The element of water has long attracted people with its tranquility, atmosphere of harmony and unity with nature. When improving the garden area, there is often a desire to create an artificial pond. If conditions are not conducive to placing a pond, then the optimal solution would be a dry stream. There is not a drop of water in the composition - only cobblestones and stones imitating the mouth and bed of a dry reservoir. Planning and laying out a “stone stream” is quite simple. The main thing is to show creativity and imagination, choose the right form of the composition and follow a simple technology for arranging stones.
Classic decoration method Japanese garden increasingly used in summer cottages and local areas. In Japan, the water element is associated with the desire for life and purity of thoughts, and babbling streams - with the transience of time. If arranging a pond in the garden is impossible for certain reasons, then oriental decorators use a special technique - a dry stream. Stone ponds convey the feeling of a dry riverbed, which with the onset of rain will be filled with long-awaited moisture.
TO undeniable advantages Creating a dry stream with your own hands on the site includes:
There is no specific classification of dry streams into subspecies. Conventionally, the design of such a composition is divided into three types.
winding body of water. A simple option for creating a dry stream with your own hands. One channel flows through the site, sometimes expanding and sometimes narrowing along its length. The landscape composition imitates the movement of an ordinary river. When planning the shape, it is necessary to take into account the relief, directing the reservoir along a plain or a slight slope.
Cascade. The beginning of the waterfall is located at any elevation. You can create a symbolic representation of a rock, a wooden or stone well, or a large jug. The water flow falls and forms man-made rapids.
Branched channel. The natural confluence of branches requires proper placement and compliance with the natural shapes of the reservoir. The stream looks beautiful on the winding hills. For authenticity, the sources of the riverbed are often hidden behind a decorative bridge, dense vegetation or a fence. Sand jets are made from small pebbles or sand. Imitation of a wave is achieved by creating winding shallow grooves.
Every summer resident and gardener can make a dry stream with their hands. There is no need to attract specialists, use expensive equipment or carry out large-scale preparation of the territory. The main task is to present the plan of the proposed stream as accurately as possible and play with the existing site.
The dimensions and configuration of the reservoir should be selected taking into account the size of the plot, the location of the house, additional buildings and terrain features. When planning, you should consider some nuances:
Marking a stone reservoir is done with sand. A sandy path is laid along the boundaries of the future “water” flow. In the process, the shape can be easily adjusted, bringing the sketch to an ideal representation of the stream. Sometimes boundaries are marked with pegs and ropes. However, this method is more labor-intensive and less mobile.
A dry stream at the dacha is created with your own hands using various rocks. By experimenting and combining all kinds of fractions, textures and colors of stones, you can achieve an illusory effect. The following materials will be useful in your work: shell rock, crushed stone, limestone, pebbles, etc.
Some points about choosing and arranging stones:
Advice. Coating the stones with varnish creates the impression of a “wet surface.” Interesting option- treatment of elements with waterproof luminous paint. At night, the stones will glow and resemble a “moon path”.
Tools you will need:
The procedure for preparing the site for laying stones:
Sometimes the protective film is replaced by pouring cement mortar. However, this method has disadvantages: increased cost of the structure, increased labor costs and complexity of redevelopment of the site.
After laying the stones, you should arrange coastal zone. Fill the perimeter of the reservoir with crushed bark or a sand layer.
It will be possible to bring a dry stream as close as possible to a real body of water with the help of plantings. Deciduous, flowering and shrub plants are suitable for decorating a stone structure. The main requirement is a harmonious combination of the color of the stones and the “green” frame.
It is better to choose plants that, one way or another, resemble the water element:
Do-it-yourself dry stream: photo planting diagram
Designations for the diagram:
How to make a dry stream with your own hands: photo of the layout of three different compositions
Advice. When planting plants, the main thing is not to overdo it. The abundance of herbs and flower beds will oversaturate the coastal zone and turn an exquisite oriental element into a boring flower bed or an analogue of an alpine hill.
