Stylishly and neatly decorated, creating a relaxing atmosphere, a dry stream becomes one of the most successful components of a summer cottage. There are many options for arranging an artificial water artery, or rather simulating a real stream.
Many of the options have been used for a long time and do not lose relevance over time.
The idea of recreating dry streams is not a new thing; such elements in landscape design make it possible to add color to the free space on the site, turning it into cozy area designed for relaxation.
To make the site even more attractive, an imitation of a water artery can be reproduced in a suitable place.
Study the photos of ready-made dry streams - and you will understand how diverse this decor is.
Dry stream in a flowerbed, photo Where did the idea come from?
Dry prototypes of waterways arose seven thousand years ago, they were invented by the Japanese. Dry streams were used to decorate stone gardens, areas conducive to philosophy, allowing one to reflect on life. important issues. Japanese philosophy became fashionable and spread to other countries, and dry streams began to be used in Western culture.
In most cases, such decorative elements are formed in areas where there is no possibility of creating decorative waterways. However, dry streams and real water bodies carry the same meaning.
The contemplation of such arteries gives the impression that the water in them has dried up, and after the rains have passed, the streams will be filled with life-giving moisture again.
Dry stream, photo If you are interested eastern culture and signs, a dry water artery can turn into a source of life-giving energy for you and help ensure family well-being.
Features of a dry water artery, its advantages
A classic dry stream contains small smooth pebbles, similar to sea pebbles, which create an imitation of a real body of water. Such an artery also includes large stones that imitate thresholds or mini-waterfalls in the garden. The listed details are complemented by flowers along the riverbed and other elements that make it possible to focus attention on the dry waterway and make it even more beautiful.
In addition to the original appearance, decorative waterways have other advantages:
- a dry stream can be created on summer cottage independently without the help of specialists and large expenses for arrangement;
- you can make such an object in literally two days: the main thing is to choose a place and perform a series of simple manipulations;
- dry streams are undemanding in care, the main task is to adjust its shape, if there is such a need;
- Unlike real water arteries, dry streams do not accumulate algae and sediments that clog the object. You don't have to spend money on water purification;
- weather factors will not be able to spoil the appearance of the reservoir and the materials that were used to create it - a dry stream in the country will serve you for several years;
- if you want to plant flowers or ornamental grasses next to a dry waterway, you will not need to think about the sensitivity of the vegetation to moisture;
- insects do not accumulate above dry streams that can ruin your vacation;
- such reservoirs do not pose a danger to children, and children can safely play next to the stream;
- stones in dry streams can be used to hide communications while maintaining access to them.
Dry stream in landscape design, photo Important! One cannot fail to note such a point as the functionality of dry water arteries. Dry streams can be used as drainage to remove water accumulated after rain in a summer cottage, and as analogues of storm drains next to paths.
Imitation of water bodies makes it possible to solve a number of difficulties regarding the soil topography in a garden plot. For example, if there is a slope in the garden, a homemade stream made of stones will give an ordinal appearance to this area, and flowers and ornamental grasses planted nearby will make this area even more expressive - here any vegetation will look organic.
Availability alpine slide in close proximity to a dry stream will allow you to demonstrate your good taste and will add personality to the landscape design.
Dry stream design, photo Decor
The creation of a dry water artery in the landscape of a summer cottage can be done in various options. They also matter climatic features(vegetation must be selected in accordance with the climate), and the size of the area that will be decorated.
The stone stream should be decorated in such a way that relief imperfections become invisible. For example, by forming a narrow stream with meanders, you can visually deepen this area and visually expand the size of the garden. You can imitate the water surface using small dark stones, and to create thresholds use lighter and larger stones.
If your goal is to create a dry stream that will look as realistic as possible, opt for basalt and slate. These materials will allow you to create a dry water artery in a light blue palette. A dry stream in a garden plot in reddish-brown tones can be decorated with granite pebbles.
Due to certain types of stones, you can place accents in light or dark colors. For example, details made of marble and limestone will help make the white shade more expressive. A shimmering effect can be achieved by complementing the design of dry streams with glass balls and pebbles.
Unusual options for dry waterways are obtained by incorporating floral elements into their design. You can make a floral island in the center of the object or place accents along the entire perimeter of the stream. We recommend not using a large number of variegated flowers at the same time, but choosing varieties that successfully complement each other and combine with other elements.
