Artificial stream. Creek at their summer cottage: planning and design of an artificial stream. So, we make a stream in the country with our own hands
A beautifully designed plot is the dream of every summer resident. What makes a cottage beautiful?
This is, first of all, work and love for one's property, as well as well-designed and created individual elements of landscape design, which are linked together into one whole. Brook on suburban area may be one of those elements.
This option will fit perfectly into any design. We will consider the stages of its creation, the basic principles and methods of design.
In the end, you will understand that creating a stream is not particularly difficult, and the pleasure of contemplating it is worth all the costs.
How to make a stream in the country? Main stages
First, let's decide what type of stream you want to create.. The classic is running water, which intricately winds and crosses the entire site, going underground. However, it should be borne in mind that the stream is natural origin, and it can flow in a straight line. When you create an artificial stream, you yourself set the trajectory of the water flow. In this case, in order for the water to move, you will have to connect the pump. However, it should not be visible.
A simpler option is a dry stream where there is no water. This is a kind of stylized landscape element that only imitates running water. Now let's take a closer look at each option.
If there is a natural stream on the site, then it is usually not a very attractive sight: overgrown, with a marsh smell due to the low speed of the water flow, which can sometimes even stagnate. First you need to examine it, see where the narrowest and widest place is.
Then you need to remove the weeds along the banks. Armed with a shovel, you can give the stream several bends, expand in narrow places. By backfilling and deepening, try to increase its slope to give great speed water. However, be careful with this.
If the banks are very steep, try to make them flat and slightly level the area near the stream, if possible, by 2 meters in both directions. The stream should not resemble a ditch.
It is also necessary to clean the bottom of debris, and then lay pebbles and stones on it in random order, of different sizes. This will allow the stream to murmur merrily. Stones should also be placed on the shore, deepening them 1/3-1/2 into the ground.
The next step is planting the plants. And try to choose undersized species, plant not densely, otherwise the stream will be lost behind lush vegetation.
Now consider creating an artificial stream. We take a site plan and plot its trajectory. It is very good if the relief has a slope, because on a flat area you will have to form it by backfilling, and this extra costs. However, do not worry, water can also run on almost flat terrain with a minimal slope, pumped by a pump.
Then we proceed to carry out the stream to nature. It is necessary to dig a shallow groove (about 20 cm) with gentle banks. With a slope of 3 cm per 1 m, it will already be possible to see the flow of water with the naked eye. It will also not be bad if you make one or more drops that will play the role of mini-waterfalls.
The bottom is rammed, and a special film is laid on it, which does not allow water to pass through. Make sure that there are no sharp stones, roots and other inclusions on the bottom that could tear the material. It is desirable to pour sand under the film, with a layer of 5-6 cm (tamp).
Instead of a film, you can make a channel of concrete. Until the concrete has hardened, stones and pebbles are inserted into it. The disadvantage of this design is the need for shelter for the winter. Also, if all the water is not removed, and it freezes, then the bottom of the stream bed will be covered with cracks, through which water will leave in summer.
If the slope of the bottom does not allow creating drops, then they can be made using large flat stones, which are laid at a slight slope in the direction opposite to the flow of water.
The stream will flow into a container (for example, an old bathroom) buried in the ground. From above it can be covered with shallow metal mesh, on which pebbles and stones are laid out (masked). A pump is installed in the tank, which will supply water to the source through a hose. The hose is buried in the ground.
Making a stream with your own hands
After the stream bed is completed, you can proceed to its design. Mandatory materials are stones and plants. It is not necessary to observe symmetry when decorating the bottom and banks with stones, it is appropriate only when creating a dry stream, and then in some cases.
Among plants, low-growing species will be the best.. From blooming in spring- primroses, muscori, daffodils, dwarf tulips and other small bulbs. Looks beautiful different low cereal plants(fescue, maned barley), ground cover (phlox, saxifrage, saxifrage), especially among stones. You can also pay attention to the range used for.
Separately planted specimens (creeping forms) of mountain pine will also give the stream a natural look. At the source, you can plant a weeping willow.
The arrangement of the stream with various small forms has also become popular.. This is, first of all, a bridge, which should not be massive and high, otherwise the stream will be lost against its background. It should look more like a slightly arched or straight crossbar, without railings.
