Which tricks do not go tireless gardeners, trying to bring in the landscape section of the new and original items that will become an unusual addition, is able to transform the territory. Scenic landscape in miniature garden or in a pot can become a spectacular decoration for not only balconies or terraces, but any area in the garden.
The contents
We form the idea of a future song
The creation of any composition, whether the design of the flower garden, elements of vertical gardening or mini-garden in a pot begins with an idea. This can be a miniature rock garden, created from small stones and tiny plants, magical garden with bonsai trees or an oasis in the desert.
Theme song can even remind the lovely area in the garden, the Supplement which acts as a small reservoir
As a basis we can take as plants of small size, which already grow in the area or container and blend harmoniously with existing buildings and small architectural forms.
Use decorative miniature gardens can be different. They can act as a Central decoration of a landscape design, occupying the place of honour in the front area of the site, or unobtrusive addition to the green tracks in the garden. Due to the small size of this element of decor can be placed almost anywhere in the garden: on the porch, along the walkway and near a small pond.
Thinking through the design of decorative compositions, it is desirable to determine in advance where you will put the mini garden, which side to be viewed, and whether it will be generally open for public viewing. When choosing a place for accommodation arrangements, you should consider the conditions to the cultivation of basic landscaping elements that will fill your miniature garden.
The best accommodation in one place, protected from drafts and wind, but the open sunlight. Better if it is East or West side of the site
The main advantage of such a mini-garden in a pot is its mobility: if it becomes habitual in one place, it is always possible without much hassle to move to the new. In winter a pot of established plants is sufficient to move in a windless place and cover with a layer of snow or non-woven material.
Choose a container for your mini garden
As the basis for the composition can serve any wide capacity with a height of about 15 cm Large horizontal space gives the opportunity to develop more interesting «landscape».
Basis can become enamel basin, pan, pot or any other container. For the arrangement will suit even the old sink – the choice is limited only by the imagination of the author
Pots for your mini garden can be as traditional round or square shapes, and original versions, which is due to a very unusual multi-level composition. The only condition is that the pots should have drainage holes (several small holes in the bottom of the container), necessary for draining excess water. The holes not clogged, the bottom of the container cover with a layer of gravel or pebbles that will also provide additional drainage.
Wanting to make the container more attractive, exterior walls can be lined. To do this, you first need to coat its walls with a mixture of milled peat, sifted sand and cement, combined in equal proportions and diluted with water to a paste consistency. Do not wait until the mortar hardens, the outer surface of the tank should be decorated with decorative elements, small pebbles, colored tiles, shells and glass.
Flowers and decorative elements
The variant of placing the plants directly in the stone. For this perfect stone with a porous structure that can absorb enough moisture, including travertine, limestone, or limestone. The soft rock of these stones will be easy to handle: if necessary, they can always drill holes and make a small «pockets» under the plant. For retention of moisture in the composition, you can add a few «Islands» from sphagnum moss.
The choice of plants for the composition depends on the topic of the mini-garden. For example: to create a rocky area, or the Alpine hills perfect arrangement of cacti
Creating a miniature garden of stones it is better to use cacti and other succulents: the stone rose, almaznik, Sedum, Haworthia
When selecting landscaping elements should be taken into account that plants tend to grow. Therefore, for the design of miniature compositions it is better to give preference to slow-growing varieties.
Among the stones feel also gelksina, saxifrage, pachyphytum and gasteria. The roots of these plants in search of moisture able to penetrate into any cracks in the stones
Planning to make a mini-garden in the style of a Park landscape, as the landscaping elements better to use the money tree and dwarf Fig trees and Myrtle. These plants are an attractive decorative shape of the crown, to maintain which it is necessary to regularly topping and pruning. In the mini-gardens, equipped outdoor areas look amazing dwarf varieties of conifers: junipers, spruces, cypresses.
Among small-leaved slow growing plants can also be selected fittonia, peperomii and sedums. Perfect addition to the garden can be ivy, shapely stems which will frame the composition and weave pot.
Bring vibrant color to a composition capable of flowering plants: senpolii, cyclamen, miniature roses and streptocarpus. As flowering they can always be replaced with new varieties that are just entering the time of flowering
As decorative items is perfect animal figurines, sea shells and ceramic vessels. Decorative elements of the mini-garden-style Park landscape there may be pieces of furniture or utensils out of children’s toy sets: lamps, chairs and garden benches, miniature sculpture.
The main stages of the arrangement of this garden
The creation of a fertile Foundation
On the bottom of the pot, pour drainage layer of about 3-4 cm, which can be expanded clay or gravel.
A pot filled with fertile soil, consisting of coarse sand, loam, and peat, taken in the ratio 2:1:1
To make the soil more friable, it is possible to make the vermiculite. Planning to combine multiple types of plants, it is desirable to provide «pockets», which fill with soil, most appropriate for a particular sample. To differentiate «pockets» you can use «tracks» of stones or other decorative elements.
Council. Some gardeners between the drain layer and the ground do a layer of dry leaves and branches, which as Peregrina ensure additional power plants.
Filling the container with soil, not cosipa 1.5-2 cm to the edge, the ground slightly tamped and watered.
Planting trees
According to a premeditated plan, develop «the development of the territory». There are two possible planting crops when they are planted in a single container or placed in individual pots dug into the ground. In the first method of arrangement, the arrangement looks more holistically. The second option is good because it allows to solve the problem of compatibility of crops in the same soil, and also gives you the opportunity at any time easy to replace or remove the plant.
Planting plants without pots, to get them out «family» containers must be careful not to damage the root system
Transplanting plants, it is necessary to maintain a distance between the shoots taking into account growth prospects. The foreground of the composition to fill a low-growing varieties, rear – higher plants
When composing and selecting a good neighborhood you should also consider the agronomic characteristics of the plants: some of them in sun, others shade, first I love the abundance of moisture, the second – I prefer watering as the drying of the land.
Design elements
Once planted the plants, empty space of the composition is necessary to fill up small gravel or put gravel. Besides the decorative function, the coating will retain moisture after watering and will prevent the appearance of weeds.
To create the illusion of water will help the glass with a blue tint stones, which are placed in small holes between the plants
Original addition of the composition will be a miniature swing and a ladder, which is not difficult of wooden sticks and skewers
To complement the garden miniature pond, just select the appropriate size low vessel. It must be sunk into the soil, and then the bottom «pond» paved with small pebbles. The banks of the pond, you can arrange decorative tile, around the dwarf trees or groundcover plants such as: soleyroliya or nertera.
One of the latest fashion trends of plant composition – an arrangement of miniature gardens in chipped and broken pots, which the craftsmen doing the original multi-level composition
Care of mini-garden is only to maintain the necessary humidity and removing dead shoots and weeds.
