How to make a dry stream in the country with your own hands, advantages and examples of solutions
A decorative imitation of a dry stream is an effective decorative element that skillfully fits into any landscape design. A narrow stream visually expands the space, creates special comfort and coziness in the garden. The creation of a dry watercourse in the country does not take much time, does not require special skills and will cost much less than the arrangement of a real reservoir.
Advantages and feasibility of arranging a dacha with a dry stream
A dry stream built in the garden has many advantages over a natural reservoir. Among the advantages are:
- this element of landscaping will cost much less than creating a natural reservoir;
- it will only take 2-3 days to design an artificial canal;
- channel maintenance is simple - just remove weeds and maintain shape;
- you do not have to select plants that grow only in bodies of water - all types of perennials or annuals are suitable for decorating a dry stream.
It is advisable to create a dry stream if the family has young children. The landscape element of the garden is completely safe and midges and mosquitoes, which often occupy natural reservoirs, do not congregate there.
How to do it yourself
To design an artificial channel, it is not necessary to spend money on the services of a designer. It is easy to create a dry jet yourself, first familiarizing yourself with the basic rules and recommendations for creating a decorative element.
markup
When marking a stone stream, it is important to take into account the features of the landscape and the relief of the site. It is recommended to outline the contours with a thin bead of sand - if necessary, it is easy to correct errors or add new elements. If there are any flaws in the summer cottage that need to be veiled, this is easy to do with the help of a winding channel. The flow of "dry" water will hide the flaws, visually expand the area and even allow you to delimit it into functional zones.
Laying a layer of sand and a layer of material against the grass
The first stage is the preparation of a ditch for laying materials and a layer of sand. Remove the turf and the top layer of soil is about 30-35 cm. It is recommended to leave the walls of the trench gently sloping (at an angle of 45 degrees). It is important to carefully remove the roots of weeds, tamp the surface. Then cover the channel with any facing material (roofing material, polyethylene, lutrasil). Lay out the sole of the future structure - pour a layer of expanded clay (5-7 cm) and sand.
Decoration
Having prepared the trench and laid a layer of sand, crushed stone and covering material, which serves as a pillow protecting against the germination of weeds and the destruction of the composition, they begin to decorate the channel. It is good to use boulders, small and medium stones. Often a dry stream consists of pebbles, slate (distinguished by a skillful color), basalt.
It is recommended to make accents - to open some stones with varnish (creates a "wet" effect) or to paint with waterproof paint.
Possible varieties
There are many varieties of dry reservoir, a lot depends on the size of the site, the relief, the material used to make the stream. If you choose the right shape, you will be able to emphasize the advantages of the site and hide the flaws.
Loop channel
The easiest way to create a structure is a meandering stream. It is easy to give the composition any shape and direction, which allows you to hide the defects in relief and emphasize the beneficial areas of the garden. It is recommended to get as close as possible to the natural shape of the reservoir - to narrow and widen the channel, to make small elevations.
Branching flow
A more complex composition, consisting of several channels that periodically converge and diverge. Looks advantageous in large gardens, on lawns near the house. In addition to stone, sand is used to decorate a dry stream, which makes it possible to make narrow channels (up to 25 cm) in harmony with wide strips of stone. Sand streams should be drawn in waves (draw with a rake).
Waterfalls and waterfalls
If the terrain is uneven on the site, it is recommended to add a twist in the form of a cascade (waterfall). Place the source on a hill. To give a Mediterranean touch to a dry stream, use a jug, create a small stone or an antique well. It is also recommended to create low cascades along the entire channel, especially if the site does not differ in flat relief. The main thing is to make sure that the "water elements" are located behind the current, otherwise the artificial reservoir will not look natural.
Rules for the design and selection of plants
To decorate a dry stream, herbaceous perennials or ground covers are usually used. It is recommended to plant plants with blue or purple flowers that create the illusion of flowing water:
- awl phlox;
- forget-me-not (large-leaved brownberry);
- badan;
- primrose;
- geycher;
- Siberian iris;
- grape hyacinth;
- bells.
At the edge of a dry stream, it is better to plant reeds or grasses. This design resembles wild thickets growing near water bodies as much as possible.
When creating a voluminous stream, it is recommended to safely plant coniferous trees near the canal - juniper, dwarf pines and spruces. Deciduous plants are not the best choice for decorating an artificial reservoir, as dead leaves complicate care.
It is not recommended to use plants that require complex watering and are distinguished by increased delicacy and accuracy to decorate a dry stream. In the warm season, the stony bed warms up, which often becomes the reason for the removal of the root system. There is only one way to avoid the problem - by regularly moistening the stones with a hose or sprayer.
Solve any difficulties
When creating an artificial channel and with subsequent care, it is rare, but difficulties arise that require an immediate solution. Most often, one has to deal with the deformation of the channel, the flooding of the reservoir by meltwater or torrential rains, pollution. It is better to avoid some problems even when creating an artificial reservoir.
Building flooding
Heavy rains or snowmelt often cause a dry waterway to flood. A thick drainage layer - crushed stone or expanded clay - will help avoid the problem. If the site is located on a plain, it is recommended to lay a channel on a hill, otherwise the rapid flow of water will destroy the composition.
Another option to avoid flooding is to direct the stream bed into a small pool. Decorate the tank with stones, the substrate is sand. Do not use dense materials and concrete mortar - the pool water should flow freely into the ground.
Reinforcement of channel walls
The destruction of the walls is another problem that one has to face after creating a decorative element of the garden. To avoid trouble, reinforce the stones from which the channel is formed with concrete mortar. Planting plants on the shore of the reservoir will also help prevent falling - after growth, the roots will reliably hold the walls.
Big boulders slip out of place
To prevent large boulders from spreading, it is recommended to make a hard "cushion" - lay a layer of rubble or pebbles and carefully tamp them. If the rock is large, it is advisable to fill the "cushion" with concrete.After installing the main element, reinforce the base with crushed stone, small stones, which are also recommended to be tamped.
Dead leaves
The easiest way to get rid of dead leaves is to plant plants that do not shed their foliage for the winter or conifers. If you can not do without deciduous perennials, buy a garden vacuum cleaner in advance, which will help you remove waste.
If there are not many plants that fall from the leaves, then during the period of leaf fall under the bushes, it is worth laying polyethylene or burlap, which will prevent small leaves from penetrate the interstices between the stones.
Examples of ready-made solutions
If you cannot create a skillful landscape design yourself, it is recommended to resort to ready-made schemes created by designers.
The easiest option is to draw a channel (give a natural look by narrowing and widening the stream), having prepared the trench, lay out large stones along the edges. Place several large rocks along the channel, immediately plant plants along the entire stream. When decorating a composition with perennials, do not overdo it - the emphasis is on stone elements, and not on flowers.
Fill in the remaining areas with small stones. A dry stream lined with long stones looks impressive. Make sure the stone elements are in the same direction. Designers offer to supplement the composition with a wooden bridge.
Another design option for a dry stream is to place a large boulder at the source, from which a narrow channel can be diverted.Plant bamboo or reeds near the center stone. Lay out the channel from small stones, complete the composition with several medium stones, creating the illusion of islands. Plant variegated irises, tenacity, bells and browns along the banks. In the background, place dense thickets of arundo reed.
Dry Stream is an ideal solution for a garden if you don't have the time, inclination or funds to create a real reservoir. The rock channel effectively fits into any landscape design, catches the eye with its uniqueness and individuality, becomes a cozy corner, near which it is recommended to install a gazebo or arrange a place to relax. Further care of this decorative element will also not cause difficulties - regular watering of plants and keeping stones clean is enough.