Site on the mountainside crossword puzzle. The simplest engineering structures in the design of landscape objects. Creating a project for a site with a slope
Vertical layout territory includes the development of simple engineering structures, which include slopes, retaining walls and stairs.
Slopes these are the simplest elements that provide vertical layout territories when connecting planes of different heights. They provide connection between areas with different relief marks. Slopes, as a rule, have a laying of 1:1.5, 1:2 or 1:3. The structural elements of the slope itself are the height /H/ or vertical alignment, length /L/ or horizontal alignment and the steepness or slope of its surface /i/. Slopes are usually arranged along the boundaries of areas raised above the existing relief or lowered / “embedded” / into the slope, as well as along the banks of reservoirs and the ridges of terraces. To strengthen the surface of the slopes of steep slopes /1:1.5/, more than 6 m high, use wooden formwork /caged/ with cells 1x1, 5 or 1x1m; Vegetable soil is poured into each cell, and the surface is sown with lawn grass seeds.
The design image of the slope in plan is shown in Fig. 1.
To protect against water erosion, drainage devices are provided on the upper edge of the slope in the form of an upland ditch or a drainage network collector with water intake wells. To drain water flowing down the slope, a drainage tray is installed at its base.
Retaining walls These are engineering structures that replace slopes and serve to keep the earth masses of the upper terrace of the planned territory in balance. The height of the retaining wall is set in accordance with the vertical solution of the site. The retaining wall is calculated using the formula: L - = 1/3 H, i.e. ratio 3:1. The steepness or bevel of the retaining wall is provided in the range of 1:10-1:12. A tray is installed along the upper edge of the wall to intercept surface water to prevent it from flowing down the surface of the wall and contaminating its façade. When designing a path, a fence (railing, fence, parapet) is installed along the upper edge of the wall. The materials for retaining walls are: natural stone, concrete or reinforced concrete. The outer surface of the wall is tiled or made of stone. To make the facade of the wall decorative, individual stones are sunk into its concrete surface.
Stairs these are structures that provide for transitions /ascent or descent/ from one terrace to another or transition from one section of the path to another, higher or lower. Stairs are provided when the slope of the walkway surface exceeds 8%. The stairs, like the slopes, have horizontal and vertical layouts. The maximum staircase layout is 1:3.
The height of the staircase steps is designed to be within 10-14 cm; steps can be of different widths depending on the purpose of the staircase and the area in which it is located. For example, a wide /front/ staircase is installed at the main entrance to the facility. To design and calculate stairs, an empirical formula is used: 2H + a = 0.58 - 0.64, where H is the height of one step; a is the width of the step.
Vertical planning of sites when designing landscape objects.
Vertical layout sites for various purposes takes into account the terrain conditions and the requirements for their surfaces. A rational solution to the vertical layout of sites depends on the choice of their location. In order to reduce the volume of excavation work, large playgrounds (sports, children's) are recommended to be located in areas with calm terrain with a slope not exceeding 0.2-0.3%.
Vertical layout individual sites can be solved independently, regardless of the existing terrain. However, in this case it is necessary to provide appropriate engineering structures - slopes, retaining walls, stairs, with the help of which areas with different elevations are connected.
When designing the vertical layout of a site, first of all, it is necessary to determine the existing and design marks in the corners and at the entrances of the site, as well as the necessary surface slopes. Then, all sides of the site are graded, points with the same marks are found and the position of the horizontal lines is determined. The design elevations of roads and paths are coordinated with the design elevations of the sites.
Design of sites on slopes. Very often, due to the lack of territory with calm terrain, it is necessary to provide areas for recreation or for games on uneven terrain or a steep slope.
On steep slopes, horizontal platforms are arranged in the form of consoles or platforms, terraces formed using slopes or retaining walls. The same techniques are used to create viewing areas for recreation of visitors to park areas.
Figure 1 shows an example of designing a flat platform on a slope, formed using slopes. First, the surfaces of the site exhibit an acceptable slope, while the slope is directed in the direction of the general slope of the slope. On the upper side of the site, the mark is 5.20, on the lower side - 4.30.
Next, the existing relief marks are determined at points: A, B, C, D, and then “red” marks are determined at the same points in accordance with the design surface of the site from 5.20 to 4.30. Then draw mutually perpendicular lines 5-5", 5-6", 2-2"; 1-1", 10-10", 8-8", 7-7". Then along these lines the lengths of the slope in the excavation are plotted , in the part where the platform “cuts” into the slope, and in the embankment, where it protrudes from the slope, i.e. to the left and right of points 4.4" and 9.9" (Fig. 1 a, b). The steepness of the slope is taken depending on local conditions and existing soils, from 1:1.5 to 1:3.
Having the steepness of the laying and the value of the elevation of the surface at the indicated points (the working elevation is the difference between the design and the existing one), the length of the laying is determined, which is plotted to scale along auxiliary perpendicular lines drawn from the corners of the site. Having made notches at points I", 2", 3", 4", 5", 6", 7", 8", 9", 10" and connecting the resulting points of slope traces with zero points, draw a slope line in the notch and in the mound depicting him with the corresponding signs.
Examples of vertical planning of sites on a slope when designing landscape objects.
Design examples vertical layout sites on slopes of different orientations and in different relief conditions are shown in Fig. 1, 2, 3, 4.
In Fig. 1 provides an example of placement and design vertical layout surface of the construction site (with a mark of 15.00) on an inclined slope.
The horizontal lines smoothly “bend” down; the horizontal 14.00 goes around the surface of the site in plan; the cross-sectional profile shows the existing and projected positions and the area that must be covered with soil to construct the site.
