Choosing stones for an alpine slide. Where to get stones for an alpine slide

The basis of the alpine slide is a stone composition, diluted with a plant component. Moreover, choosing suitable plants is not difficult. Various sedums, sedums, saxifrages, and phloxes will look great if they are properly cared for. As for stones, lovers of landscape experiments experience “punctures” with this. Illiterately selected and placed stones in the composition completely negate the potential success of the operation. At best, such an alpine slide will look like an awkward accumulation of stones, at worst, like a pile of construction waste. Therefore, the choice of stone material for the alpine landscape must be approached with all responsibility. This is what we will do now.

Stones for an alpine slide should be in harmony with the plants and create a single whole with them

• Durability. The stones form the frame of the alpine slide, so it is important that it does not have a tendency to collapse. This is especially true for the “foundational” stones on which the composition rests and on which you will have to step when caring for alpine plants.
• Moisture resistance and durability. The stone elements of the slide will be in the open air, respectively, under the influence of precipitation, winter freezing and thawing. Therefore, their durability will depend on the degree of moisture resistance and frost resistance of the selected stones.
• Naturalness. It is not advisable to use artificial stones for a rock garden, for example, concrete boulders or bricks. Their origin, even with brilliant execution, will be noticeable and the very meaning of the alpine slide will be lost - a complete recreation of the mountain landscape in a modern garden.

Rounded, perfectly smooth boulders look like foreign objects on an alpine hill. They are appropriate only if the rock garden is complemented by a stream or landscape waterfall. The presence of water, which “wears away the stone,” can justify rounded shapes. For other mountain compositions, specimens with uneven edges, preferably with traces of erosion, are suitable.

Stones with traces of destruction (visible cracks, cells, holes) look best in the composition of an alpine slide

To emphasize the naturalness of the rock garden, stones of different sizes are used - from 10 cm in diameter to 60-70 cm. For surface filling, even smaller material is used - gravel, crushed stone, expanded clay, pebbles. Remember that stones of the same size and shape, even laid in a fantasy, “landscape” order, will create an image of “artificiality”.

The color of natural stones may vary. These are reddish tones, and greenish-gray, and yellow, and white. Usually, stones of the same shade are selected for a rock garden. In any case, the plants will add their own colors to the composition and it is undesirable for the resulting color scheme to be too tacky.

Yellowish sandstone serves as an unobtrusive background for bright alpine plants

The best types of stones for the alpine landscape

There are rock types that are traditionally recognized as the best for creating an alpine slide. They lend themselves well to processing, highlight the beauty of alpine plants and have a set of unique properties. What kind of stones are these? There are several options.

Option #1 - limestone

A very good choice. Limestone has the ability to look natural in any landscape composition. Its corners are quickly smoothed by the wind, and mosses and lichens begin to grow on the surface. The structure of limestone is porous, rough, capable of retaining moisture for a long time and nourishing plants planted nearby with it.

The alpine slide made of limestone looks like a real piece of the Alps

The color of limestone can vary from white to yellowish or light gray. The inclusion of various impurities (manganese, magnesium, etc.) gives the stone reddish, greenish, dark gray or brown shades.

Option #2 – tuff (travertine)

Another calcareous rock, with a pronounced cellular structure. Thanks to this, the tuff is very light and this allows even a female designer to experiment with its position.

Tuff, due to its cellular structure, is considered one of the best stones for alpine slides

Tuffs cannot boast of bright shades. Their colors are white, beige, coffee, slightly reddish. Their most important beauty lies in their almost airy structure, consisting of many small cells.

Tuff is a pliable, soft material, easy to process. Often, holes are drilled or manually gouged into it, like planting pockets for planting plants. The holes are made cone-shaped (with the wide part up), usually through. The diameter of the hole at the top is 5-6 cm, more can be made. The stone prepared in this way is dug 3-4 cm into the soil on an alpine hill. Plant roots planted in pockets will eventually be able to grow through the holes and become established in the soil. In addition, porous tuff will absorb moisture from the soil and there will be no need for frequent watering of plant compositions.

