Each gardener wants to ennoble the house territory and think through landscaping to the smallest detail. Below is a description of how to do it yourself, if you have a narrow and long section.
The advantages and disadvantages of a narrow section
Many believe that in an elongated land there are no advantages. However, it is not. It makes sense to realize interesting ideas in its zoning. A rectangular piece of land can be easily divided into functional zones, and each one can find a suitable application. Fans of the vineyard will like this form of land because the narrow space looks favorable in the design of vines. Even if the territory is uncomfortable, it still remains possible to allocate a corner for the vegetable garden or garden, and this can be done without compromising the design of the elongated summer cottage.The inconvenience on the territory of such geometry will be the impossibility of building a house of your choice, here you have to proceed from the options possible for such forms. It will also be problematic to erect a high fence around the allotment. A dense high fence will prevent the penetration of sunlight, which is unfavorable for most plants used in landscape design. Too tall trees that give a lot of shade are also not recommended for planting., because they visually hide the space.
Did you know? Joseph Addison first mentioned the art of landscape design in 1712, but the term nevertheless arose much later, in 1828.
An almost insoluble task in planning such sites is the problem of sound insulation, especially when there are noise sources in the immediate vicinity. It is advisable to involve design specialists in planning an extended garden plot. But if the means are limited, then you can try to arrange your own land allotment yourself, using professional recommendations and special literature.
Planning Features
Long narrow plots are the most difficult to design. Since the area is quite limited and has an original shape, it is not possible to apply all available home projects and garden decoration. However, you should not despair, because there are a number of techniques for visual adjustment of the territory. They make it possible to optically expand the space and make its appearance more proportional.
These tricks include:
- use of diagonals;
- division of space into different sized sectors;
- formation of zones.
A narrow section is considered to be up to 20 m wide. A feature of its design will be the use of the entire territory, including distant corners. Before planning, it is necessary to determine the main purposes of each land site. For all buildings, you should think about the location in advance.
Houses in such areas are built in such a way that it is convenient and comfortable for residents. There may be a longitudinal and transverse arrangement. All communications should be designed in advance: water supply, sewage, heating, electrical wiring, gas pipe. This should be done based on the location of the future home, as well as all other buildings on the site.
Home location
Since a residential building is the most important detail of any landscape, before designing and building it is necessary to consider the location of the housing so that the side walls face west and east. Only in this case there will be no lack of sunlight in the room. The shape of the building is often preferred to rectangular, but you can consider other options when designing.This largely depends on the features of the terrain. It is often possible to fit a building along a wall onto a site of such a pattern, however, if you absolutely do not want to do this categorically, you can consider the option of several floors or a house with an attic superstructure. If the rectangular house is chosen as the final, then you can diversify its design with an original solution.
For example, it can be a building, the exit from the rooms of which can be done directly to the territory of the garden plot. You can also think about the construction of the carriage type, in which the rooms are located one after another and are walk-through. In any case, the minimum width of the room should be 5-6 m, since if the room is already narrow, then it will be absolutely uncomfortable to be in it.
If the land plot is located in a noisy zone, then the facade should not be taken out onto the street. Then it makes sense to build a house in the deepening of the site to provide the necessary sound insulation. It is necessary to take into account the norms of building construction in areas according to which at least 3 m must remain from the border with neighboring households to the facade of the house.It follows that, right next to the fence, a house cannot be built. On an extended territory, it is preferable to allocate a place for a building close to a distant fence, however, if the site does not allow this, then the construction can be divided in half. In this case, the back and front yard is obtained.
Site zoning
If the territory of the land allotment is very modest in size, then zoning can consist of only two main parts: the front yard and the residential building.
Important! When planning a recreation area, it is necessary to take into account its location relative to the cardinal points. During the summer period, the western side is lit most of the time by the bright sun.
On a site of medium size, it is recommended to place one after another in the following sequence:
- buffer;
- representative;
- private;
- household.