Do-it-yourself dry stream: step-by-step creation of a composition. Video
Maintaining the stream in its original form is not particularly difficult. Care measures:
Natural minimalism in the design of a “dried” reservoir looks very harmonious against the backdrop of majestic mountains and old tall pines.
The illusion is created that the porch of a country house overlooks the bed of a dry river.
A dry stream flows along dense thickets. Some of the stones are varnished, resulting in a “wet” effect.
The arrangement of a stone reservoir on the site allows you to combine several traditions and style directions from different world cultures.
The longitudinal arrangement of thin stones imitates the murmur of a stream. The relief of the area adds realism to the composition - “water” flows from top to bottom.
One of the techniques of landscape design is to create local area imitation of a dry stream bed. This technique unites disparate functional areas and decorates the space being decorated. A properly organized channel can become a system that removes excess moisture from the site in the spring, when the snow melts. Simulating a stream does not require water or expensive pump equipment- all the beauty of the scenery is created by a skillful combination of stones and plants. You can implement this project yourself, and the result will delight you for many years.
A decorative bed is one of the varieties of a rocky garden. The idea of such decorative decoration of the territory came to us from Japan, where the beauty of nature is considered the highest value.
A dry stream effectively decorates large spaces landscape
The bed for the stream does not require labor-intensive preparation in the form of lowering or raising the level of the landscape - you create it wherever you want. The recess of the finished pit is filled with stones, and plants are planted along the edges of the banks. A properly organized artificial stream looks very realistic; it is decorated with a bridge, supplemented with a fountain or pond, and a bench or gazebo is installed nearby.
A dry stream along its course may have islands - rocky or with greenery.
A decorative riverbed can be arranged in a few days, and after finishing the work you will not need to clean it of silt and algae, or remove pumping and filtering equipment for the winter. A dry stream will not be a danger to small children and pets. This type of landscape design is economical - the materials for its production are several times cheaper than when constructing a real water stream on the site.
An artificial channel can be made in various options. If you focus on the external outlines of such a structure and the stages of its implementation, then dry streams are conventionally divided into several types:
The winding stream bed twists and turns around obstacles 
This is what the mouth of a branching channel looks like 
The stream in the form of a cascade takes its source from a hill
A winding, branching or cascading stream are the three main options that are taken as the basis for arranging an artificial channel. They can be combined within one site, if the area allows.
The bed of a dry stream creates the opportunity to visually expand the space of your local area. With its help you can hide or emphasize any objects, buildings, or plantings.
A dry stream is combined with a rock garden or rock garden - these types of decorative flower beds effectively complement each other
The use of an artificially constructed channel allows you to achieve several results at once:
In the process of forming a decorative stream, it is necessary to choose a place for its three important zones - the source of the stream, the direction of its streams and their end. Often a dry riverbed enters a real body of water. A hill can be used as a starting point for a dry flow, from which branches will go through the decorated area.
Sometimes decorative sculptures are used for the source: a large overturned jug, a bowl, a fountain
The bends of the artificial channel along its entire length should be smooth, without sharp creases or turns.
Before starting excavation work, draw up a plan of the territory indicating all buildings, plantings and economic zones on it - this will simplify the further stages of the work and give an idea of the finished result.
The plan determines the place where the stream bed will pass, taking into account the existing landscape elements
Based on the plan, paths are marked with sand throughout the entire territory, which will represent the future dry stream. If the area is large, then marking can be done using wooden pegs and rope.
You can create a decorative channel everywhere: near a recreation area, near a flower bed, in the shade of trees, on a lawn, flowerbed, on a hill or in a lowland. A stream that originates on a natural slope or constructed from stones and boulders in the form of an imitation of a rock or grotto looks impressive.
Large stones act as the central point of the composition, from which the stream takes its directions
If there is little free space on the site, then create artificial stream small size can be placed directly in the flowerbed. Low flowering and ground cover plants are planted near the riverbed.
