Landscaping stones for a dry stream. A dry stream is a stylish garden decoration. From what and how to make a dry stream in the country: features

Arrangement suburban area or a plot near the house, it is very pleasant and completely depends on your imagination. Agree that the personal plot becomes a source of pride if everything is done by hand. Among the many ways to please the eye, the most valuable are those that do not require a huge investment of effort and money. beautiful and practical decoration Your site is a dry stream.

Dry stream stones

Dry stream in the country

Dry stream on site

Dry stream decor

What is a dry stream and its benefits

dry stream - original item decor that allows using flowers and stones to create the illusion of a stream flowing right in the middle of the landscape. And if the construction of a real water stream requires a lot of costs and professional intervention, then a dry stream can be easily recreated with your own hands. Unlike a real water stream, its advantage is that you do not have to deal with silt, water blooms and small living creatures that accompany any aquatic environment. Another advantage of such a decorative element is that in rainy weather, he can easily take on the role drainage system. And if you have long dreamed of dividing your site into certain zones, then a dry stream is what you need.

dry stream bed

Dry stream size

A pitcher in a dry stream

Dry stream color

Video: dry stream in the country:

From what and how to make a dry stream in the country: features

First of all, it is worth deciding: where will the stream flow, where will its “channel” be, and where will it flow? Measure seven times - this phrase, more than ever, concerns the creation of a dry stream. For marking, it is best to use sand, marking how the “water current” will move.

Having approved the shape of the stream, we proceed to the choice of material. Such material for the creation of this beauty are a variety of stones. Small, large, light, dark, colored - it depends on your imagination. It is worth noting that large cobblestones are better suited to create banks, flat stones should be used to simulate water, and colored pebbles scattered throughout the stream or even elements from old jewelry are ideal for creating highlights on the water.

dry stream in landscape design

Mosaic in a dry stream

Stones in a dry stream

Making a dry stream

Do-it-yourself dry stream: step by step instructions

After selecting the materials, we get down to business. The device of a dry stream is not difficult - anyone can handle it. In the place where the stream will be located, we remove upper layer. A recess of fifteen centimeters will be enough. After we cover the resulting recess with lutrasil, geotextile or any other material that protects the soil from the sun. This will help prevent weeds from sprouting.

Video: do-it-yourself dry stream - step by step:

Dry stream scheme

Before proceeding to the next step, you can use waterproof paint to give the stones the desired color. But it is worth remembering that it is best that the stones in the stream are minimally different from the stones in your garden. The scheme of a dry stream can be anything, but ideally, you should try to make it as natural as possible and look like a real stream. At the same time, the “water” of the stones does not have to be blue at all - you can try red, orange or any other color, make smooth transitions or come up with something else.

Dry stream with bridge

A dry stream in the country can somehow be decorated and made more like a real one. The simplest is to install over your dry stream. If the stream is small, then the bridge can simply be made with your own hands. If you made a dry stream in the garden large enough - in size corresponding to the present, then you can buy a ready-made decorative bridge for the garden and install it on - to "pass" through flowing water.

Bridge and dry stream

Dry stream with bridge

Decor of the stream with a bridge

Stone bridge over the stream

Video: ideas for arranging a dry stream in the country:

We decorate a dry stream in the garden

A dry stream, like any other body of water (albeit artificial), can be decorated. You already know about the creation and decor in the garden. And how to decorate a dry stream? We have already talked about the bridge. Another option is to pretend your stream is flowing from an earthenware jug - it's simple: put the jug on the ground and fill it with some rocks. Also you can use any garden figurines to decorate ponds - storks, frogs, small statues and so on. And, of course, you can plant flowers and plants, but more on that below.

Flowers near the "water": plants for a dry stream

Water gives rise to life around itself and it is useless to ignore this fact. And such a beautiful, bright and smelling element of life, like flowers, will only decorate your stream. In order for everything to look natural, it is worth choosing flowers associated with water for decoration. Suitable for decoration: lobelia, buffalo grass, large-leaved forget-me-not, blue fescue, funkia, mosquito grass, bluebells and creeping tenacious. Reed or something similar looks very organic for this purpose, willow-leaved and ordinary sunflower and bamboo-leaf. Flowers that have a blue color will also fit very harmoniously into this decor. It is important to note that if the stream is small, then tall plants should be excluded. Everything should be proportional.