Option #3 – shell rock (shell rock)

Shell rock is a special type of limestone consisting of the remains of fossilized shells. The structure of the rock is porous and moisture permeable. Shell rock, like tuff, can be used as a planting container for plants with a small root system.

Various unpretentious succulents grow well in cellular shell rocks

The colors of shell rock are white, cream, beige, yellow, pinkish. Interesting shellfish specimens are sold in pet stores for decorating aquariums.

Option #4 - sandstone

Sandstone is often used for landscape compositions due to its cheapness and availability. It can be yellow, gray, beige, reddish, orange. Thanks to its rough surface and layered structure, sandstone fits harmoniously into the natural corner of the garden. This stone is durable, it weathers little, and retains its shape well.

Sandstone has a neutral reaction, so absolutely any plants can be planted next to it.

There are specimens of sandstones with a “holey” structure on sale. They look like Dutch cheese. These stones are not cheap, but they look great. In addition, unlike shell rock, they are very durable. Alpine Spartans are planted in sandstone holes: juveniles, saxifrage, carnations, alyssum, etc.

Juvenile and caustic sedum grow in destroyed “cells” of sandstone

Option #5 – slate

This rock has a layered arrangement of constituent minerals. When a block of shale breaks apart, it forms thin and completely flat slabs. They are often used in landscape design to create retaining walls, artificial rocks, grottoes and alpine slides.

White, yellow, burgundy, red, brown shades of slate are in perfect harmony with each other and are often used in combination with each other.

Mini-cliffs, paths, rock garden terraces are formed from slate slabs

Option #6 – granite

Granite is a dense rock with a fine-grained structure and noticeable speckled inclusions on the surface. The stone is difficult to process, as it is heavy and hard. At the same time, granite is durable and looks very natural as an element of an alpine slide.

Light gray granite is a durable and strong base for an alpine slide

Granites of pink, white, bluish-gray and green colors are considered the most decorative. It is better not to choose black granites; their color often looks dull in the compositions of amateur designers.

Option #7 – pebbles, crushed stone, gravel, expanded clay

All these materials are used for mulching or filling voids in stone compositions of alpine slides. Crushed stone and gravel, sprinkled between large stones, give the composition a casual and airy feel. Pebbles are used to create dry streams or fill paths in rock gardens. Expanded clay retains moisture well, so it is excellent for mulching the top layers of soil.

A backfill of pebbles forms paths in the rock garden and mulches the soil.

Where can I buy the required breeds?

You can collect suitable stones yourself on the banks of rivers, in the steppe, and in quarries. If there are natural deposits of slate, sandstone or granite nearby, and you have a car, go to the place and pick up whatever your heart desires.

You can also buy stones. For example, in the nearest quarry (place of rock extraction). Or from representatives of landscape organizations who sell interesting specimens of sandstone, shell rock, and tuff. They are often offered for sale under the name "natural stone", "landscaping stone" or something similar. Small, “holey” shells can be found in pet stores, in the department of goods for decorating aquariums.

A do-it-yourself alpine slide is not only beautiful and fashionable, but also practical: to create such decor it is not necessary to invite expensive specialists. Not every soil is suitable for creating a flower bed with capricious greenhouse plants... but with an alpine hill it is easier in this regard: you can select the most unpretentious crops. Finally, the slide is an example of naturalness, which we so lack in the artificial world of megacities. How to make a rock garden with your own hands - read the step-by-step guide.

Rock garden or rock garden?

A rock garden is an imitation of mountainous terrain. In the classic European version, this is an elevation of stones with fragments of greenery. Today, the design of alpine slides is more varied: for example, you can use a depression rather than a hill as a base, create a pond with a miniature fountain, a waterfall, etc. In any case, a rock garden is stone + plants.

- Japanese rock garden. The classic way to set up a rock garden is on a flat area devoid of vegetation. The stones are placed at intervals. The plan is designed in such a way that each fragment can be viewed from anywhere in space. The European version of the rock garden allows you to add a certain number of plants. Few, and preferably evergreen - flowering crops are not welcome.

