What kind of decorating techniques do not use designers to transform ordinary garden plots into fabulous corners for a good rest. A dry stream is one of the most popular modern landscape design tools, in which there is not a single drop of water, but only stones imitating the bed of a dry stream. The main advantage of this "piquant" design element is that when deciding to create a dry stream with your own hands on a garden plot, the implementation of the idea does not require significant material costs.
The widely used decoration element originates from sunny Japan. In the land of the rising sun, the element of water is associated with purity and a thirst for life, and murmur is a symbol of the transience of time. Dry streams, which are very popular in Japanese gardens, are always present in areas where water, for whatever reason, cannot be used as an element of landscape design. A dry stream in the garden, as an imitation of this element, allows you to create the impression that the water in the channel of the source has just dried up, and the first drops of rain will fill it with life-giving moisture again.
- The ability to create a dry stream with your own hands, without much effort and significant financial costs.
- The speed of erection: it takes only two to three days to choose a place, designate the channel of the stream and fill it with stones.
- Ease of care, which is limited only to maintaining the shape of the channel and removing weeds. While caring for a water stream involves timely cleaning of lime deposits and algae.
- The design of a dry stream by plants is not limited to anything. While for planting near a natural reservoir, the choice is limited only to moisture-loving flowers and plants.
- Safe for small children. In addition, in dry streams, unlike natural reservoirs, there are no mosquitoes that cause so much inconvenience for a good rest.
The dry stream bed does not require the purchase of expensive compressors, water supply and purification systems, which are a necessary attribute of the arrangement of natural reservoirs.
A dry stream will be the best solution for plots of any garden style.
We choose the shape of the structure and prepare stones
Proper planning of the placement of the bed of a dry stream in the country will make it possible to disguise the imperfections of the terrain. A narrow meandering brook visually deepens the space, making the visually small garden somewhat larger.
The device of a dry stream is a fascinating and easy-to-perform activity that allows you to embody ideas on your site to create an original decoration that will emphasize the sophistication of landscape design.
The contours of the stone stream are "drawn" based on the features of the forms and landscape of the garden area. The contour drawn with sand will allow you to preliminarily determine the shape of the future structure and its harmonious combination with the existing decor elements. The shape can be easily corrected by “writing” new contours with a thin line of sand, choosing the best option that fits perfectly into the landscape of the area. Having decided on the shape and size of the stone structure, you can proceed to the choice of the nature of the material and its quantity.
One of the secrets that reveal how to make a dry stream that mimics the flow of water is the exclusion of clear boundaries and the heterogeneity of the structure.
A dry stream looks more beautiful and natural in the area, which does not have the same width along the flow simulation
Both large cobblestones and small pebbles are suitable for decorating the stream. The combination of stones of various sizes, colors and textures allows you to create spectacular compositions that will be a bright addition to any direction of landscape design. You can get a gray-bluish brook by using slate, basalt and gneiss.
Red-brown shades acquire ponds made of granite, marble and limestone. A spectacular decoration of a stream can be pebbles painted with waterproof paint, which gives a slight light in the dark. Stones exposed with a layer of varnish look no less original. Stones playing with iridescence in the sun's rays give the compositions a "wet" effect.
The illusion of water flow can be easily obtained by supplementing the composition of stones with a scattering of glass granules or balls.
In order for the stone stream to be harmoniously combined with the natural landscape of the area, it is desirable to use local rocks in the arrangement of the structure. To create the effect of a stream, flat pebble stones are suitable, for a coastline - larger boulders. Irregularities of the terrain are successfully decorated with waterfalls made of stones of lighter shades.
Laying stones along the prepared contour
Having chosen a place and having decided on the contours of the structure and the materials of the composition, you can begin construction. A "trough" is dug along the contour marked with sand: a layer of earth 15-30 cm deep is removed. The surface of the "pit" is leveled with a rake. In order to avoid the growth of weeds that can spoil all the beauty of a dry stream, you should cover the bottom with a dark non-woven covering material that allows moisture and air to pass through, for example: geotextile or lutrasil. An alternative option may also be a thin layer of concrete or a polymer film. A leveled and covered surface can now be decorated with stones.
The main requirement for the design of a stone composition is conciseness and moderation.
