Backfilling with bark. Decorative fills are an alternative to lawns. Characteristics and use of organic fills

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Ekaterina Kirova 03/9/2015 | 5801

Decorative backfill is actively used to decorate the site. The variety of species allows you to solve various problems: create a path, design a tree or shrub, zoning or decorating a flower bed, decorate a rock garden or rock garden, create a Japanese garden or a dry stream, prevent the appearance of weeds and reduce the amount of watering.

The whole variety of decorative fills can be divided into two groups: organic And inorganic. The former change their decorative properties over time, the latter do not. Each type of fill has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Organic fillings - advantages, disadvantages and scope of application

Organic mulches include any type of mulch of natural origin that gradually decomposes and enriches the soil. Most often they are used to protect the root system of a plant from drying out, overheating and exposure to low temperatures. This is the most environmentally friendly type of decor, but requires annual renewal. Often, after snow melts, heavy rains and wind, it is necessary to pour material onto exposed areas of soil.

The following are used as organic fillers:

• pine, larch, cedar and oak bark;
• wood chips;
• shavings and sawdust;
• pine needles;
• pine nut husks;
• crushed pine cones;
• whole pine and spruce cones;
• tunga (husk) of pine cones;
• straw;
• peat and compost.

The listed types of fills are good for their accessibility and practicality. Gradually they decompose, forming humus, which mixes with the soil, fertilizing it and improving its structure. Such dumpings as pine nut husks enrich the soil with micro- and macroelements.

However, the side effects of organic matter decomposition must be taken into account. So sawdust, wood chips, pine needles and other fine softwood materials, when decomposed, draw nitrogen and acidify the soil. On the one hand, this property is very helpful on alkaline soils and when creating heather gardens, on the other hand, it limits their use on acidic soils. When feeding plants that are mulched with coniferous fills, it is necessary to increase the dose of nitrogen fertilizers.

Tree bark, especially oak, is rich in tannins, which inhibit the growth and development of plants. Therefore, it is not suitable for beds with fruits and vegetables, but will be effective on alpine hills and plantings of coniferous plants. Peat, compost and straw, due to their fragility, are not suitable for landscape compositions, but will be a real boon for garden beds.

Some types of fills perfectly perform not only practical, but also decorative functions. Whole mulch or crushed pine cones It looks very natural and is indispensable when creating a garden in a natural style. Wood chips, pine nut husks and tung can be colored with natural dyes and create bright compositions or the necessary background for plants.

Inorganic fills and features of their use

Inorganic fills are of natural and artificial origin. As a rule, their cost is much higher than organic ones, but they are chemically neutral and retain their properties, shape and color throughout the entire period of use. Such fills are not only ideal for creating decorative compositions and edging flower beds, but are also an excellent material for creating garden paths, recreation areas and dry streams.

The following are used as fills of natural origin:

• crushed stones of various fractions (granite, marble chips),
• pebbles,
• boulders,
• whole or crushed shells,
• plain and quartz sand.

Marble And granite chips may have colors natural for these minerals, or be colored with natural dyes, including luminescent ones.

Artificial fills are most often represented plastic And colored glass. With a slight stretch, they can also include expanded clay, which is made from baked clay.

It is not advisable to lay inorganic materials directly on the ground, because gradually they will sink into the soil. Therefore, it is necessary to lay geotextiles between the soil and the fill, and limit paths and flower beds with borders that will prevent gravel from getting into the beds.

Despite its durability, this coating has a number of disadvantages. Dark stones can become very hot in the sun, increasing the dryness of the air around the plants. In addition, over time, the material becomes clogged with organic residues, even if the backfill area is located far from trees.

You can always find backfill that will satisfy aesthetic requirements and will not hit your wallet.

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Ornamental plants are undoubtedly the main decoration of the garden, but there are also other materials that can be used to decorate the landscape.

These are various stones, fences, small architectural forms, as well as decorative filling, which has become increasingly popular lately.

Its properties are so diverse that there are many ways to use it in the garden.

The variety of types, materials, and colors can confuse you when choosing backfill. Therefore, in this article we will consider all the main points on its selection and use in landscape design.

Characteristics of the main types

Decorative filling, represented by bulk materials, is used to mulch the soil for various purposes. All types are divided into organic and inorganic fills.

The most popular organic ones are:

• pine bark. It is very durable, does not rot for a long time, does not fade in the sun, and is also environmentally friendly and safe for humans and the environment. It will look natural and harmonious in landscape design.
• Decorative wood chips, cedar husks. They can be painted in any color (using eco-friendly paint), so you get a wide palette of colors to experiment with in the garden, but don’t overdo it, everything should look harmonious and beautiful. For example, bright, saturated colors are inappropriate for a landscape style, but they are perfect for paths and playgrounds.