A miniature stream organized in a flowerbed will make it unusual decorative decoration area that does not take up much space
A stream can also pass through a depression in the landscape, masking it with its presence. Thus, the difficulties of the site's topography turn into its advantages.
When decorating a landscape depression, the banks of the stream are reinforced with large stones and sculptural compositions - this technique looks impressive and realistic
The bed of a decorative stream can be arranged on the lawn by including tall trees in the composition. Even with minimal decoration with flowers, such a flower bed will look attractive.
The beauty of this composition, consisting of stones and plants, lies in its simplicity.
The results of arranging an imitation stream on a site depend on the area of decoration. You should not get too carried away with planting plants along the banks of the riverbed - this should be done in moderation.
The channel imitation is performed from various materials: large boulders, round river pebbles, flat stones, small or medium-sized crushed stone. The most natural looking elements are those that have natural chips or roundness made by nature.
Gray granite stones in a stream bed look like water 
Raw stones and small crushed stone imitate an eastern ditch 
Rounded stones laid out vertically resemble a seething stream. 
Fine crushed stone, painted blue, looks like water
Sometimes ground cover or low trees are planted in the riverbed. perennials with multiple blue or light blue flowers, resembling a stream of water in appearance.
A dry stream of flowers is spectacular, but its decorative effect is preserved only during the flowering period
The combination of stones and living plants is the best option when arranging a decorative stream. The proportions here may be different: in one case, the proportion of stones may exceed the number of plants, or the flowers will be the soloists, and the stones will serve only as a background.
To implement the artificial flow project, you need to prepare a pit. Its depth is made 25–30 cm, and the length and width will depend on your project. The channel may have narrowings, widenings, and islands. In the process of digging a pit, small mounds of soil are left on the banks of the stream, which can be used to install large boulders in this place.
The artificial bed of the stream consists of several layers - they are all important and cannot be neglected
After the channel has been dug, its bottom and walls must be carefully compacted with a layer of sand. Next, geotextiles are laid, and if the soil is loose or clayey, then the bed can also be strengthened with a geogrid so that the edges and bottom are stronger and can withstand the load from the weight of the stones.
To prevent rain and melt water from stagnating in the pit, the stream bed is lined with a special geotextile material, on top of which a small layer of crushed stone is placed, which acts as a substrate for the bulk of the decorative elements.
Geotextiles and geogrids perform a drainage function and additionally strengthen the walls of the stream
If the edges of the stream are sloping, then the smallest stones will roll towards the center of the pit, therefore, when laying out the riverbed, elements of different calibers are used so that larger stones are supported fine fractions. Support boulders large sizes for strength they are fixed to cement-sand mixture- this way you can avoid their displacement from their places.
On the finished substrate you can place colored crushed stones or stones that imitate water flow
The principle of filling a dry stream bed is as follows:
If you want to create the effect of a running water stream, use flat oblong stones or round ones laid vertically for this purpose.
When the outlines of the stream are finally formed, they begin to decorate it. Suitable for this flowering plants, ornamental grasses, deciduous and coniferous plantings, small shrubs.
There is no need to use excessive floral abundance and a riot of colors to decorate a stream. Plants located in small groups would look appropriate near a decorative riverbed:
When choosing plantings, it is necessary to select specimens that are in harmony with each other in the shades of the flowers.
Ostrovsky's bow is compact and attractive 
Hybrid daylily forms a herbaceous bush 
Phlox subulate - low-growing perennial 
Przhevalsky's buzulnik is good not only for its flowers, but also for its foliage
If you want to make a stream of water from flowers, replacing stones with them, use low-growing plants: lobelia, allisum, blue muscari.
In large home areas, compact evergreens can become a decoration for the stream. conifers. The higher the size of the conifer, the more spacious it should be landscape plot so as not to take attention away from the stream and look harmonious with it:
Landscape designers use dwarf spruce and juniper species to create strict and laconic compositions, with plants arranged in groups or individually.
