Landscaping is a whole science and a complex of various techniques for decorating the garden, planting plants and decoration elements. In this article, you can familiarize yourself in detail with such a concept as curtains.

What is Curtina

In landscape gardening, the term “curtain” means “group”. This is a separate area on which a composition of the same type of plants or mixed is placed. Such a territory is usually separated by paths or a lawn.

In design, this technique has several tasks:

1. Allows you to maximize the decorative qualities of a variety (in monoplanting).
2. It emphasizes the texture of the lawn if the curtain is created as a frame.
3. It distracts attention with bright colors when it is conceived as an emphasis on the territory.
4. It hides an unsightly building (densely planted shrubs, dwarf trees).
5. Creates a shadow or living fence.

A large group may contain more than 10 copies, but this does not mean chaos in the landing. Each type of curtain has its own rules.

Did you know? In Europe, during the Enlightenment, the style of landscape composition using curtains became popular. About such parks, Jean-Jacques Rousseau said that there are no intermediaries between man and divine harmony.

Types of curtains with a brief description

The group may contain plants of various kinds, types and colors. For example, trees, shrubs, and flowering grassy perennials. The composition can be single-sighted, with a tight fit, which will create a bright spot on the site. Most often, plants are selected that are similar in texture to foliage or color of flowers, creating a multi-level planting.

Simple

A small group of trees will serve as an element of decorative zoning of space. Two completely different plants complement each other and emphasize the decorative effect, planted in turn, which is called a game in contrast. Many ornamental shrubs tolerate pruning well, which allows you to design a curtain in a topiary style.

For a simple group fit:

• maple ash and silver;
• green ash;
• Walnut;
• lilac;
• Turkestan poplar;
• mock-up;
• pear;
• fieldfare;
• Maclura Orange.

Did you know? More than 150 thousand boxwood grows in the Versailles garden of Marquessac. Curly curtains are still pruned by hand.

Difficult

A curtain of this kind is a composition of flowering herbaceous plants, shrubs, trees, which are approximately the same in texture and growth. Such a group should harmoniously fit into space with a single silhouette. Usually, the reception is used in the design of the territories of educational institutions, administrative buildings or entertainment complexes. The background is a lawn, small architectural elements are welcome.

Group example:

• Thunberg Barberry Golden Ring;
• Thunberg Aurea Barberry;
• phlox Red Feellings;
• European euonymus atropurpurea;
• Japanese Spirea.

Mixed

The technique is similar to the previous type, but in this case it is not necessary to select the height. The main thing is to create a composition where different in height and texture of foliage, bark, flowers, plants are perfectly combined with each other. It is important that the group looks whole, without recalling the wild thickets of random self-seeding. Mixed planting should be carefully looked after.

Planting example:

• warty birch;
• prickly spruce;
• common spruce;
• fieldfare;
• girl's grapes;
• hydrangea;
• cystic fibrosis;
• rose rugosa.

Woody

In the curtain, only woody crops are used. Reception is relevant in large gardens or parks. A simple composition consists of trees of one species, a complex one - from different cultures. In both cases, it is necessary to take into account the growth power of the shoots, the crown width and height. Tall trees should not cover low plants.

Crop selection:

• spruce;
• thuja;
• Birch tree;
• willow;
• viburnum;
• decorative apple tree;
• Pine.

Shrubby

Unlike the previous type, it is applied on any sites. In a small area, it is desirable to select dwarf varieties of crops. Today there are enough shrubs of different genera, but similar in texture or color to foliage, type of bark or crown. You can pick up absolutely different plants, the main thing is to correctly arrange them.

Suitable shrubs:

• hawthorn;
• Weigela
• barberry;
• mock-up;
• buddley;
• broom;
• honeysuckle;
• lilac;
• Spirea Wangutta;
• elder.

Solid

The composition is mainly used for planting flowering and decorative deciduous perennials of the same species or variety. Grassy crops that grow solitary do not look as bright and colorful as in a dense group. The reception focuses on the beauty of foliage or on the shape, color of inflorescences.

Important! A group will really look decorative and beautiful if the diameter of the planting is 3 times less than the height of the crop. Otherwise, the group is more like thickets.

Suitable for landing:

• Pushkinia;
• tulip;
• a center;
• irises;
• cortaderia;
• Miscanthus Zebrina;
• mühlenbergia;
• euonymus;
• spirea;
• weigela.

Multi-colored

The name speaks for itself: in the group there are cultures with different colors of foliage or flowers. It can be trees, shrubs, flowers, or decorative cereals. The composition involves cultures of one species, but of different varieties, and varietal plants. Multi-colored planting is used in the English park, Japanese and Chinese style.

Plants:

• white poplar;
• fescue;
• miscanthus;
• horse chestnut;
• silver maple;
• thuja western;
• blue spruce;
• evergreen mahonia;
• hydrangea;
• cotoneaster;
• park rose.

Fishnet

This type of curtain is created from bushes or trees with a loose crown. With a tight planting, the stands will not cover the entire landscape. Ideal culture with small leaves and flexible stems. Intertwined, the branches create patterned gaps with diffuse lighting.

Examples of plants:

• Birch tree;
• larch;
• Rowan;
• poplar;
• alder.

Dense

This species is most often used for protective purposes. Along the edge of the plot, tall plants are planted to protect against wind or sun. Trees or bushes are planted next to denser so that their crowns overlap each other. Landing behind a bright floral arrangement as a background for it is also possible.

For such a curtain, a crop with a dense crown, large leaves, for example:

• bird cherry;
• beech;
• Pine;
• fir;
• boxwood.

Rules for designing curtains

There are several points to consider when creating a group. Before landing, you need to correctly calculate the size of the site and the future curtain. To make everything turn out beautifully and aesthetically, it is recommended to start with calculations and analysis on paper.

The main factors in the design:

1. Plant height. In the group, all its elements should be visible, otherwise it loses its decorativeness.
2. Crown Density, Foliage or Inflorescence Size. Actual for the correct location in openwork or tight fit.
3. Color crowns and flowers in mixed groups. It is advisable to choose compatible shades, for example, all warm or all cold. For shrubs, the contrast of colors is interesting - green, yellow, red.
4. Flowering period, foliage color change. Either crops of one season are selected for planting, or followed by flowering.
5. Shoot growth power. To facilitate care, it is advisable to plant nearby bushes and trees growing at the same rate.
6. Accommodation. If you want to create a curtain from low monophonic flowers, they are planted in stripes on the lawn. For high cultures, such a landing is no longer acceptable, it will be sloppy, rundown and shapeless.
7. Breed and Species Compatibility. Some plants can be aggressive towards others, suppress and take away moisture and nutrition.

Important! Walnuts are planted single-handedly because they release a substance called juglone that inhibits the growth of other crops. Choosing a neighbor for him is problematic.

Curtina is a very interesting technique of landscape design, because with its help you can create completely different corners in purpose and type. Before creating plantings, it is recommended to conduct thorough preparation.