Figure 2 shows the design of the terrace surface on the northern slope. The terrace must be “embedded” into the slope and protected from the adverse effects of wind. To do this, the horizontal lines are “bent” upward, and the terrace is designed with a longitudinal surface slope of 2% along the slope; the horizontals 23.00, 22.00, 21.00, 20.00 are slightly “corrected”, made smoother, leveling the surface of the slope.
Figure 3 shows how, on the same slope under the same conditions, a more geometric solution is possible in the form of terraces sequentially falling along the slope - steps with wide stair steps (27, 26, 25, 24, 23 - horizontally along the designed terrace) and down along the slope - straightening the horizontal lines, geometrizing the slope - 22, 21, 20.
In Fig. Figure 4 shows examples of site design. a park structure (pavilion, gazebo) on a latitudinal slope. The structure is “planted” on the surface with a mark of 20.50 on site A, B, C, D with marks of 19.55 - A, B, and 19.25 - C D; horizontals 20.0, 19.0, 21.0 and 18.0; 22.0 and 17.0; 23.0 and 24.0 are bent and drawn with geometric lines, “cutting” the natural surface of the slope, that is, the territory is provided with a clear pattern of a new relief, and vice versa, the same horizontal lines can be bent smoothly, obeying the natural relief.
In Fig. Figure 5 shows an example of designing the surface of a site for the installation of a structure, for example, a sculpture, an obelisk monument, etc. The elevation of the site somewhere in the middle of the slope is assumed to be 27.50; the slope is oriented north; to the left, to the west is the thalweg; the structure should be viewed from the south, east and west, from the thalweg (stream). The solution is possible in two versions.
The first option is the use of natural relief forms, its careful smooth processing with leveling the site for installation of the structure (slabs with a height of 27.50) for this, the horizontal 27.0 is bent upwards / "cuts" /, and the horizontal 26.0 is bent downwards / "embankment" "/. The bank of the stream, its slope is slightly cultivated, cut off by raising contour lines 29, 28, 27, 26.
The second option is a geometric, regular solution of the entire space around the structure, horizontal lines are drawn with straight lines, terraces are created, ledges descending from the northwest to the southeast; in the first case, the slopes form soft slopes that look natural; in the second case, the surface of the slope ledges is designed more rigidly.
In this article we will offer you ideas that will help you arrange a site that has a noticeable slope. We hope that our tips will help you turn the presence of a slope from a disadvantage into an advantage of the site, its highlight and the most noticeable element of landscape design.
Typically, flat terrain is positioned as the main advantage of the local area. In fact, on such a plot it is easier to carry out construction and landscape design; you can choose any project you like.
However, if your plot of land has a noticeable slope, you should not give up and assume that nothing can be done about it. There are several options for turning a slope into the most beautiful element of the plot. We will offer you the most interesting of them in this article.
When developing a site with a slope, we must not forget about convenient routes of movement. If the slope is very noticeable, of course you can’t do without ladders and steps
1. Deck
A real deck can be built over a slope using decking boards. This platform will offer a beautiful view, and the deck itself will be an ideal place for relaxing in the fresh air. Most often, such sites are arranged near the house, but they can be built in any part of the garden that differs in slope.
The deck can be supported on pillars or a solid concrete foundation. A decking board is used that perfectly withstands all temperature changes and is not afraid of moisture.
On the deck overlooking the site, of course, garden furniture will be installed, which will turn the open area into a cozy area for family dinners in the fresh air
2. Alpine slide
This element of landscape design traditionally rises above the site and when arranging an alpine hill, it is usually necessary to make an embankment. So why not use a natural slope, which will be an ideal location for such a “stone flowerbed”.
To create an alpine slide, flowers are used that feel good on rocky soil and slopes and strengthen the ground. This arrangement will allow you to emphasize the “rocky flowerbed”, highlighting it from the surrounding space
3. Terracing
Have you ever seen rice fields located on the slopes on separate steps? The same method can be used in the country. Experts advise creating three or four terraces in areas with a height difference of about three meters. For their arrangement, retaining walls made of concrete, reinforced mesh, stones or boards are used.
Each such terrace can have its own function - on one there will be beds with vegetables, on the second - shrubs, on the third - a flower bed. These will be clearly defined separate zones with their own boundaries, united, for example, by an inclined path, stone or wooden steps. Terracing is done across the slope.
The disadvantage of terracing is that the supporting walls themselves will take up a lot of space, leaving less land for flowerbeds and beds.
Experts advise building the outer side of each terrace with a slope towards the slope to ensure natural water drainage during rainstorms
Metal plates can also serve as retaining walls. In this case, professionals advise adding natural materials and elements, for example, large boulders, which will soften the coldness of the metal
Gabions can be used as a retaining wall on a sloped area
4. Stream and waterfall
If your site has a slope, this is an excellent opportunity to create an artificial stream or waterfall. To do this, you won’t have to build an embankment or worry about water drainage; everything will happen naturally. A water cascade can also decorate a retaining wall supporting one of the terraces.
The slope is already there, all that remains is to take care of the bed of the future stream and think about where exactly your future river will flow
A cascading stream on a slope, surrounded by lush juniper thickets, looks very natural, it seems created by nature itself
5. Vertical garden
On a site with a slope, the most noticeable part will, of course, be the top wall or fence. Its design should be given special attention, for example, creating a beautiful vertical garden.
