Having become the happy owner of a piece of land outside the city, the owner is often lost in decisions about how best to arrange it. The situation is especially complicated by the relatively small size of the allotment, for example, 8 acres, because you want so much to place here. Many pass the planning work into the hands of professional designers, believing that this will be more reliable. However, knowing the basic rules for placing objects on a site and zoning space, you can equip the territory yourself. Further you will learn some secrets.

8 acres is how much

A plot of 8 acres is a quite solid territory that can be adapted to a comfortable suburban life. There is enough space here to build a house for the whole family, to arrange a garden, a play area, and, if desired, to start a small garden. Since not everyone can imagine how much it is 8 acres, it’s worth explaining that if you translate this figure into units of measure that everyone understands, the area will be 800 m². According to the recommendations of practicing developers, the area of ​​the house should be 1/10 of the land area, that is, in this case - 80 m², and the question of its location largely depends on the shape and characteristics of the terrain.

A plot of 8 acres can be rectangular, square or have irregular shapes at all. The latter option often complicates the planning process, starting with the fact that it is quite difficult to independently determine the perimeter of the territory in order to at least build a fence. But there is an opportunity to make out landscape objects in an original way. In this case, designers usually avoid clear lines and shapes, asymmetry is present in the design of the entire exterior.

Most often, rectangular sections are found - they are most adapted for zoning, create the appearance of a larger area, extending into the distance. But at the same time, the territory should not be too long and narrow, otherwise it will be very crowded. The preferred aspect ratio is 1: 1.5, i.e., approximately 23 m wide and 35 m long.

Square plots are less popular. This is due to the fact that the competent placement on such an area of ​​all landscape design objects sometimes causes a lot of difficulties. But, if you make some effort and knowledge, the project can be very successful. Often a house is built in the central part, a little closer to the entrance, and all other areas are located around. By the way, each side of such a site will be a little more than 28 m.

Did you know? The features of landscape design were known even by the ancient Romans, equipping their magnificent gardens with direct avenues, fountains, grottoes and pools.

An important role in planning the arrangement of a land plot is played by the features of the relief. Often when considering options for buying territory for the arrangement of a summer residence, customers refuse places with bumps and elevations, and they do it in vain. On a plot of 8 acres, which has natural slopes, you can implement stunning landscape solutions, for example, organize a multi-level garden, an alpine hill or a terraced flower bed with recreation areas and other facilities, build an artificial waterfall or imitate a mountain stream. By the way, in this case the house should be built on a hill so that it is not flooded by rainwater flowing from the slopes.

Rules for placing objects on the site

First you need to determine the place for the key building - a residential building. It is placed in accordance with the shape of the site. If the territory is rectangular, but rather wide, it can be built in any convenient place: at the side of the fence bordering the street, in the center, along the far end of the site. In case the plot is narrow and long, the house is located near the shortest side, thus expanding, visually, the area near the entrance. There are also triangular plots, where the rational solution is to place buildings in remote corners.

Unattractive buildings try to hide as much as possible. They are built in remote areas or delimited by green spaces. Toilets and compost pits should be kept away from home and rest areas. If it is planned to equip a garden or a garden, it will be rational to establish a shed nearby, where the necessary equipment for work will be stored.

Important! To visually expand the boundaries of a small plot of land, you need to plant dwarf plants and standardized tree shapes.

The garage is placed closer to the gate. Installing it in the depths of the territory will significantly distort the landscape design and, in addition, you will have to take care of laying the access road.

Zoning

When registering the territory of a private home ownership, it is important to use the technique of zoning space. Since the purpose of acquiring a suburban area is to bring it closer to nature, the largest area is allocated for vegetation (garden, flower beds, vegetable garden), about 75% of the entire territory. At the same time, residential buildings occupy about 10%, and the remaining 15% - farm buildings, areas for games, recreation, etc. During planning, try to take into account the needs of all households and organize a corner for each of them.

A. Entrance zone: main gate, parking lot, coniferous garden, flower garden. B. Economic area: household plot, garden, bathhouse with terrace, shower, toilet and pantry. B. Residential area: house, terrace, flower garden and ground cover. G. Landscape area: playing meadow, ornamental pond, rock garden, bridge, resting place in the shade, barbecue area.

Front zone

The front zone is the site in front of the main entrance to the house, as well as the area around the path leading to it. The arrangement of this site is given special attention, since it is this territory that you and your guests see at the entrance. She is a peculiar visiting card of the estate. Bright flower beds and flowerbeds are planted here, small architectural decor items are installed. The track and the site itself are often paved with beautiful material, characterized by high quality characteristics.