Flowers for a dry stream

Plants near a dry stream

What to plant by a dry stream

Dry stream plants

A dry stream created by your own hands will become a worthy decoration for your garden plot. Since the idea and technique of such streams came to us from Japan, it should bring into your life, in addition to beauty, also harmony along with tranquility.

Dry stream design - photo

So, we have already figured out how to make this simple element. country decor. Let's now see what dry stream design is like and what ideas you can use. Since there is nothing particularly complicated here, then the choice we have is not so big. But you can, say, use for it both small stones and sea pebbles or large uneven natural stones, or combine several options in one stream. Someone does ornamental stream, laying out an even mosaic at the bottom, and someone is trying to repeat the natural landscape - in this case, you can add large stones "rocks" along the banks of the stream and use it at its foot.

What kind of decorating techniques do not use designers to transform ordinary garden plots into fabulous corners for good rest. Dry stream is one of the popular modern instruments landscape design, 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 country rising sun the element of water is associated with purity and a thirst for life, and the murmur is a symbol of the transience of time. Dry streams, which are very popular in Japanese gardens, are necessarily present in areas where water for any 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 applying special efforts 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.

The dry stream will become optimal 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 visually small garden somewhat large.

The device of a dry stream is a fascinating and easy-to-perform activity that allows you to embody ideas for creating original decoration, which 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, selecting best option, which will fit 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. Spectacular decoration pebbles painted with waterproof paint, which gives a slight light in the dark, can become a stream. Stones exposed with a layer of varnish look no less original. Playing overflows in sunshine stones, 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.

To stone stream 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 could also be thin layer concrete or polymer film. A leveled and covered surface can now be decorated with stones.

The main requirement for registration stone composition- 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 maximum effect the similarity of a stone structure with a real reservoir.

When choosing plants for decorating the “banks” of a stone stream, you can use any shrub, ornamental and leafy flowering plants. The main requirement is flower composition should be in harmony. When selecting plants, the illumination of the site, soil composition, moisture and temperature conditions. 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 shades 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 juicy shades. of blue color. Among the beauties that bloom in 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 reservoir 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 advisable to use more natural elements. A decorative wooden bridge looks very impressive against the background of a stream.

Not every summer resident can boast of a natural reservoir on a personal plot. AT best case this is a small pond, decorated with improvised materials. We propose to make a stream - flowing, merrily murmuring and sparkling under the rays of the summer sun. Agree that the dynamics of moving water among stones and greenery completely changes the landscape picture, more precisely, turns it into a real living corner of nature.

If you are unlucky with a natural stream, we will try to make Alternative option, like two drops similar to the real one, but having a secret, or rather, hidden at the bottom of the reservoir. The role of the secret will be played by known to all owners or.

With the help of a pump, we will arrange a vicious circle through which water will circulate. artificial stream as follows: go up the hose to the source, and then go down the channel down to a small reservoir

This scheme of the stream device is universal, however, if desired, it can be diversified by one of the proposed solutions:

waterfall;
rapids;
a chain of cascades;
small fountain.

To landscape composition looks natural, you will need a vertical drop or at least a slight slope, for example, a gentle slope of a hill. Depending on the steepness of the descent - the place where the proposed channel will be located - we will choose the type of stream.

On a small hill, it is better to arrange a calm, unhurried, flat stream with smooth bends and a quiet murmur. He will ideal option and in the event that the terrain is absolutely flat, without hills and hills

The slope of the channel can be achieved in two ways:

make a small artificial mound;
gradually deepen the bed closer to the mouth.

Do not overdo it, digging the channel and forming its banks - everything should be extremely natural. Nature does not like clear geometry, which means that we make smooth bends, an uneven line of the coast, and a non-uniform backfill of the bottom.

Difficult terrain, inconvenient for planting a vegetable garden or garden, in this case will play into our hands.

A high hill, cliff or steep slope is a great opportunity to build an unusual mountain stream channel. Unusual because it is a series of rapids, rifts, waterfalls and short straight sections

But don't get carried away by the device complex structures, otherwise your stream will turn into one big one. The flow of a mountain stream is faster than that of a flat stream, the speed of water movement is higher, the elevation changes are sharper, which means that a more powerful pump will be required.