Laying a stone reservoir begins with the "shores". Booth and cobblestones are used to support the inner edges, the pebble is used to fill crevices, the bed of the stone reservoir itself is covered with small pebbles.
Decoration of a stone pond with plants
Plants are an obligatory element in the design of a stone stream. A dry stream of flowers allows you to get the maximum effect of the similarity of a stone structure with a real reservoir.
When choosing plants for decorating the "shores" of a stone stream, you can use any shrub, decorative leafy and flowering plants. The main requirement is that the flower arrangement should be harmoniously combined. When selecting plants, the illumination of the site, soil composition, humidity and temperature conditions are also taken into account. When designing the bed of a stone stream, it is advisable to use plants that actually grow in water.
Against the background of small pebbles, plants look spectacular, the color of which is associated with the water element, for example: large-leaved forget-me-not or creeping tenacious
Plants of blue-green hues with long leaves are also associated with water spaces. Spectacular decoration of a stone stream will be plants, the flowers of which are painted in rich shades of blue. Among the beauties that bloom with all sorts of shades of blue, the following are suitable for decorating a reservoir: lobelia, obrietta, blue fescue, creeping tenacious, bearded iris, large-leaved bruner.
A good addition to the composition can be Chinese reed, pampas grass, willow sunflower, hosta, daylily, plantain sedge.
When planning a stone pond on your site, you can use the following plant design option: 1 - bamboo-leaf, 2 - varieties of bearded iris, 3 - lobelia, 4 - creeping tenacious, 5 - Poskharsky bell, 6 - hybrid forms of shaving, 7 - large-leaved bruner , 8 - awl-leaved bryozoan, 9 - red-leaved creeping tenacious, 10 - reed arundo
When creating a dry stream in the country, for the harmony of the composition, it is desirable to use more natural elements. A decorative wooden bridge looks very impressive against the background of a stream.
A summer cottage is not only a place for a vegetable garden. Often the owners arrange a place to relax, and in order to make it the most pleasant, you can show your imagination and decorate the site. Various beds, lighting and decorations will help with this. A dry stream looks very beautiful and requires little effort for arrangement, therefore it is an ideal way to decorate a recreation area.
A dry stream is a decor illustrating the flow of water right in the middle of the site. The arrangement of a real stream requires special knowledge, costs and subsequent care. A dry stream is easy to build and, if desired, can always be removed, replacing it with something new. In addition, a dry stream can also perform a practical function: in rainy weather, it acts as a drainage system.
In addition, unlike real water, a dry stream will never promote the reproduction of mosquitoes and midges, who are very fond of water.
This decor is no more dangerous for young children than an ordinary garden path and it is difficult to cause irreparable damage to it. This makes this decor very versatile and indispensable for giving.
How to make a dry stream with your own hands
First of all, you need to determine the location of the decor: where the stream will flow, where it starts, where it ends. The future flow must be placed on the site. This is a very important stage, because the future appearance of the entire structure depends on it.
The second stage is the choice of material for "water". As a rule, these are small stones. Their color is determined by the idea. For the shore, you can use large stones, for the flow - small flat pebbles, you can also diversify it with various highlights using colored stones.
After the location of the stream is determined and all the materials are ready, you can proceed with the arrangement. Where a stream is planned, you need to dig a trench no more than fifteen centimeters deep. Then you need to cover it with material, which will protect the kidney from the sun. This is done so that the already prepared stream is not spoiled by germinated weeds. For this purpose, lutrasil, geotextiles or similar materials are suitable.
Then you need to lay out the stream bed with the help of stones. To give them the necessary colors, you can use waterproof paint. The stream will look more natural if the stones in it are similar to the stones on the site. In addition, you can experiment with its width - a non-standing stream will have blurry edges, and not perfectly even ones.
Best Dry Stream Ideas
To decorate this element, you can use a bridge - this will add credibility to the idea. A bridge can be made on the path of a garden path - to cross a turbulent stream. The latter can be made with your own hands or purchased in a store - depending on the size.
You can show your imagination in the design of the stream and use various objects to decorate it. For example, it may flow from a large jug. To do this, put the jug on its side and pour some "water" into it.
Any garden figurines will also decorate and complement the decoration: small statues, frogs, storks, waterfowl will perfectly fit into the composition.