Residential

The main element of the suburban area, of course, is a residential building. Its placement depends more on the shape of the territory and the cardinal points. Expert advice: if it is not possible to make window openings from all sides, arrange them from the east and west. Such a reception will provide a full supply of light in the room throughout the day.

Household

Farm buildings (barn, toilet, shower) are often placed deep in the garden or so that they are hidden from prying eyes by tall hedges of shrubs and ornamental trees. Do not try to build a lot of extra buildings that clutter up the territory. Clearly determine the purpose of each of them. At the same time, try to arrange the buildings so that they do not create a shadow. The best option is the north or northwest side.

Rest zone

For the recreation area, it is rational to allocate a place in the backyard, in the most calm, non-passage place. If this is a playground, it is better to arrange it so that the territory is clearly visible from the window of the kitchen or living room. Pergolas and summer kitchens are often placed in the back of the garden, so that you can get as close to nature as possible.

Some owners of summer cottages equip their own artificial reservoirs, pools or decorative waterfalls. In this case, it must be taken into account that objects cannot be located under tall trees, the foliage of which will constantly pollute the water. Also, the reservoir should not constantly be in direct sunlight.

Garden

Today, owners of summer cottages strive to equip their territories in such a way that there are the most favorable conditions for recreation. Still, there are still gardening adherents who prefer to eat clean products grown on their own. In this case, it is better to devote the sunny southern territory of the site to the garden so that the plantations develop safely and delight in productivity. The modern design of the beds with borders in the form of flower beds, between which neat paths are laid, gained great popularity.

The garden plot is usually the majority of the landscaping. Tall and fruit crops take root well from the north. From the south and west - shrubs, dwarf trees, ornamental conifers.

Did you know? To make the plan more realistic, you can create models of clay constructions and, moving them along the drawn drawing of the plot, determine the best location and how the shadow will fall.

Methods for dividing a site into zones

Experienced landscape designers have various ways of dividing a site into functional zones. Most often, tracks are used, which are additionally decorated with borders from flowers or low decorative shrubs. Such a screen leaves open the rest of the presentable territory.

As a recreation area, a gazebo, a platform with barbecue, pergola can actIn general, it should be a cozy place where you can spend time surrounded by vegetation. To separate it from the rest of the space and make it more closed, you can use medium-sized flowering shrubs, creating a hedge from them.

In general, this is the most common way of dividing territories in garden plots. Depending on which plants you choose, hedges can be low and moderately tall, dense or more delicate. This is the most successful way of separating the economic zone, in which flowering plants such as lilacs, felt cherries, etc., as well as exotic specimens (thuja, almonds, junipers) often take part.

In addition to hedges, you can separate the zones by erecting arches and trellises. These objects evoke notes of romance, creating secluded corners. They can be installed, for example, during a smooth transition from one zone to another, planted with climbing roses, ivy, creepers, vineyards.

On a hilly area, the zones are separated by height differences. Thus, multi-tiered terraced territories are formed, on each of which a separate functional zone is equipped. As delimiters and backwater use natural and artificial stone.

One of the most interesting modern solutions in zoning is the construction of gabions. These are peculiar fences, the design of which consists of a metal mesh filled with stones. Such modular fences perfectly harmonize with green spaces and easily hide unsightly objects.

Site Planning

Before proceeding with the arrangement of the territory, it is necessary to draw up a detailed plan on paper where and what facilities will be located. During the design, it is necessary to take into account all the features of the relief, its flat territories, hills, slopes and ravines, as this will have a direct impact on the location of individual zones. Also, the presence of natural reservoirs or high-lying groundwater for the organization of a drainage system is taken into account.To get started, take a piece of paper and draw an approximate sketch of how you will see your estate in the future. Many ready-made ideas can be found on the Internet on sites about landscape design. After you have uniquely determined the number of buildings and the general concept, draw up an accurate plan taking into account the size of the site and its individual elements. Mark the places of installation of water supply systems, sewerage, gas pipes.

After drawing construction objects on the plan, you can begin to image recreation areas, games, a garden, a kitchen garden, etc. You should also display the location of paths, lights, arbors, pergolas, fountains and other architectural forms. When choosing objects, be sure to consider the style in which you plan to design the landscape so that the whole territory looks harmonious.

If you plan to arrange the arrangement of a garden or flower beds, immediately think about what plants will be planted. If we are talking about large trees, you need to observe the distance between them, as for adult crops. Ornamental plants are selected taking into account the illumination, fertility of the earth and the humidity of the territory.