However, there are also disadvantages of such fillings– they are lightweight, can be carried by wind, and have a short service life compared to inorganic materials. But the disadvantages are replaced by the main advantage - low cost.

Anyone can afford to buy wood chips, since they are mainly a waste product from the wood processing industry.

It is necessary to use organic fills with caution, since they are placed directly on the ground and over time, the lower layer, rotting, can change the acid-base environment of the soil (mainly acidified) and its composition. However, for some plants this is a favorable factor, for example for rhododendrons.

If, nevertheless, you have chosen this type of filling, then it is advisable to add it annually to update the appearance and compensate for the rotted lower layer.

Inorganic fills are divided according to their origin into natural and artificial.

In the first case, the most popular are the following:

• decorative gravel– represented by stones of various shapes of fine fraction, used to form road surfaces, entrances, etc.;
• crushed stone– obtained by crushing stones of various types (marble, granite, slate, limestone, etc.), has the appearance of crumbs with sharp edges, corners, and also different colors;
• pebbles– has a rounded shape, a smooth small stone, the most popular is sea pebbles, which in combination with colored pebbles gives a beautiful effect;
• sand– a very fine fraction; sand from marble, quartz, shells, etc. is used in landscape design.

The advantages of these fills are their durability, they do not crumble or fade, and retain their original appearance for a long time. In addition, they are easy to care for, and organic natural fillings keep the soil from excessive heating and do not interfere with water and air exchange.

The disadvantages include the difficulty of removing debris from their surface, so it is better to use them away from trees. After a couple of seasons, when dust, seeds, and soil particles get into them, the fills become silted and weeds may appear, but they can be easily weeded out or treated with herbicides.

Inorganic fills of artificial origin include plastic and colored glass. They are laid on a pre-prepared base made of geotextile, film, as well as fills of natural origin.

Application in the garden

Decorative fill is very popular and is widely used in landscape design. With its help, you can significantly transform a site, complement any composition of plants, and using it you can create a Japanese garden (“dry”), an alpine hill, a sand garden (without water, from coarse gravel).

Filling is widely used to create paths, patios, and also as mulch, to decorate tree trunks or as a replacement for a lawn.

Path made of decorative fill You can do it yourself quite quickly. To do this, you need to dig a pit (shallow, 10-15 cm), cover it with geotextiles and pour backfill (7-10 cm).

It is better to reinforce the edges of the path with stones or a special garden border. Using the same principle, you can make any elements of the composition, combining them with plants that are planted in slots in geotextiles and a lawn.

As a decorative element, you can use decorative fills when creating stone screes on an alpine hill, in a rock garden, or when decorating the shore of a reservoir. In order to highlight a particular plant, choose a backfill that is contrasting in color.

Organic materials as mulch are an excellent solution when planting perennial plants. The fill will fill the open space until the plants grow and cover the bare soil. This will also help retain moisture in the soil.

For 1 sq. m usually need about 50-100 kg of gravel, and wood chips or bark half as much.

Ornamental plants are undoubtedly the main decoration of the garden. However, there are other materials that can be used to decorate the landscape. These can be various stones, fences, small architectural forms, as well as decorative fills, which have become increasingly popular lately. This is an easy and simple way to improve your summer cottage area. It is worth understanding in more detail what they are and how to use them.

Decorative fills

With the help of decorative fillings you can change the appearance of the garden:

• to place emphasis in a new way,
• create an individual style.

In addition, the filling is excellent mulch:

• weeds grow slower
• moisture evaporation is reduced,
• no crust forms on the soil surface.

Dumps can also be used as a replacement for a classic lawn.

For decorative filling in landscape design, a variety of bulk materials are used - organic And inorganic.
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Decorative inorganic fills

Inorganic fills include:

• gravel,
• pebbles,
• baby,
• seashells,
• colored glass.

Inorganic decorative fills are perfect for decorating sandy gardens.

1. With the help of waves, stripes and circles of gravel and crumbs, you can highlight a beautiful plant: for this, choose a backfill that contrasts with the color of the leaves and flowers.
2. Large surfaces covered with homogeneous material of the same color, or a combination of areas of contrasting colors, look most impressive.

Advantages of inorganic fills:

1. long service life,
2. unchanged appearance.
3. they require almost no maintenance,
4. protect the soil from overheating and do not retain water,
5. they do not need to be fertilized, watered, mowed,
6. plants that have sprouted from flying seeds are easy to weed out,
7. in the spring, places with decorative filling are the first to thaw, and you can immediately walk on them.

