Planning a cottage plot. Land plot planning - all the subtleties of the procedure. Video on site planning

When it comes to planning a plot of land, even a sophisticated owner needs practical advice. The chosen option should provide future comfort and a decent quality of life for the family. The task becomes more complicated if a dacha plot of 6 acres with a house is being planned. There are always several options for arrangement, and mistakes are unacceptable. Sometimes choosing the best solution can be difficult.

Layout of a summer cottage: where to start landscaping

The owners strive to plan the territory so that every square meter is used rationally and competently. It is necessary to optimally place buildings and paths, and appropriately decorate the available area. How to comply with all the standards (including fire safety standards), and ultimately get a landscaped area with an attractive appearance? Making an independent decision can take an unreasonable amount of effort and time.

The choice of plants is influenced by local climatic conditions

The easiest way to get answers to these (and many other) questions is from people who are professionally involved in landscaping issues. Having extensive practical experience behind them, specialists will determine the features of the site and, taking into account the individual preferences of the owners, will give practical advice.

Initial stage of planning: study of the territory

The layout and design of the site for a country house, on the basis of which the layout work will be carried out, is based on the principle of zoning the territory. But in order to divide the site into zones taking into account the needs of the owners, its characteristics are studied. In many cases, the decisive factor determining the position of buildings, paths and lawns is not personal wishes, but the characteristics of the territory.

Preparatory work

The assessment of the site begins with studying the features of the area - in what natural zone it is located, on a hill or in a lowland. A slope, ravine or stream flowing through the area will also affect the result. A set of features is taken into account:

• Shape and size of the plot

A site with complex terrain has its advantages

• Relief. It determines the placement of buildings and utilities. In areas with complex terrain, leveling is carried out by removing or lifting the soil, followed by reclamation (return of the fertile layer).
• Climatic conditions(average temperatures, prevailing winds).
• The soil. Its acidity and fertility influence the choice of plants. Often requires additional feeding with fertilizers (especially if the owners plan to grow vegetables, fruits and berries).
• Groundwater. If their level is high or the area is swampy, drainage is provided.
• Illumination. The location of the largest buildings and plants on the north side will relieve congestion on the site and turn the façade of the estate to the south. The earth will receive the maximum amount of sunlight, which will have a beneficial effect on the beds and flower beds.

Photo of a country house plot, design and layout

Division of land into zones

After studying the characteristics of the territory, its zoning is carried out. The number of zones depends on the family’s lifestyle; For most farms, it is convenient to allocate 4 zones. Landscape architects and designers advise allocating a certain part of the area to each zone:

• residential area, 10-20%.;
• economic zone, 5-15%;
• recreation area, 10-20%;
• gardening area, up to 75%.

This approach allows you to flexibly plan the territory, taking into account the preferences of the owners. The size of the zones can be changed if, for example, the area is intended more for recreation than for growing crops and storing supplies for the winter. Having decided on the size and number of zones, you can begin to fill them with the necessary parts, structures and plants.

The living area needs careful planning

On our website you can find contacts of construction companies that offer the service of designing houses and plots. You can communicate directly with representatives by visiting the “Low-Rise Country” exhibition of houses.

Living sector

The first location for the house is determined. A house on a plot of 8 acres (or more) is located in the center or in the northern part of the plot. They try to distribute outbuildings on the side opposite the facade. The north side of the house is also suitable for evergreens (fir trees) and ornamental shrubs that are not afraid of shade. With their help, you can separate the economic part from the rest of the territory. To protect the interior of the home from the summer sun, a veranda is often installed on the south side.

When choosing a location for a house and buildings, we must not forget about the regulatory documents that determine the planning and development parameters. These include the Town Planning Code of the Russian Federation, Federal Law of April 15, 1998 N 66-FZ and SNiP 30-02-97.

According to the documents, fire safety and sanitary distances between residential buildings, the material of load-bearing structures, distances from tall trees to the border of the neighboring plot and other parameters are regulated.

In the utility area you can also find a place for decorative elements

Economic zone

There are many buildings to be placed in this area, so compromise will be the most difficult to achieve. This includes a shed for storing equipment, a summer kitchen, a greenhouse, a cellar, a workshop, and an enclosure for animals. Just like a garage and a bathhouse, it is more rational to locate them in the northern part of the territory. The ability to access buildings by car will also be useful.

Rest zone

In this area there is a gazebo, a children's playground with swings, and a barbecue area. If the gardening area is planned to be small, you can build a pond or pool here, or sow a lawn for outdoor games.

The recreation area should please the eye, be comfortable and serve to restore strength. This is where the most spectacular flower beds and decorative elements are located. It will be the most suitable place for a decorative pond with fish, a gazebo entwined with plants and an alpine slide.