Beautiful layout examples

Design of the site design is based on the chosen design style. There are no clear recommendations, everyone is free to choose which conditions are more preferable for him. One of the successful examples will be the design in a rustic style, which makes it possible to really relax from the bustle of the city. The central element will be a house made of wood. Low ceilings, small windows, chimney pipe - these details best emphasize the direction. A well can be installed near the house - it will be real or decorative depending on your desire and the availability of groundwater. Near the house it is better to plant fruit trees, berry bushes. A mandatory element is a massive table with benches. Surrounded by bright flower beds, all this will look amazing.

Another beautiful example would be a country-style site, partly similar to a rustic. A two-story house with decoration made of rubble stone or stucco, a tiled roof with a complex pitched structure and balconies with weaving plants - this is only the foundation around which other functional areas are formed, separated by a wicker fence or hedge. Near the house, a green lawn with poppies, cornflowers, daisies, a small garden with vegetable beds or a small pond overgrown with reeds will look great.

For those who keep up with the times, design in a minimalist direction is suitable. The house with a flat roof and panoramic windows is almost devoid of decorative elements, but practical. The territory of the roof is often allotted for the creation of a terrace, recreation area, due to which the remaining space on the site is saved, which can be used for a sports, playground or pool. There should not be bright flower beds in the garden; preference is given to green lawns with smooth straight paths. Coniferous trees (juniper, thuja, etc.) act as vegetation, which, with the help of a haircut, give clear shapes.

Landscaping

One of the important processes for improvement of the local area is its landscaping. Planting green spaces creates comfortable conditions for a good rest in the fresh air. In addition, the creation of beautiful corners of nature can be combined with income in the form of vegetables, fruits, berries and flowers.

Important! When making compositions of plants, take into account their soil requirements, as some crops love exclusively acidified soil, while others die in it.

Plants are planted according to the project. Soil on the site should be drained and fertilized. Experts recommend first planting large trees, then shrubs and then flowers.

To make it more convenient, the territory is divided into three zones, which are then filled with plants:

1. External. As such, the area along the perimeter of the site, during which the hedge will look beautiful, acts.Often it is formed from conifers (juniper, fir, pine), shrubs (mulberries, lilacs, honeysuckles), fruit trees (apple trees, plums). Two-row planting of these crops will completely replace the fence between the plots.
2. Internal. In this case, the territory adjacent to the house is considered. Flower beds, flower beds will look great here. Border plants can make out paths and the shore of a reservoir, if any. Unsightly outbuildings will mask the winding cultures: ivy, lemongrass, different types of vines. Ampel plants (fuchsia, pelargonium, etc.) play a special role in the design of the local area. They are placed in hanging flowerpots and flowerpots on terraces and verandas. Neat green lawns located in front of the house have gained great popularity today.
3. Intermediate. The rest of the area, the landscaping of which ennobles the site, adorns the functional areas. Its design is the most time-consuming process. It can be a lush garden of fruit trees, berry or ornamental shrubs with an equipped recreation area. On a remote territory of a plot of 8 acres, you can equip a small corner of the forest landscape with tall spruce, fir, thuja. If the terrain is hilly, an interesting solution would be to create an alpine hill or rockery with an amazing combination of plants and stone blocks. “Bare” gaps between trees and shrubs can be filled with lawn grass, choosing the most unpretentious garden varieties or ground cover plants.

Decor Elements

In the decor of the garden you can show all your creativity. But first of all, you need to consider the style of the site. It can be a variety of small architectural forms: garden sculptures bought or made with one's own hand, a decorative waterfall, complemented by lighting and exotic plants. Looks great arches and pergolas, braided by loaches, multi-tiered flower beds with bright flowering perennials.

On a site decorated in the Provence style, stone terraces made of sandstone or shell rock, wooden arbors and antique furniture with characteristic scuffs and cracks will look appropriate. A wonderful option if the site has a slope where you can arrange a terraced flowerbed with a French vineyard.

Fountains and sculptures, artificial ponds of regular geometric shapes, flowerpots with flowers, antique statues will become decorations of the landscape in the classical style. All decor elements are usually installed at the intersection of the tracks to emphasize the general symmetry.

The Chinese style, which is only gaining popularity among Europeans, is perfectly complemented by a round-shaped tea gazebo in a secluded corner of the garden, a brook with running water, stones of unusual shapes and colors.

Even the modern minimalist style of landscape design, which assumes the utmost laconicism, can be complemented by original decorations. As such, diode lamps, outdoor furniture made of aluminum or plastic, polished balls or cubes made of concrete or metal can act.

A plot of 8 acres makes it possible to implement many interesting ideas. Using methods of zoning space, a competent choice of style, plants and scenery will make it possible to equip it with a real place to relax from the city bustle and pressing problems.