Step-by-step instructions for arranging a stream

So, what is an artificial stream, we briefly explained.

If you can find an area of uneven terrain, provide water supply and purchase submersible pump, you need to study a few nuances technical side question, and then you can get down to business. Best time year for construction works- spring or summer winter period reservoir is better to preserve.

Layout: location, direction, dimensions

The first stage, preparatory, is both the simplest and the most difficult. For its implementation, you will need stationery: pencils or markers, a ruler and big leaf paper, preferably millimetric or squared.

On paper, it is necessary to display all those already available on dacha territory objects, including house, garden, paths, etc. pay special attention to the area where your stream will be located.

Think about where its source and mouth will be (the direction of the flow depends on them), to what height you need to raise top point how to decorate the coast, is it possible to use already ready-made flower beds or decorative objects

Keep in mind that the creek forms a zone high humidity therefore, it is necessary to consider planting moisture-loving or aquatic plants.

If there is a garden or flower garden nearby with exotic flowers, consider whether additional moisture will damage already planted crops. The same applies to garden trees, shrubs and even wild flora.

The best place for the location of any reservoir is the so-called recreation area - small plot located away from flower beds, beds and plantings fruit trees. Usually in such a place they install a bench for rest, a table for tea drinking, and if space permits, they erect a gazebo or place a patio.

The length of the stream may vary: perhaps you prefer compact compositions, or, on the contrary, you need a source that crosses the entire backyard, enveloping buildings and flower beds. But remember: the longer the channel, the more difficulties with its arrangement, and the main problem regarding the slope of the terrain.

The width of the channel usually does not exceed one and a half meters, but more often it is from 30 to 50 cm. The depth is from 15 cm to half a meter. Please note: the larger the volume of water, the more powerful and expensive the pumping equipment

Do not forget that our stream is decorative, and this is its advantage. You can make a completely sealed channel and pond so that water from the source does not penetrate into the coastal soil.

The coastline will remain constant and will not be eroded by water in the spring, as is the case with natural reservoirs during the snowmelt period.

Instructions for the device of the channel

The main stage is the construction of the channel. Let's break it down into points to make it easier to work with:

We carry out marking on the ground. When developing the project, you have already determined the location of the stream, its dimensions, points of source and mouth, it remains to transfer the markings from the paper diagram to nature. This will require small pegs and a skein of twine. We stick pegs along the proposed channel and connect them with twine or cord to outline the boundaries of the future reservoir.
We tear out a groove under the channel and a foundation pit in which there will be a pond - the end point of our stream. A pond is not only a picturesque object, but also a necessary functional part of our project, since it is in it that we will place a pump that supplies water to the source.
We make soil finishing, we concrete the channel. If you have chosen a mountain stream - we place stones, boulders, slabs in any form, fasten them concrete mortar. For a flat stream, a gently sloping base with smooth bends is necessary. The result should be a trench of a given width and a volumetric bowl for the pond.
We lay the waterproofing layer - all work surface we cover with geotextile or a special waterproof PVC film (butyl rubber), fix the edges with stones, pebbles, sand.
Along the channel, from the pond to the source, we dig shallow trenches for laying a hose or pipe.
We decorate the bottom of the reservoir with sand, multi-colored granite rubble, pebbles, covering all artificial details as much as possible.
We supply water, fill the pond, test the pump.

Plants can be grouped, selected by height or splendor, or alternated, making up a variety of floristic arrangements from various types and varieties

If the plant composition includes trees or shrubs, select low moisture-loving species, which, even in wild nature grow along the banks of water bodies: goat or white willow, evergreen mahonia holly, tree-like caragana, Thunberg barberry, cotoneaster, euonymus.

Some shrubs, such as forsythia or lilac, except beautiful flowering will give a fresh spring aroma, which can also be enjoyed while relaxing on the shore of a pond

Right at the bottom of a stream or pond, if it contains fertile soil, you can plant an elodea or urut, and pemphigus or hornwort do not take root, but float freely on the surface of the water surface.