When planning the design of an elongated, but impressive in size site, you can make zoning at your own discretion. The buffer zone is a territory directly at the gate, helping to make the house itself more protected from prying eyes. Often, counters are placed here so that the testers do not go deeper into the site. You can protect this area with green spaces or in any other way.The representative platform includes landscape elements: a lawn, an alpine hill, flower beds, garden figures, various plants. It also makes sense in this part of the site to arrange a garage or parking for cars, but they should be issued in the appropriate overall design style. Since such plots have their own specifics, it will not be superfluous to create an irregularly shaped lawn with asymmetrically arranged elements of landscape design.
The private area is designed for relaxation. It makes sense to arrange a gazebo, canopy, outdoor furniture. For maximum comfort, this part of the territory should be located close to the fence and separated by a hedge. On a small site, such a recreation area can be designed as an extension to the house - a terrace. If it is closed at the same time, then in winter it can be used as a winter garden or a covered veranda.
Did you know? One of the elements of landscape art is bonsai, which, many thousands of years ago, served as the best source of restoring energy balance. Planting it in the garden speaks not only of aesthetic pleasure in seeing the bonsai, but also of the possibility of spiritual rebirth.
The utility area is intended for various utility rooms, for example, sheds, greenhouses, a summer shower and toilet, a place for drying clothes. Depending on where the home ownership is located, the economic zone may be located behind it or nearby. It is advisable to fence it off so that it is not observed from the recreation sector.
You can also highlight additional zones:
- pool;
- vegetable garden and garden;
- sports ground;
- play area for children.
Of course, the pool and other additional zones are planned in the presence of free space and a large area of the site. In addition to the pool itself, it is necessary to provide, in the immediate vicinity of it, a place for approaching it and the location of beach accessories. The kitchen garden and the garden can be connected to the economic zone, using paths and hedges during their design.
A sports ground can be located near the economic. It makes sense to cover it with a special rubberized coating or lawn grass. The play area should be in the visibility zone from the house and next to the recreation area so that it is possible to keep an eye on the children.
Choosing a style for an elongated stretch
For registration of land allotment of elongated shape, landscape designers recommend choosing one of the following styles.
- Classic or regular. A feature of this style is the choice of strict geometric shapes. They should be traced in everything: zoning, the form of garden paths, the appearance of plants. Here, elements of pristine nature would not be appropriate: boulders, unshaved bushes and trees. Treated stones or wood can be used, but everything must be in the right shape.
- Country. This direction involves stylizing the territory as a village. Style is not too expensive neither financially, nor in the work of design, nor in subsequent care. It does not imply any clear and strict lines and shapes, and there are no strict decor rules either. The basic principle will be the creation of rural comfort. Wood and stone are not processed, preserve the natural structure. If a pond is expected, then it would be desirable that it be overgrown with reeds.
- Japanese. Designed to reveal the beauty of the landscape. Located on a site made in this style can: pond, terrace, Japanese gazebo, large stones. The oriental style garden is characterized by restraint of the color palette. It is undesirable to repeat the sizes and shapes of various decorative elements. Everything in this garden should contribute to peace.
- Architectural. It combines components from two design styles: classic and hi-tech. The main elements here are decorative elements in the garden, such as: step-by-step paths, terraces, bridges, various arches, borders, ponds. Such a garden is easy to maintain.
- Landscape or English. This style is the exact opposite of architectural. The main task here is to emphasize the naturalness and pristine beauty of nature. English gardens are not called to subjugate the forces of nature, but rather - harmoniously fit into the riot of greenery. Smooth lines prevail, a natural look that contributes to relaxation.
Ways to visually expand the site
In order to optically expand the space of the elongated section, the following tricks are used:
- You can plant trees of different sizes at different ends of the allotment, with low ones at the beginning, high ones at the end. Visually, the crowns of these trees will be on the same line, which will make the site not so narrow. In the same way, only large-scale plants located at the end of the garden are used.
- The next method of visually stretching the width of the plot is to arrange bright objects in the background, such as a gazebo drowning in colorful colors or elements of a garden decor in rich colors. This technique helps visually bring the far part of the site closer.
- You can optically push the boundaries of the land allotment using garden paths located along a short fence. Trails can be diluted with planted plants.
- The most effective way would be a multi-level design of the territory. At the same time, it is divided into segments with different heights. If the area already has relief, then applying this method will be much less costly. However, if you put it on evenly, you can still use this method, emphasizing different levels. The hill should be located in the central part of the territory, then it will distract more attention, and the elongation of the site will go by the wayside. If you place a tall object in the background, then this will visually bring that part of the garden closer.