The bridge can be made of wood or stone. There are only decorative structures that cannot withstand a person, but there are those that you can walk on.
You can also ennoble the stream with other sculptures and structures.(mill, small stylized houses, stone lanterns). The mystery and mystery of the stream in the dark will give lighting that should not be bright. It is better to disguise it with stones and plants.
With a little work and time, you will get a wonderful building that will help you relax after have a hard day, melodic murmur will fill you with calmness, give vitality and energy.
The arrangement of a summer cottage or a plot near the house is a very pleasant thing 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
A dry stream is an original decor element that allows you to create the illusion of a stream flowing right in the middle of the landscape with the help of flowers and stones. 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 any accompanying aquatic environment, small living creatures. 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 set it on - for "passing" 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 jar 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.
A cheerful babbling brook in the country gives inspiration to any garden. How nice it is to pass through your fingers a stream of clean and cool water on a hot summer day! In addition, murmuring water promotes relaxation and stress relief, which, alas, is enough in our hectic life.
A country stream assumes the presence of at least a small reservoir on the site, and if it is not there? In this case, you can create small pond with your own hands. There is already a good one about this. It's so nice to have a pond in the country, and a merrily singing brook - and even more so! In addition, the stream will saturate the pond with oxygen and will not allow water to stagnate. Such is the mini-circulation of water in your suburban area))
Having even a small reservoir, making a stream on the site will not be difficult. For its equipment at the bottom of the reservoir-source is installed powerful pump from which hoses are pulled or polypropylene pipes(depending on the configuration of pumping equipment) along the entire course of the stream. Then the reservoir is filled, the pump is turned on, and water is supplied under pressure to the source of the country stream, and then the stream returns “home” again - to country pond. The coast is decorated to taste. Now let's look at how to do it right.
Planning the course of a country stream
The “character” of a country stream will be determined immediately and will depend on the terrain of your site. If the slope for the equipment of the stream is gentle, then it will begin to flow slowly, without a soothing murmur. But to create a babbling stream, you will need steep slopes and large boulders in the center of the channel, from which the water will begin to fall in a continuous stream, revealing all the signs of a real “highlander” in your pioneer.When planning the course of a stream, use the natural terrain. A stream can bend around your flower beds, flow next to trees, murmur near recreational areas or meander beautifully around garden sculptures, somewhere creating quiet backwaters, and somewhere small waterfalls, shallows or islands. Make it as natural as possible, respecting the smooth natural forms. Some summer residents spend the bed of a country stream along garden paths, trying to give it the correct geometric shape. But replacing natural lines with strict geometry does not look very aesthetically pleasing, in addition, such a stream in the country often turns into an ordinary ditch and may well blur your garden paths when heavy rain.
At the stage of planning the stream bed, consider creating an artificial waterfall (if the terrain allows), as well as organizing a receiving reservoir, that is, a second pond in the country. This is necessary if you plan to create a fairly long stream that goes around a decent part of your site. In this case, you may have to purchase an additional pump equipment to install it in the second body of water, it will depend on the length of the stream and the features of the terrain where it flows.
The coast of ponds can be decorated nice flowering plants who love constantly moist soil: sedge, meadowsweet, hosts, bergenia, bathing suit and others. Choose the length and width of the stream bed at your discretion, but standard sizes usually vary between 0.5-1.5 m - width and 0.3-0.5 m - depth.
Stages of creating a stream on the site
Stage 1. So, you have decided on the terrain and figured out where your stream will flow. Now arm yourself with a rope and pegs and walk along the bed of the future stream, driving in pegs close to each other and loosely connecting them with a rope (we don’t need strict geometry).Stage 2. Dig the soil under the stream bed to the depth you planned. Add sill steps if the slope allows. Instead of thresholds along a steep channel, large boulders can be fixed in some places (it can be done with concrete mortar) or masonry can be made, but the channel itself must be thoroughly cleaned of stones, plant roots and tamped down. If you are building a large stream, then it is better to concrete its channel, and in the places marked for the rapids, lay down flat stones and fasten them with concrete mortar.
Stage 3. You may want to build the mouth of a stream and decorate it with aquatic and coastal plants (for example, as in this photo).