Capsule, water lilies, vodokras and marsh flower feel great even in the northern regions, therefore they are permanent residents of both wild and ennobled Russian reservoirs

Rules for the care of an artificial stream

In order for the water in the reservoir to always be clean and the banks well-groomed, it is necessary to regularly care for the plants and carry out prevention pumping equipment. To do this, follow a few simple rules:

check the tightness of hoses and pipes, clean or change filters in time;
in a hot period, when water evaporates, from time to time restore the required volume;
to maintain the functionality of the equipment for the winter, completely drain the water, and clean the pump and place it in a heated utility room;
clean concrete railings wooden structures and stones from silt and pollution;
completely change the water if it becomes opaque for some reason.

Plants require the same care as ordinary ones. dacha crops. Trees and shrubs need to be cut so that they do not obscure the view of the water composition with wide crowns.

Perennials need to be weeded, fed, replanted if necessary, removed old and diseased plants. Annuals should be planted in auspicious time to monitor their growth and flowering

Examples of dynamic reservoirs in landscape design

We present to your attention several examples of the successful location of streams in household plots.

Perhaps, in some cases, water compositions are called streams only conditionally, but all these are artificially created water sources in which the water flow moves due to the action of a submersible pump.

An excellent example of a flat stream, absolutely no different from its natural counterpart. River pebbles and stones were used as decor, instead of bright flowering crops, herbs were sown, usually growing in the coastal zone of forest streams.

If you have the opportunity to decorate the pond beautiful stones be sure to use it.

The stream bed and the coastal zone are lined with stones of various sizes and shapes. Pay attention to their color: a combination of contrasting shades - white, black and brick - enlivens the composition, making it more dynamic

The bed of the stream does not have to be even and uniform.

The main decoration of this sample is a series of thresholds decorated with large boulders. The “ladder”, which forms picturesque rapids, must be equipped at the stage of channel preparation

See how to make the most of it varied decor- and nothing more.

The authors of the project thought of literally everything: the natural bends of the channel, and the cascade of low waterfalls, and the neat bridge with a lantern, and the stone cladding of the banks, and even tastefully selected and skillfully planted plants.

Feel free to use non-standard solutions and ideas.

Pay attention to how skillfully the designers beat the source of the stream: it seems that it originates from the neck of a large inverted jug

If we take into account all the stages of planning, building and decorating an artificial stream, we can conclude that anyone who knows how to fantasize, is not afraid of physical work and appreciates natural beauty can do it.

Each fan of countryside pastime puts a piece of his soul into his site. This kind of work not only ennobles the owner and decorates the landscape, but also implies the achievement of comfort and coziness. Take, for example, a picturesque stream. It will decorate and invigorate the garden, becoming an excellent resting place for the owners and their guests. It remains only to find out how to make a stream on your own, so that it pleases the eye and cheers up.

It all starts with planning

Before you make a stream in the country with your own hands, experts recommend carefully considering its arrangement, because even the smallest river needs a source, a channel and other signs of a natural reservoir.

First of all, you should think about the presence small pond into which the stream will flow. His first step is to mark the territory or, more simply, to choose suitable place to place the source. The presence of a natural water collector will not bring much torment, since the stream must be connected precisely with it. A good seed for a flight of fancy will be the creation of an artificial reservoir.

Video on creating a reservoir

In any case, the placement must be carefully considered and only then a stream should be made on the site that will be the most convenient and suitable for the implementation of the plan. It is enough just to imagine the composition, and then calculate everything on paper. Slopes with an incline of approximately 30 cm are recommended as the ideal location for the flow.

Stages of homestead stream building

It is impossible to make a stream in the country without a pump. It is he who will “scoop up” and direct the swift stream, adhering to compliance with the given channel. In the end, you should get something like this spectacle: from a spring hidden in a grotto or thickets, a stream beats, the waters of which tend to fall into the pond. In fact, water comes from it, continuously circulating.

Preparation of a ditch for a reservoir

When creating landscape water collectors, a number of generally accepted rules are followed. They depend on the preferred dimensions and materials used. The device of a stream in the country a priori cannot be large-scale, therefore the depth of a small home-made source will be from 25 to 50 cm, and the width will be a meter or a half.

The stream bed can be curved or winding - the main thing is that it looks natural and does not betray the artificial origin of the water source. Deciding on direction and appearance flow, you can start digging. Stones, debris, plant roots are removed from the resulting ditch, and then the surface is compacted.