The choice depends on your tastes, as well as on the characteristics of the site: on rough terrain it is sometimes difficult to find a flat area, on some soils it is difficult to form a sufficiently fertile layer for plants, etc.

Choosing a location and planning features

Where to begin? When choosing a suitable site for a rock garden, several rules are followed. The main thing is that the installation of an alpine slide with your own hands should be planned in an open place that can be seen from any corner of the garden. There should not be nearby:

• flower beds and other bright design objects, next to which a modest piece of “wild” nature will be lost;
• fences, walls, outbuildings. They will spoil the appearance of the rock garden. In addition, a permanently shaded area is formed between the slide and the wall. And hard to reach: garbage will accumulate here, and over time rodent holes, nests of snakes or wasps will appear.

It is preferable to choose a site in full sun.

If this is not found, it is possible to install a rock garden in the shade - in this case, the hill is sown with shade-loving plants. As an option, arrange a rock garden; lighting is not so important for the stones.

The hill should be, if possible, closed from the wind: so that the soil does not blow away, less weed seeds are deposited, and the masonry does not become loose. It is advisable that water be nearby.

A classic rock garden is built on dry ground. How to build an alpine slide if the garden plot is low and the humidity is high? Don’t despair: you can choose moisture-loving plants for decoration and/or perform water reduction (a set of measures that ensures a decrease in the natural groundwater level).

When choosing a site, take into account the terrain features. If there is a hill on a summer cottage, it is easier to arrange a rock garden on a slope than to create a mound from scratch; if there is a depression, you can design it in the form of an aryk or gorge.

How to create an alpine slide with: place the pond on the shaded northeast side. In direct sun, standing water will bloom quickly.

An important point: the dimensions of the slide must be comparable to the dimensions of the entire site. Then your decoration will harmoniously fit into the overall landscape design.

When building a mini-rock garden with your own hands, it is advisable to install a bench near it so that you can relax while admiring the beautiful view. If the rock garden is large, immediately provide pedestrian paths on its territory, and, if necessary, bridges. When designing paths, avoid straight lines; winding ones look more natural.

Construction material

The main composition of the slide is stone, the design is plants. It is permissible to add a few auxiliary elements to the composition that do not go out of style. Example: a sculpture made of aged stone or wood, a clay jug. Avoid cheap plastic crafts.

However, there is such a way: to build an avant-garde slide from car tires with your own hands. Metal or plastic may be appropriate in combination with tires.

If we are building an alpine slide with a pond or, instead of additional decorations, we can use decorative lighting.

Materials needed to build a simple alpine slide:

• geotextile fabric;
• galvanized metal mesh;
• for a rock garden with a pond - waterproofing film;
• sand;
• crushed stone (gravel, expanded clay, broken brick);
• rubble stone for the base layer;
• soil - after processing, the one you took out when making the pit will be suitable;
• small stones for an alpine slide;
• large boulders.

Where can I get stones for an alpine slide? You can collect it from the surrounding area yourself or buy it from a company that sells natural stone. If there is a quarry or a limestone quarry near your home, you can purchase the material there.

Stones for the alpine slide:

• the most durable are granite and basalt. The hardness is high, the material is slowly subject to weathering and water damage. It is difficult to process; it is recommended to immediately purchase fragments of a suitable shape and size;
• slate - flat stones, ideal for constructing decorative stairs;
• soft porous stone - dolomite, sandstone, limestone, shell rock. Durability is lower, but it is better for the vegetation: roots easily penetrate into the pores. If you want boulders, choose soft stone;
• A good option for decorating a pond is pebbles and pellets. But it’s better to decorate the waterfall with rock fragments;
• Exotic ones are also suitable - jasper, quartz. An all-glass slide made of quartz does not look very natural, but can become an effective design element.

Important: avoid rocks rich in heavy elements. Pay attention to the property of the stone to deoxidize or leach the soil: this feature will have to be taken into account when choosing plant crops.

Do not create excessive diversity. There should be no more than two types of stone in a rock garden, and preferably one. The main decor is plants.

