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Among the compositions of landscape design of summer cottages there is one attractive view – a dry stream. This building is an imitation of a stream without a single drop of water. They perform such an imitation with the help of stones, selected with taste and combined with the rest of the design of the site. Dry stream in landscape design has become so popular that it can be found everywhere.
Differing in size, design, used materials and additions, it perfectly reflects the style and preferences of the owner of the cottage.
The highlight of this decoration is the possibility of:
- Avoid material costs. Stones or improvised materials can always be found on your site or in the surrounding landscape. The project, in general, can be selected only to the available opportunities.
- Build a dry stream with your own hands. The peculiarity of this element is that it does not require special professional knowledge to perform.
- To create a feeling of the presence of water where, for certain reasons, it is not. These may be areas with a shortage of water supply or relief features. Rain or artificial irrigation enhances the beauty of a dry stream.
- Emphasize the style of the zone or the entire territory as a whole. Dry water is very common in Japanese landscape design. Its presence will decorate and emphasize the features of the Japanese-style zone.
- At the same time, make a drainage groove in the right place in the suburban area.
- Build a structure anywhere. It has no terrain or lighting restrictions. You can safely place a dry stream in the sun or in the shade, on a hill or in a low place, in a large area or in a small corner of the garden.
- Build a dry lake instead of a stream, which will not suffer from drying out in the hot summer.
Landscaping of the site will only benefit if you make this wonderful element in the country.
Why you should choose a dry stream for site design
The choice of any element is always based on its advantages over other designs. A dry stream in landscape design has taken its place of honor due to the following characteristics:
- Ease of implementation, which allows you to independently cope with the calculation and construction of a dry stream without any special costs.
- Construction speed. Your project, location selection and execution can be completed in a few days. A do-it-yourself dry stream is a very beneficial element in landscape design for summer residents.
- Undemanding to care. You will have to maintain the shape of the channel and remove weeds. The water body requires a fundamental cleaning of stones from sediments, algae and raids with mandatory regularity.
- Creative freedom in the design of the design. To decorate a natural stream, knowledge will be required when selecting moisture-loving plants. For a dry object, you pick up your favorite plants in the usual way.
- Does not require changing the terrain. Fits perfectly into the existing
- Safety for households. Attention is needed only in the presence of sharp or large stones. But if there are kids in the country, then such elements can not be included in the project at all. The absence of mosquitoes is also an important advantage. A recreation area near a dry stream will provide a good rest.
- Budget. A dry stream in landscape design does not require any additional equipment. You will not need to purchase and install water supply or purification systems.
Properly planning a dry stream, you can hide some of the relief defects of the site and visually expand the space. Photos of the most successful compositions will help you choose the most suitable solution.
We create a unique project with our own hands
How to make a dry stream in the country with your own hands? You can make a decorative element yourself without prior theoretical preparation. Try to follow the recommendations and not be afraid to deviate from some stereotypes, and your dry stream will be a wonderful addition to the landscape design in the country.
Planning a composition
At this stage, decide on the location of the dry stream and its shape. Do not be afraid to experiment, feel free to add “rapids” and “waterfalls”, change the course or height of the stream. In any case, your stream will benefit from its originality. The only condition is to try to make a dry stream so that it does not stand out from the overall picture of landscape design. Separate the garden paths and the dry bed so as not to repeat the configuration. Choose a place where the terrain is protruding, there are enough plants, and there is little foot traffic. Do not forget that a dry stream in landscape design has a source and mouth. Place the source on a small elevation, and veil the mouth with plants or a fence. This will create a simulated continuation of the object. Play with the width of the channel, you can branch.
Transferring sketch contours to the plot
All knowledge on the placement of construction objects will fit here. Use rope, pegs, stones, sand. Try not to make very clear boundaries. It will not look like a natural stream bed.
Preparing the base for the stream
On the selected site, you will have to remove all weeds, debris, extra stones and remove a small layer of earth (up to 20 cm). Make the walls of the trench at an angle of 45 °. To ensure the reliability of the channel, it is necessary to tamp the ground of the base and walls. In order to prevent weeds from growing before the stones are laid, cover the channel with a dense dark covering material.
Suitable roofing material, thick film, nutrasil. Some summer residents lay a layer of concrete and pour gravel on top.
We fill the channel
For a dry stream, try to use natural stones that are familiar to your region.
This will make his presence on the site more harmonious. The edges are usually laid out with large stones, sprinkled with small pebbles at the beginning and larger ones closer to the channel.
It is good to decorate the bottom with flat pebbles, focusing on medium or large boulders placed in the right order.
Thresholds, waterfalls are distinguished by light stones. An excellent option is a river stone. The calculation of the amount of pebbles is done by the number of cubic meters of the volume of the structure. Depending on the fraction, the need for the material is calculated.
Varying color
You can give naturalness to a dry stream in landscape design using the play of shades of decorative stones. Having laid gneiss, slate, basalt, we get a light blue color. Granite will give a whole palette – gray, greenish, reddish brown. Limestone and marble will highlight light shades and imitate water foam. Colored glass pebbles decorate a dry stream well in landscape design. They shimmer beautifully in the sun. If you use fragments of mirrors, you can get a kind of reflected light effect. The mirror stream has disadvantages that are taken into account before deciding to use this option:
- will have to spend much more time for manufacturing;
- at close range, he loses his attractiveness;
- the magical effect is preserved under a certain focus;
- unsafe for small children.
Adding flora
Without this stage, our dry stream in landscape design will look lifeless and monotonous. Plants are planted, taking into account the harmony of the combination of species. It is better to use those that are associated with water and match the terrain. Do not get carried away with tall species – they will overshadow the stream.
A good option:
- blue fescue;
- willow sunflower;
- daylilies of various varieties;
- lobelia, bluebells, buffalo grass.
Plants that resemble water with their shades are excellent – blue, cornflower blue, turquoise, light gray. This role can be entrusted to the large-leaved forget-me-not, bells, mosquito grass, creeping tenacious.
We decorate a dry stream with elements
A real masterpiece can be created by complementing a dry stream with an original bridge.
It is made from stone, metal, wood, improvised means. During the construction of the bridge, all measures must be taken to preserve the material used. Treat the wooden structure with a protective compound or varnish; do not leave metal structures alone with rain or snow either.
Having decorated the channel with the help of a jug or a beautiful lantern, we add sophistication and charm.
To make a dry stream in landscape design your favorite vacation spot, try to embody your best wishes when decorating it. Maintaining this beauty will not take much effort and time, but you will always have a place where your guests and family members can enjoy peace and harmony.