Along the most prominent wall at the top of the site, you can place tall plants in flowerpots or pots. You can also use vertical gardening techniques on the wall itself. Climbing plants such as virgin grape, honeysuckle, common ivy or vici grape are ideal.
6. Observation deck with bench
A site with a slope usually does not offer places to relax - only terraces and paths with steps connecting them. Designate one terrace for a small recreation area - plant a tree there and place a bench in its shade. You will get a beautiful observation deck where it will be so pleasant to sit with a book or just admire your lush garden. Of course, to arrange the viewing area, it is better to choose one of the upper terraces to ensure a beautiful view.
Find a place on the site for a sofa swing or a regular bench and you will get an excellent relaxation corner with a view of the entire lower part of the site
7. Decorative garden
Even a plot with a strong slope is not a reason to give up growing herbs, spices and vegetables. True, you will have to take extra care about arranging the beds. High beds in special flowerpots are perfect.
This plot has a strong slope, but this did not stop the owners from arranging a vegetable garden, which looks attractive and will bring a good harvest.
In the tight space between two stone retaining walls, there will still be enough space for cabbage and herbs
8. “Wild” slope
It is not at all necessary to put your site with a strong slope in perfect order. It is quite possible to leave it in its natural state, providing only a convenient descent and ascent in the form of steps or stairs. And on the sides of the path, let plants that do not require constant care grow, such as crocuses, botanical tulips, mint and lemon balm, bells, St. John's wort, and ajuga.
By the way, all ground cover plants perfectly strengthen the slopes. In addition, for this purpose, you can plant sea buckthorn, brooms, rose hips, lilacs, cotoneasters, Japanese quince - all these shrubs do not require special care and feel great on an inclined surface, holding the soil with their roots.
Who said that a plot on a slope must be decorated with regular flower beds with their clear boundaries and have a “sleek” civilized appearance? Are natural slopes with their wildflowers and shrubs any less attractive?
In conclusion, we note that landscape design experts are confident that it is easier to design a site with a slope when the house is located on a hill. However, if there is no other choice and the cottage had to be located at the very bottom of the slope, do not despair - many of our tips can be used for this location, which is considered the most unfavorable.
In general, many professionals are convinced that flat terrain is too boring, but a natural slope can be used “to the fullest,” turning it into an unusually beautiful place. Try it, perhaps after completion of the work you will also be convinced that they are right!
In mountaineering practice, to describe peaks and climbing routes, along with generally accepted terminology, a number of relief names are used, revealing the nature and complexity of the obstacles to be overcome.
Familiarity with landforms, terminology and characteristic features related to them is necessary for every climber. After all, every detail of the terrain implies the corresponding technique and tactics of overcoming.
This terminology is fixed by a special system of symbols - designations of individual relief elements, developed by UIAA.
It facilitates the study of literature, allows you to unify route and reporting documentation, and helps you navigate the area.
Terminology in the names of mountainous terrain
The appearance of the peak is usually reflected in its name.
Peak, dome, needle, tooth, tower, pyramid, horn, cone. These names, which sound different in different languages, give a clear idea of the configuration of the vertices and do not require further explanation. However, in the Pamirs and Tien Shan, many significant peaks, regardless of shape, are called peaks.
Ridge-- a series of linearly elongated mountain peaks connected by depressions (bridges, saddles), limited by deep valleys. Long range ridges or a linear system of ridges are called a mountain range.
Valley-- an elongated depression between ridges. Valleys (the result of the destructive activity of glaciers and rivers - erosion) are divided by location into longitudinal, running parallel to the ridges, and transverse, extending perpendicular to the axis of the latter.
Based on their appearance, valleys are wide, with a flat bottom - floodplain. More often you can see V-shaped valleys with steep slopes and a narrow bottom. When slopes are very steep, they are called gorges. The narrowest of these forms are steep-walled with a narrow bottom, the width of the stream, canyons.
Saddle-- lowering the ridge between two peaks. Often such a decline is used as the most convenient way to overcome the ridge and is called a pass. The part of the ridge that connects the peaks or steep projections on it is called a bridge. It can be rocky, ice or snow.
When characterizing the transition from a steep ridge to its flat part and again to a steep one, the definition of shoulder is used; a sharp increase in steepness is called takeoff. Steep rocky outcrops, sometimes rising tens of meters above the ridge, are known as gendarmes.
Pre-summit- this is a massive rise of a ridge near the peak, slightly inferior in height to it.
Crest-- the line where opposite slopes of a mountain or ridge meet. The ridges can be sharp, rounded (ridges) or jagged (saws). The secondary ridge extending from the main one is called a rib; an indistinct ridge or system of short rocky projections on a steep slope - a buttress.
Under slope refers to the wide side part of the mountain. The relief of rocky slopes also contains a number of specific forms: a steeply falling (at least 60-70¦) slope forms a wall, and climbers call sections of the same nature, but of shorter length, walls.
Sometimes small areas of rocks stand out on the snowy slopes - islands.
Circus- a place (part of a gorge, glacier, plateau) is limited by a group of peaks and their ridges or spurs.
The relief of steep rocky slopes and buttresses is also expressed in specific forms: the rocks are usually cut by cracks, distinguished along their strike into horizontal, vertical and inclined. If a crack allows fingers or the toe of a shoe to be inserted into it, it is called a gap, and when one limb enters - cleft.
The widest crack-like, vertically located elements of rock relief, in which a person can fit entirely, are known as fireplaces. They can rise tens of meters and exceed human height in width. As you go deeper into the rock, the fireplace usually narrows.
Often found in fireplaces traffic jams- firmly wedged rock fragments. They usually block the path, but can be used as support points and insurance.