Arrangement of the stream bed

The arrangement of the reservoir bed begins with the choice of waterproofing material: film or concrete. Film is the simplest and convenient solution, so masters of landscape design prefer it more often. Under this coating, a “cushion” of sand should be made. The thickness of the sand layer is about 5 cm. The sand is compacted and covered with any film material, for example, butyl rubber.

If the do-it-yourself stream device is focused on a concrete base, then the procedure will be as follows:

Laying gravel-sand mixture, 25–30 cm thick.
flooring from waterproofing film.
Filling the surface with concrete with a layer of 15 cm.

Parallel to the riverbed, a trench is dug for water pipes or hoses supplying water to the "source". Installing a hose under the bottom is not recommended - in case of repair, you will have to disassemble the decorative structure.

How to make a pump pond

The pond does not have to be large, but it is important to remember that this is where the equipment that circulates water will be located. Specialized supermarkets sell ready-made containers for quickly creating ponds. Their use greatly simplifies the work, but narrows the scope for creativity.

Homemade pond they equip it in the same way as a channel - they dig a hole of the required shape and provide waterproofing of the bottom and walls with the help of modern waterproofing materials or concrete.

The procedure for creating an artificial reservoir is completed, but, obviously, the result does not even remotely resemble a natural river. It lacks the finishing touch - a natural environment. In order to disguise the artificial component, it is enough to take a closer look at any stream flowing nearby or look at photographs of travelers.

Creation of the river bottom

Unlike man-made, a natural bottom is never smooth. It is full of all kinds of rocks. In the channel of a weak current, the base forms a flat ground. A pebble is quite suitable here. Places with more intense water flow require larger stones - large boulders will look good here. To achieve the effect of a waterfall, the bottom of the stream is laid with large flat stones, forming steps.

In order for the stones to remain in place, they need to be fixed with concrete mortar. All visible traces of concrete should be covered with small pebbles, suitable artificial plants or other decorative items.

picturesque coastline

In order for the device of the stream to comply with aesthetic canons, you will have to wake up your creative vein. Mostly stones will be used, but they can be picked up with taste and decomposed accordingly.

Special attention landscaping of the shores of the reservoir deserves. In addition to taste preferences, in this type of work they also adhere to special rules regarding the choice of vegetation. Shrubs and perennials that gravitate to moisture are suitable for decorating the source of the stream:

viburnum;
astilba;
juniper;
badan;
ferns.

These plants adore water and will feel quite comfortable near it, pleasing the gardener's eye and soul.

To make the stream on the site more attractive, they decorate the banks with moisture-loving vegetation, but now of a ground cover type. Suitable here:

swamp iris;
loosestrife;
day-lily;
ostrich;
brunner.

These representatives of the flora love stones and feel great in their environment. Useful plants that prefer to "crawl" on the rocks. They will become a very naturalistic addition to an artificial stream. Any specimens will help in the choice, including mosses and stonecrops, as well as periwinkle and creeping tenacious.

After planting the plants, you need to let them take root. The rooting process in most of these species requires at least three weeks. For this period, experts recommend not turning on the pump. The flow of water can uproot coastal vegetation.

Commissioning of the artificial reservoir system

According to the idea, the stream bed should circulate towards the pond, so a submersible pump is placed in the pond. This device will take over the flow routing. In order for the device of the stream in the country to be the most effective, when choosing the power of the device, you need to consult with a specialist.

The rise of water to the sources is provided by pipes or hoses. It is recommended to choose products made of polypropylene. They do not cause difficulties during installation, they bend easily and have sufficient frost resistance. The supply hose, located at the source, can and should be decorated at the outlet. As well as possible, a large boulder or several stones, folded in the form of a grotto, are suitable for this.

Making a stream on the site is not so difficult, if there is skillful hands and at least a small creative spark. Be sure to follow the advice of professionals. And if something does not work out, do not neglect the help of experienced craftsmen.

A dry stream is an excellent alternative to an artificial watercourse, which requires a lot of financial and time costs, both during creation and maintenance. At the same time, an imitation of a flowing stream decorates a personal plot in the best way and can carry a functional load. Is a person who is far from landscape design capable of independently figuring out how to make a dry stream with his own hands, the photo of which he liked? Or is it an art accessible only to professionals?