Picturesque recreation area

Gardening area

Zones do not have to be limited to clear lines; the boundaries between them can be blurred. The beds can be separated from the house by berry bushes, and from the recreation area by fruit trees that create cool shade. The sunny southern side, where there is no shadow from buildings, is suitable for a vegetable garden.

The elements that separate and at the same time unite different zones are paths, perennial plants and an irrigation system. Currant and raspberry bushes can serve as a permanent border for beds that change during annual redevelopment.

Video description

What you need to know about designing and arranging a suburban area, watch the following video:

Zones can be partially mixed. A popular technique is to arrange beds with spicy and medicinal herbs in front of the main facade, next to the flower garden. This technique is relevant for small areas. The layout of the site (5 acres with a house) using mixed zones will allow for optimal use of every available meter.

Ornamental plants are an important element of the garden area

Defining style

After a thorough study of the site and its preliminary zoning, the style is determined. To ensure that after completion of the work the territory does not turn into a pile of incompatible parts, the issue must be approached seriously.

The entire variety of existing and not yet implemented layouts of personal plots can be attributed to one of two styles (or a combination of them):

• Regular (geometric, formal) style. Originally from France three hundred years ago, it is still relevant. The style is based on symmetry (axial or circular); the objects have strict shapes (round flower beds, bushes trimmed to a line). An indispensable feature are decorative elements arranged in pairs or in a checkerboard pattern (rose bushes or flower beds) and straight paths.

Video description

Arrangement of a new site in the video:

• Landscape(picturesque, landscape) style. English in origin, it is built on the use of natural features - slopes, uneven terrain, springs. The main features of the style are winding paths, the natural shape of trees, climbing hedges and lush flowering shrubs.

Landscape style at its finest

Drawing up a plan - features of planning areas of different sizes and unusual shapes

The result of all the research done and the basis for future landscape work will be a site plan. In addition to the boundaries of the territory, it should include buildings, plants and design elements (paths, flower beds, gazebo, vegetable garden). The plan is carried out on a scale of 1:100. A landscape architect can also prepare a 3D presentation that allows you to see and evaluate the project from the inside.

The plan is especially useful when the site is small or has atypical, intricate boundaries and topography. He may show omissions that are easily corrected at this stage. This will avoid loss of time and money during work, as well as future problems with neighbors (if the building casts a shadow on their site).

Video description

Site planning, expert advice on video:

• Layout of an elongated area. The main task of planning such a site is to make it visually wider. It would be optimal to place the house and recreation area in the near half, and outbuildings in the middle and far part of the garden. To visually change the proportions, it is useful to plant seedlings of tall trees in the far part, and low varieties in the near part.

A common mistake is to create a straight path that crosses the entire site. To smooth out this option (if another form is impossible), shrubs and flowers planted next to it will help. To prevent the space from being completely visible, it can be divided using arches made of climbing plants or hedges.

A place to rest on an L-shaped plot

• The layout of the site is L-shaped. The design of such a site largely coincides with the design of a rectangular one. A separate protruding part can be turned into a cozy seating area, hidden behind a hedge.
• Layout of a triangular plot. Such areas often have irregular shapes and uneven boundaries, but they are quite easy to decorate. The house, located near the center of the site, does not allow you to take in it completely, and this is a definite plus. Landscape design experts advise making several plan options, with buildings should be oriented to the cardinal points, and fruit trees should be located in the far (narrow) corner.

Terraces on a site with a steep slope

• Design of a site on a slope. In such areas, they try to reduce the steepness of the slope by organizing terraces. A significant part of time and finances is allocated to excavation work and organization of irrigation and drainage systems.
• Layout of a small plot of land. When drawing up a design project for a summer cottage plot of 6 acres, a practical approach is required. Everything you need will have to be placed compactly, but this will not interfere with the proper distribution of space. A small plot can delight its owners with attractiveness and comfort.

Just as a theater begins with a hanger, so a site begins with a front area, which is not necessarily located in front of the facade. Often a formal, regular style is chosen for its design, leaving a natural layout for other areas.

Cozy design of the ground floor area

This classic version is not always used in its pure form. An original effect can be achieved by laying out a round bed on the lawn and planting it with climbing vegetables (decorative pumpkin and Turkish beans).

If you have a house on 6 acres, a small area is allocated for the front area and it is more expedient to decorate it in a landscape (natural) style. As design elements, you can use an alpine slide, a decorative pond, evergreens and lush shrubs that do not need to be trimmed.

Planning and further arrangement of a summer cottage is a process that requires considerable effort from the owners. When drawing up a plan, it is easy to lose important details and end up with a result that is not the one you dreamed of.

Attention to detail is an important touch of a successful layout

A beautiful and well-groomed site, the subject of admiration of friends and neighbors, is easiest to create on the basis of a detailed, thoughtful plan. A competent and creative approach to its preparation will be provided by a specialist - a landscape designer or architect with significant experience.