A monolithic section of rocks with a small number of irregularities is called a slab. According to the nature of the surface, the slabs can be stepped, tiled, etc.
Stepped areas on rocky slopes, depending on their size and possibilities of use, are called ledges (a notch, a small stepped unevenness in the rock on which you can stand and lean with your hand, but you cannot clasp it), shelves, balconies, terraces. You can stand on the shelf with your feet, you can sit on the balcony, and the terrace allows you to set up a tent.
A section of rocks overhanging a slope that is not passable without special means is called a cornice. A fragment of rocky relief that allows you to throw a safety rope over it is called protrusion. The intersecting plates form an internal corner (when the walls converge into the rock) or an external corner.
The smallest elements of the rocky relief remain clues-- small (1-5 cm) uneven surfaces of rocks that you can hold on to with your fingers or lean on. In the latter case, they are often called supports.
Backstage-- depressions on the slope caused by flowing and falling water. They reach a width of several tens of meters, often extend over the entire height of the slope and, depending on the time of year and landscape conditions, can be filled with snow, firn and ice. A couloir is a natural route for rockfalls and avalanches. The bottom of the couloir is often cut through by a trench.
Scree- an accumulation of rock fragments, most often under couloirs. There are large, small and medium screes. Sometimes such accumulations of loose rock fragments (sand, crushed stone), as well as avalanche snow at the base of the chute, are called an alluvial cone according to their shape.
Glacier- a natural accumulation of ice of atmospheric origin, which has independent movement. It is this movement that is the main feature of the glacier. The most important condition for the existence of a glacier is the predominance of the amount of solid atmospheric precipitation over its evaporation and melting. Glaciers accumulate and temporarily remove atmospheric moisture that evaporates from the surface of the planet and return it in the form of glacial meltwater. A mountain glacier has a feeding area (firn basin) and an ablation area (loss of ice and firn as a result of melting, evaporation and mechanical flow).
In the upper reaches of the glacier, at the boundary between the stationary ice-firn cover and the detached masses of ice that give rise to the moving glacier, foothill cracks - bergschrunds - appear. They cross the slopes of the circus over a very long distance, changing their location and size. Bergschrunds are characterized by an excess of the upper edge of the crack over the lower edge, reaching in some cases about several meters,
All the debris transported and deposited by the glacier forms moraines. Depending on the conditions of formation, several types of moraines are distinguished. The general term cover moraine refers to the continuous rock cover of the terminal part of the glacial tongue, formed as a result of the merger of median and lateral moraines. Often this moraine covers the glacier in a continuous layer long before the end of the tongue.
Lateral moraine-- rock fragments that have rolled down from the slopes and are located along the edges of the glacier in the form of longitudinal ridges. Over time, these fragments are cemented into a solid mass, forming ridges and sharp ridges. The depressions between the moraines and the main slope are called moraine pockets. The fragments that have collapsed or melted into the thickness of the glacier, moving with it, constitute an internal moraine.
An accumulation of rock fragments that have penetrated under the glacier through through cracks, as well as pieces of rock torn from the bed, is called a bottom moraine. Median moraines are formed from overlapping lateral moraines when glaciers merge. The number of such formations depends on the number of tributaries. On the multi-kilometer Pamir glaciers, their surface for a considerable distance bears pronounced stripes of median moraines.
Transported material accumulates as the glacier melts in the terminal and lateral parts of the tongue. As the glacier retreats, it leaves behind a lot of debris. The ridges that cross the valley in arcuate ridges below the end of the glacier are called terminal or frontal moraines; they indicate the position of maximum development or long-term stop of the glacier.
The hilly terrain between the terminal ridges is called the main moraine. Ridges along the sides of valleys, marking the lateral boundaries of a retreating glacier, are called coastal moraines. They often take the form of a bizarrely shaped ridge, rising hundreds of meters above the glacier. On the ridges and slopes of large moraines, massive blocks are often left, weakly connected with the main conglomerate. When there is heavy rainfall, landslides and landslides are common on such moraines.
Sometimes at the edge of the glacier there are sheep foreheads-- rocky ledges smoothed by ice. Most often they are exposed under steep receding tongues. Large areas of sheep's foreheads are called curly rocks.
Icefalls represent a continuous chaotic system of tensile and spalling cracks and the simultaneous collapse of large blocks of broken ice. Like transverse cracks, they arise at sharp bends and faults with a height difference of tens and sometimes hundreds of meters. On an icefall with inclination angles greater than 20¦, the area covered by faults turns out to be many times larger than the monolithic mass of ice. Chaotic destruction of a glacier, similar to icefalls, sometimes occurs at its confluence with tributaries flowing into it.
Individual, bizarrely shaped blocks of ice that reach enormous sizes are called seracs, sometimes very unstable.
Depending on the condition and amount of snow on the glacier, cracks can be closed or open. Constant deformation of cracks and uneven melting of snow lead to the appearance of bridges over the cracks - thin ice plates diagonally connecting the walls of a wide crack or ice-snow bridges.
At the border of the glacier and its sides, active melting occurs, and in this zone, hollows are formed, deepened by water flows.
This -- Rantkluft, edge gap, edge crack.
In the summer, softened, sticky snow, temperature crust, frozen firn, slightly damp soft snow after bad weather are more common in the mountains, in winter - wind crust, sandy snow - dry, frosty snow, wind-swept areas of powdery snow, fluffy freshly fallen snow. Winter snow structures are more difficult to overcome and are prone to avalanches.