Mountain pine is a compact evergreen plant 
Creeping juniper is a low-growing species that grows horizontally 
Thuja golden - a green coniferous plant with a yellowish tint 
Dwarf fir - grows in breadth and has a decorative appearance all year round
Evergreen plants are good because they look impressive at any time of the year and do not require special care after planting.
In natural conditions they grow near bodies of water different kinds herbs By planting such plants along the banks of a stream, you create the most realistic atmosphere for the entire composition:
Ornamental grasses are perennials that grow quickly and are attractive year-round.
Miscanthus chinensis - grows well and looks beautiful 
Sandy grate - unpretentious and frost-resistant 
Gray fescue - tolerates heat and frost well 
Hybrid sedge - evergreen perennial
A variety of herbs look especially impressive both individually and in groups; they are used to decorate the banks and small islands located in the bed of a dry stream.
Special beauty in big picture The banks of the artificial riverbed are decorated with plants with striking, expressive foliage - they grow as herbaceous bushes from 50 to 90–100 cm in diameter:
Herbaceous perennials with decorative leaves They delight with their beauty from spring to late autumn, they are not capricious and undemanding to care.
The perennial Hosta Liberty has many varieties with different leaf colors. 
Creeping tenacious - unpretentious plant with bright expressive leaves 
Brunera macrophylla - can grow in shady conditions 
Bergenia cordifolia - in natural conditions grows along the banks of reservoirs
Plants with large leaves go well with flowers, herbs, and coniferous plantings. Many species can grow in conditions of lack of sunlight.
In nature, on rocky, infertile soils, resilient plants grow that adapt to small amounts of moisture, deficiency or excess. sunlight, sharp gusts of wind:
By decorating the banks of the stream with these types of plantings, you will achieve maximum resemblance to the natural environment.
Bryozoan awl is a perennial evergreen soft grass called Irish moss 
Soapwort basilica is a profusely flowering perennial native to the Alps, widely used in design. 
Caustic sedum is a perennial succulent that accumulates moisture in its tissues 
Tomentosa is a ground cover perennial that loves light and is resistant to drought and frost.
Ground cover species are undemanding in care, take root and grow well, sometimes it is necessary to limit their growth.
In order for green spaces placed near a dry stream to look harmonious, it is important to choose the right companion neighbors for them. When decorating, the emphasis is placed on certain soloist plants that form the basis of the landscape composition.
Approximate plan for placing plants near a stream: coniferous plants or ornamental grasses are combined with ground cover specimens, dwarf trees and shrubs are combined with reeds
In summer, stones tend to heat up and retain heat for a long time, so plants must be selected that are drought-resistant and resilient. If the channel runs in a lowland where the soil is sufficiently moistened, you can use moisture-loving ferns, swamp grass, and bergenia.
When designing a stream bed, it is important to observe moderation and not resort to using a large number of plant species, overloading the composition
When planting plants next to each other, take into account their compatibility: requirements for watering, lighting, soil composition. Many perennials tend to grow, so you need to leave enough free space between plantings. Scattered planting of plants looks more realistic than a dense green area.
To make it easier to move around the site and decorate it, a decorative bridge is thrown from one bank of the riverbed to the other. This landscape element brings the stream to life and creates the impression that water actually flows in it. A beautiful bridge can become the main decoration of your yard.
The bridge is made of wood or metal - this decorative detail always looks impressive on the site
To simulate the flow, the channel elements are painted with waterproof paints of blue, gray, and cyan. If you cover the stones with varnish, the riverbed will look as if it is moistened with water, and the eye involuntarily begins to look for it among the pebbles. By placing spot lighting along the riverbed, in the evening the effect of the sensation of flowing water will be enhanced.
The stream is illuminated with LED flashlights, which daytime accumulate energy
Near the stream you can create an area for secluded relaxation. To do this, equip a stable platform and install a bench, a small gazebo or a swing on it.
