Stones for an alpine slide: the basic principles of the right choice

The article will discuss how to pick stones for an alpine slide, what requirements to take into account, what material can be used to create a rock garden, how to fold it, what plants to plant to create a special decorative chic. Photos and videos of finished examples will demonstrate the existing capabilities.

The principle of the selection of stones to create an Alpine slide

The choice of material to create the structure of the slide depends on what kind of plant diversity grows around. If the described element of the decor will be further decorated with bright flowering plants, the background for them should be neutral. For these purposes, dull and inconspicuous stones, such as gray cobblestones, are best suited.

When the growth of modest herbs is observed nearby, the main emphasis in decorating is placed on the selection of beautiful stones that have an original pattern and an unusual color. The easiest way to solve the problem is to choose stones of the same breed to create an alpine slide. If they have the same shape, the slide will look like a dump of unnecessary cobblestones. To create harmony, stones of rocks that are similar in color but of different shapes are best suited.

Specialists when choosing a material must take into account the nature of the surrounding area. For example, on flat areas it is better to use smooth boulders that have a rounded shape. If you need to make a hill with the help of stones, which should simultaneously become a retaining wall, then it is better to use laminated slabs. Pointed stones are ideal for creating a large vertical object that simulates a corner of rocky terrain.

Basic material requirements

Specialists, telling about which alpine slide stones to use, it is advised to pay attention not only to the physical properties of the boulders, but also to take into account the theme of the general stylistic concept. The created element of landscape design should not stand out from the general gardening, be its integral part.

Since plants grow on a hill, various garden works will often be done on it, so the material used to create a rock garden should be durable.

The main principle of landscape design is to do no harm. Not all plants can live near mountain stones. In the hot season they become very hot in the sun and give off heat to the surrounding world. Next to large boulders only drought-resistant grasses and shrubs can get along.

Diversity of the range

There are a large number of stones that can be used to create the described element of the decor. The following building material is most commonly used.

Granite is the most famous rock that is found on almost all continents of the earth. Granite - frozen magma. This is a very durable stone that cannot be destroyed with a conventional mechanical blow. He is not afraid of changes in temperature, moisture, the wind practically does not sharpen it. A fungus never forms on the surface of granite and does not form a mold, and even aggressive acids are not capable of somehow affecting and destroying the structure of the monolith. Granite has a very interesting color, it can vary from gray to deep red. Using the appropriate shades, it is easy to create alpine slides, perfectly fitting the style of landscape design.

Basalt is another representative of rock stones. Its structure is characterized by a dense fine-grained structure. The color of the stone is dark, black or dark gray, jagged, uneven, the surface is rough to the touch. This stone is often used to decorate alpine slides, the popularity is due to the high resistance to weathering.

Limestone is representative of sedimentary rocks. It is formed by layers mainly of calcite, so the structure is very soft. White limestone is most common in nature, although stones with a delicate pinkish or gray tint can be found. Despite the softness and high porosity, the stone is able to demonstrate high strength, resistance to precipitation and durability. Flat stones for alpine slides can serve as a base.

Sandstone in its chemical composition resembles a soil with a neutral reaction. Therefore, almost any plant species can be planted nearby. It has a layered structure and a porous texture, cream gray or red. It absorbs moisture well; it is very slowly eroding from the base.As a result, a special microclimate can form around the alpine hill, very comfortable for plants in hot weather. Each cut and chip has its own peculiar pattern. It invariably attracts attention and is very well suited for creating alpine slides in the form of props.

Slate is a volcanic rock that has a structure consisting of several layers of minerals. It was formed under the influence of several factors: prohibitively high temperatures and high pressure. The basis of the stone are minerals of dark shades. In them there is necessarily the inclusion of fragments of quartz or spar. The color of the stone determines the ratio of these components. The most common, and therefore cheaper, are black or gray slates. The former have a pronounced graphite tint, which may have an oily sheen. Slates of beige, gray, green and even red shades are rare. Therefore, their cost will be slightly higher.

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Dolomite in its physical and chemical properties resembles limestone, but this stone has a more durable structure, therefore its durability is higher. In nature, dolomite is located next to clay and limestone. For its formation necessarily need salt water. In Russia, there are similar conditions on the Volga coast or on the Kola Peninsula, this is where the described mineral is mined. In nature, you can see transparent or translucent dolomite, stones of gray or yellowish-brown hue.

When deciding what material to choose, you need to inquire and find out how much alpine stones are worth. The price per ton of the cheapest stones starts from 5,000 rubles. Stones of rare rocks are much more expensive. Granite, limestone and sandstone are best suited for designated purposes. Stones for the construction of rock garden to choose different sizes. The less straight and smooth cuts on them, the more effective the folded composition will look. It is important to create the most symmetrical object.