Typical design errors may include:
- Planting tall trees along the fence, which leads to the effect of the alley.
- The construction of direct paths or beds along the fence.
- Involvement of not the entire area. Far corners are not used and remain empty.
Did you know? Australia is considered the leader in world landscape design. More than 30,000 specialists in this field work here.
Small architectural forms and decor
The main elements of the decor of the elongated area are:
- Hedge. For a rectangular narrow area, a low hedge is suitable. The use of such an element contributes to the creation of visual fences and the organization of geometric shapes on the site.
- Flower borders. The outlines of flower beds of this kind should be made smooth, then they organically fit into the landscape of the territory. Such plants are used for flower borders: cereals, tulips, irises, chrysanthemums, asters.
- Pergola. The placement of this element allows you to create comfort on the site, dividing it into separate corners. They are erected from durable materials: wood, metal. The design can have the most diverse form.
- Relief flower beds. Contribute to the visual expansion of a narrow section. They are easy to arrange and in subsequent care. Plants are used for planting on such “islands”: low conifers, dwarf bushes, low perennial flowers.
- Mixborders. These are rectangular flower beds. Usually equip them at the borders of the site, along step-by-step paths. They are decorated with such plants, planted in groups: low shrubs, vines, perennial flowers. The main condition is the preparation of mixborders so that representatives of the flora continuously bloomed or turned green throughout the season.
Also, such decorative elements are used in the design of the extended territory of the garden: lamps, sculptures, flowerpots, fences and fences, artificial ponds, fountains, lawns, garden furniture, walkways and even arbors and rotundas. The basic rules for their location will be well-chosen sizes, suitable materials and a harmonious combination with other elements of the decor. What plants can be chosen during design?
Important! Inexperienced gardeners should not choose roses for planting, as they are capricious representatives of the plant world. Roses negatively react to untimely watering, improper feeding or lack of disease prevention.
To begin with, you need to take into account that some part of the territory will often be in the shade, respectively, not light-loving plants are planted there. It is best to give preference to easy-to-care fruit trees, shrubs, cereals, perennials. It is necessary to compose them, taking into account the general style of landscape design of the territory. To emphasize the uniqueness of the beauty of the site, you can plant: decorative sunflowers, bells, irises, tulips, asters, chrysanthemums, phloxes.
Creating a multi-level site
A multi-level arrangement of landscape elements may become one of the interesting decisions when designing the territory of an elongated site. In this way, you can visually expand the land area.To do this, it will be necessary to create improvised terraces, and this process is not easy, requiring significant financial investments. The number of terraces is determined based on the size and slope of the territory.Most often, you need to raise the central or distant part of the site, but this can be done if the location of the main objects, such as a house, garage, gazebo, allows. The elevation of the center will visually limit the visibility of the distant. If the levels are erected competently, then the impression of separate terraces will be created, which will violate the integrity of the allotment, and this is required with this form. The territory on a hill can be equipped for relaxation, or as an alpine hill.
If the terrace is located on the far side, this will visually shorten the site. Planting may also be multilevel; vegetation of a contrasting height and additional embankments of soil are used. Creating paths with steps can also help make the site appear wider and taller. It is not superfluous to pay attention to the vertical way of landscaping.
Important! In order for climbing plants to create a hedge, it is necessary to take into account some aspects: shading, wind rose, rainfall and other features of the garden area.
To create a wall of greenery, you can use fences, walls of arbors, arches, garden bars, pergolas. You can not only plant climbing plants along such objects, but also combine them with flowerpots. Vertical mini-gardens are used to delimit zones in the territory. The choice of representatives of the flora should be approached carefully so as not to make mistakes. For example, hops are a climbing plant, but they grow rapidly and are capable of flooding the entire area.
Suitable will be:
- wild grapes;
- sweet pea;
- clematis.
In the landscape design, round vegetable beds with decorative pumpkins and Turkish beans look interesting. Add them to an existing composition in your area. Having studied the advantages and disadvantages of a narrow section, you will focus on important points. Having considered the features of its zoning, methods of visual expansion and other nuances of landscape design, you can refine the house territory in the best way.