The most popular flowers are in blue colors. Decorate the area next to the artificial stream with bluebells, cockerels or cereals. Beds and flower beds can be made multi-tiered.
Plants for a dry stream: photos with names Plants that evoke associations with bodies of water will help make a dry stream look more realistic. For example, as additional vegetation in the design of a dry waterway, you can use plants with names such as Chinese reed, reed arundo, miscanthus.
Another original version– a dry stream with a decorative bridge. It is created from a monolithic block or round logs. A bridge to simulate a real body of water is selected if such an element takes up a minimum of space. Such an object will add realism to your creation, creating the appearance of a crossing similar to those that run through natural bodies of water.
You can also create a simulated water crossing by placing large rocks across the surface of the waterway.
Bridge over a dry stream, photo When choosing parts for a dry stream, proceed from their compatibility with those objects that already exist on the site. It is necessary to achieve harmony, a combination of the natural landscape with the materials used to design the garden, so that the style and overall execution look holistic. It is worth noting that a dry waterway can also be used to divide an area into zones.
If the stream is partially isolated, it can be supplemented with elements that distinguish the recreation area from the rest.
There are many more ideas for decorating a dry stream. For example, you can place street lamps and benches nearby. Separate areas can be decorated with images of storks, swans or other birds and animals that may live outside the city. Choose figures based on their compatibility with the body of water.
Read about what useful things you can make for your garden using scrap materials.
Step-by-step creation process
Let's consider step by step process independently creating a dry stream. First of all, you need to decide on its location and size. Draw for yourself a diagram and route of the waterway, and then move the sketch to the desired site. To create bends, use ropes and sand (it is best to make the contours arbitrary, avoid strict lines and restrictions). Make a stream bed, placing the source on a hill.When calculating the depth of the channel, take into account the width of the object being formed. The best option is that the width parameter should be twice the depth. After this, you can begin creating a channel for a dry stream on the site.
Remove top part soil and make ditches, placing them at an angle of 45 degrees. Clear the area of plants and debris, remove rhizomes and compact the soil into horizontal plane and along the slopes.
How to make a dry stream with your own hands, photo One of the advantages of creating your own dry water features is that they do not require the formation of a concrete base with water-resistant characteristics.
To preserve the configuration of the stream, cover the prepared bed with any dense material, for example, roofing felt or thick cellophane.
Find out how to arrange something beautiful: examples in the photo, options from different materials, tips for designing original recreation areas.
The main methods for constructing wooden bridges for the garden with your own hands are collected in the article.
Examples and samples of beautiful pergolas for the garden can be appreciated in the article at:
Subsequent work
Having finished preparing the riverbed, place stones on its surface. Laying should begin from the base of the ditch, having previously added crushed stone and expanded clay - approximately a five-centimeter layer. Then sprinkle it all with a little sand.
Since the stream will flow from the prototype rock, use rocks of the maximum size. Make an embankment, arrange the stones, and fill the resulting cavities with crushed stone so that the composition looks holistic.
DIY dry stream, photo You can clearly see the process of creating a dry stream in the garden landscape in this video:
In the next step, start creating the appearance of flow. water body. To do this, use flat small pebbles. It is preferable to place larger stones on both sides of the waterway. A coastline is immediately formed, large boulders are laid out.
Advice: for greater realism, make one side of the stream rocky. It is in this place that you need to place as many large stones as possible. On the other edge their sizes will be smaller.
The so-called shallow zone of a homemade waterway needs to be decorated with small pebbles or other similar stones. An imitation of flow is created by flat stones laid on an edge. Place a hewn stone in the middle of the riverbed, and decorate the area around it with a whirlpool made from pebbles.
You can experiment with the depth of the stream you made yourself. Dark colored stones will help create the effect of depth. Decorate the shallow water area with light pebbles, plastic and glass parts.
If you are worried that the composition will be damaged during the heavy rainy season, you can secure the details of the dry waterway using a reliable base on sand-cement mortar. The stones are placed on the mortar and hardened firmly. If necessary, the stones can be painted in the desired color.
Dry stream at the dacha, photo Well, of course, use additional elements decor. Make a bridge, remembering to fasten it securely. If desired, decorate the bridge with a beautiful fence or lanterns.
Dry stream with a bridge, photo The water artery must "flow" through it. Install a small mill or other structure nearby to create a harmonious composition. Be sure to secure the structures so that they do not warp under the influence of strong wind gusts.