In nature, life appears next to water: plants and animals. You can take advantage of this ability of water and attribute to a dry stream the merit of the appearance of violent vegetation. Suitable for decorating a stream: lobelia, buffalo grass, forget-me-not, blue fescue, funkia, mosquito grass, bluebells, tenacity.
To create an atmosphere of a reservoir, you can plant reeds or bamboo. To decorate a small stream, it is better to use small plants - large ones will look disproportionate and visually crush the decor. Small plants against the background of a large stream will look awkward and are unlikely to be visible.
With the help of large stones, you can give the stream the necessary shape and make the illusion of a waterfall.
At the foot of the stream, an alpine hill will look very harmonious and, of course, a flower bed that imitates mountain vegetation or plants growing among stones.
To create a stream, you can use not stones, but multi-colored sand, this technique is used to create an arenarium - a sand garden. She came to our country from the east.
| Low price | The cost of building a dry stream is several times lower than a full-fledged reservoir. This allows not only to save significant funds, but also makes this decorative object accessible to the widest range of developers. |
| Simplicity of the device | You can make an improvised channel without any special tools and tools, you only need a shovel and stones, which you can even assemble yourself. No knowledge and professional skills are needed, everything can be mastered in the process of work |
| Speed of erection | All works take 2-3 days, and if you wish, you can do it in one day, but this will require several assistants and a fully thought-out project so that you know how and what to do and do not waste time thinking through individual details |
| Ease of maintenance | Unlike ponds, which constantly need to be cleaned, decalcified and water replaced, dry channels only need to maintain the shape of the structure in cases where stones have slipped and remove weeds. If to ensure the flow of water it may even be necessary to rent a diesel generator for a summer residence, then a dry stream does not need anything |
| Wealth of design options | While only certain types of plants can be planted near natural reservoirs, any flowers and shrubs can be used near dry streams, it all depends on the intended project and your preferences. |
| Safety | Such decorative objects are most often chosen by those who have small children, because the lack of water significantly increases the level of safety - you can even play in a dry stream, provided that all the stones are properly fixed |
Features of the work
Despite the seeming simplicity, you need to know a few simple recommendations with which you can achieve an excellent result that will delight you for many years.
Preparatory activities
Instructions for conducting preparatory activities are as follows:
- First you need to prepare a tool for work, you will need shovels to dig a trench, you need some containers to remove sod and soil, but it’s even better to take a construction wheelbarrow, it will help not only to take out excess earth, but also to bring stones in the future. (See also the article.)
- Next, you should stock up on stones, it is better to choose options for local rocks, to decorate the banks - even large boulders (although their delivery may cause some problems), while the bottom can be covered with small stones or even river pebbles, this will create an even greater resemblance to the real channel and make the composition very attractive.
Advice!
By choosing stones of different colors, you can make the composition even more interesting and original, the use of multi-colored fragments allows you to make your dry stream much more attractive.
- The next stage is to think over the location of the composition on your site, it is best to pour out the outlines of the bed of a dry stream with sand, so you can imagine what the finished version will look like. In addition, if necessary, the outlines can be very easily changed with the same sand, it is better to spend time on this part of the work, it is much easier than burying individual sections later.
main stage
After everything you need is collected and the outlines are determined, you can proceed to the main work:
- First of all, a trench is dug, the depth of which can vary depending on the project and most often ranges from 20 to 40 centimeters. Naturally, the wider the trench, the deeper it should be, otherwise the appearance will not be very attractive. The shape of the recess should have smooth outlines, as in natural channels.
- Next, the plane is leveled with a rake. If necessary, individual sections are additionally leveled to obtain the most even and smooth slopes.
- In order not to subsequently fight weeds and periodically remove them, it is best to cover the surface with some special material.. The ideal option is geotextile, but, in extreme cases, membrane material, special or even simple burlap, is also suitable. All slopes are carefully covered. After that, you can proceed to further work.
Advice!
If you need strength and protection from weeds, then you can apply a thin layer of concrete to the walls of a dry stream, but in this case it is advisable to lay the stones on a fresh mortar, so they will be securely fixed and will not move in the future.