The bench is installed near the bridge to provide easy access to it
Sculptural compositions would be a good decoration option for landscape design. With them the right combination the stream comes to life - these could be storks, swans, frogs or fairy elves, gnomes.
The sculptures are complemented with lighting so that they look attractive in the evening
Sculptural compositions are also used to indicate the source from which the stream originates. Stone grottoes, a clay jug or pot, an antique statue or fountain can be used in this capacity.
The source of the stream can be smooth, inclined or stepped - it all depends on the general design concept decor
In addition to living plants, the artificial riverbed can be decorated with additional decorative elements. Various details will make such a composition cozy and original in its own way.
Despite the simplicity of making a channel, certain difficulties arise during the work or after its completion:
If the channel is constructed correctly, it requires minimal but regular maintenance. It is important to ensure that green spaces do not grow excessively, filling the entire space. The crowns of conifers or deciduous shrubs must be trimmed and given a beautiful shape. In addition, you need to remember that ants like to settle under large boulders, and to prevent the stream from turning into one large anthill over time, regularly treat the soil under the stones with insecticides.
Plants for landscaping a dry stream should be selected so that they do not require nutritious soil. For example, saxifrage and juveniles do not take root well in too fertile a substrate - these species are accustomed to living in rocky soil and they need to create similar conditions in the flowerbed.
In order for the plants decorating the bed of a dry stream to look harmonious, you must adhere to the following rules:
To avoid the death of plants, do not plant them immediately after excavation work has been completed and the riverbed has been formed. Over the course of a month, the soil sags and the stones move from their places. Therefore, only after you have filled the voids in the soil and made sure that the stones are securely fastened, you can begin landscaping the riverbed.
A decorative dry stream is a kind of flower bed, and you can create it on your own property without involving the services of expensive landscape designers. Such decoration will make your yard unique and spectacular. Caring for the stream will consist of maintaining the shape of its bed, timely removal weed and fallen leaves. Plants planted for decoration are most often perennials that do not require close attention and care. A dry stream will help remove excess moisture from buildings and will not become a refuge for frogs and mosquitoes.
Not so long ago, in the twentieth century, a new concept arose, the popularity of which is rapidly growing in many countries around the world. This is about . If we talk in simple words, then this is landscaping and landscaping. In a broader sense, it is an art form that combines architecture, design and construction. During its existence, landscape design specialists have developed many project schemes that allow not only to decorate the territory, but also to give it a natural look, the effect of harmony with nature. Today, to improve any area, you can use ready-made guides for creating green architectural ensemble. We will introduce you to one of these projects in our article. We will talk about a dry stream in the country with your own hands with photos and step by step instructions. It is simple to perform, beautiful to look at, allows you to hide imperfections in the relief, and is easy to maintain.
IN landscape design Artificial reservoirs are especially popular. However, not all areas can be equipped with them. In addition, water bodies are always associated with additional procedures such as cleaning, purchasing cleaning systems, and constructing a water supply system. For those who want to avoid additional hassle, but at the same time have a beautiful natural corner, a stream without water was invented. 
Dry stream is one of the main elements in landscape design, namely in a rocky garden that 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, runs throughout the entire site and ends in the form of a funnel, attracts positive energy to the owner of the home, helping him achieve well-being and harmony.
Did you know? The most famous Japanese rock garden is Kyoto. It is located at the Reanji Monastery. Founded in the 15th century. It consists of 15 stones placed on a rectangular platform, which are placed in such a way that no matter from which side a person looks at them, they will see only 14 of them.
A dry stream is an imitation of a dried-up water stream, the bottom of which is covered with stones, pebbles, gravel, sand, and planted along the banks. 
The advantages of this element over a real reservoir are that it:
Did you know? The term “landscape design” arose in the twentieth century, but the roots of the art itself go back to ancient times and lead to Mesopotamia-It was there that the first attempts to cultivate garden plots were made. IN Ancient Greece parks and gardens were created by human hands, and the earliest mentions of ancient Roman landscape design date back to 65-68 BC.