A small area to…

...and after redevelopment

Conclusion

The appearance of your site will always be before your eyes, so the planning must be taken with full responsibility. Take the time to discuss in detail with the designer your vision of the ideal site. A practicing specialist will not only help at this stage to avoid mistakes typical of people with an unprofessional view of landscaping, but also completely control all stages of the project. The result of his work will be a garden area with a general concept and original design, created taking into account the needs of your family.

Planning and laying out a summer cottage is a big creative process that will require you not only to have certain knowledge, but also to use your own imagination. At the same time, knowledgeable people recommend following the advice of specialists who will help you complete all the work, as a result, every square meter of the territory will be useful and delight you with beauty and comfort every day. We will consider in detail how to plan a summer cottage plot with our own hands, step by step.

Preparatory work

Before you begin drawing up a future site plan, you need to decide on the terrain itself, the nature of the relief, the shape of the land, the presence of any buildings, as well as other features of the area. For example, in rural areas there are a large number of streams and reservoirs, if one is present on your site, then you can use it correctly.

Pay attention to several features of the location of the dacha:

• lowland - hill;
• presence or absence of a water source;
• wooded area - steppe.

Quite often it is necessary to add or remove soil, make blind areas for walls, and also make organized drains. Only with proper placement of buildings on the site can you make maximum use of the dacha plot and highlight all the zones.

To ensure that all the preparatory work is done correctly, it is best to assess the space and start from the ground.

1. Relief: hilly, flat, with ravines or mountains. The layout of utility lines will depend on this indicator.
2. Soil: clayey, humus, sandy. If you plan to equip a vegetable garden, you should increase the soil fertility by applying fertilizers. The set of plants for the garden and flower beds will depend on the acidity level.
3. Shape and size of the territory: square, rectangular and elongated.
4. Groundwater: If the level is high enough, you should consider draining the water.
5. Climatic conditions.
6. Illumination.

It is better to orient all large buildings and trees towards the north. This approach will reduce the influence of shadows, and the view from the house will be maximally illuminated throughout the day.

Zones on the territory of the dacha

The layout of a summer cottage depends precisely on the zones that will be included here. Each individual case will have its own list, but you can consider the largest example and list of zones:

• residential;
• recreation;
• outbuildings;
• garden.

Each of them should have its own area depending on the total area. So, if zoning is carried out correctly, the residential part should be up to 20%. If it is planned to build outbuildings, then this percentage should not exceed 15%. At the same time, the largest plot is allocated to the vegetable garden and garden - 75%. This approach will allow you to diversify your landscape design and fill it with a wide variety of flower varieties and plant species.

1. The house is placed first. Most often, a central zone is allocated for it, but buildings are most often located somewhere in the depths. In an interesting and original way, they can be disguised with the help of decorative plantings that are not afraid of shadows.
2. The place to relax should be the most comfortable and best. In this case, the nature of the zone can be arranged or scattered. Here you should not forget about the place for a children's playground.
3. The garden should be well lit, so it should be given the sunny side. The shadow of buildings should not obscure the territory.

Shapes of plots

Options for planning a summer cottage can be very diverse, but almost everything will depend on the shape of the land plot. The most common type of plot is a rectangular shape, on which it is possible to implement a wide variety of solutions and ideas. There is also an L-shaped type of plot. It is quite complex, so you will need to think and think about where and how to place everything. The part that protrudes can be used as a place to relax or as a playground.

On a triangular-shaped site, you can consider an asymmetrical approach when planning and dividing the territory. The emphasis should be on round elements:

• lawns;
• bodies of water;

It is best to place outbuildings in remote corners.

Planning is a creative endeavor. Experts advise considering a wide variety of options, but not copying them completely, but making some changes.

Once the important points have been identified and various layout options have been explored, you need to sketch everything out on a piece of paper. You can seek help from specialists, landscape designers who use special programs to develop the project. But to save money, a regular sheet of A4 paper and a pen (pencil) will be enough.

To sketch the plan, consider an example - a 10-acre dacha plot. It is best if you take a scale of 1:100 and a sheet of whatman paper of the appropriate size - a square of 50x50 cm. For convenience, it is better to arm yourself with a pencil and a ruler to line the entire sheet into a grid in increments of 1 cm. Next - a flight of fancy: arm yourself with colored pencils, clippings from magazines and felt-tip pens, with the help of which you can create a real collage.

When working with the diagram, you must take into account:

• location of the house taking into account all exits;
• places allocated for outbuildings and auxiliary buildings;
• rest zone;
• playground;
• paths;
• fence;
• flower beds, rock gardens and front gardens;
• bodies of water;
• engineering Communication.