In high mountains, summer snow often resembles winter snow. Winter snowstorms and snowfalls cover the slopes and ridges of the gorge with snow. Most of the snow accumulates in the couloirs, on the surface of the glaciers that fill the bottom of the gorges. It fills up ice couloirs, covers smooth rocky and ice slopes, fills wide bergschrunds with avalanche cones and throws snow bridges over glacial crevasses with runtklufts. At the same time, snow poses all sorts of dangers. Many slopes become avalanche-prone, and the tops of rock ridges can become insurmountable due to snow cornices. Glacial crevasses covered with snow are camouflaged and easy to fall into.
Eternal snow covering the mountains above the snow line, under the influence of its own gravity, wind and sun, forms unique relief forms. Snow-covered slopes of slight steepness make up snow fields. Large, almost horizontal areas are called snow plateaus, and if they have the shape of a depression or basin, then troughs. On the leeward sides of snow ridges, cantilevered snow cornices appear, reaching significant (several meters) sizes. Under a large cornice, a characteristic niche is often formed due to air turbulence.
Mountain rivers- mighty arteries that supply moisture accumulated in the area of eternal snow to the plains. Their feeding areas are located high in the mountains, near the tongues of glaciers. Therefore, the flow regime of mountain rivers is subject to the daily cycle of the intensity of melting of glaciers and snow at their sources. After sunrise, the influx of meltwater increases and reaches a maximum in the afternoon in the upper reaches of the river.
The bottom of mountain rivers is usually strewn with stones, partially mobile, which leads to constant changes in its relief.
Waterfall- the fall of water in the river from a ledge crossing the river bed. A waterfall is considered to be a place where water falls from a height of more than one meter. Below are rapids and ledges
Owners of a plot on a slope are in an ambiguous position. Standard methods for placing beds are unacceptable here, and the arrangement of such a site involves significant material costs. However, after studying existing approaches to design, the owner most often comes to the conclusion about the advantages of such a situation. Landscape design for a site on a slope will be developed and implemented by specialists. The ideas presented can transform the territory, making it unique, immersing it in the beauty of mountain landscapes.
Strengthening the slopes on the site with your own hands
Landscaping begins with work to strengthen the slopes on the site. This will prevent further destructive processes that can damage buildings and landscape design.
Preparatory actions
When strengthening slopes, various methods and designs are used. Landscape design allows the use of stones and concrete blocks, biomats and gabions, logs and lawn gratings in site preparation. To properly strengthen the slopes, it is necessary to study and calculate the following points:
- how close the groundwater is;
- what slope is the slope at;
- geological features of the soil;
- is there a danger of the area being washed away if a body of water is nearby;
- take into account the soil pressure on the slope;
- decide on the material for strengthening;
- identify the area in need of strengthening.
With a slight slope, it allows you to solve the problem of fixing the soil by planting trees and shrubs with a developed root system. If the slope is significant, terracing or the use of geotextiles will be required.
Ways to strengthen slopes
The simplest and most inexpensive option for landscape design when strengthening a slope on a site is planting plants with a developed root system. This solution is acceptable provided that the slope and its area are small. Plants are planted in cells, which act as a reinforcing structure. In the future, the developed root system is intertwined with the fastening elements and prevents landslides or soil erosion. Juniper is the leader in this method of strengthening the soil; it is also recommended to plant Chinese blackberry, lilac and hawthorn.
Slopes in a summer cottage are often reinforced with fences made of concrete slabs, sandstone, brick or limestone. The advantage of this method of landscape design is as follows:
high level of resistance to external destructive factors;
- does not require significant care efforts;
- does not interfere with the growth of green spaces;
- durability of the structure.
Such fences are erected subject to certain conditions:
- a solid foundation is laid;
- minimum height of the fence – 1 m;
- the thickness of the fence is 1/3 of the height;
- mandatory equipment for a drainage system (water flowing down the slope should not wash away the structure)
- fences are built from the bottom up;
- it is recommended to build a cascade structure;
- it is necessary to provide a slight slope towards the slope.
The landscape design of the site provides the opportunity to decorate such a structure with flower beds, decorative stairs, and lanterns.
Another option for strengthening the slope on the site is the use of stones and logs. They are dug into the ground after first studying the type of soil and the condition of the surface. At the same time, do not forget about the aesthetic appearance of the site and take care of the presence of drainage. This inexpensive method of landscape design is acceptable on both small and large slopes.
Modern developments in landscape design suggest using geotextiles in arranging a site on a slope. This product in rolls, consisting of polyester and polypropylene fibers, has the following advantages:
- waterproof;
- protection of soil from freezing;
- when water converges, it prevents the mixing of soil layers;
- plastic;
- has high resistance to damage;
- ease of installation on the ground.
Another option acceptable when developing landscape design on a slope is laying geomats. This waterproof material consists of polypropylene grids, superimposed on each other and connected by exposure to high temperatures. Geomats have the following features:
- do not contain toxic substances;
- UV resistance;
- maintaining the natural beauty of the landscape;
- are not afraid of aggressive substances;
- resistant to low and high temperatures;
- easy to install.
The presented methods of landscape design when strengthening a slope can be done with your own hands or with the help of professionals. Their choice depends on the preferences of the owner and further plans for the development of the site.
Design options
The landscape design of a site on a slope opens up wide prospects for the realization of bright fantasies and bold ideas. Considering the need for serious financial investments in landscaping, the approach to planning a site on a slope requires special care and thoughtfulness. The development of landscape design work is necessarily preceded by a study of the technical indicators of water supply and soil characteristics. The location of future outbuildings and recreation areas deserves special attention. Based on their location, they plan the construction of future terraces, flights of stairs, retaining walls and other elements of landscape design. When landscaping a site on a slope, its location relative to the cardinal points must be taken into account.