Conventionally, the “dry stream” element is divided into three types:
There are many types of dry flow. We will tell you about the most popular:
A popular solution for creating a dry stream is equipment, for example, a stone well, a jug, or a rock. In this case, you can simulate that the water flow flows from this particular object and that this is where its source is located. 
Creating sand jets will require some effort. This composition includes several narrow streams. Throughout the entire length, the effect is created as if they are either connecting into one channel, then crossing, then diverging again. 
The waves on such streams look very beautiful and original - they are made using a rake, which marks out individual grooves.
The merging of the sleeves is also not an easy composition to execute. 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 design several sleeves of different widths, which in some place merge into one channel.
To create a beautiful and original object that resembles a dried-up pond, we suggest you use the following tips:
Important! In the event that the stream is made as a drainage ditch, the stones will need to be strengthened in concrete mortar. Because the current can wash them away.
Here are instructions on how to make a dry stream with your own hands step by step.
Before proceeding directly to the design of the landscape composition, you need to determine its following parameters:
Before making a dry stream in the country, it is important to correctly determine the location for its placement. In principle, this object can be located in any corner, both in the distant and in the most visible: in the backyard or right at the entrance to the house. The source can be either on a hill or on a plain. You can think over the flow of the stream so that it will separate all zones of the summer cottage: vegetable garden, garden, place to relax. The object will look good along the path.
The most common materials for creating a dried pond are:
Also, when decorating a composition in gray-blue tones, more expensive basalt and slate are used. Particularly beautiful are the inclusions of glass balls, which create glare in sunlight. 
To create red-brown streams take:
Accents in the object are made with the help of large stones and granite of various colors. Pebble stones are placed in the cracks between large stones framing the banks.
After determining the location, shape and materials, it is advisable to draw the appearance of the stream on paper. It is also important to think about what the beginning and end of the stream will look like. The source is decorated in several ways: with the help of bushes, mountains of stones, decorative fountain, pot, amphorae, vases. 
Below we will give you several examples of the design of dry streams, which you can exactly transfer to your summer cottage or take some elements, use your own imagination and design a unique stream.
The installation process must begin with surface preparation. First, the boundaries of the water flow are drawn using sand. They can be easily adjusted at any time. Instead of sand, a stretched rope will also work.
The bottom of the trench is well compacted and leveled. The bottom is covered with geotextiles or lutrasil - materials that are designed to stop the growth of grass, erosion of the riverbed and the deepening of pebbles into the soil. 
After preparing the trench, you should proceed to the next stage - laying stones. They start with the design of the coastline, which is laid out with large cobblestones. Between them, in the crevices, smaller pebbles and pebbles can be scattered chaotically.
Dry streams are made not only from stone, but also from flowers. A DIY flower stream looks very luxurious. During its construction, ground cover plants, ampelous flowers of blue and purple shades. Pansies, petunias, lobelias, and phlox work well. However, it is important to remember that such a stream will only be decorative during certain periods and seasons.
In principle, any plants are suitable for this object.
However, those planted along the edges of the coastline will look especially impressive:
In areas where shadows often fall, you can plant shade-tolerant perennials In particular, hostas and ferns look good. 
You can consider decorating with plants that are usually used in alpine slides.
Flowers and herbs should be planted in groups and as tapeworms. Dense plantings should be avoided. This will create an unkempt effect. Large spreading flowers should be alternated with low ones.
Important! When choosing plants to decorate the banks of a dry stream, it is necessary to take into account such factors as the composition of the soil, the degree of illumination of the area, the presence of drafts.
In our selection of options for a dry stream at your dacha with your own hands with photos, you can see different options for designing a dry stream.
Water – traditional element Japanese garden, symbolizing purity and thirst for life, and its flow - the transience of time. In cases where the use of water turned out to be impossible, the Japanese use a special technique - a dry stream in landscape design– it very accurately conveys the spirit of the elements, creating the impression that the water of the source has just dried up, and the next rain will bring the stream back to life again, filling the riverbed with life-giving moisture.