How to make a dry stream yourself

In fact, this decorative element does not require special knowledge to translate into reality. There are several subtleties that should be considered during the arrangement of the future highlight of the summer cottage. Everything else will follow sufficient level motivation and sense of proportion. As a last resort, if the end result is not to your liking, the dry stream can easily be reorganized and even relocated.

The structure of the stone watercourse and its advantages

One of the most challenging tasks is to create the illusion that water flowed here quite recently. Otherwise, the result may look like a ridiculous pile of stones. To prevent this from happening, it is worth studying the structure of a dry stream - with your own hands, in this case, it will be possible to make it as close to the original as possible.

The source of a mountain stream, as in nature, should be on a small hill, as close as possible to a rock. It is optimal if there is a hill on the site, which is enough to decorate with stones. If the surface of the site is flat, several large boulders can be placed on it.
The bed of a dry watercourse is winding - in different places can expand and contract rapidly. Using this feature, you can visually expand the space. For this, it is important to choose good option the location of a dry stream in the territory. There is a classic pattern: less area personal plot, the more elegant the shape of this decor element should be.
The mouth is the logical conclusion of a stone stream, creating the appearance of the presence of a real reservoir. Alternatively, you can combine a small dry stream and a pond made of the same stone and surrounded by greenery. Unlike a stream, a pond has well-defined boundaries that can be decorated with marsh plants.

A well-equipped dry stream, being a great place to relax, at the same time veils the imperfections of the relief and zones the space. With its help, it becomes possible to disguise engineering Communication while keeping them easily accessible. Another indisputable advantage - minimal care, which consists only in maintaining the purity and shape of the channel.

Preparatory work to create an imitation stream

Before you make a dry stream in the country, it is recommended to draw river sand several versions of it different directions, shape and width. Based on the planned size of the future stream, you need to select the appropriate stones in advance. Landscape designers consider gray-blue and gray pebbles, blue or blue-green fine gravel, as well as gneiss, slate and basalt to be the most suitable material for landscape designers. Arrange color accents and marble slabs and granite boulders will help to bring solidity to the landscape.

Ceramic flower pot or a jug (perhaps artificially aged or simply worn out) will receive a second life if it is placed horizontally at the source. Among the stone streams, placers of colored crystals made of safety glass or acrylic sparkling under the sun look great.

Technique for constructing a decorative element

At this stage, it is necessary to dig a channel for the future watercourse. You don’t need to make it deep - a too concave channel will look unnatural. It is enough to remove the top layer of the earth (15–30 cm) and clear the surface of the sod. The resulting ditch should be tightly packed and protected from weeds with any water- and breathable material, such as geotextiles or lutrasil. You can also use construction film and even roofing material.

Filling the stream should start with laying out the most large stones, which are usually located along the coast. After that, the entire channel must be covered with sand, expanded clay or small gravel. Then you can start laying out the stones different sizes and forms. To determine how to make a stone stream in the form of a turbulent stream or shallow water, it is recommended to pay attention to a few tricks:

flat pebbles, installed on the edge and located in the same direction as the banks, creates the effect of a fast current;
if you install a massive stone in the middle of the stream or pour a sandbank, and place pebbles around the edge, you get a “whirlpool”;
dark-colored stones give rise to the illusion of depth, so they should be used closer to the middle of the channel;
accordingly, light filler is suitable for arranging shallows and shores;
you can make a stone stream more natural by making a crossing in the form wooden bridge, ordinary log or concrete slab.

Video: dry stream options

Coastal decoration with plants and stylized figurines

You can endlessly improve a hand-built stream of stones. One of the most favorite decoration methods is the landscaping of the coastal line and a small pond. The type of plants depends only on the imagination of the homeowners, but you should definitely take into account the location of the reservoir, the composition of the soil and the humidity regime. It is necessary to combine perennials with different flowering periods - this will fill the stream with colors and make it expressive at any time of the year.

armed spectacular photos, a dry stream of stones can be built in just 2-3 days. If your own skills are not enough, it is advisable to turn to professional designers who will help you avoid mistakes and uniformity. However, if a person has a desire to try himself in a new business, it is quite possible to manage on his own, so that later he can get the maximum pleasure from contemplating his own creation.

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