When preliminary placing objects, you should select the optimal location that will suit the purpose.

So, as already mentioned, the main elements in the following categories should first be placed on the site:

• the basis is the house;
• additional buildings and outbuildings: summer kitchen, garage, well, barn, cellar and others;
• recreational buildings: terrace, patio, gazebo, playground, swimming pool and outdoor shower;
• garden and vegetable garden: flower beds, front gardens, beds for vegetables and root crops, greenhouses.

It is important to pay attention not only to their placement and shape, but also to decide on the materials that will be used during construction. Only in this case the site will achieve a harmonious garden style. The children's playground is no less important: when choosing a place, you should opt for the most visible area, so that the kids are always under the visual control of their parents.

We also take into account the legal requirements regarding distance standards:

• from the house to the red line of the street - 5 m;
• from the house to the neighbor’s fence – 3 m;
• between houses made of stone - 6 m, wood - 15 m, mixed - 10 m;
• from the fence for a garden house - 3 m, buildings for animals - 4 m, outbuildings - 1 m, trees - 4 m;
• from the windows of the house to the neighbor’s utility parts – 6 m.

At the end of the article, a variety of examples of ready-made projects for planning summer cottages are given. Check them out and draw your own conclusions.

Plot of 12 acres

A garden area of ​​12 acres will allow you to place a larger number of objects and allocate additional space for recreation areas in comparison with the previous option. In this case, the layout will be distributed as follows:

• House with a spacious veranda – 150 m2.
• Household part 50 m2.
• Recreation area and playground – 200 m2.
• Vegetable garden and greenhouse – 200 m2.
• Garden plot – 550 m2.
• Paths and paths – 50 m2.

The principle of placement of buildings will be similar to the option of a plot of 6 acres, but in this case there is an additional opportunity for the implementation of various landscaping ideas. Thus, a large number of not only fruit trees and shrubs are connected, but also decorative ones. They can be planted around each object, as well as along paths.

In addition, additional square meters allocated for the recreation area will allow you to build a gazebo, swimming pool, and barbecue. It is very important to think about decorative lighting here, which will make spending time in the evening possible.

Plot of 15 acres

First of all, we note that 15 acres is as much as 1500 m2 of free territory, on which a wide variety of landscape combinations can be implemented. Most often, the plot has the shape of a rectangle 30x50 m or 25x60 m. There is enough space to include in the project everything necessary for comfortable and functional living not only in summer, but also in winter.

1. Residential building with attic and veranda – 200 m2.
2. Summer kitchen – 30 m2.
3. Guest house – 50 m2.
4. Bathhouse – 50 m2.
5. Outbuildings – 70 m2.
6. Garage with access for a car - 30 m2.
7. The recreation area includes a gazebo, a children's playground, a barbecue and picnic area, as well as benches throughout the area - 300 m2.
8. Decorative structures (fountain, artificial or natural pond, garden bridge, stone sculptures) – 100 m2.
9. Vegetable garden – 200 m2.
10. Flower beds and mixborders – 70 m2.
11. Garden – 400 m2.

There are no special recommendations for such a site, so pay attention to the first and second options. Everyone will be able to realize any idea here, and even more than one - it’s enough to rationally weigh and develop everything so that everything fits and harmonizes very well with each other.

A country house should be surrounded by greenery, so a lot of time and effort is devoted to this stage. A large number of flower beds are planned and laid out, and a large front garden is set up in front of the house.

When independently developing a plan for your summer cottage, you need to take into account many nuances and points that will help you complete all the work correctly and efficiently. Please take note of the recommendations and advice given in the article, and also review the sketches of the site plans. As a result, you will be able to create the summer cottage of your dreams, where it will be comfortable to spend all seasons, regardless of weather conditions.

Video

Lots of useful tips are given in the following video:

Scheme

Planning your summer cottage is very interesting, because you can come up with a bunch of interesting solutions.

In order to beautifully and efficiently improve the territory, you need to have some knowledge.

Our article will help you step by step to complete the basic work and decorate your site.

Where to begin?

Before starting work, you need to make a plan. Reflect your site on it, sketch its shape, display all the buildings and be sure to take into account the terrain; streams may flow in such areas.

Also take into account the location of your territory, whether your house is located in a lowland or on a hill. If the dacha is built under a mountain and streams enter the area, then its arrangement will take a lot of time and effort.

The layout of the territory involves dividing it into zones, these are a residential area, a recreation area, a vegetable garden and outbuildings. For each building you need to allocate a specific place and set the area.

The living area, that is, your house, should occupy about 25% of the space of the entire territory, the toilet, bathhouse and shed should fit on 15-17% of the area.

The largest space on the site, as always, is reserved for the garden, which means that you can plant and grow berries, fruit trees, your favorite flowers, build an artificial pond, build a gazebo, in general, make the area beautiful and landscaped.