Stones for a rock garden are laid as follows: large ones - closer to the center in the lower tier, small ones - higher and on the periphery. Avoid symmetry, everything should look natural.

Zero cycle work

How to make an alpine slide with your own hands? First you should draw a sketch diagram. The height of the rock garden is from one to three meters, the ratio of horizontal and vertical dimensions is 5 to 1. Be sure to draw on the diagram:

• location of large boulders. Next to them are evergreen bushes, squat trees;
• additional elements - stairs, waterfall, fountain;
• dividing the surface into tiers (steps, terraces).

Attention: when constructing, select load-bearing elements so as to ensure stability of the slide.

Below are step-by-step instructions for a DIY alpine slide.

The first stage of work is preparing the site in the garden. Here's how to make an alpine slide correctly and avoid common mistakes:

1. Mark the designated area with pegs and string.
2. Dig a pit 30-50 centimeters. If we are making an alpine slide with a pond, the depth is the same, but to install the pump we need to dig a deeper hole in some corner.
3. Compact the bottom.
4. Next, a fine-mesh metal mesh is laid to prevent moles and voles from digging under the structure.
5. Lay geotextiles - this way you will protect the object from weeds penetrating from the soil.
6. The bottom of the decorative pond must be covered with waterproofing so that the water does not go into the soil. Wrap the edges of the waterproofing onto the banks. After filling the reservoir, they will need to be covered with earth, sand or pebbles.
7. Drainage: 30 cm of crushed stone, 10 cm of sand, compacted, spilled with water. Let it sit for 3 weeks.

Before constructing a classic rock garden, since vegetation there is undesirable in principle, the soil is treated with herbicides.

Masonry

1. Lay out the base layer with rubble stone around the perimeter of the slide. Fill the middle with gravel.
2. Lay the stones in accordance with the diagram. Laying order: first large, then small; corners, then the middle. Do not fit tightly, leave gaps for the ground. If large stones are not stable enough, reinforce them using gravel.
3. Sift the soil removed when constructing the pit and select the roots of the weeds. Mix with washed sand, expanded clay, and humus. The proportions depend on the composition of the soil on the site. If it is not very acidic, you can also add peat.
4. Fill the void between the stones with the resulting mixture.
5. The construction of the alpine slide has been completed. Now she needs to give it time to shrink.

Attention! If you used limestone for masonry, do not add peat: limestone itself deoxidizes the soil.

To create a pond, a pump of approximately 70 watts is placed in a hole at the bottom, on a stand (so that it does not get sucked into the bottom silt). If there is an alpine hill with a waterfall, they take it to the top and camouflage it with stones. You can decorate the waterfall with rough flagstone.

It is recommended to do the laying in the fall: over the winter it will settle, settle, and in the spring you can correct it and start planting. But if you want the rock garden to bloom at the beginning of the coming spring (for example, you are planning to plant snowdrops), you will have to start creating an alpine slide with your own hands earlier. In any case, before sowing, you need to let the hill settle for at least a month.

landscaping

We continue the arrangement of the alpine slide in the spring. When choosing and planting, follow the following rules:

• take into account the natural requirements for soil, humidity, climate. Unpretentiousness is a relative concept: a cactus will not grow in a swamp, and a moisture-loving tropical crop will not grow in sand;
• biological compatibility, including growth rate. Plants planted nearby should not clog each other;
• aesthetic compatibility;
• plant crops with similar care regimes nearby;
• short stature. Even large shrubs/trees—the highest “points” of the composition—as a rule, do not exceed half a meter. If the design concept allows, single copies may be higher;
• do not create continuous vegetation cover. The background (stones) should be visible, the plants should be a fragmentary decoration;
• if you want the rock garden to bloom all season, use plants with different flowering periods;
• To start flowering in the first year, plant annual crops. Perennials, as a rule, do not bloom in the first season;
• annuals will allow you to change the design of the slide from season to season. After all, you can plant different ones every year;
• coniferous/evergreen trees and bushes are planted near large boulders;
• the most suitable place for shade-loving crops is the northern side, for light-loving crops - the southern slope and the top of the composition;
• plant plants in tiers. Moisture/shade-loving - below, higher - more unpretentious, above - the most light-loving and drought-resistant;
• One bright spot is enough for a small alpine hill. On a large one there may be several of them, unequal in size and asymmetrical. Framing contrasting fragments - pale flowers or greenery;
• Conifers zone the space. They are planted first, fragmentarily, at a distance from each other.