In this case, from the edge of the reservoir, where the stream will flow, expose waterproofing coating and make a trench for the mouth. Sprinkle it with a layer of sand or gravel 5-7 cm high, then cover it with geotextile so that you get a margin around the edges. Then moisten the geotextile well (you can pour it with water from a hose). This is done so that the geotextile tightly fits the mouth. Then fix the canvas on the sides with large stones, and in the middle of the channel make masonry: lay flat stones, fixing them with concrete mortar. Apply another layer on top of the masonry concrete mortar and decorate the structure with pebbles.
Stage 4. Dig shallow (up to 10 cm) grooves parallel to the stream bed and lay the hoses (or pipes) from the pump there. Backfill the grooves and mask them with a layer of turf. Connect the pump, start the water and that's it - the babbling country brook has taken over!
There are many other ways to build a country stream with your own hands, but more on that in the next article. I have described the most simplest way, with which even a novice summer resident can cope, without dwelling on particulars.
We ennoble the country stream
Now your murmuring friend needs to be ennobled. Along the entire path of the stream on its banks, you can put beautiful rounded stones, alternating them with water-loving plants: undersized moss, primroses, daylilies, ostriches, ferns and others. And it is customary to decorate the bed of a country stream with creeping plants: tenacious, loosestrife, speedwell, etc., which gives it a piquant decorative effect. All plants along the path of the stream are best planted in groups to give natural naturalness to the landscape. Also, the banks and the mouth of the stream can be beautifully decorated with "weeping" plants with a crown hanging to the water, for example, goat willow or tree-like caragana. And a little further away you can plant jasmine, forsythia or lilac and enjoy not only the sound of water, but also the wonderful smells of flowers.
Garden stream care
If you have built cottage stream correctly, taking into account all the features of the relief, then further care behind it is not complicated at all. You just need to adhere to the following rules:- As necessary, add fresh water to the source reservoir where the pump is installed, so it eventually goes into the ground.
- Completely drain the water from the reservoir and fill it with fresh water once a year.
- keep ok submersible pump: Clean the filters regularly and keep the hoses (pipes) in good condition.
- Remove silt from decorative stones on the shore as they become dirty.
- For the winter, it is better to drain the stream, completely freeing it from water.
Many summer residents dream of making their garden exotic. And what is required for this? good option will organize a stream on the site with his own hands.
Creating a stream with your own hands is not at all difficult, it is done in the same way as a reservoir using special form and films.
It is very important to make an accurate marking of the passage of water. This is the most First stage construction. You can make a stream in the country winding, passing through various obstacles, in the form decorative stones, shrubs, etc. The natural look and smooth lines are the most important attributes of the stream.
You can not adhere to such rules and replace the tortuosity with clear, even lines. Paved paths and patios are perfectly combined with straight-line streams. But you need to consider that this style makes the stream look like a kind of ditch lined with lush or compact shrubs that grow freely.
It is also very important to determine in advance the presence of receiving reservoirs or waterfalls in the stream. The pond into which the stream flows, as a rule, is characterized by smooth rounded bank shapes and planted plants hanging over the water. Very often, streams are arranged in places of high-rise drops next to the stone stairs that connect the garden tiers.
Along its bends, the stream may include islands that are open to the sandy bottom, and shoals if it flows through flat terrain or on a gentle slope. A stream in the country will seem mountainous if you make steep banks or cliffs for it. Free fall of water is a very beautiful sight.
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Plant selection
After the stream is ready, they begin to decorate the surrounding space. Plants that can tolerate high humidity help to achieve harmony with common style and will perfectly complement the lawn carpet, rock slides, mixborders that decorate the site.
Moisture-loving shrubs, for example, white turf, viburnum, hydrangea, and perennials, such as male shield, fern, ostrich feather, astilba, - ideal plants for decorating the sources of streams. The choice depends only on the location of the stream. Perennial plants are best planted in flat areas.
Note. If not planned, then the mouth of the stream should be deepened. For the circulation of water flows, it is better to use a deep container or suitable shape. In fact, a small film reservoir is built with your own hands very simply and easily.
Plants are planted for camouflage building materials, with the help of which the channel is made (film or plastic trays). Plants that grow well both on land and in water at shallow depths are suitable for this (cuckoo flax, crowberry, rugs from low-growing moss, naumburgia racemose or marigold).