The first thing that attracts a dry stream is that there is no need to purchase water purification and supply systems or expensive compressors, which are a mandatory attribute when creating artificial reservoirs on the site. In addition, it is very easy to maintain; unlike a pond, it does not require cleaning of algae and lime deposits. Let's note other advantages:
However, a dry stream in a country house can also be used as drainage if it is located in an area where storm water actively drains.
Despite the fact that there is no clear and unambiguous division into types, the design of a dry stream, albeit rather conditionally, is divided into three types:
With the help of competent planning of the location of the bed of a dry stream, you can hide some imperfections in the relief or veil some objects that are not entirely aesthetically attractive, for example, a sewer manhole (but at the same time, which is important, completely maintaining access to it).
Creating a dry stream at your dacha with your own hands begins with the design of contours, which are “drawn” with ordinary sand, taking into account the shapes and features of the landscape of the site. This contour can be easily adjusted to achieve maximum harmonious combination dry stream with other decorative elements. To make the stream look as natural as possible, straightness should be avoided, especially in a small area - a stream with a meandering shape will visually add depth to the area.
Having decided on the size, shape and location of the channel, move on to the practical part:
Advice! The most complete illusion of water flow can be achieved by adding a scattering of glass beads or granules to the composition.
In landscape design now there are a lot various elements, with the help of which they decorate suburban areas. Designers are creating new and increasingly interesting projects for the laconic improvement of the local area. One such option is to create a so-called dry stream. Such a flow can be created in as soon as possible in contrast to a full-fledged reservoir, but it looks incredibly beautiful and organic in any landscape.
Various types of reservoirs are often used in landscape design, but not every site can have such design. In addition, the creation and operation of water bodies in suburban area are always associated with additional financial and time costs, for example, for purification, construction of a water supply system and other components. For those who do not see the point in additional expenses and carrying out long work on the site, designers offer dry ponds.
The dry stream has become very popular in landscape design, especially in those areas that are designed in the style of a rocky garden, which came to us from Japan. In the Land of the Rising Sun, dry riverbeds were used to decorate gardens 700 years ago.
In Eastern beliefs, it is believed that such an imitation of a source attracts positive energy to the owner of the home and influences life in a better way, and also contributes to the achievement of harmony and well-being.
In fact, a dry stream is an imitation of a dried-up stream, the bottom of which is lined with stones, sand, crushed stone and other materials. And ornamental plants are planted along its banks.
The advantages of such a decorative dry element on the site in front of a real pond are:
A dry stream can visually enlarge a site, divide it into functional zones, and also enhance the impression of other significant landscape objects.
Dry flows can be divided into several types:
In fact, there are many different subtypes of dry streams, which differ both in appearance and in the stages of creation. We will look at the most popular ones, which are used by landscape designers to decorate areas.
Such a dry stream has a specially designed source point in its composition. It could be an overturned bowl or jug, a rock or a well. This imitation looks impressive due to its naturalness.
To design such a dry stream you will have to spend a lot of time and effort. The general dry stream consists of several thin jets that are connected together. This effect is maintained throughout the entire channel. As a rule, these jets have different shades, or are made of materials that are contrasting, but combined with each other.
Important! Simulated waves, which can be easily created using a rake, can add originality to this element of the landscape.
This composition is complex and requires additional design before creation. If executed correctly, such a dry stream will look impressive and natural. In appearance it resembles a dry stream into which several more flow. In the same way, several sleeves are designed at once, which merge together in a certain place.
In order for a landscape element with the effect of a dried stream to turn out laconic and fit harmoniously into the overall design when creating it, you must adhere to the following tips:
Caring for a dry stream is simple; the process consists mainly of loosening the soil around the plants and fertilizing them. During the summer months, it is recommended to water the stones and the plants themselves. As necessary, the riverbed is cleared of moss, debris, and fallen leaves to preserve its original appearance. If weeds break through the stones, they should be removed in time to avoid overgrowing the composition. At the same time, you don’t have to remove wildflowers, for example, daisies. They will become an additional decoration of a dry stream. If plants that are prone to freezing are planted near it, they should be prepared in advance for wintering.