Terracing
Having decided to use terracing in the landscape design of a site on a slope, avoid excessively long retaining walls in a straight line. This design will create the impression of a huge staircase. Landscape design experts recommend arranging terraces randomly with ledges or cascades. This will create a picturesque picture of the overall view.
Winding paths or paths are provided between the terraces, and several steps are designed on steep slopes. Retaining walls on the site are made of various materials: natural stone and brick, wood and concrete. It is better to equip a steep slope with retaining walls using cement mortar; on a flat site, dry masonry will be sufficient.
Original ideas in the design of retaining walls on the site are welcome. Avoid straight lines; rounded shapes will ensure smooth relief transitions and visually make them less conspicuous. Terraces with different functional purposes will allow you to move away from standard approaches. Landscape design allows you to place vegetable beds and shrub plantings in separate areas. Combining them with winding paths will visually create a single picture of incompatible things.
The location of the terrace on wet ground requires the presence of drainage fill made of crushed stone. It is located between the wall and the ground with a width of 10-15 cm. It is recommended to supplement the masonry with pipe scraps, which will ensure the release of moisture to the outside and will not allow it to accumulate behind the retaining wall. The absence of such protective measures will provoke rapid destruction of the structure.
Arrangement of paths and stairs
An indispensable attribute of landscape design are neat paths that help achieve an organic connection between the terraces. To ensure compatibility, it is better to make them from similar material.
Important ! Large decorative elements, be it stones, tiles or circles of wood, can create good visibility and a bright perception of the path.
The winding shape of the path hides the steepness of the slope, while the serpentine layout, on the contrary, emphasizes it. Following the rules of landscape design for a site on a slope, it is better to emphasize the bends of paths with low trees, shrubs or evergreens. A staircase is a must on a steep slope. In width it can correspond to the path that continues it or be slightly narrower, but not less than 60 cm. If the staircase has many steps, it is better to separate them with landings. It is advisable to equip them in places where the direction of movement changes. If the size is sufficient, the area is decorated with a bench, an elegant statue or an original flowerpot. Landscape design specialists recommend that stairs located in a shady place be made from building materials of a lighter shade.
Remember! The beauty of landscape design must be combined with safety; choose non-slip material for paths and stairs.
Thoughtful landscape design will provide comfort during evening walks with the help of proper lighting. There are many ways to design it, and choosing an option that matches the overall style will not be difficult.
Floristry of the site
When choosing a floristry concept, the best option for landscape design would be the style of a mountainous area. In this case, the location of the territory relative to the cardinal directions must be taken into account. In this aspect, a site on the northern slope has its advantages, due to the possibility of decorating it with moisture-loving plants that are accustomed to a shady location. For the southern side, herbs and flowers that can withstand high temperatures and drought are more suitable.
Landscape design is developed in such a way that the planted plants have different flowering periods. Tulips, hyacinths and crocuses will be the first to delight owners in early spring. They may be replaced by decorative onions, California poppies and marigolds, and autumn will delight with the bright colors of asters and chrysanthemums. Planting perennials will make gardening easier.
Trees on a site with a slope, according to the rules of landscape design, are planted in a special way. If the house is located at the top, tall plantings in the form of thuja, spruce or pyramidal poplar are located next to it. Barberry or lilac will help create an interesting composition.
Please note! Planted trees and shrubs should not cover the house.
The shorter plants are found further down the slope. Evergreen shrubs and colorful flower beds can add nobility and sophistication. Juniper, magnolia, and boxwood would be appropriate here. The region in which the site is located also plays a role. Therefore, when choosing green spaces, take into account the climatic conditions of your area.
The basic rules for landscape design of a site on a slope are as follows:
- correctly organize the division into zones;
- build strong retaining walls;
- protect the site from soil erosion with the help of a competent drainage system;
In mountainous terrain, the following forms are distinguished:
Mountains(or mountainous countries) - highly elevated, vast areas of the earth's surface with multiple divisions and sharp fluctuations in heights, formed as a result of tectonic processes.
Foothills- lowered peripheral parts of mountain systems and ridges, having a hilly or mountainous character.
Peak- a pointed peak of a mountain (1), in a broader sense - the highest point of any peak, regardless of its shape.
Vertex(2) - the upper highest part of a massif, mountain or elevated section of a ridge crest.
The shapes of mountain peaks are varied. Their characteristic features are reflected in the names: “peak” (3), “needle” (4), “tooth” and “horn” (5), “tower” (6), “pyramid” (7), “cone” (8), “dome” (9), “table mountain” (10).
mountain range- a separate group of mountains that has small differences in elevation within itself.
Ridge(11) - a linearly elongated series of mountain peaks connected by depressions (bridges, saddles), limited by slopes inclined in opposite directions from the ridge line. Slopes are usually dissected by valleys.
Mountain chain- a series of ridges of great length.
Mountain group(12) - a separate isolated section of mountains, a compact system of ridges and mountain ranges, separated from other mountain groups by deep, wide valleys and low saddles.
Crest(13) - a line that is the junction of the opposite slopes of a mountain or ridge. The ridges are distinguished as sharp, rounded, jagged, sawtooth.
Rock lintel(14) - part of the ridge located between two small hills (“gendarmes”, small peaks).
Saddle(15) - shallow depression between two peaks.