Naturalness is achieved by landing perennials groups. Such plants include: Siberian iris, most varieties of astilba, magnificent geranium, cuff, hostas and ferns. Steep stone banks will look great if they are decorated with loosestrife, periwinkle, placers of golden swamp violets, spleenwort or goose onions for flowering in spring.
It is very important to choose the right pump, calculate the diameter of the pipes, and make high-quality waterproofing.
But this is only the visible part. It is also very important to take care of cleaning the pump on winter period into the room, cleaning filters and, of course, about water purification.
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Along the handmade stream
High banks with drained soil make possible landing undersized horizontal cotoneaster and creeping spirea belonging to the conifer family.
If the stream, according to the project, will wind between tall trees that create a shadow, then it can be decorated with crow, rogers and aruncus. They should be planted in such a way as not to disturb the line of water movement, otherwise the stream in the area will be divided into segments, which will lead to a deterioration in its appearance.
The mouth of a do-it-yourself stream can be planted with a tail, and a water ranunculus is suitable for places with a calm, slow flow. In such places, it will slowly circle around the water surface. In the event that the stream passes through the lawn, transitional creeping undersized plants, for example, coined loosestrife or creeping tenacious.
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Building a stream with your own hands
Scheme of the flower garden around the stream: 1 - bamboo-leaved grass, 2 - bearded iris hybrids, 3 - lobelia, 4 - creeping tenacious, 5 - Poskharsky bell, 6 - shaving hybrids, 7 - large-leaved bruner, 8 - awl-leaved bryozoan, 9 - creeping tenacious red-leaved, 10 - arundo.
For work, you need a little:
- submersible pump;
- polyethylene film or concrete;
- pipe for water supply;
- decorative stones;
- plants;
- shovel;
- a hammer;
- solution container.
Practical part.
- Location selection. First of all, to create a stream, you need to select appropriate place. In fact special choice will not be provided, because the stream of the summer cottage should be located near a pond or other garden reservoir, from which water will be pumped. An outside observer will see the final composition in the following form: from a beautiful spring that spouts from the ground, water ends up in a stream bed, along which it moves, flowing into a pond. In fact, no spring simply exists, and water is supplied from a pond! The ideal place for the mouth of a stream in a summer cottage is a slope with a slope of 30-45 °. Water through it can descend into the pond by gravity. Of course, this is not necessary, since the flow will in any case be provided by the pump, however, its speed on flat horizontal sections will be low, in contrast to the slope.
- Digging a ditch to the required depth. Usually, the depth of a do-it-yourself stream fluctuates between 0.25-0.50 m, and the width reaches 1-1.5 m. Having decided on the appearance of the future stream, they begin to create a ditch. Its dimensions depend on the materials for the manufacture of the bottom and walls of the structure. This will be described in more detail below.
- Creation of a stream bed. After the ditch is ready, proceed to the most important thing - the creation of the original channel. In order to do this, you first need to get rid of all stones, roots and other debris, and then the surface is well rammed. All subsequent work depends on the material from which the channel will be made. For these purposes, it may be suitable waterproofing film or concrete.
- If the simplest option is chosen - a film, then first you need to arrange sand cushion 50 mm thick, and flooring is made on top of it nonwoven fabric such as butyl rubber. After that, it remains only to gently lay the film on the resulting surface.
- If preference is given to concrete, then the work process is a little more complicated. To begin with, in the groove it is necessary to arrange with your own hands a pillow of gravel and sand 250-300 mm thick, cover it with PVC film and lay a layer of concrete 150 mm thick on the surface. It follows from this that the choice concrete pavement requires deepening the groove by 0.4-0.45 m from the design value in the clear. Accordingly, the width also increases.
- Making the appearance of the stream with your own hands. Many may think that the production of the stream is over, but it appearance unnatural. It is required to hide all artificial elements so that they do not show through even under a close look. First you need to pay attention to the bottom. A real brook never has a smooth, smooth surface. In places of the channel with a weak current, flat pebbles are laid on the bottom. not large sizes, for example, pebbles. Where the current is faster, it is better to decorate the stream with large unhewn stones. To create the effect of a waterfall, flat stones laid on the bottom of the stream will help. The banks of the new stream also need to be decorated. This can be done with boulders and small stones that have irregular shape. The stones are picked up different sizes and shapes and stack them in groups or separately.