Once you've finished installing these parts, consider decorating the waterway with plants. If necessary, prepare the ground in the stream area or in areas where vegetation will be planted. You can make low, neat borders. When planting plants, be sure to take into account their possible aggressiveness so that they do not crowd out each other.
Provide timely care for vegetation, regularly weed and irrigate green areas. Annuals will need to be removed at the end of autumn; for this reason, it is better to choose perennials for decorating a dry waterway, as more unpretentious vegetation.
DIY dry stream at the dacha, photo You do not have to strictly follow the advice for creating a water recreation area in your summer cottage. You can bring your ideas and plans to life, a number of which are shown in the photo. The main task when creating a dry stream is to achieve its realistic appearance; the stream must maintain its configuration, otherwise you will be forced to correct it often.
Photo gallery
We offer a selection of photos with other ideas for constructing and designing dry streams: look through them and start creating an artificial waterway in your garden:
A dry stream is a very profitable idea that has the following advantages:
- minimal material costs;
- saving water;
- ease of care;
- fast construction;
- allows you to hide terrain defects;
- easy dismantling.
Materials and tools for construction
You can make a dry stream at your dacha with your own hands in 2-3 days. To do this you will need:
- Twine or sand for marking the riverbed.
- Stones different sizes(pebbles, cobblestones, gravel, natural stones different shapes).
- Geotextile or lutrasil as a substrate for stones (can be replaced with a polymer film or a thin layer of concrete).
- Shovel.
- Rake.
Step-by-step instructions for arranging a dry stream
Before starting the construction process, markings are first made at the place where the dry stream “flows” with a string or sand path. This technique allows you to select best shape channels for this area.
We outline the contours of the stream and dig a trench
Then a ditch 15-30 cm deep is dug along the intended path. The soil is leveled with a rake and lined with lutrasil or geotextile. These materials “breathe” and allow moisture to pass through and will prevent weeds from growing between the rocks of the stream.
We cover the dug ditch with special material
Now you can start laying the stones. First, the “shores” are drawn up, then with inside they support the edges with rubble stone, use medium and large pebbles to fill the crevices, and fill the entire riverbed with small pebbles.
Laying stones in the stream
The convoluted shape of the stream allows you to visually increase the space, so this option is best used for small summer cottages.
How to create beautiful compositions from stones in a dry stream
If not properly designed, a dry stream in landscape design can look too cumbersome, so you should know some of the subtleties of its arrangement:
Stones and glass blue color will create the illusion of water in a stream
- A stone stream with unequal channel width looks more elegant and natural;
- stones of unequal sizes will highlight any landscape more expressively;
- to achieve a bluish-gray hue, you need to use a combination of basalt, slate and gneiss;
- limestone, granite and marble give the composition a reddish-brown hue;
- The illusion of water will be created by glass balls and granules scattered along the riverbed. For the same purpose, you can use stones or concrete balls painted with mirror paint;
- flat large pebbles are used to reproduce the effect of a current, and the shoreline is laid out from larger stone blocks;
- Uneven landscapes can be disguised as waterfalls using stones light shades;
- clear boundaries spoil the natural appearance of a dry stream, so they should be made more “blurred” and heterogeneous.
Find out about the plant when it was young, its planting and care.
What flowers are used to decorate dry streams?
The final touch to decorating a dry stream is decorating it with plants. Any flowers and ornamental shrubs, the main thing is that they fit harmoniously into the created landscape.
Plants with flowers in blue tones convey the atmosphere of flowing water better than others, and therefore they are most often used to decorate dry streams.
Plants for decorating a dry stream:
- creeping tenacious;
- large-leaved forget-me-not;
- aubrietta;
- brunera macrofolia;
- lobelia;
- bearded iris.
You can successfully complement the composition with pampas grass, Chinese reed, plantain sedge, hosta and daylily.
Dry stone stream, in addition to its attractive appearance has a lot of advantages:
- it can be of any shape and size depending on the area and surface of the site;
- suitable for garden plots with any landscape design;
- models the territory of the site, visually expanding or, conversely, reducing it;
- does not require any special care, and the lack of moisture relieves owners from the presence of mosquitoes and algal blooms;
- costs the owners a minimal amount, unless, of course, it consists of precious stones.
In addition to all the above advantages, a dry stream is good because making it with your own hands is not difficult at all, this does not require special skills, you just need to decide on appearance stream, including rocks and plants, and carefully bring the idea to life.