Pass(16) - the lowest place in the ridge crest, a more accessible transition from one valley to another.
Slope(17) - side, wide part of the mountain.
Edge(18) - a short ridge at the top of the mountain, a secondary ridge extending from the main ridge.
Buttress(19) - an indistinct edge on a steep slope of a mountain or ridge.
Shoulder(20) - a bend, flatter than the entire ridge line, a ledge on the ridge in front of the peak.
Pre-summit(21) - a massive rise of a ridge near the top of the mountain, slightly inferior in height to it.
Takeoff(22) - a sharp increase in the steepness of the ridge.
"Gendarme" (23) - a secondary peak on the approaches to the main peak of the ridge.
Valleys- an elongated hollow landform formed by the combination of two slopes, the intersection of which creates a lower strip of the valley floor, usually occupied by the bed of a permanent or drying watercourse. Between the slopes there is often a flat bottom; such valleys are called flat-bottomed. If the bottom is flooded during a flood, it is called a floodplain, and the valley is called a floodplain. If the slopes or bottom are stepped over large sections, they are called terraced valleys.
Hanging Valley- a side valley, the bottom of which is located significantly higher than the bottom of the main valley, and the end abruptly breaks off, forming a mouth step.
Gorge- a steep valley with a V-shaped transverse profile.
Canyon- a deep valley (gorge) with almost vertical slopes and a narrow bottom, usually completely occupied by the river bed.
Basin- a large oval or round depression between the mountains.
Kar- a natural bowl-shaped depression at the top of the mountain. Formed during frosty weathering of depressions. Some cirques are filled with cirque glaciers or firn.
Scree- an accumulation of rock fragments at the base, often under the couloirs of steep cliffs. There are large (24), medium and small (25) screes.
Stem cone(26) - accumulation of loose rock fragments (sand, pebbles, crushed stone and gravel) or avalanche snow at the base of chutes and couloirs, which are a permanent channel for rockfalls and avalanches.
The relief of steep rocky slopes also presents a series of specific shapes.
Crack(27) - a vertical or horizontal cut several millimeters wide in the rock, used for driving rock pitons.
Gap(28) - a wider, vertical or inclined crack several centimeters wide (less than 10), into which a palm or a wooden wedge can fit.
Cleft(29) - a wider gap into which a limb can fit.
Fireplace(30) - a wide vertical or inclined crevice that can accommodate a climber.
Cork(31) - a piece of rock wedged in a fireplace or crevice.
Gutter(32) - a narrow and shallow hollow.
Couloir(33) - a trough-shaped or V-shaped hollow on a steep mountain slope, directed along the line of water flow.
Wall(34) - part of a slope or ridge steeper than 70° and several tens or hundreds of meters high. There is also a very steep mountain slope, in general the wall is part of a wall or a steep section of a slope, a ridge up to 10 m high.
Plate(35) - a section of a smooth inclined rock layer.
Cornice(36) - a rock ledge hanging over the wall (wall).
Ledge(37) - a separate small part of it, sharply protruding above the level of a wall or rock, which can be grasped with your fingers or hands, thrown a rope for belaying or rappelling, etc.
ledge(38) - a notch in the rock, a small depression, a step-like irregularity on a wall, ridge. You can stand on the ledge and lean on your hand, but you cannot grab or grasp it.
Shelf(39) - an oblong, horizontal or inclined narrow ledge.
Terrace(40) - a horizontal or inclined wide long shelf on the slopes of mountains on which you can move.
Balcony(41) - a separate horizontal platform on the wall.
Breakaway(42) - a slab-shaped, vertically standing part of the rock, the upper part of which has moved away from the wall.
"Ram's foreheads"(43) - rocky outcroppings of bedrock at the bottom or slope of a gorge, smoothed as a result of the movement of the glacier and the stones it carries.
Trough(44) - a trough-shaped depression on the slope, open towards the valley.
Internal corner(45) - an angle formed by two walls converging inside the rock.
External corner(46) - an angle formed by two walls converging outwards of the rock.
Hook- a small (1-3 cm) unevenness of the rock surface, which can be grasped with the first phalanges of the fingers.
Support- an implicit unevenness on the surface of the rocks.
Glaciers and landforms.
Glaciers are formed as a result of the accumulation of masses of solid atmospheric precipitation. Snow, under the pressure of the overlying layers on the lower ones and the sublimation of water vapor, turns first into firn, then into loose white firn ice and, finally, into dense blue glacier ice. Masses of ice located on mountain slopes, being a plastic substance, flow down to form glaciers. The speed of movement of mountain glaciers is 10-300 m per year.
Being in continuous movement along the bed, the glacier follows all its bends in the vertical and horizontal directions. As a result, various relief forms are formed.
The glacier consists of two main parts: the firn-snow basin, or recharge zone (snowfields), and the melting zone (ablation) - the tongue of the glacier, which usually descends below the snow line.
The snow line is the conditional boundary above which non-melting snow remains in the mountains and turns into firn. At the snow line, the arrival of solid precipitation is equal to its discharge. The level of the snow line depends on the temperature and humidity of the air, the intensity of solar radiation, and the strength of the prevailing winds.
Perpetual snow is a cover of snow and ice located above the snow line, where the annual snow supply exceeds its discharge. Below the snow line, snow and ice decrease under the influence of solar radiation, air heat, rain and melt water.
The following types of glaciers are distinguished:
Cover glacier - almost completely hides the underlying terrain. The feeding pool is located in the central part of the glacier surface, from where a series of tongues descend in different directions (example: Elbrus glaciation).