- Entering the system and connecting the pump. The stream will flow into the reservoir, and it is in this place that a submersible pump should be located, which will help the water flows circulate in a given direction. The device must have a power that provides the necessary intensity of movement. Considering the fact that water flows from the spring at the source of the stream, polypropylene hoses must be connected to the pump, which are easy to install and relatively frost-resistant. The source also needs to be decorated, otherwise the supply hose will be visible. This can be done by hiding the hose behind a large boulder or by building a kind of grotto from several medium-sized stones.
If the stream is wide enough, good decision will throw a small wooden bridge or flat large boulders. Thus, water will not be an obstacle for those walking around the summer cottage, which will make the walk an entertaining adventure.
The beauty of the stream in the garden is undeniable. And if you want to enjoy the gentle murmur of water, admire the insects and birds that are attracted to water, then you need to think through everything correctly. We are talking about the location of the stream, the shape of the banks and its decorative design from the beginning to the end. Are you afraid that the cost of arranging the stream will not justify itself? In this case, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the technology for making a dry stream that came to us from China. From this article you will learn how to make an artificial stream in the country with your own hands, both dry and water.
The source of a ringing stream can be a crack in a large boulder, a picturesque shrub and a waterfall. In fact, this is a small disguise of the hose, creating the illusion of a picturesque source created by nature itself. The logical end of the stream is a pond or body of water. The stream can also disappear under a pile of rocks, under which there is a tank with a pump. Another option is to make the beginning and end of the source lost in the garden. Of course, this is an artificial source in the country, but it can be made natural in appearance.
When arranging an artificial water flow, one principle is applied: at the highest point of the stream, the pump pumps water from a reservoir located at the lowest point on the site. After that, water from the highest point flows down a natural slope.
In order for the construction of the water stream to be successful, it is important to properly plan it: choose a place and make a slope that ensures the natural movement of water.
If you have plans to make a stream that would resemble a natural source, then use the existing terrain. The water flow can bend garden sculptures and flowerbeds, flowing near trees in the garden or places of rest, creating either small waterfalls, or quiet backwaters, or islands, or shallows. Observing natural forms, you can achieve the naturalness of the stream.
Replacing natural outlines with geometry looks unnatural. Such a stream will look more like a ditch.
Before you make a stream, think through all the details. For example, does the terrain allow you to create a waterfall? Is there a need for a second pond? Will it be a small stream or will it go around a decent part of the site? The longer the stream, the more equipment you will need to equip it.
The coast can be decorated with flowering plants. In the list of those who love moist soil: hostas, sedge, bergenia, meadowsweet, swimsuit. As for the length and width of the channel, then it all depends on you. Standard sizes vary within: width - 0.5–1.5 m, and depth - 0.3–0.5 m.
Due to an incorrect calculation of the volume of water, the construction of a ringing stream may end in failure. It should be borne in mind that the pump pumps water over a sufficiently long distance, which is equal to the duration of the stream. On the way back, the movement of water slows down, due to the fact that it goes around stones and plant stems. In addition, water evaporates as it moves. According to some estimates, water artificial stream travels only 2 m in 1 minute. For example, when operating a stream having a length of 10 m, 200 to 300 liters of water should be in motion.
For uninterrupted operation flow should be regularly topped up with water. The need for this is due to the evaporation of water and the ambient temperature.
Suppose you have already decided on the topography of the source and its location. Now is the time to arm yourself with rope and pegs and walk along the bed of the planned source. Drive in the pegs close to each other, connecting them with a rope. Compliance geometric shapes in this case is inappropriate.
The next step is to dig the ground under the bed. If the slope allows, then add steps that will serve as small sills. If you have no desire to make them, then use large boulders as thresholds that can be fixed with concrete mortar. Clear the riverbed of stones and roots. Then tamp down the ground.
If you are making a large stream, then it is better to concrete the channel. In this case, in places of thresholds, lay flat stones. You can connect them together with concrete.
If you want to plant plants along the shore of the spring, then expose the waterproofing sheet, and then make a trench for the mouth. Sprinkle it with sand or gravel for 5–7 cm. Then cover it with geotextile with a margin around the edges. Then pour water over the canvas to moisten it. This is required action, because, otherwise, the geotextile will not tightly fit the mouth. And this, as expected, will spoil the appearance of the structure.