The first thing to be built on the site is, of course, a house. Everyone builds it in a different place, some in the center, others like the house to occupy the first line, right after the gate.

A gazebo or terrace is built not far from the house, closer to the garden, so that you can enjoy fresh air and the aroma of trees while relaxing. The playground is also placed closer to the gazebo, perhaps at its level or behind it.

The toilet, bathhouse and shed should occupy a place closer to the fence. In this case, they will remain invisible on the site and will not take up space.

There is no single type of landscaping of a summer cottage, since everyone’s territory is different both in size and shape. The standard plot type is a square or rectangle.

On their territory, summer residents love to create rock gardens from stones, plants and a pond.

Planning a site is a creative and interesting process, but to make your dacha cozy and beautiful, it wouldn’t hurt to look at some of the work of landscape designers.

Drawing a diagram

Once you have decided on the location of buildings on the territory, mark them on paper and sketch them. So, you will clearly make your work easier, and you will certainly have an idea of ​​what to place where, namely:

• Where will the house be located, on which side of the plot will the entrance be.
• Place for outbuildings.
• Where will you place the gazebo and play area?
• Direction of tracks.
• Place for flower beds and a pond.
• Communications.

Strictly observing the sequence of buildings, the main place on the site belongs to the house, then we build a garage, sheds, a bathhouse and a toilet.

Lastly, we choose a place for a gazebo, barbecue area, summer shower, etc. Enough space is allocated to the garden and vegetable garden, depending on what you plan to plant there.

Site layout depending on size

Depending on how many acres the dacha plot occupies, the location of the buildings should be designed.

If the plot is no more than 6 acres, then with proper zoning of the territory you can build everything you need. A house on such a plot will be no more than 20-25 square meters. m., parking - about 7 sq. m., vegetable garden - no more than 100 sq. m.

If your plot is large, from 12 to 15 acres, then this is conducive to a serious project on which you will have to work hard.

According to the standard plan, everything can be built here, even large objects, for example, the house here will be simply huge, with a summer terrace and spacious parking.

When developing a plan for the development of your site yourself, take into account all the nuances regarding the construction and placement of summer cottages. Use a clear work plan and follow the advice of experienced craftsmen.

Photo of a successful layout of a summer cottage

When starting the practical development of the site, do not rush to plant the free space with trees, build a house on a hillock, and draw paths “on a ruler”. Whatever your intentions are - to turn a country estate into a recreation area, a permanent place of residence or a practical subsidiary farm, in order to avoid disappointment in the future, in the present you should take into account quite a lot of important concepts, get acquainted with planning and composition techniques based on natural laws , And so on. It’s difficult, but quite manageable for those who are not indifferent to the conditions in which they live, much less relax. And well-being, comfort and good mood are possible only when the needs and desires of each family member are taken into account in advance. And if you are thinking about this, it means that the question of planning is facing you with stern inexorability.

Where to place a greenhouse and a garage, what space in the garden should be allocated for a children's playground, how to lay paths? In each specific case, a variety of issues may be paramount - draining a swampy area, radically improving the soil, or fighting rampant weeds, but you still cannot do without a plan.

What does the concept of “planning” mean? First of all, this is a convenient and practical interaction of all elements of the garden and architectural structures, a sketch of your future garden, flower garden and other green spaces, as well as transferring the project into reality.

When planning a site, you should take into account not only your interests, but also not forget about your neighbors and the surrounding landscape, do not rashly cut down mature wild trees that are on your land - perhaps they can be successfully integrated into the future composition of your garden, as well as with the superiority of the owner do not block access to the banks of rivers, reservoirs and forests to other vacationers.

Not only to achieve an aesthetic effect, but to make the site comfortable and pleasant for relaxation and work - this is the main task of proper planning.

The main mistakes at the first stage of planning are incorrect orientation to the cardinal points. It is necessary to take into account how the area is illuminated during the day and at different times of the year, how shadows from buildings and trees move along it following the sun. Only in this case will you be able to choose the right place for the house and outline the recreation area where the family spends the greatest number of hours, escaping the midday heat and sun. Plants also need to be planted taking into account their requirements - many of them need bright light, while some, on the contrary, cannot stand direct sunlight, and they also need to find a place so that they can grow and develop favorably.

Shadows move in the opposite direction from the movement of the sun - from west to east. The longest shadows are formed at sunrise and sunset, the shortest at midday.

Most often, summer residents get rectangular plots of six acres, but in recent years everything has changed, and it may be necessary to plan large plots of irregular shape. It happens, and quite often, that the site has a trapezoidal, triangular, or even non-geometric shape. The hardest thing is for the owners of long, narrow plots - their planning is much more difficult, especially if the garden house is large. Land plots of irregular shape conceal enormous design possibilities, although at first glance
It seems that organizing their space is not so easy.