Disadvantages of inorganic fills:

• fairly easy littering with plant litter,
• However, cleaning is also not very burdensome; an ordinary broom will help here.

Decorative gravel and pebble fills

Crushed granite gravel of various fractions, river and sea pebbles are often used as backfill. They are small fractions of natural stone with rounded or pointed shapes.

• A complex pattern of gravel of different shades and sizes of stone creates an interesting feeling of a decorative landscape.
• Rounded, or vice versa, rigid contours of the pattern of fills create a peculiar effect, thanks to which the site looks more attractive.

Decorative crumb fillings

This is the smallest of the materials in the “stone” line.

1. Happens granite , marble , quartzite chit.
2. Natural granite chips are a mixture of sand, gray and reddish shades.
3. It can be painted in any color, but such crumbs are much more expensive than natural ones.

It is necessary to keep in mind that under granites and shales the soil quickly becomes acidic.

Marble chips cannot be used in shady areas of the garden; they are quickly attacked by moss and mold. In addition, the crumbs “flow” into the ground over time, so it is better to place geotextiles under them and protect them from spilling with a border.

Decorative fillings made of shells and glass

As an effective addition, you can use unusual types of fills, such as seashells And colored glass .

1. They are especially beautiful in the design of ponds and dry streams.
2. Small glass balls in blue, green and purple colors look very original with white shells and large bluish-gray pebbles.

Decorative organic fills

Among the decorative organic fills, the most popular are:

1. cedar husk,
2. pine bark,
3. wood chips.

Most organic fills acidify the soil!

When using decorative fillings of organic origin in flowerbeds, tree trunks, etc. - wherever they are laid directly on the ground - it should be borne in mind that the lower layer of mulch, which rots over time, changes the composition of the soil on which it lies.

Pros of organic fillings:

1. Of course, the common advantage of all organic fills is their low cost,
2. spectacular appearance that creates a feeling of warmth and comfort.

Disadvantages of organic fills:

• Relatively short service life
• relative lightness of the material.

Decorative bark fillings

1. Like pine nut shells, pine bark is very durable,
2. does not rot for a long time,
3. does not fade in the sun,
4. is environmentally friendly and safe for humans and the environment.

Decorative fillings from wood chips and husks

Decorative wood chips and cedar husks are used both in their natural form and painted.

• With colored materials you have a wide range of colors to experiment with in the garden.
• But remember, bright, saturated colors are inappropriate for a landscape style, but they are perfect for paths and playgrounds.

How to make decorative filling with your own hands

Before starting work, it is better to draw a plan for the layout of the site so that the new element of garden design does not “stick out” like a foreign body in the middle of the landscape. Try not to choose strictly geometric shapes.

Where to start dumping:

1. it is necessary to remove the top fertile layer of soil,
2. select weed roots,
3. carefully level and compact the soil.
4. Then lay dense geotextiles or spunbond.

It is better to take black covering material.

• If you want to place plants on the fill, you need to make cross-shaped cuts in the geotextile.
• To prevent fills of different colors from mixing, it is necessary to install a border tape along the contour of the pattern.
• If you are making a path, then it is better to reinforce its edges with stones or the same curb tape.

Immediately after installation, the decorative coating must be leveled, compacted and watered.

Consumption of decorative filling

1. When backfilling, layer thickness stone chips usually does not exceed 5 cm. On average, 4 large (12-liter) buckets of material are needed per 1 m².
2. Decorative thickness fills from organic materials – 5–8 cm. The layer on the track is made thicker – 7–10 mm.
3. One bag (60 l) wood chips enough to cover 1 m² with a layer of 3 cm.
4. Bag pine nut shells on the same area will give a layer of 4 cm.

One of the most beautiful and useful landscape techniques is decorative fills. To create them, a variety of bulk materials are used.

With the help of such coatings you can change the appearance of the garden, place accents in new ways, and create an individual style.

In addition, fills are an excellent mulch: weeds grow more slowly, moisture evaporation is reduced, and a crust does not form on the soil surface. Dumps can also be used as a replacement for a classic lawn.

Inorganic fills are perfect for decorating ponds, alpine slides, rockeries and sandy gardens. Using waves, stripes and circles of gravel and chips, you can accent a spectacular plant; To do this, choose the filling in contrast to the color of the leaves and flowers. Large surfaces covered with homogeneous material of the same color, or a combination of areas of contrasting colors, look most impressive. Stone fills are divided into gravel, pebbles and chips, depending on the size and shape of the stones.

