How to make a dry stream in the country?

Not so long ago, in the twentieth century, a new concept emerged, the popularity of which is rapidly growing in many countries around the world. It's about landscape design. In simple terms, this is gardening and landscaping. In a broader sense, it is an art form in which architecture, design and construction are combined. During its existence, landscape design specialists have developed many schemes of projects that allow not only to decorate the territory, but also give it a natural look, the effect of harmony with nature. Today, to refine any site, you can use ready-made guidelines for creating a green architectural ensemble. With one of these projects, we will introduce you in our article. It will be about a dry stream in the country with their own hands with photos and step by step instructions. It is simple in execution, beautiful in appearance, allows you to hide the flaws in the relief, is unpretentious in care.

Dry creek

In landscape design, artificial ponds are particularly popular. However, not all areas can be equipped. In addition, water bodies are always associated with such additional procedures as cleaning, the acquisition of cleaning systems, the construction of a water supply system. For those who want to avoid additional troubles, but at the same time have a beautiful natural corner, a stream without water was invented.

Dry creek is one of the main elements in landscape design, namely in the rocky garden, which spread throughout the world from the Land of the Rising Sun. The Japanese decorated various territories with dry streams 700 years ago.

It was believed that the stream, which starts from a small beautifully designed source, passes through the whole area and ends in the form of a funnel, attracts positive energy to the owner of the dwelling, and contributes to their well-being and harmony.

A dry stream is an imitation of a dried water stream, the bottom of which is covered with stones, pebbles, crushed stone, sand, and ornamental plants are planted along the banks.

The advantages of this element over this reservoir is that it:

• practically does not require maintenance;
• will require a minimum investment;
• done in just two or three days;
• looks beautiful at any time of the year;
• does not attract harmful insects;
• allows you to hide landscape defects;
• looks good and fits in any area;
• can perform the function of a drainage ditch;
• can mask communications (sewer manholes, cables, pipes, etc.);
• does not limit the choice of plants that can be planted on its banks;
• is safe for small children.

Dry creek visually increases the area of ​​the site, separates the various landscape zones, enhances the impression that other objects produce.

Popular species

Conventionally, the element "dry stream" is divided into three types:

1. meandering stream - the simplest design, which is a single stream, expanding and tapering in different places;
2. branched bed - a more complex type in arrangement, since it consists of several streams that can intersect or diverge in different directions;

3. waterfall or cascade - equipped with a hill, from which the stream flows.

Types of dry flow set. We will tell you about the most popular:

• creek source;

• sand streams;
• sleeves merging.

Creek source

A popular solution for creating a dry stream is the equipment, for example, a stone well, a jug, and rocks. In this case, it is possible to imitate that the water flow follows precisely from this object and that is where its source is located.

Sand jet

To create sand jets will take some effort.This composition includes several narrow streams. Throughout the length of the effect is made, as if they are then united in one direction, then intersect, then diverge again.

The waves on such streams look very beautiful and original - they are made with the help of a rake, which distinguish individual grooves.

Sleeve fusion

The merging of the sleeves is also not an easy one to perform. It needs to be well planned so that it looks believable and beautiful. So, you can pretend that one stream flows into another.

You can also arrange several sleeves of different width, which in some place merge into one channel.

General tips and tricks

To create a beautiful and original object that resembles a dried-up reservoir, we suggest you use the following tips:

1. The larger the plot, the wider the stream should be.
2. It is better not to do direct embankments. As a rule, they look unnatural and rude. The beautiful course of the stream always expands and narrows. In order for it to look natural, when it is bookmarked, it is enough to recall what a small mountain river looks like, for example. Naturally looks pond, the edges of which are sometimes washed away.The stream, which coils, visually looks deeper and longer. However, the bends should be soft, smooth.
3. Looks great combination of stone bed with green plantings.

4. The effect of wet stones is done with a varnish coating.
5. Visibility of rapids and waterfalls can be created by placing light stones against the dark ones from which the channel is made.
6. Imitation of islands can be done with the help of large stones, which are stacked in the center of the channel.
7. The bottom of the stream should not be cemented. So the composition will become more expensive, and the duration of its bookmarks will increase. In addition, you may want to reschedule the site in the future, and the cement path will create additional difficulties.
8. The bridge over the stream emphasizes the similarity with the natural river.
9. Using flat pebbles will create the illusion that the stream is flowing rapidly.
10. When choosing plants, preference should be given to low plants. Otherwise they can close the stream itself.
11. The banks of the rivers, besides greenery, can also be decorated with beautiful snags, stone compositions, garden sculptures.