When planning your future site, do not forget about fire safety standards and, taking into account “extreme distances,” plan the distances between buildings. The house should not be more than 4.5 m from the road, and the distance between the border of the neighboring property and your main building should be 4 m or more. The distance between neighboring one- and two-story houses is at least 6 m. Place rabbit enclosures, chicken coops and other livestock buildings away from neighbors, in the depths of the site.

The distances between trees and structures depend, of course, not only on fire safety or hygiene requirements. They are determined by the conditions of working in the garden and caring for plants. For example, a garden path needs to be made so wide that two people can pass on it without interfering with each other. We must also remember that its width allows the passage of a wheelbarrow with soil or fertilizers.
When starting the design process itself, you need to have basic information about the site (situational plan indicating the entrance to the site and the location of neighbors), its dimensions and shape, orientation to the cardinal points, as well as survey data of the site in kind.

For example, you know that your future garden has dimensions of 20 x 30 m (600 m2) and an almost horizontal surface. On the shorter side, the road adjoins it, and on the other three sides there are neighboring plots.

Next, you must decide what you want to have in your garden: a garden house, a utility block (shed, toilet), fruit trees (apple trees, plums, cherries), shrubs (black currants, gooseberries), a vegetable garden (potatoes, vegetables). This is the minimum that you cannot do without. But this list can be supplemented if you want to have a greenhouse (greenhouse) or a children's playground.

Think a little more and remember that you saw a flower garden and a decorative pool on the property of friends and acquaintances. Your family members can also make their own adjustments and additions to the list of buildings: an enclosure for rabbits, a parking space (or garage), an outdoor shower.

Perhaps, having carefully weighed everything, you will come to the conclusion that you will have to completely abandon some of your ideas due to the incompatibility of the requirements and the real conditions for their implementation.

Often purely functional requirements conflict with natural factors - with the specific conditions of the place in which the garden is located.

Disappointment in working on the land, which is unusual for many city residents, can also occur for other reasons. For example, not everyone understands how much the general appearance of a garden changes over time and how these changes can be taken into account in advance in order to avoid in the future a feeling of dissatisfaction from the labor invested in arranging the site.

Taking into account these factors, you will be able to successfully design your site and enjoy spending time on it in the future.

Landscaping a suburban area begins with planning, a simple procedure at first glance. In reality, zoning an area requires special knowledge, especially if your site has an irregular shape or is located on a slope. The layout of a dacha plot, the principles of which will be discussed in this article, allows not only to intelligently divide the plot into zones - residential, gardening, and to find the best place for a recreation area. Thoughtful planning makes it possible to avoid a chaotic approach to arranging the territory, when the space looks unfinished even after all the work is completed.

The layout should take into account all aspects of the owners’ lives

Layout: drawing up a sketch plan

When arranging an allotment, you can use not only strictly practical techniques, but also allow yourself creative solutions (which, as we know, are difficult to implement in limited space). The goal of any layout is to arrange as conveniently as possible all the buildings necessary for the owners, choose the optimal place for plants, and take care of the decorative and functional details of the landscape (flower beds, fences, paths). The preliminary planning of a plot of 12 acres divides the territory into several segments (functional zones associated with specific activities):

House. Approximately 10% of the land is allocated for it.

Outbuildings. Also occupy about 10%.

Rest zone. From 10 to 15% of the territory.

Garden. 60-65% of the land remains for them, but this division is advisory in nature. It is likely that you are not going to devote all your free time to labor in the vegetable beds. In this case, the beds will occupy a symbolic area, and the freed-up space will be used in another way (for example, to build a decorative pond or pool).

Sample breakdown of a suburban area into zones

Having decided on the proportions, you can move on to the details. Before you make the first, tentative site plan, make a detailed list of the necessary objects. After this, the functional zones can be refined as follows:

Economic zone. In addition to the summer kitchen, it includes a cellar, garage, firewood shed, workshop, and paths.

Garden area. It traditionally includes an orchard, a place for planting agricultural plants, a grass lawn, a greenhouse and a greenhouse.

Fencing area. Fence and hedge along the boundaries of the site.

Entry zone. Gate, wicket and surrounding area (parking area, driveway, front garden).

Rest zone. Terrace, benches, gazebo, barbecue area, landscape elements (decorative pond or fountain, flower beds, alpine slide). This also includes a bathhouse, sports ground, sandbox, swimming pool, and swings.

Technical area. This includes a well, a water supply system, a septic tank, and a filtration field.

Sketch of the location of buildings

The location of these objects will determine the shape and location of the corresponding zones. Now you can make a preliminary plan. It is convenient to do it on graph paper; this will allow you to accurately draw buildings, zone boundaries, fences and plants. Already at this stage, inviting a specialist will be a useful step; An outside perspective can be very useful. Self-planning is certainly exciting, but it increases the risk of non-compliance with building, sanitary and fire safety regulations.