Popular Cultures:

• perennials, including alpine ones - edelweiss, rhododendron, young, bergenia, low-growing daylily, drooping reed, wormwood, spurge;
• herbaceous crops - lagurus, fescue, heather, feather grass, oregano, sage, sphagnum moss;
• conifers – dwarf spruce and pine, thuja. Juniper, among other things, repels snakes;
• early flowering annuals - snowdrop, primrose, primrose, mouse hyacinth, alpine violet, carnations;
• long-flowering crops - armeria, arenaria, periwinkle, ;
• bulbous - low-growing tulips and hyacinths, crocuses, scylla;
• ground cover (creeping) - saxifrage, thyme (thyme), sedum, iberis, arabis, hosta;
• berries – blueberries, lingonberries;
• evergreen bushes - cotoneaster, barberry, rosemary, euonymus;
• plants with medicinal value - sage, chamomile, rhodiola, thyme.

Conclusion

Do-it-yourself Alpine slide at the dacha is a completely feasible and entertaining event. In this article we have given only general recommendations for arranging rock gardens. All slides are different, since the conditions on the sites are different, and so are the preferences of the owners. Do not neglect the basic rules of work, on which the safety and durability of the structure depend. In all other respects there is absolute freedom of creativity, no restrictions.

The main idea of ​​the rock garden is to recreate the natural mountain landscape on the site. To achieve the natural appearance of an alpine slide, stones and plants are carefully selected when creating it. Any design objects must replicate the natural alpine landscape, adding a unique flavor to the site.

Rocks for rock garden

When constructing an alpine slide, it is important to give it a natural appearance. Therefore, the choice of stones is an important step towards creating a picturesque decorative rock garden. It is ideal if you look at examples and types of rock gardens, photographs of alpine views on the Internet or in landscape magazines. When “observation” appears, the hands themselves will do as needed.

See the step-by-step instructions "How to make a simple rock garden with your own hands." Another option is to create a rockery, a special type of rocky flower garden, in which large stones and low-growing ornamental plants occupy most of the surface.

Where to get stones for a rock garden

Each owner himself extracts stones for the rock garden. You can buy them (in an online store) or get them yourself in the mountains, on the sea coast, in quarries, and local quarries.

8 tips for selecting stones for a rock garden

1. Buy stones yourself, so as not to get a pig in a poke.
2. Choose unpolished stones with a natural texture to look as natural as possible.
3. Use rocks only - limestones (white, golden, cream), sandstone (gray and red), tuff (travertine), granite , slate .
4. Give preference to stones with beautiful, graphic shapes and curves.
5. Avoid using concrete chips and compressed stone.
6. For one rock garden, stick to one type of stone and use only that.
7. Arrange the stones randomly (do not make even rows).
8. Try to choose the most favorable angle for each stone to demonstrate its beauty and shape.

When creating an alpine slide, stones weighing from 10 to 100 kg are used. For a rock garden measuring approx. 2 x 3 m will require at least 2 tons of stone.

Plants for rock garden

Landscape designers claim that only alpine plants that grow wild in the Himalayas, Alps and Rocky Mountains can grow in rock gardens. And it is right! Not all plants are suitable for a rock garden, even if they are low-growing and ground cover.

Plant plants on the alpine hill in a chaotic manner. There are 3 ways to plant plants:

1. using an embankment and creating a raised flower bed,
2. on a stone wall or on artificially created rocks,
3. create an alpine lawn or path.

Names of plants for rock garden

For ease of perception, we will divide the list of plants into several groups: primroses and bulbous plants, herbs, ground cover, low-growing and medicinal plants.