12. As care, annual spring loosening of the soil around the plants and the introduction of necessary fertilizers will be required. In the summer, it is advisable to water the stones periodically.If necessary, remove the moss and kill the ants.

Dry creek do it yourself

We give instructions on how to make a dry stream with your own hands in stages.

Where to begin?

Before you go directly to the design of landscape composition, you need to determine the following parameters:

• the size;
• form;
• a place;
• materials used.

When choosing the shape and size of a dry stream, it is necessary to consider the area of ​​the plot. So, for example, if the territory on which you plan to equip this landscape object is narrow and long, then it is better to give preference to the dried lake. On a short and wide place it is good to break a meandering stream. It will visually lengthen the area. The width of the stream itself can vary from 30 cm to 1 m.

Before you make a dry stream in the country with your own hands, it is important to correctly determine the place for its laying. In principle, this object can be placed in any corner, both in the remote and in the most visible: in the backyard or immediately at the entrance to the house.The source can be both on a hill and on a plain. You can think over the stream so that it will divide all zones of the summer cottage: garden, garden, place to rest. Good object will look along the track.

The most common materials for creating a dried pond are:

• pebbles;
• gravel.

You can buy them in building supermarkets. If you wish, you can paint the stones with water-repellent paint in any color. Small blue pebbles from afar will create the impression of natural water.

Also, when making a composition in gray-blue tones, more expensive basalt and slate are used. Particularly beautiful blotches of glass beads that create glare in sunlight.

To create red-brown streams take:

• granite;
• limestone;
• marble.

The accents in the object are made with the help of large stones, granite of various colors. Nude stones are placed in the cracks between the large stones framing the shores.

After determining the location, shape and materials, it is desirable to draw a trickle on paper.It is also important to think about how the beginning and end of the stream will look. The source is made out in several ways: with the help of bushes, a mountain of stones, a decorative fountain, a pot, amphorae, a vase.

Below we will give you a few examples of dry flow design, which you can transfer exactly to your summer cottage or take any elements, connect your own imagination and design a unique stream.

Styling process

The installation process must begin with surface preparation. First, using sand draw the boundaries of the water flow. They can be easily corrected at any time. Instead of sand fit and stretched rope.

Further, these contours are used to tear out the trench. Its depth should be 15-30 cm. You should not make it too deep.

The bottom of the trench is well tamped and leveled. Geotextiles or lutrasil are laid on the bottom - materials that are designed to stop the growth of grass, the erosion of the bed and the deepening of stones into the soil.

After preparing the trench, proceed to the next stage - laying the stones. Begin with the design of the coastline, which is laid out in large cobblestones.Between them, in the crevices, you can randomly scatter smaller stones, bare ones.

Dry streams are made not only from stone, but also from flowers. Flower creek do-it-yourself looks very luxurious. At its construction using ground cover plants, ampelous flowers of blue and purple hues. Pansies, petunias, lobelia, phlox will work well. However, it is important to remember that such a stream will be decorative only in certain periods and times of the year.

Plant selection

In principle, this plant will fit any plants.

However, planted along the edges of the coastline will look particularly impressive:

• irises;
• bathing vessels;
• spiraea,
• loosestrife.

Bend places should be decorated with paradise, decorative bow, as well as large single-planted bushy plants.

In the segments where the shadow often falls, you can plant shade-tolerant perennials, in particular, hosts and ferns look good.

You can consider the option of decorating plants that are commonly used in alpine slides.

Flowers and herbs should be planted in groups and as a tapeworm.Thickened landings should be avoided. This will create a negligent effect. Large spreading flowers should be alternated with low ground cover.

Examples with photos

In our selection of options for a dry stream in the country with your own hands with photos you can see different options for decorating a dry stream.

This is a variant of the dry stream, made of bright blue stones and decorated with a wooden bridge.

Variant of a red stream with a source from a decorative jug

Decoration option lush flowers and wooden bridge

Dry creek with a source of stone lake, decorated with green islets, flowers and snags. The naturalness of the object is given by decorative water lilies.

Dry creek can be made not only from stones, but also from flowers

Such a laying of flat stones will create the effect of rapid flow.

Dry stream suitable for decorating unattractive communications

A simple option is suitable for a small area

The stream, lined with monochromatic light stones, looks more natural if it is made with brains

If you lay out several channels that diverge, then converge among themselves, it always looks natural.

Imitation of the islands is done with the help of large stones, which are placed in the center of the channel.

Dry creek - an original element of landscape design, which will undoubtedly attract the attention of your guests and fill you with positive energy when contemplating it. We hope, using our instructions and recommendations, you will be able to quickly, easily and cheaply ennoble a corner of your country estate.