Photos of dry streams made of stones, with and without a bridge, which you can make with your own hands at your dacha or house plot.
Stream of stones
- Determine what shape and length will your stream be?. First draw a sketch of it on paper.
- Select stones suitable forms and breeds.
- Make a schematic diagram on the site marking future stream and mark its outline with ordinary sand. Dig a groove with a depth of 10 to 20 cm along the entire contour, depending on the location of the thresholds and recesses.
- To prevent weeds from growing through stones, lay out the bottom grooves with agro-textile, geotextile, lutrasil or other dark dense material.
- Get started line the bottom of the stream with stones. Place larger boulders along the edges, and place smaller pebbles between them. Fill the remaining space of the stream with small stones. To achieve a specific color effect, the pebbles can be painted with waterproof paint.
- Plant plants along the banks, which will be in harmony with the overall landscape design of the site.
- Complete the stream with the necessary decorative elements , for example, storks, frogs, ducks, windmills, but try not to overdo it, because It’s better to have fewer of them, since too many will distract attention from the stream itself.
For small garden plot A winding and deep channel made of stones is best suited. It will increase the space of a small area. In addition, in different sections of the stream you can reduce or increase the width and height differences of the channel.
Landscape design experts advise making the bottom from small, smooth pebbles in light shades, and decorating the banks with boulders. In order to see the rapids in the stream, it is worth placing light stones on the bottom, and it is best to create depressions with dark rocks.
Dry brook looks best from the following flat stones: basalt, slate, white marble or gneiss. The stones can even be painted in the color of your choice or partially replaced with glass balls to create the effect of flowing water.
You can put a jug in the source and pour some stones into it. Then it will feel like water is flowing out of the vessel itself.
Dry stream diagrams.
And here is a video about how to make a dry stream with your own hands step by step.
Dry Stream Plants
The undoubted decoration of your stream will be the numerous planted plants. For planting, it is necessary to leave places with fertile soil. If the stream is long and located on large area plot, then you can arrange it more tall plants, and in the case small space– low-growing specimens. In addition, it is worth taking into account the composition of the soil, humidity, lighting and other factors.
If you prefer minimalism in landscape design, it is best to plant the banks of the stream with dwarf spruce, juniper, thuja, mountain pine or euonymus. If you like to watch multi-colored tints, then a stream of stone can be decorated with flowering plants.
However, professionals advise decorating it with those types of plants that are unpretentious and are associated with water. This can be periwinkle, hosta, crocus, carnation grass, sedum, fern, female moth, iris and calamus, maidenhair adiantum. Typical aquatic species include Chinese reed, pampas grass, leafy bamboo, loosestrife sunflower and others.
Recommended also use flowers with different shades of blue color: bluebells, large-leaved forget-me-not, creeping tenacious, blue lobelia. Such plants will create a feeling of life-giving freshness and coolness. And ornamental grasses placed inside the riverbed will only enhance this effect.
When decorating a dry stone stream with greenery, you should not overload the banks, otherwise the leaves of the plants will completely cover them, and as a result you will get an ordinary flower garden.
Stream with a bridge
Finished and believable look a dry stream can be given a bridge that will connect two banks. If the stream is small, then it is enough to make decorative bridge, if it has impressive dimensions, then a more functional structure can be built. Bridges can be wooden, metal, stone and even concrete.
The simplest option, which even an inexperienced craftsman can build - a wooden swing bridge. It consists of two arched boards with strips perpendicularly attached to them using self-tapping screws. Metal ties from barrels can also be used as arcs, and sawn trunks can be used instead of slats small trees. All wooden structure The bridge is impregnated with antiseptic impregnation and installed on the stream, connecting the two banks.
Whatever the dry stream created with your own hands, it will in any case become worthy decoration of a garden plot, delighting you and your guests with peace and harmony. And with very little effort to maintain it, you can enjoy the beauty of a dry stream and the greenery around it every year.
What kind of decoration techniques do designers not use to transform ordinary personal plots to fabulous corners for complete relaxation. A dry stream is one of the popular modern landscaping tools, in which there is not a single drop of water, but only stones that imitate the bed of a dry stream. The main advantage of this “spicy” design element is that when deciding to create a dry stream with your own hands in a garden plot, the implementation of the idea does not require significant material costs.