Primroses and other bulbous plants for rock gardens:

• white flower,
• crocuses,
• muscari,
• primrose,
• scilla,
• lumbago,
• Pushkinia,
• Chionodoxa,
• low growing iris,
• kandyk,
• tulips, etc.

Perennial plants for rock gardens:

• ferns,
• fescue,
• gypsophila,
• sorrel,
• aquilegia,
• alpine poppy,
• sunflower,
• tomentose yarrow,
• evening primrose,
• Hawkgirl.

Ground cover plants for rock gardens:

• saxifrage,
• sedums (low-growing and groundcover species),
• plantain,
• phlox subulate,
• Burachek,
• gentian,
• Duchesnea,
• creeping tenacious,
• Iberis,
• semolina,
• spurge,
• aubrieta,
• rezuha,
• mother of thousands,
• erinus.

Low-growing plants for rock gardens:

• low growing bows,
• Azorella three-forked,
• low growing aster,
• pinnate carnation,
• geraniums,
• Carpathian bell,
• coreopsis,
• cat's paw,
• penstemon,
• breaker,
• cyclamens,
• edelweiss,
• splint.

Medicinal plants for rock garden:

• skullcap,
• rhodiola,
• Colchicum,
• snakehead,
• bloodroot.

Plants are aggressors for rock gardens

Aggressive plants grow quickly, occupy large areas and can crowd out rarer representatives of your rock garden. Therefore, they must be planted with caution.

These include:

• rock alyssum,
• Aubrietta
• sedums,
• rezuha.
• yaskolka

Also, low-growing species of bulbous plants and dwarf coniferous trees or shrubs are planted in rock gardens.

Coniferous plants for rock garden

Coniferous plants set the rhythm and core of the composition, so if they are placed correctly, you can achieve delightful views of an alpine slide. Representatives of conifers in rock gardens can be shaped for a more luxuriant crown and bushiness. Spruce trees, for example, can be trimmed, and the tips of fresh shoots of pine trees can be pinched.

Low-growing coniferous plants for rock gardens

• mountain pine (various varieties),
• black spruce “Nana”, dwarf spruce “Little Gem”,
• thuja occidentalis (some varieties, for example “Hetz Midget”),
• yew berry “Standishii”,
• microbiota,
• junipers,
• balsam fir "Abies balsamea", Korean, single color,
• pseudotsuga (compact varieties),
• drooping arborvitae "Thujopsis dolabrata".

To decorate man-made reservoirs, landscape designers actively use all kinds of stones. With their help, you can disguise the artificial materials used in the construction of a pond in your country house, as well as give the pond a more natural and picturesque look.

We offer you brief instructions on choosing stones for arranging ponds and how to lay them.

Where can you use stones?

Stones are widely used to give a pond a finished look. They find application:

• in the coastal zone. Place several large stones of round or irregular shape here. They will become an element limiting the area of ​​the reservoir;
• in shallow water. It is appropriate to place several stones, partially hidden by water, as well as pebbles covering the entire shallow water;
• at the bottom of the reservoir. In deep (more than 1 m) reservoirs, the bottom usually does not require decoration. But you can lay several large stones that will be visible through the water. They will look especially impressive at night when installed. Also, stones perfectly camouflage the submersible pump, making it indistinguishable at the bottom of the pond;
• on the islands. Several large stones are located throughout the island, as well as on the shore;
• as part of a waterfall. Flat stones are used to form a cascade, a plane from which water will fall to the next level. Stones of suitable shape and size are used to form an artificial hill;
• at the source of the spring. A beautiful block is chosen as the stone from which the artificial spring will flow. A hole is drilled in it and a pump is connected - it turns out simple, but very simple;
• during the construction of fountains. Decorative stone is used to disguise the fountain nozzles and the hose through which the pump pumps water.

Below is one example of decorating reservoirs with stones.

Which stone to choose?