Finely crushed natural stone has chipped, sharp or rounded surfaces. There are monomineral gravels, for example from granite, and mixtures of different rocks: granite, sandstone, slate, marble and quartzite. It has many shades, which allows it to harmoniously “fit” into any landscape design. It does not retain air or moisture, and the soil underneath does not overheat. The material is durable, does not fade, and is relatively inexpensive.

Pebbles

It is a rounded small stone, rounded and polished by river or sea waves. Decorative pebbles are used as backfill - river, beige and sandy colors, and sea “shell rock” - gray, beige, brown and light pink. There are also man-made pebbles made in a special stone-processing machine. Marble, granite, gneiss, quartzite, and slate are used for its production. Pebbles made from flagstone are flat, but if the starting material was rubble, they are voluminous. The pebbles contain many colorful stones and are very decorative. The material is smooth and forms surfaces with a soft texture. Pebbles have a long service life and require almost no maintenance. The cost of all types of pebbles is quite high.

Chit

This is the smallest of the “stone” line materials: from 2.5 to 6 mm. There are granite, marble, quartzite chips, anthracite, siltstone, shungite, etc. Natural granite chips are a mixture of sand, gray and reddish shades. Dyed comes in any color, from dandelion yellow to Prussian blue, but it is much more expensive than natural. It must be borne in mind that under granites and shales the soil acidifies quite quickly. Marble chips cannot be used in shady areas of the garden; they are quickly attacked by moss and mold. In addition, the crumbs “flow” into the ground over time, so it is better to place geotextiles under them and protect them from spilling with a border.

Expanded clay

Light porous material in the form of oval granules, ocher color. Expanded clay is produced by firing low-melting clay. Very durable, frost-resistant and moisture-resistant material, chemically inert. Of all types of fills, expanded clay is the least decorative. It is usually used to decorate flowerpots.

Unusual

As a spectacular addition, you can use unusual types of fillings, such as seashells and colored glass. They are especially beautiful in the design of ponds and dry streams. Small glass balls in blue, green and purple colors look very original with white shells and large bluish-gray pebbles.

How to do

1. Before starting work, it is better to draw a layout plan for the site so that the new element of garden design does not “stick out” like a foreign body in the middle of the landscape. Try not to choose strictly geometric shapes.

2. Remove the top fertile layer of soil, remove weed roots, carefully level and compact the soil.

3. Lay dense geotextiles or spunbond. It is better to take black covering material. If you want to place plants on the fill, you need to make cross-shaped cuts in the geotextile.

4. To prevent fills of different colors from mixing with each other, install a border tape along the contour of the pattern.

5. Immediately after installation, the decorative coating must be leveled, compacted and watered.

How much to sprinkle?

The thickness of the layer of stone chips usually does not exceed 5 cm. Per 1 sq. m on average it takes 4 large (12-liter) buckets. The thickness of the decorative filling of organic materials (chips, bark) is 5-8 cm. The layer on the path is made thicker - 7-10 mm. One bag (60 liters) of wood chips is enough to cover 1 square meter. m in a 3 cm layer. A bag of pine nut shells on the same area will give a 4 cm layer.

Advice to a summer resident:

It is not easy to sweep away debris from stone piles, so you should not do them under plants that scatter leaves, petals, pine needles and seeds around them.

Materials for decorative fillings

mineral/rock	color and shade	properties
granite	black-white-red, red-violet, pink, gray	very strong, durable and decorative breed
marble	bright white, yellowish, gray, blue-gray, crimson	very effective, resistant and durable material
sandstone	Natural – light gray, beige, golden; fired - terracotta and charcoal black	coarse gravel with a relief heterogeneous texture
quartzite	brown-raspberry; wet quartzite turns red and hot pink	very elegant, durable and resistant material with sharp “torn” edges
slate	greenish, gray, burgundy, black and purple	flat relief plates, effective in bulk
coil	gray-greenish tint	edges are sharp; in the rain the green color appears more brightly
shungite	shiny black and matte gray black	durable, chemical resistant and beautiful material with sharp edges

Time moves inexorably forward, new ideas for using various materials appear. Alpine slides and rock gardens once seemed to us something unusual and difficult to implement. Previously, in squares and parks one could see a sculpture, flowerbed or fountain in the center of the poured gravel. However, now, keeping up with the times, we understand that everything is not so complicated, and we begin to experiment.