- The laying out of stones begins from the shores of the future composition. First, the largest stones are laid, forming a channel, you can use options of various sizes, this gives an even greater resemblance to natural compositions. It is important to install them as securely as possible so that later they do not fall from light touches.
- The channel is either laid out with flat stones or covered with pebbles.. As noted above, colored pebbles can also be used to create the illusion of water.
- The space adjacent to the artificial channel is best planted with dense vegetation, it will look even more attractive.. It is important to choose plants that will bloom during the summer, constantly replacing each other, so the site will be smart all the time.
- Decorative bridges and other similar structures can be used as additional decorations..
Conclusion
The video in this article will clearly show some of the features of the workflow so that the work goes even easier and faster. After all, everything is actually very simple, but the result will please you and your loved ones - a dry stream in the country looks great.
A dry stream is an element of landscape design that came to us from the East. Of course, fish do not swim in such a reservoir, but if you plan the channel correctly, a stream of stones will be as similar as possible to a real stream.
Why it is worth making a dry stream in the country with your own hands
- It does not require special care. Unlike a real pond, it will not become a haven for mosquitoes and frogs.
- Visually increases the area of the site.
- Great for zoning country landscape.
- Hides possible surface defects.
- Reduces soil erosion.
- Can function as a drainage system.
Important! If a dry stream simultaneously plays the role of a storm water drain, the channel must be covered with concrete mortar, and the stone compositions must also be further strengthened.
If you decide to make a dry stream with your own hands, consider the following factors:
- The shape and size of the area.
- desired zones.
- The location of the stream.
- Materials.
The width of the channel is from 30 to 120 cm, it should expand and narrow like a real river. Each stream must have a source and mouth, otherwise it will be just a path of stones.
Top 10 Dry Stream Design Ideas
multi-flow creek
A winding stream is the simplest design, but a branched channel is more difficult to equip. These are several streams that either intersect or diverge in different directions. Excellent frame for flower beds, recreation areas, small architectural elements.
Cascade
The perfect solution for a site with uneven terrain. It is important not to turn the laconic design of a dry stream into a flowery alpine hill. You can combine several types of stones. Plant the banks of an impromptu stream with flowering and evergreen plants.
wet stone effect
When making a dry stream with your own hands, you should take care of realism. Of course, you do not need to water the stones ten times a day. Their surface can be varnished - and they will appear wet.
Backlight
Along the composition, you need to place lamps or lanterns - so the stream will be noticeable even in the dark. An interesting solution is to treat the surface of some stones with fluorescent paint - they will glow in the dark, resembling a moonlit path.
Multicolored combination
You can combine several types of stones: small pebbles, slate, basalt, cobblestones and others. Each of them has its own unique color, and such a stream will not look dull and monotonous. If desired, the stones can be painted in blue or blue.
Islets
In the center and along the coastline, make islands of large stones. You can also create an imitation of a "whirlpool" by placing a hewn stone in the center of the channel, and spreading smooth pebbles around it. You can create a flow effect using flat stones, boulders and convex elements need to be laid out around the edges.
Bridge crossing
A wooden bridge or a simple log laid on supports will make the illusion of water more realistic. You can lay out large flat stones across the stream.
flower stream
It is best to choose herbaceous and ground cover plants in blue, purple and blue. Forget-me-not, lobelia, blue astilbe, bluebells, silver lily of the valley, primrose and others are suitable.
Coastal decor
Along the banks of the stream, you can plant bamboo, reed, sedge, calamus, blue fescue, pampas grass, miscanthus, hosta, daylilies. These plants have elongated leaves, so they seem to be completely natural thickets on the shore of a reservoir.
If desired, you can decorate the coast with dwarf species of coniferous plants: fir, juniper, boxwood, thuja and others. From deciduous shrubs, barberry and cotoneaster can be recommended.
Garden figurines and benches
Of course, a garden gnome in a stream will look at least strange, but a frog or a heron sitting on an island looking for fish in a stream is just what you need! In addition, by installing a bench next to a dry stream, you will get a great place for relaxation and meditation.
Equipped according to all the rules, a dry stream looks very realistic and beautiful! Great backyard decor!
Photos and ideas of dry streams
We offer a few more photos of the successful design of a dry stream. Pay attention to how harmoniously they fit into the landscape and combine the ideas listed above.