Tar glacier(47) - occupies the bottom of a carcass or trough on the slope of a ridge. The feeding basin coincides with the surface of the glacier; the tongue does not extend beyond the boundaries of the ice.
hanging glacier(48) - lies on the steep slopes of a mountain or ridge. It has an underdeveloped tongue, which, before reaching the valley, breaks off, forming ice landslides.
Reborn Glacier(49) is formed from the fragments of a valley glacier, when the end of the latter breaks off and falls down when the bed is fractured. The blocks accumulate and freeze into a new glacier, which continues to move.
Valley Glacier(50) has a clearly defined feeding area (snow-firn basin) and a tongue descending into the valley. A glacier merging from several streams is called complex.
Peretny Glacier(51) - a glacier bifurcated into two streams sliding along independent beds with a common feeding pool.
The relief of glaciers has the following forms.
Snow cornice (52) - blown, forms on the ridge towards the leeward slope. As a result of turbulence in the air flow, a niche or pocket may form under the eaves.
Snowy slope(53) - the side of the mountain covered with snow. Snow does not lie on the slope in a stationary state, but continuously changes its structure and slowly moves down (it moves under its own weight, is blown away by the wind, slides in avalanches, collapses in landslides). There are straight, concave, convex, stepped slopes; by steepness: medium, flat, steep, very steep. The definition of “wall” does not apply to a snow slope.
Avalanche- masses of snow falling from mountain peaks and slopes. An avalanche occurs as a result of a slope being overloaded with snow when stability and adhesion to the underlying surface are disrupted.
Avalanche chute(54) is formed on a snowy, firn slope under couloirs and in their bottom, and is a constant bed of avalanches.
Avalanche cone(see 26) - a cone-shaped compressed bedding of avalanches located under avalanche runoff channels.
Snow field, snowfield(55) - motionless accumulation of snow in places protected from wind and sun (among rising slopes). They are a feeding area for glaciers.
Snow plateau(56) - a more or less flat snow-firn field located at a high altitude between the mountains.
Glacial tongue(57) - actually the glacier itself is of the valley type, without a feeding zone. It is an ice stream descending into a valley.
Foothill crack(bergschrund) (58) - a crack in the glacier feeding area. It is formed along the edge of the firn field, separating the stationary part of the firn frozen to the rock from the moving mass flowing down to the lower part of the firn pool.
Transverse cracks(59) are formed in places where the glacier bed is inflected, where the speed of its movement exceeds the plastic capabilities of the ice. On convex bends, cracks expand upward, on concave bends - downwards.
Longitudinal cracks(60) are formed in places where a glacial tongue emerges from a narrow part of the bed into a wider one.
Radial cracks(61) are formed in places of sharp turns of the bed along the outer part of the glacier and diverge in a radial manner towards its edge.
Side cracks(62) arise as a result of the braking effect of the rocky shore of the bed on moving ice, located at a certain angle relative to the direction of movement.
Cross-shaped cracks(63) are formed on individual convexities of the glacier bed, from which the ice slides in different directions.
Snow bridge(64) - the remainder of the snow cover up to 1-1.5 m thick, partially covering the crack, a more powerful lump of snow in the crack - a snow plug.
Jumper- a thin ice plate connecting diagonally both walls of a wide crack. Typically collapses as the crack expands further.
Icefall(65) - a section of a glacier divided by deep crevices and cracks into separate blocks of various shapes and sizes. It is formed in places where there are sharp bends in the glacier bed across its entire width (or most of it), the speed of ice movement increases, causing splits.
Seracs(66) - individual large blocks of ice in an icefall with steep or sheer walls.
Reset(67) - a separate firn-ice block-like bedding on the snowy slope of the mountain. In the lower part there is a firn spall wall, and in the upper part there is a crack.
Grotto(68) - a large ravine at the end of the glacier tongue, from where melt water flows.
Glacier well- a ravine in a glacier. A stream of meltwater flowing down the surface of the glacier enters the crack, leaving a vertical gap in the ice even after the crack closes.
Glacier mill- a spherical cavity in a glacier well. Once a stone falls into a well, it is constantly moved by water, creating a spherical depression.
Glacier tables(mushrooms) (69) - large stones sitting on an ice leg with a height of 0.5 to 4 m. Falling from the mountain slopes onto the surface of the glacier, blocks of rock protect the ice hidden underneath from melting, resulting in the formation of an ice leg. When it thaws, the block falls and the process begins again.
Glacial glass- a depression melted under a small stone heated by the sun.
Surface moraines(70) - a continuous rock cover of the terminal part of the glacial tongue, formed as a result of the merger of lateral and median moraines.
Lateral moraine(71) - an accumulation of rock fragments that have rolled down the slopes along the edge of the glacier.
Median moraines(72) - continuous parallel ridges of rock fragments in the middle of the surface of the glacier, formed as a result of the merger of lateral moraines of tributaries of the glacier.
Internal moraine is fragments of rock that have penetrated into the thickness of the glacier through cracks or fallen into the snow of the firn basin.
Bottom moraine(73) - an accumulation of rock fragments that penetrated under the glacier through through cracks, as well as pieces of rock torn from the bed.
Terminal frontal moraines(74) - an arcuate shaft deposited in front of the tongue of a glacier during its retreat.
Coastal moraines(75) - located on both sides of the glacier tongue, ridges raised high above it indicate the retreat of the glacier.
Randkluft(76) - welt gap, a narrow space between the glacier and its bed.
Nunatak(77) - a rocky island protruding from the glacial stream (the glacier flows around it on both sides).