The ubiquitous decorative element originates from sunny Japan. In the land of the rising sun, the element of water is associated with purity and thirst for life, and the murmur is a symbol of the transience of time. Dry streams, very popular in Japanese gardens, are necessarily present in areas where water for some 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 bed of the source has just dried up, and the first drops of rain will fill it again with life-giving moisture.
- The ability to create a dry stream with your own hands, without any effort special effort and significant financial expenses.
- Speed of construction: selecting a location, marking the stream bed and filling it with stones takes only two to three days.
- Easy to maintain, which is limited only to maintaining the shape of the riverbed and removing weeds. While caring for a water stream involves timely cleaning of lime deposits and algae.
- The decoration of a dry stream with 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, mosquitoes are not found, causing so much inconvenience for a good rest.
The bed of a dry stream does not require the purchase of expensive compressors, water supply and purification systems, which are a necessary attribute for the development of natural reservoirs.
The dry stream will become optimal solution for areas of any garden style
We choose the shape of the structure and prepare the stones
Proper planning of the placement of a dry stream bed in a dacha will help disguise the imperfections of the terrain. A narrow meandering stream visually deepens the space, making it visually small garden somewhat large.
Setting up a dry stream is a fun and easy-to-follow activity that allows you to realize on your site your ideas for creating an original decoration that will highlight the sophistication of your landscape design.
Outlines stone stream“drawn” based on the characteristics of the shapes and landscape of the garden area. A contour drawn with sand will allow you to preliminarily determine the shape of the future structure and its harmonious combination with existing decorative elements. The shape can be easily corrected by “writing out” new contours with a thin line of sand, selecting best option, which fits perfectly into the landscape of the area. Having decided on the shape and size of the stone structure, you can move on to choosing the nature of the material and its quantity.
One of the secrets that reveals how to make a dry stream that imitates the flow of water is the exclusion of clear boundaries and heterogeneity of the structure
A dry stream on the site that does not have the same width along the flow simulation looks more beautiful and natural.
Both large cobblestones and small pebbles are suitable for decorating a stream. Combination of stones various sizes, colors and textures allows you to create spectacular compositions that will become a bright addition to any direction of landscape design. You can get a stream of a gray-bluish tint by using slate, basalt and gneiss.
Ponds made of granite, marble and limestone acquire red-brown shades. Spectacular decoration The stream can become pebbles painted with waterproof paint, which gives light light in the dark. Stones exposed with a layer of varnish look no less original. Stones playing with shimmer in the sun’s rays give the compositions a “wet” effect.
The illusion of water flow can be easily achieved by adding a scattering of glass granules or balls to the composition of stones
In order for the stone stream to blend harmoniously with the natural landscape of the area, it is advisable to use local types of stones in the design of the structure. To create a flow effect, flat pebble stones are suitable, and larger stone blocks are suitable for the coastline. Uneven terrain is successfully decorated with waterfalls made of stones of lighter shades.
Laying stones along the prepared contour
Having chosen a place and 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, which can spoil all the beauty of a dry stream, the bottom should be covered with a dark non-woven covering material that allows moisture and air to pass through, for example: geotextile or lutrasil. Alternative option A thin layer of concrete or polymer film may also appear. The leveled and covered surface can now be decorated with stones.
The main requirement for the design of a stone composition is laconicism and moderation.
Laying a stone pond begins with the “banks”. Rubble and cobblestones are used to support the inner edges, pebbles are used to fill crevices, and the bed of the stone reservoir itself is filled with small pebbles.
Decorating a rock 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 body of water.
When choosing plants to decorate the “banks” of a stone stream, you can use any shrubs, decorative foliage and beautiful flowering plants. The main requirement is flower composition should be harmoniously combined. 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 whose color is associated with water element, for example: large-leaved forget-me-not or creeping tenacious
Plants of blue-green shades with long leaves. A spectacular decoration of a stone stream will be plants whose flowers are painted in rich shades of blue. Among the beauties that bloom in all possible shades of blue, the following are suitable for decorating a pond: lobelia, aubrietta, blue fescue, creeping tenacious, bearded iris, large-leaved brunera.
Chinese reed, pampas grass, willow sunflower, hosta, daylily, and plantain sedge can be successful additions to the composition.
When planning a stone pond on your site, you can use the following design option with plants: 1 – leafy bamboo, 2 – varieties of bearded iris, 3 – lobelia, 4 – creeping tenacious, 5 – Posharsky’s bellflower, 6 – hybrid forms of aubrieta, 7 – large-leaved brunera , 8 – stylifolia 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.