Logs are an excellent material for decorating the landscape. Beautifully crafted and interestingly laid out, they give the site a natural look. Many decorative compositions can be constructed from this element. For tips and ideas on how to make them, see this article.
How to make a flowerbed from logs
A flowerbed of logs will undoubtedly become an original solution for decorating a country, personal plot. You can use for it as uprooted remains of trees, and those remaining after sawing plants. Having broken a flower bed in this place, you can solve 2 problems: decorate the site and cover unaesthetic elements that are difficult to remove.
It is easiest to make a flower garden from an old stump not removed from the earth. It is quite simple to remove the core from it, fill the voids with soil and plant suitable decorative cultures in it, or, as an option, install a flower pot in it. The disadvantage of this way of organizing a flower bed is that it can only be done in a certain place. But the sawn log can be laid anywhere. The easiest way to plant a flower garden is the same as described above - you need to cut out the core and fill the place freed from wood with earth.
Slices must be well cleaned. Thus, it is possible to make both small flower beds and large, long ones. Low-growing plants with not too long roots should be planted in logs. You can create monocomponent flower beds or combine different decorative cultures in them. Flowering perennials and annuals are well suited for this purpose.
In the flower beds from logs, it is recommended to plant such plants:
- bulbous;
- curly;
- ground cover.
Important! To prevent the development of diseases and decay, it is necessary to lay in the space in the log polyethylene and a layer of expanded clay.
It is possible to recommend the planting of petunias, pansies, geraniums, sour acid. Plants should be selected according to the color scheme of the buds, the height of the stems, decorative leaves, flowering period. It is important to plan the landing of the mix in such a way that the flowerbed is decorative for as long as possible. To do this, it is good to imagine how the planted plants look at each stage of the growing season.
If you want to create a flowerbed of continuous flowering or with a long decorative, you need to select crops with an alternating flowering period. Thus, it will be possible to achieve that when one plant fades and loses its beauty, the buds of another plant will bloom. To create a flower garden, you can use even a very old log, which has already dried up much. Flowers should be planted in all available holes. During flowering, they will hide most of the logs and make it an interesting object of landscape design.
It is worth considering such a moment that if a flowerbed in a log is equipped on a site that imitates a corner of wildlife, then the tree does not need to be treated. If it is broken in the center, in the most prominent place, then it is better to clean the bark and grind the wood to a smooth state. The described type of flower garden looks good near the resting place, eating, arbor. Near it, you can put wooden sculptures, benches, other attributes of wood.
Furniture manufacturing
Logs are well suited for the manufacture of garden furniture. In addition to being an inexpensive option, it is still beautiful and non-trivial. Particularly advantageous are objects that preserve the original shape and color of the tree. Such furniture fits naturally into the natural landscape. With proper processing, it can last quite a while. Benches, benches, tabletops, chairs, swings are made from logs. They need to be harmonious with the rest of the garden design. So, if the site grows mainly large spreading trees and shrubs, then the furniture on it should be equipped with massive.
Did you know? Emperor Claudius Caesar, ruling in Rome in 41–54 n e., decorated his own garden with his own decorative ornaments. He especially liked to use pink shrubs in them, which he grew in large quantities and gave to his relatives.
In a corner with elegant plants, it is better to install lightweight constructions. Furniture should also be selected in accordance with its purpose. To relax a small family, you only need a couple of chairs and a small table. If a lot of guests are going to the cottage, then you should take care of creating long benches and a table. In landscape design, as a rule, it is customary to put furniture for relaxing or eating in a separate area, fenced with hedges, flower beds, paved areas.
Benches and highchairs
Of course, today on sale a wide range of garden furniture, including wood. However, it is much more pleasant to spend time on benches and chairs made by yourself. To make an original and very simple bench, you need to cut the trunk in half, and then install it on a base made of hemp.
The parts can be firmly connected by means of a thorn-groove connection. For convenience, the back of the second part of the log can be attached. Easy to make from logs and high chair. The simplest option is a stool. A seat can be made from a stump. You can attach a back to it, as well as legs.
Video: Log stool
A larger chair can be done according to this instruction:
- Mark a section from the lower end that is equal to the height of the future seat.
- Cut a transverse incision in this place to the center or deeper.
- Then perform longitudinal sawing to the point of the first cut.
- Disconnect sawn section.
- Grind sections.
If you make more effort, you can make a chair with a comfortable back and armrests.
Paths from cuts
Cut paths are a popular element of landscape design. In addition to the fact that they look beautiful, they still have a lot of advantages, in particular:
- availability;
- profitability;
- naturalness;
- environmental friendliness;
- safety;
- simplicity in installation;
- long service life.
To install such a path does not require any complex equipment or special skills. It is easy to do according to the instructions to any person who at least holds a saw in his hands a couple of times. Wood paths also have flaws, the main one being susceptibility to damage by insects.
Of course, a wooden path is not suitable for any style of plot. It should be equipped in a country house made in a rustic manner, with elements of country, ecostyle, Russian manor. It harmonizes well with wooden and metal, wrought-iron furniture, with sculptures made of wood and ceramics, living fences and vertical landscaping. Saws can be placed in various ways.
The most popular types of styling are as follows:
- in line;
- staggered;
- free arrangement of saw cuts of different diameters.
Wooden elements of the tracks can be placed at some distance from each other or butt. Material for the described design element can be purchased ready-made. However, this option will be expensive. It will be cheaper to buy a round timber and then cut it yourself into pieces 15–20 cm high.