Layout: 4 points to pay attention to

A plot of land of 12 acres allows you to show imagination in the distribution of objects. But this must be done taking into account the placement rules developed by experts. Neglect of such rules is fraught with consequences that worsen the quality of life, comfort and functionality of the territory. Successful planning of a garden plot depends on the following factors:

Location of the house. It is the house that is the starting point for the remaining elements and zones of the personal plot.

A residential building determines the placement of other objects

Location of outbuildings. They play a secondary role, so the main principle of their placement is to make sure that they are not conspicuous.

Gardening area. To get a good harvest, you need a lot of sun, so they try to allocate the most illuminated areas for plants.

Rest zone. It does not have to be concentrated in one place; individual elements can be distributed over the area. If it is desirable to find a place in the shade for a gazebo, then an open place would be preferable for a pool.

For proper planning, additional characteristics of the site are important:

Terrain and the presence of natural bodies of water or forest nearby.

Shape of the plot and its location on the cardinal points.

Soil type and groundwater level.

Arrangement of a site of the correct shape

Any country plot involves a family vacation, so the layout should take into account the needs of each family member. A section of regular, rectangular shape is the most common option, simplifying the design process.

Layout of a rectangular plot is not difficult

Placement of a residential building. The site for building a house is chosen close to the entrance (entrance) to the site; The front garden serves as a separator between housing and the roadway. The house needs the correct location in the cardinal directions: the main facade with the veranda is oriented to the south or southeast (this will allow the maximum use of natural light).

Proportions. With proper planning, the area of ​​green spaces should exceed the building area. If structures, platforms and garden paths occupy more than 40% of the area, the layout is considered ineffective.

Fence. The fence is one of the first structures to appear on the site. You can improve the boundaries of the territory by installing a hedge near the fence. This requires a frame and climbing plants (honeysuckle, grapes).

Entry zone. Part of the dacha land will be occupied by a garage, a parking area and a driveway. To reduce this area, they try to locate the garage close to the gate.

Vertical gardening of a fence

Front garden. The front part of a country estate; separated from the street by a hedge or fence. The size of the plot of 12 acres allows you to create a spectacular entrance area (6 to 10 meters deep) - set up a flower garden, plant ornamental trees or shrubs, and sow a lawn.

Outbuildings. They are traditionally located behind a residential building, deep in the territory. At the same time, you should not place them at the far edge of the site, so as not to increase the number and length of paths. If buildings are planned next to the house, they are covered with ornamental plants.

Plants. Trees are planted no closer than five meters from the walls of the house, otherwise over time they will completely obscure the facade. Sun-loving ornamental trees and shrubs, as well as beds, are given the sunny side; for the rest, shady areas are suitable.

Rest zone. The arrangement depends on the preferences of the family; They try to locate the pool in the depths of the territory, and the area with barbecue - close to the house.

The entrance area is the calling card of your home

Arrangement of an irregularly shaped area

Sometimes it happens that the features of the relief or the quirks of the general plan set the boundaries of the land plot, and it takes on a shape that is far from the classical one. Many people think that planning a plot of land in the form of a rhombus, trapezoid or triangle is a thankless task, and sharp corners will not allow for full development of the territory. Plots of land on a slope also have a bad reputation.

Undoubtedly, planning such a territory will require more effort, time, imagination, and often additional funds. Arrangement of a site of a non-standard shape, carried out with professional help, will allow you to effectively use the area, minimize costs and turn a “problem” area into a place worthy of admiration.

Video description

The following video covers the basics of planning:

Irregularly shaped areas include the following:

Plot on a slope. If the site is located on the slope of a ravine or near a reservoir, the position of the residential building depends on the orientation of the slope. If the slope is southern, housing is built in the upper part, this will protect it from landslides caused by melting snow and heavy rains. If the slope faces east or west, the house is laid in the northern part of the land plot. If the slope is north, the building can be placed near the western or eastern border of the property. The steep slope is divided into terraces. This technique will require investment, but will allow you to use the maximum area, simultaneously strengthening the slope.

Layout on a slope without loss of usable space

Narrow area. Conventional landscape design techniques do not work well on narrow plots. An elongated area looks cluttered, objects interfere with each other and create chaos in perception. The problem is solved by visual adjustment. In such areas, they try to locate the residential building closer to the end (short side). The remaining buildings and tall trees are located in the central part. Such zoning distracts attention from elongated proportions. The plan of a summer cottage looks like a boring series of zones, but in fact, well-planted plants and details highlighted in a contrasting color prevent the territory from feeling “squeezed in.”