Image	Description
	Granite. A natural stone widespread in nature, which will look appropriate when decorating the thresholds of streams, waterfalls, and ponds. May have a light gray or pinkish tint.
	Marble. Chic decorative stone. Depending on the type of impurities, it is green, blue, red, yellow or black in color. Can be used in the form of slabs (polished or not) for cladding, installation.
	Limestone. Sedimentary rock of grayish-white color without shine. Given its ability to dissolve in water, alkalizing it, limestone is used for dry work, for example, for laying along the contour of the coast or paving paths.
	Sandstone. Sandstone slabs of gray, red or yellow shades are often used to construct the thresholds of decorative streams, construct a man-made hill for a waterfall, cladding the fencing of reservoirs and as a covering for garden paths.
	Basalt. Natural stone of black or grayish color, having a dense or porous structure. Most often, basalt is used in the construction of waterfalls and for paving paths.
	Gneiss. Close to granite in composition, greenish-gray gneiss stones have a characteristic layered structure. This allows them to be used when decorating the bottom and coastal parts of a reservoir and forming a waterfall.
	Dolomite. This mineral can be colorless, white or yellowish. Thanks to its glass luster, it is perfect for decorating fountains, springs and waterfalls - structures where water moves.

The video below shows an example of decorating a reservoir with stones: there was a place for both springs and a waterfall.

About artificial stone

Those who are not going to carry heavy boulders or hire lifting equipment for this purpose can use artificial stone. It is a decorative item made of fiberglass, hollow inside and having a hole in the bottom.

Externally, such stones are practically indistinguishable from natural ones; they have a characteristic relief and color. Their main use is to camouflage pumping equipment, hatches, and various technological units. But they can also be used as an independent element of landscape design, for example, this applies to huge decorative boulders.

1. Large stones submerged half or a third in water look great in a pond. Especially if their surface is decorated with living moss. But for its development, the block must be in a shady place.
2. Don’t want the water to actively bloom in your pond? Then try to avoid the use of limestones, which reduce its acidity, which, coupled with good natural light in the pond, leads to the development of algae.
3. If film was used to waterproof a reservoir, do not place stones with sharp edges or heavy boulders in or near the reservoir. To be on the safe side, the polyethylene film can be covered with a layer of geotextile.
4. Be very careful when camouflaging the edge of the pond - do not make a heavy stone necklace around it, which will look redundant. Make the stone outline intermittent, diversifying the design of the coast with sand mounds or plants.
5. Combine the stones used in the construction of the hydraulic structure with the materials used in the construction or finishing of buildings on the site. For example, if marble was used to cover the columns of a gazebo, then it can also be used to decorate a fountain.

Even with the help of one stone you can make a good waterfall. These words are confirmed in the video below.

Options for laying stones

Stone laying is carried out in two ways: with and without mortar. The use of cement mortar is justified if it is necessary to strengthen the banks of a reservoir, arrange a stream bed, or build a complex structure for a waterfall or fountain. In these cases, use a mixture of sand and cement of at least M300 grade in a ratio of 3:1.

Dilute the mixture with water to the consistency of rich sour cream. To give the solution characteristic waterproofing properties, add up to 10% liquid glass to it, then mix thoroughly. Apply the solution in a layer of the required thickness, then moisten the stone and fix it in the desired position.

Immerse smooth round stones in the solution 2/3 of the volume - this will prevent them from subsequently falling out of the nest. After three days, the masonry mortar will acquire sufficient strength.

Laying natural stone is a real art. Even if you plan to strengthen the masonry with mortar, try to assemble it without it first. This way you can choose the optimal size and shape of the bricks for your design. High-quality stone finishing requires the presence of a minimum thickness of the masonry mortar joint, which is achieved by carefully thinking through each step.

The approach to laying stones when decorating and strengthening the banks of a pond is largely determined by the slope of the underwater part of the coastline. If it does not exceed 30 degrees, then the stones can be laid without mortar, but for a more dense fixation you need to use fatty clay. In other cases, it is better to use cement-based mortar.

Alternatively, you can lay a row of stones up to 0.5 m high, after which cement mortar is poured into the space between the film and the stones. Only after it has set can you continue working on the same principle.

As a parting word

Resist the temptation to turn your pond into a rock-lined pool! Don't forget that moderation is important in design. Pay more attention to plants that will delight you with their greenery and flowers.

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