The use of gravel in the garden is becoming more popular. This material is an integral part of the design. Dry gardens and garden paths are backfilled with gravel. This is an excellent material that you can and should work with. It has a different shape (angular, oval), color (black, red, yellow, gray, orange, green) and size. Depending on the weather, be it sun, fog or rain, its appearance also changes. Gravel is also often used as drainage when planting or as mulch in hot weather to keep the soil cool. Added to the foundation to reduce the consumption of cement-sand mortar and increase the service life of the structure. They are made from gravel, which serve as a dividing border or simply as a spectacular decorative element.

Translated from French, the word gravel means coarse sand, particles of which are larger than 1 mm. It is formed during the destruction of a mountain range, and is polished by the water flow of a river, stream or sea. Round pebbles always have impurities, which is why their strength depends. Crushing is carried out industrially depending on the purpose of use, for construction work or for decorative purposes. Fractions can have sizes of 1-3 mm, 3-5 mm, 5-10 mm, 10-20 mm, 20-40 mm, 40-70 mm.

To create a gravel garden, use stones of the same size or, for greater expressiveness, select stones of different fractions. The smaller the size, the easier and more comfortable it is to walk on. Usually they combine stones up to 10 mm with larger ones.

Advantages of gravel are undeniable, especially if you also take into account such an aspect as the fact that this is an inexpensive environmentally friendly material. When installed correctly, it does not interfere with air exchange, due to which the root system of plants underneath develops at a normal pace.

Decorative material that is equally beautiful in any weather. They can be used to decorate any problem area of ​​the garden where this cannot be done by planting, be it swampiness, impenetrable shadow or poor soil. It looks great paired with wood, glass, moss, metal, which allows you to build a wide variety of compositions.

Does not require skill and is easy to care for.

Disadvantages of gravel

And yet they exist - working with gravel takes a lot of time and physical strength. However, this is not such a compelling argument to refuse to work with the material. But here are the remaining nuances that may be subject to rejection:

— gravel is unpleasant to walk on, especially for older people or small children;

— you can’t ride a bicycle or children’s cars on gravel;

— difficult to transport a wheelbarrow;

— in winter it is impossible to clear snow and ice;

- - dangerous for gravel, they will ruin the entire appearance of the garden;

— in the fall, a lot of leaves will fall on the gravel under the trees, which will complicate cleaning and contaminate the stones themselves;

— over time, gravel becomes clogged and cleaning it will be problematic.

How to make a gravel garden

To create such a corner, you first need to carry out a number of works: clear the area of ​​weeds and debris, make markings. Next, you need to remove the top layer of soil (15-20 cm), lay drainage made of sand or small crushed stone at the bottom. If the area is sandy or loamy, then you can do without drainage. Sprinkle herbicide-treated soil on top to reduce weed growth. When the preparatory work is completed, adjust the relief and leave to rest. If the gravel garden is made on a slope, then the angle of inclination should not exceed 10°, otherwise the gravel will begin to sink over time. In this case, the site is divided into terraces.

When the earth is compacted, we lay a black permeable film (lutrasil, agril), it will not allow weeds to sprout. If you use regular thick film, be sure to make holes in it so that water does not accumulate, but goes into the ground. In terms of area, it should take up more space than the garden topography itself.

Now we start planting the plants by making cross-shaped holes in the film. We unfold the edges so that we get squares, replace the soil in them with fertile one and plant the plants in the hole.

Suitable for planting in a gravel garden: yarrow, tansy, bergenia, sedum, phlox, perennial aster, sedum, hosta, thyme, creeping ground cover and others. Of the tall ones: goldenrod, monarda. From trees and shrubs: juniper, fir, cypress, spirea, . For a gravel garden in the shade, moss combined with ferns can be an interesting option. But then such elements of rutaria as must be present. Select plants depending on their characteristics (moisture-loving, drought-resistant) and your desire to care for them. When finished, fill all gaps with gravel, starting from the most distant place. The gravel layer should be at least 5 cm. Before backfilling, it is advisable to rinse the stones with water to remove remnants of weeds and pathogens. Don't be alarmed if the gravel garden seems empty by the time you finish the work; over time, the plants will grow and you can adjust everything.

How to make a garden path from gravel

Outline the boundaries of the future path using pegs and nylon thread. Fill the inner part with a layer of sand (15 cm), lay a layer of building crushed stone (15 cm) on top and finish filling with a layer of gravel with a fraction of up to 1 cm. You can decorate a gravel path with a curb stone, which will solve not only the question of how to decorate the border, but also the problem gravel spreading on the sides. You need to lay it a little higher. At the end of the work, water the gravel garden path, compact all layers well again and enjoy the work done. The average track width is usually 1 m.