There is one strict requirement that must be observed when building an alpine slide. Novice gardeners best to use only stones of the same type. Only professional designers are capable of assembling an ensemble consisting of different components, an example of which is shown in the photo above. They know how to prevent the formation of a feeling of complete clutter and make a rock garden that can impress with its beauty. The choice of the shape and size of stones depends on the area of ​​the alpine slide. The smaller it is, the more modest the stones should be. It is advisable to collect very small slides from the flagstone used to decorate garden paths.

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Typical schemes for assembling stones

Of course, there are no clear rules for assembling boulders, but there are general recommendations that can be taken as a basis and create a beautiful landscape design object on your backyard. Always look win-win slides, folded according to the principle of "large stones at the bottom, small above." This element will allow you to create the desired volume and organize vertical gardening.

When creating such an alpine slide, a mound is pre-built, which then spills well with water. When the soil shrinks, you can begin to cover the embankment. In order for the construction to be stable, large stones at the base must be buried a little in the ground. This will help, on the one hand, to create the effect of rock outcrops, on the other - will ensure safety.

Another common scheme is the installation of large-sized stones over the entire area of ​​an Alpine slide, and between them planting plants that are dislodged from under the soil by small shoots. The third layout scheme involves the construction of the base of smaller stones and the installation of a large stone on the resulting pedestal.

A hill that grows upwards must have at least three tiers. Laying large, medium and small stones, you need to remember that between them will grow plants. Therefore, it is not necessary to lay the boulders too tightly to each other, in the remaining space between them it is necessary to fill in fertile soil. There are no hard requirements for it. Initially, rock garden-specific plants are used for rock garden decoration. But, anyway, it is recommended to clean the soil from weed roots, remove all excess foreign garbage, and mix it in half with peat and sand.

In the video, the landscape designer talks about choosing stones for an alpine slide:

This may be interesting! In the article on the following link, read about how to create an alpine slide in the garden.

Plants for the design of rock garden

It will be much easier to solve the problem of selecting plants to decorate an alpine slide, if you look at the photos of finished works and take advantage of already developed projects. Experienced landscape designers prefer to use ornamental shrubs, such as a ground-stone cotoneaster. It is very unpretentious, growing, beautifully covers its stones with its fluffy branches and does not lose its decorative appearance even in winter. In the cold season bright red berries appear on the branches. They look very impressive in the folded composition.

Safe move - the choice of evergreen shrubs. Their emerald silver greens look great against the background of stones. It does not lose its succulence even at high sub-zero temperatures, which helps to maintain the beautiful appearance of the rock garden in the winter season. It is better to choose for the designated purposes of thuja and needles, which grow very slowly and perfectly tolerate molding trimming. They can be planted in any type of soil.

Another good choice is the Forchun evergreen euonymus. Its leaves have a beautiful white or yellow border. It is very unpretentious, it creeps well on the ground, its branches, meeting stones on its way, gently twist them around and become a surprisingly decorative ornament.

It may be interesting! In the article on the following link you will find the answer to the question: Is it possible to build a wooden house worth up to 1 million rubles? All this can be used to decorate rock garden. From herbs, experts recommend planting rocky alissum, evergreen iberis, perennial species of carnations, and periwinkle. Thyme very familiar to all. Growing up, it closes all open parts of the hill with a solid green carpet. When the plant blooms, the rock garden overflows with all shades of purple and violet. If you manage to find the seeds of the rosette, it will be possible to plant trees on the hill where there is very little soil and a lot of stones. Such plants are very unpretentious, they do not need to be looked after, and with their help it is easiest to form an imitation of the mountain landscape.

At the foot of the hill you need to plant plants with lush green textured leaves that can attract attention with their unusual color. These plants include geyher, styoid bryozoa, primula, and some types of bells.

Some varieties of saxifrage look very nice in the autumn period. In summer, the stones will be able to cover its other types with a delicate pink-white cloud. If you want to arrange a rock garden in the form of a flower bed, you should use for these purposes marigolds, nasturtiums and zinnias.

When forming the top layer of an alpine slide, you need to take into account that there will be a lot of sun and little moisture on its top, so only drought-resistant species and low-growing plants can survive there. At the foot it is recommended to plant moisture-loving saplings.

The video describes what other plants can be planted on Alpine slides:

You can assemble the plants listed above, but in order to planted flowers and shrubs did not interfere with each other, it is necessary to use the method of compatibility and take into account the shape of plants, the timing of their flowering, color range. As mentioned above, there are ready-made kits. Experts recommend purchasing them in specialized stores, where different planting materials are offered: seeds, seedlings, ready-made "adult" plants.

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Generalization on the topic

When choosing material for the formation of rock garden, it is important to take into account that the described decorative element is part of a garden, an object that should ideally fit into the already implemented landscape design style. So that it does not turn into a rose garden or a corner of the Japanese stone garden, you must carefully consider the ratio of stones and plants, place these elements correctly and focus not on boulders, but on the green component of the project.