There is nothing difficult in making a dry stream on the site with your own hands, if, of course, you treat the matter with the utmost care and allocate a sufficient amount of time.
Before proceeding to the formation of a dry stream composition, it is necessary to determine its size, shape, color and materials.
The first 2 indicators are selected based on the area of the site. For example, if the territory is narrow and long, then an imitation of a dry lake will look better on the site. It is best to decorate a short and wide area with a winding stream, which will visually lengthen the area. Moreover, for correct perception, the width of the flow should not be more than 1 meter and less than 30 cm.
The location for laying the stream is also an important component that should be paid close attention to. In general, you can arrange such landscape decoration anywhere, be it in front of the house, in the garden or in the backyard. The source is placed both on a hill and on a plain. If desired, you can create a dry stream that will zone the area when divided. The object will fit perfectly into the area along the path.
The most commonly used materials for creating a dry stream are pebbles and gravel. You can purchase them at construction market. If the project requires it, the material can be painted with water-repellent paint of any color to fit well into the general style plot. Thus, small blue pebbles will resemble a real body of water from afar.
If the budget is not strictly limited, then it is quite possible to use basalt and slate for decoration in gray-blue tones. If you dilute the finished riverbed with splashes of glass beads, then when exposed to sunlight, the stream will sparkle with interesting colors.
If you plan to move away from the classical understanding of a stream and create a red-brown stream, granite, marble or limestone is used for decoration.
To create accents, large stones are used, between which pebbles are installed.
Once it has been decided where the stream will be located and what it will look like, it will be useful to capture this on paper in the form of a sketch, so as not to go astray in the future and complete the landscape object in accordance with the creative plan.
Installation of a dry stream begins with marking and preparing the surface. Thus, the boundaries of the future stream are outlined with sand or highlighted with a rope. These contours are used to dig a trench along them about 15 - 30 cm deep. Do not make it too deep.
The bottom of the trench is thoroughly leveled and compacted. Geotextiles are laid on top - a material that will prevent the growth of plants and the deepening of the trench after the creation of a dry stream.
Next, you can proceed to the actual laying of stones. They begin by decorating the banks with large cobblestones. Smaller stones are placed in chaotic order in the crevices. After the banks, the stream itself is created as the imagination requires.
If necessary, a dry stream is decorated with stones painted in different colors. You can even arrange lighting so that in the dark the stream plays with colors and gives the area a touch of romance and mystery.
Important! The stones are laid only in the most natural order possible, so that no one even thinks that the stream was created artificially.
You can create a stream not only from stones. Plants are often used for decoration. This semblance of a stream looks incredibly luxurious on the site. As a rule, ground cover and hanging representatives of the flora are used as a basis. Pansies, buttercups, phlox and lobelias are great.
Important! Such a stream will have a decorative appearance only during the flowering period of the plants that decorate it.
Both the floral and dry rock streams require flowers to support the arrangement and make it complete. It is important to choose plant varieties that will be optimal for performing this function.
Meadowsweet, bathwort, irises and loosestrife are especially effective when planted along the edges of a stream. Places where the stream takes a different shape are decorated with decorative onions or small bushes planted individually.
In those places where the shadow falls, the place shade-tolerant plants, such as ferns and hostas.
Important! For a dry stream, those plants that are usually used to decorate alpine slides on the site are excellent.
Flowers and herbs are typically planted in small groups to avoid too much crowding that will overwhelm the visual beauty of a dry stream. Large spreading flowers should be combined with ground cover to avoid the effect of neglected plantings.
A dry stream is an excellent alternative to a full-fledged reservoir. There are a huge number of options for designing it on the site. It is even possible to perform a completely new and previously unknown type of such landscape decoration, all you need is a little imagination and desire.