At the edges, geotextiles should be fixed with large stones. In the middle of the channel is done masonry, consisting of flat stones and concrete mortar. Then another layer of concrete is laid, which is decorated, for example, with pebbles.
Now you need to dig grooves up to 10 cm deep parallel to the channel. Pipes from the pump will be laid in them. Fill them up, and then mask them with turf. Now you need to connect the pump and start the water. The stream is ready! There are other ways to build streams, for example, its dry counterpart.
This is one of original elements landscape. Making it is very simple. Time and money for the arrangement will go to a minimum, which is important. A dry streamlet will decorate the garden plot, hide the flaws in the relief and visually increase the area around the house. Mosquitoes like to swarm over real water bodies, but these insects have nothing to do near a dry stream.
If you properly equip a dry stream, then the effect of it will be no worse than from a water source. It seems that only yesterday crystal water flowed in it. It feels like a little rain will fill the stream with life-giving moisture, bringing it back to life.
Dry streams are quite popular in China. They are central elements rocky gardens, a symbol of water and perpetual movement. In the East, the landscape is considered unfinished without water or its imitation. dry stream great alternative for gardens in which it is impossible to build a real reservoir.
Some advantages:
- A dry stream is in harmony with any landscape design.
- Acting drainage ditch without the need to invest extra time, labor and money.
- The possibility of arranging on hills and hollows, in the sun or in the shade.
- An artificial dry stream can be made in just a few days.
- There is no need to level the landscape, lower the relief or deepen the channel.
- There is no need to purchase a pump and accessories for pumping water.
- The possibility of planting any, not just moisture-loving plants.
Another feature of dry streams is the possibility of arranging a dry lake. The bed of the stream and the bottom of the lake can be laid out with rubble, and the banks can be decorated with large stones.
First, decide on the shape and size of the stream, the place and materials for its construction. When choosing a shape and size, consider not only the relief of the garden plot, but also its area. A dry lake, for example, fits harmoniously into a narrow area. And the winding stream looks great on a wide area, creating the effect of its lengthening.
A dry reservoir must have a mouth and a source. As for the mouth, it can be hidden behind big leaves hosts, bergenia or other plants, while the source should be on a hill. Make a small indentation by lining it with fine gravel. In such a simple way, you will create a semblance of a well, the illusion of a water source.
Most often, pebbles and gravel of a small fraction are used to equip a dry stream. You can buy them in any hardware store. They are not only affordable, but also have a fairly rich color palette. Tones of pebbles from gray-blue to gray. Color palette gravel: blue, blue, blue-green, etc. Slate and basalt can also be useful for these purposes.
To place accents, you can use colored granite. A better effect can be achieved using glass granules and blue-blue balls. They will sparkle in the sun and shimmer in cloudy weather, creating the illusion of living water.
Sand is perfect for marking the site. So, you can outline the contours of a dry reservoir. A man-made stream may consist of several channels or just one. If you want it to look natural, then change its width in different areas.
To prepare the surface, remove the sod layer and level the ground. You can use a regular garden rake for this. You should get a small depression (10-15 cm). Remember that an overly concave stream looks unnatural.
Lay a layer of sand (5 cm) on the bottom. To prevent weeds from growing on the surface of the stream, lay covering material on the bottom. It can be geotextile or polymer film. Now lay large stones that will outline the boundaries of the dry spring. Then cover the channel with pebbles or rubble. The stream is ready! It remains to plant plants along it.
So that the stream does not turn into an ordinary flower bed, you need to responsibly approach the issue of planting plants. Don't overdo the landing tall varieties. Choose only those that you associate with water. These can be plants with blue-yellow leaves or blue flowers.
Decorative elements will help you effectively arrange a dry stream. It can be, for example, a decorative bridge thrown over a stream, etc.
If you have nowhere to make a stream, then do not despair. You can always make a small pond in your area. For its arrangement you will not need big square. One of the most simple options construction of a pond, make it out of tires.
The best option for furnishing artificial pond- a flat area without mounds, pits, shrubs and stones. If there is none on your site, then clear a place for a pond and, if necessary, level the site.