The best in durability is larch and oak wood. Good paths come from elm, acacia, beech, hornbeam. Pine and aspen are less durable. Wood before cutting and laying requires some preparation - it must be well dried.
For the equipment of the described landscape design element, you will need to stock up with the following tools:
- electric or chainsaw;
- tape measure (ruler);
- in pencil;
- staple (corilka, knife);
- a shovel;
- material for waterproofing;
- buckets;
- with a brush.
In addition to saw cuts, sand, gravel, and pebbles are also needed. Before laying, the wood should be treated with drying oil or special antiseptics. This is necessary in order to protect it from moisture, rot, pests. For better protection, copper sulfate treatment is needed.
Important! Equipping a path from saw cuts, it is necessary to leave several blanks in reserve. If any section fails, then it can be easily replaced.
In the future, proceed as follows:
- Mark the route and the width of the future path. The optimal size is 35 cm.
- Dig a trench with a depth equal to the sum: height of saw cuts + 5–10 cm.
- Lay waterproofing material on its bottom.
- Pour a layer of gravel or gravel 2.5–5 cm high.
- Level with a level.
- If provided, install a border of stones, bricks, logs, sheet iron.
- Pour and compact a layer of sand 5–10 cm high.
- Lay down the saw cuts according to the design.
- Tamp and level.
- Empty voids between saw cuts with sand or earth.
If the path is properly crafted and laid, then it will be able to decorate the site for 20–25 years.
Crafts for the Playground
The playground for children’s games can also be decorated with interesting and functional crafts. Comfortable swings, sports equipment, funny sculptures come out of this material. Having familiarized with examples of work, you can make a wooden horse, men, mushrooms, cars, trains.
It is very simple to equip a sandbox from logs. To do this, it is enough to lay the same-sized segments on top of each other, forming a square, or set in a circle of hemp.
To quickly build a sandbox, you can follow these instructions:
- Mark the outline of the structure.
- Remove topsoil.
- Dig a ditch around the perimeter.
- Set stumps in it in an upright position, driving them into the ground with a hammer.
- Protect the bottom of the structure with waterproofing material.
- Thoroughly sand and grind.
All details in the sandbox are subject to antiseptic processing. It will extend the life of the structure, prevent rot and damage by parasites.
Video: Children's sandbox
Designer fences and fences
Logs are an excellent and reliable material for the construction of fences. Wooden fences are eco-friendly, affordable and durable, go well with a variety of design solutions. With proper processing, they can last about 100 years. The most durable are the fences of larch, spruce, pine. Logs with a diameter of 10-15 cm are suitable for a fence. A picket fence looks interesting in the country.
To build it, you must:
- Mark the outline of the fence.
- Make a ditch.
- Install and drive logs close to each other.
- Make waterproofing.
- The upper part is symmetrically trimmed with an ax on both sides at an angle of 30–45 °, forming a count.
- Strengthen the structure by nailing a horizontal beam or rail.
The construction of a log fence can be done not only vertically, but also horizontally. To do this, you need to install supports made of brick or concrete.
The installation technology of the fence with horizontal laying is as follows:
- Make markup.
- Dig along the perimeter with a trench 60 cm wide.
- Make reinforcement.
- Mount steel wire frame.
- Install it in a trench.
- Concreted to soil level.
- Leave to solidify for 2 weeks.
- On the foundation, form a tape of stones or bricks up to 80 cm high, fastening them with cement mortar.
- Form supports.
- Install at a distance of 4-6 m from each other.
- After the posts harden, lay down the logs.
- Treat the ends with an antiseptic.
Bridges and walls of logs
If there is a pond on the site, then you can decorate it with a log bridge. It can carry out exclusively decorative function or be used for transition from one coast to another. In the latter case, attention should be paid to the reliability of the structure - it should come out stable and durable. Bridges can be straight and curved, with or without railing. For supports, you can use pre-tarred logs. They should be laid on supporting platforms in the form of ledges placed along the banks.
It is worth considering that if the brook is wide, and you need to build a bridge longer than 2.5 m, then you need to install underwater supports made of concrete or wood.
The design and the principle of placing the details of a small bridge can be found in the photo:
One of the elements of the decor of the site are retaining walls.
They are installed for several purposes:
- prevent slope destruction;
- to prevent leaching of the fertile layer;
- to distinguish various zones on the site;
- decorate the flower garden;
- create a layered relief.
The easiest option to build a retaining wall is the installation of logs. They are stacked in a horizontal or vertical position. To make a vertical wall, you need to install logs in the same way as when building a stockade. At the same time, segments of 2 m in length should be dug 50 cm into the ground, having previously been treated with antiseptics.
Did you know? The ancient Greeks began to create and decorate parks and gardens in the X – VIII centuries. BC e. The ancient Greek style of design of green zones had characteristic features only for him: utilitarianism, straight paths decorated with columns, vases and sculptures.
Installation technology looks like this:
- Dig a trench 60 cm deep.
- Lay and tamp a layer of gravel.
- Place and fix the logs vertically.
- Lay only on the bottom of the wall where it is in contact with the soil.
- Pour concrete to ground level.
So, logs can be used to create landscape compositions on a site made in rural, ecological styles. Items from them are a stylish decoration of the landscape. A popular use of logs is the manufacture of garden furniture, paths, fences, bridges. All wooden products are subject to preliminary processing from decay and parasites.