Master plan for a narrow area

L-shaped layout. The planning of such a territory brings, rather, not problems, but hidden opportunities. An L-shaped plot of land is a standard rectangular plot with an additional area of ​​the same shape. This adjacent area is convenient to use for organizing a recreation area.

Working on a sketch of an L-shaped territory

Triangular plot. Such an allotment can be a challenge for the landscape designer and a creative space for you. There is no one recipe for zoning triangular areas; it all depends on the lengths of the sides and the size of the angles. The most general recommendations are to locate the residential building on the side opposite the sharp peak. In order for the land to be used rationally, asymmetry of functional zones and the use of round-shaped details are encouraged - flower beds, gazebos, alpine slides, artificial ponds.

Fragment of the layout of a triangular plot

Irregularly shaped plots: 5 planning tricks

One of the rules of landscape design says: there are no bad areas, there are people who do not know the laws of competent planning. In order to tastefully place a house, buildings and other necessary objects on a complex plot, you can use professional techniques, which include the following recommendations:

Duplicate border direction. A land plot with uneven, close to natural, boundaries can be determined by internal zoning. Diagonal paths, beds and hedges will make the layout dynamic and unique. A house located not parallel to the border, but at an angle, will set a non-standard shape for the front garden and will never look boring.

Distraction from the shape of boundaries. If you do not like the configuration of boundaries and the irregular shape of the territory, you can try the opposite recommendation - abandon the idea of ​​duplicating boundaries. You can distract attention with curved and zigzag garden paths. A non-standard-shaped area and voluminous, overgrown bushes will be of great help in masking borders.

Video description

About the advice of a landscape designer in the following video:

Using a pattern when paving. The rhythmic pattern of the paths, which does not coincide in direction with the boundaries, effectively distracts attention from the irregular shape of the territory. For decoration, small tiles, mosaics, and natural stone are suitable - materials that allow you to complicate the space and make it more dynamic.

Use of the natural landscape. If the terrain of the area is far from ideal, there is an excellent reason to use a landscape style for decoration. In this case, a smooth transition between zones is planned, the atmosphere of closeness to nature is played out by the use of free-growing trees, climbing plants, voluminous grasses and shrubs.

Using accents. When planning areas shaped like a trapezoid or a triangle, the biggest problem is the sharp corners. Two techniques with opposite effects help to cope with it. The first is the effect of focusing attention, when an unusual plant is planted in a corner area, a sculpture or cascade is installed. The opposite technique masks the corner zone; For this purpose, choose a plant that produces lush greenery.

Site plan for 12 acres of complex shape

Inviting a specialist for planning

Planning a site for the construction of a cottage is a big job, during which many issues arise that require immediate solutions (otherwise the construction of the house will drag on indefinitely). The most common problems include:

Layout of a site with a slope. To ensure that the life of the owners of such a plot is not complicated by soil displacements, it will be necessary to strengthen the slopes with retaining walls, and in some cases, the creation of terraces.

Layout of a site with pronounced relief. Relief adjustments are often used.

Layout of a site with waterlogged soil. A competent analysis of the soil and groundwater level will allow the development of drainage and storm drains. Otherwise, stagnant water will destroy the plants and reduce the quality of life of the owners.

Selecting plants for landscaping. In order for the garden and flower garden to bring joy, it is necessary to choose plants, taking into account the characteristics of their cultivation, compatibility, and suitability for planting in a given soil.

Video description

To learn how to properly arrange your plot of a country house, watch the following video:

Competent zoning. The result of independent planning is often the irrational placement of buildings and paths, as well as ill-considered location of zones (when a recreation area or children's playground is next to a parking lot).

It is almost impossible to do all this work on your own without making mistakes along the way; In this situation, professional help will not be superfluous. Many construction organizations offer turnkey planning and arrangement services for suburban areas; the work goes through the following stages:

Site visit. The specialist conducts an initial examination.

Conclusion of an agreement and approval of the estimate.

Development of a conceptual solution; is carried out in accordance with building codes and the wishes of the site owners.

Development of a master plan and working documentation.

Planning work and landscaping of the site.

Delivery of the object to the customer.

Recreation area arranged based on the project

When developing the layout of a plot of 12 acres, the scheme and options are presented to the owners before approval of the master plan. After studying the documents, you can:

Imagine what the site will look like upon completion of all work, sometimes in 2-3 versions visualized in a computer program.

Finally decide on a landscape style.

Have complete understanding of the budget.

See perspective plot for several years.

On our website you can find contacts of construction companies that offer landscaping services. You can communicate directly with representatives by visiting the “Low-Rise Country” exhibition of houses.

A professional approach to planning a dacha plot will allow you to find a use for every square meter of land and turn a plot of 12 acres into an object of your endless pride (and slight envy of friends and neighbors).