this case, the relaxing effect of admiring the wonderful garden is guaranteed. It's not scary if you don't have a dacha. You can even make a small stone garden in your apartment or on the balcony.

Stones for the garden are selected according to shape, color, texture; in addition, they should not lie separately, but fit organically into the landscape.

One of the many names for traditional Japanese rock gardens is karesansui, which literally translates to “mountains and dry water.” There are no plants in such a garden. There are only stones, sand or gravel, and very rarely moss.

The main elements of a rock garden

Typically, a stone garden involves a flat area, which is almost completely covered with small pebbles or sand. But the main element of the entire composition is the large and chaotically located stones. But the fact that it looks chaotic only seems at first.

In reality, the location of individual stone groups must obey certain rules. The surface of such a garden is combed with a rake, making small depressions that run along its long side and form large rings around the stones. Usually the surface is a symbol of the ocean, and the garden stones are an island. But every person is able to come up with something of their own.

The stone garden is a continuation of the architecture of the entire house and is located in complete dependence from its interior. The original purpose of such gardens was a place for meditation, relaxation and respite from daily problems. His designs were able to highlight the Japanese love for the beauty of nature, reflection, and also solitude.

The main feature of such a garden is that, no matter where a person stands, his gaze will fall on the same number of stones. The Japanese style is suitable for those who want to get rid of the lush and lush gardens of Europe. People who are inclined to think and love secluded relaxation will be able to appreciate all the advantages of such a place.

To build a Japanese stone garden at your dacha with your own hands, you must follow some rules:

1. The composition should be based on stones of different sizes that have not been processed. They need to be selected according to the criteria of color, texture and shape.
2. The number of stones should not be even or a multiple of numbers such as three or five. Very often there are only three or fifteen.
3. The stones need to be very harmoniously placed throughout the composition. If this is done correctly, then from any place almost all the stones should be visible, except one. The Japanese believe that all stones can be seen only by people who have achieved enlightenment.
4. In the middle of the desired composition, it would be best to place the stones in separate groups. You can arrange garden stones according to the principle of a triad, with 3 stones in each group. At the same time, it is the main triad that should harmonize as much as possible with the surrounding space, and all the others try to balance it.
5. There is no symmetry in the arrangement of large garden stones.

The symbolism of each component in a stone garden

Large stones of all sizes are symbols of mountains or islands. Light-colored gravel, sand and small pebbles symbolize water. A stone in a vertical position is a symbol of the sky, and in a horizontal position, on the contrary, the earth.

According to the rules, each of the present components must symbolize one of the four elements: earth, water, fire or air. For example, if there are no ponds on the territory where the stone garden will be built, then circles around the stones can be used to imitate it. The wonderful Japanese stone garden is elegant, but at the same time simple.

Each subsequent picture, which appears when the point of contemplation changes, can help to discern a different meaning and model a different mood.

How to make a stone garden yourself

To create a rock garden with your own hands at your dacha, you will need a sufficient number of stones, the simplest tools for gardening work and some free time. First you need to do the dirty work. After you decide where to locate the future garden, you need to completely clear the area of ​​\u200b\u200btrash and other things. It is best that the selected area for a stone garden has a horizontal and rectangular shape.

If there are any slopes, they need to be leveled with a shovel. Then you need to start planning the site, which has already been prepared. First you need to remove the top turf or soil layer, about 10-15 cm deep.

Next, we need to strengthen the walls of the “pit” that were formed during the excavation of the soil. They can be strengthened with the help of bricks, boards, special small natural or decorative stones for gardens, which need to be laid out around the entire perimeter. Then you need to make a backfill and form an earthen surface in the garden. At the very bottom you need to lay a small layer of sand, but so that its thickness is no more than five to six cm. After this, the entire surface must be covered with something to the ground level. Small crushed stone, pebbles or gravel are best suited for this.

Then you need to compact the area prepared for the garden. First, fill it with water so that the crushed stone settles: one-half of a bucket of water per square meter. m of garden. After this, you need to form the entire composition. Now it's time to install the composition of stones large size, in this case it is advisable to trample them into a crushed stone base. This must be done so that the stones stand in a stable position.

Next, we proceed to decorative leveling of the entire surface. This procedure is carried out in two stages. The top layer of crushed stone, small pebbles for decorative purposes or stone chips can be combined in the form of stripes-circles that diverge from large stones and imitate small circles on the surface of the water. The rest must be leveled using a large rake on all sides of the site. There's nothing complicated about it.

How to best arrange stones in the garden

The stones are arranged in spirals - quite an interesting solution for a rock garden. This can be done in the simplest flower bed. The stones need to be laid out in the form of a serpentine, and low flowers or coniferous shrubs should be planted between them. Such a stone garden will be able to delight with its greenery even in winter.

Just recently appeared new look gardens in landscape design - a mini-garden made of stones. It has become especially common on fairly small land plots or in the courtyards of multi-story buildings. To arrange a stone mini-garden, you can use decorative flowerpots, unnatural stones, an old and unnecessary basket and everything you can think of. In their homeland of Japan, such gardens are quite functional, but in our area they are only an element in the design. Moreover, they can be used in the design of any site.

How to design a tabletop stone garden

Tabletop stone garden is another fashion item in the home interior. To make a rock garden in an apartment, you will need a small kit, which consists of pebbles, sand, a box and several decorative stones. In your work, you can use a small wooden rake or even a fork, which in an instant can display any mood on the sand.

For your stone garden, real ones are best suited natural stones or made by hand. To do this, you can take a pre-prepared mold as a stone frame or make it from cardboard paper, crumpled plastic bottles or polystyrene foam. It is important that frame form was very similar to the shape of a real stone. To one part of Portland cement you need to add two parts of sand. We apply the resulting solution over the entire future stone. The walls should be two cm thick. In order for the mixture to harden, it is best to cover it with a special film and leave the mold there for twenty-four hours.

For painting decorative stone you need to take one tablespoon of paint pigment and one glass of cement. The resulting mixture must be poured with a glass of water to obtain a gel-like substance. After the mold has been painted, you can sprinkle it with a little sand. To do this, we use a special coloring agent for concrete. When the paint and concrete have completely hardened, we remove the resulting stone, and the frame can be used in the future.

Thus, when creating a Japanese rock garden, you can become more familiar with the philosophy and symbolism of stone, and also make it an excellent garden decoration.