Tire sizes vary, so decide in advance on the size of the pond. If you have personal plot enough space, then make a complex of small ponds located on the same territory.
It is important to decide whether the pond will be buried or above ground. All this should be considered in advance. The choice of decor and the purchase of materials will depend on this.
The pond can become a worthy decoration of the garden and a great place for the whole family to relax. In addition, the pond should be made in the same style as the landscape. Otherwise, it will look ridiculous on the site. All this is important to determine at the stage of planning the construction of this structure.
When choosing a place for arranging a pond, consider the following points:
- Soil structure and groundwater level.
- The size of the land.
- Pond dimensions.
- Landscape relief.
The place for the pond should be shaded. This is due to the fact that direct Sun rays promote the growth of microorganisms in the water. And the water from the pond, located in the sun, will quickly evaporate in the summer.
Before locating a tire pond, observe solar activity on site during the day. So, you will unmistakably determine the best place for construction.
If the pond will be illuminated or a fountain will be installed in it, then take care in advance that the electrical connection is located near the reservoir.
The choice of tire depends entirely on the dimensions of the pond. small pond made from car tires. For a larger pond, you will have to purchase a tire from KamAZ, a bus or a tractor.
To on installation work had to spend a minimum of time, collect everything in advance necessary tools. Among them:
- Level.
- Jigsaw / hacksaw for metal.
- Shovel.
- Roulette.
Clean the tire from dirt, wash it. cut off upper part tires. To do this, you should use a hacksaw / electric jigsaw. Measure tire diameter and height. If your pond is going to be dug into the ground, these measurements will help you determine the depth and diameter of the hole in the ground below it.
The recess must be wider than the tire size. Thanks to this, you will be able to secure the waterproofing material with high quality.
In order for the water in the tire pond to be filled evenly, the base under it must be perfectly flat. The evenness of the base is easy to check with a level. To prevent the pond from becoming contaminated with clay, place the tire slightly above ground level.
It is very important to pay due attention to the waterproofing of the pond. Otherwise, the water will simply go into the ground. The cheapest way to do this is with polyethylene film. But its quality leaves much to be desired, the film does not withstand heavy loads. To improve the waterproofing properties of polyethylene, lay it in several layers.
More reliable waterproofing is provided by modern material used for arranging swimming pools. It is distinguished by greater practicality, strength, and, accordingly, durability.
After the tire has been laid on the prepared place under the pond, lay the waterproofing along its bottom and walls. In this case, the waterproofing layer should protrude beyond the edges of the pond by approximately 50 cm. In this case, it will not slide off after filling the pond with water.
Upon completion of laying the waterproofing, fill the resulting bowl with water. Wrap excess material carefully.
strengthening
In order to avoid tire movement and unfolding of the film, the edges of the pit under the pond must be covered with fine gravel or sand. This, among other things, will protect the place near the pond from weeds that like to grow near the pond.
In the absence of sand / gravel, you can use the earth left after digging a hole under the tire. However, in this case, you will not ensure the protection of the pond from the growth of weeds in its circumference.
In order for the pond to harmonize with the landscape, it must be properly decorated. For this you can:
- Plant plants at the bottom of the pond. All that is needed is to put up special containers for deliveries. By the way, the supplies are located at the base of the reservoir.
- Arrange plants in tubs / pots on the shore. So, if necessary, you can modify the area around the pond at your discretion.
- Launch ornamental fish into the pond.
- Make floral and stone compositions around the reservoir.
If you want to make the pond more functional, then you can make a mini-pool for swimming. To do this, you will need a large BelAZ tire. Fill the bottom with sand, install waterproofing. The same type is used as for the arrangement of the pool.
The ladder for climbing into the pool and the surface around the tire can be treated with wooden elements pre-treated with antiseptics.
Water tends to stagnate, which makes it unsuitable for swimming. To avoid this, use special reagents designed for water purification. Such a mini-pool can be an excellent place for the whole family to relax.
As you can see, it is quite possible to make a pond / mini-pool out of a tire. To do this, you do not need to invest a lot of money in construction, and it will not take so much time. Using a thing unsuitable for its original purpose, you can ennoble your site.
Video
You can learn how to make a reservoir, pond or stream in the country from the video: