We diversify the landscape: how to make a dry stream on the site

A selection of beautiful dry streams of FORUMHOUSE participants. Lots of photos

As you know, it is better to see once than hear a hundred times. Indeed, you can study the theory, technologies and methods for a long time, but without the visual series, the result will not be the same. One of the most popular landscape design techniques is a variety of dry streams. And they look impressive not only in visualizations and photo galleries showing examples of the work of venerable landscape planners, but also on real sites. See for yourself.

What is a dry stream

Dry streams went to the "masses" from Japanese stone gardens, in the Celestial Empire such a garden is not just an element of site decoration, but a spiritual object with a philosophical load. If we take the practical side, then with the help of stones of different breeds, shapes and textures, as well as plants, a water flow is imitated or a dry bed, depending on the design concept. In the first case, a flat surface is desirable, in one plane, in the second it can be concave, since the water has "gone". The rapid flow of water, typical of mountain streams, is imitated by means of large pebbles laid on the edge. For example, like this:

Psychologists recommend meditating, sitting next to a dry stream, imagining that literally in a moment it will turn into a real, or even completely, into a full-flowing river. It is believed that such illusions are pacifying and allow, if not to achieve Zen, then restore peace of mind. Moreover, not only after any shocks, but also just after a hard day's work or a family quarrel. Agree, there is no option to lower the boiling degree when the "lid" is about to burst.

Dry stream in landscape design

If we abstract from the psychological aspects, a dry stream is also an excellent way to decorate the local area, with solid functionality.

• Visually enlarges a small area.

• Used for zoning.
• Sets accents.
• Can be used as a border for a free flower bed.
• Alternative to a full-fledged reservoir or its addition.

In addition, a dry stream can be used to decorate imperfections, for example, soil corrosion or wash-outs. And it will also be an interesting way to design a drainage ditch. Or as a surface outlet for a storm water drainage system. With sufficient simplicity of the device and presentability, the creek-sod-catchment area is quite effective, durable and unpretentious.

Dilia

Participant FORUMHOUSE

For me, a dry stream acts as a drainage. In spring and during heavy rains, the stream is full of water, in hot weather it dries up. I have nothing silted up. In the fall, all the fallen leaves are blown away by the wind in a couple of places along the bend, I calmly collect them. If anything remains, it turns into dust during the winter, but it is not visible. For 9 years of existence of the stream, only last summer, I thoroughly cleaned it: raked off stones in a certain section of the stream, removed debris (soil, dry leaves, dry grass from under the lawn mower), level stones and move on to another plot. In one summer evening I cleaned the whole stream.

That is exclusively as a decorative element, that, coupled with a functional load, dry streams allow you to diversify the look when ordinary flower beds and lawns are set on edge. For greater expressiveness, decor is added to the stream, for example, a mill.

By the way, this stream is not completely dry, rather wet-dry.

Marsy

Participant FORUMHOUSE

My stream has been around for many years. The main purpose is to please the eye and create your own microclimate for the inhabitants (bipeds and their smaller brothers). It is wet-dry. The pump is on - water is flowing. It circulates through the system: a pump in a pond - a hose in the ground, the end of which is on a hill, from it a waterfall - then along the stream again into the pond. If the pump is not turned on, the stream will be dry.

Also, bridges are often used as a decor for dry streams.

And this is a 3 in 1 option – drainage-stream-dry stream. Even in an overgrown form, it looks gorgeous.

Another similar functional decor.

Petrovich61

FORUMHOUSE member

I made a dry stream on top of the drainage along the site, so that the gravel was wasted... Drainage depth - 50-80 cm, length - 25 meters.

And with this dry stream they filled an empty "patch" between the terrace and the bathhouse. I didn't want an ordinary flower bed, the task of imitating water was also not worth it, but it turned out interesting.

How to make a dry stream

If from the category of "cheap, cheerful, fast", you can.

Natalia43

Participant FORUMHOUSE

I got such a dry stream in just a couple of hours. They collected stones on the way to the dacha, dug gravel in the same place, marble chips were half a bag in stock. I dug a groove (channel), covered it with old roofing material, covered it with sand, put large stones, then gravel and crumbs. All. Now it is gradually overgrown.

Definitely, after, it became much better than before.

There is also another approach.

Strawberry month

Participant FORUMHOUSE

Before I started making a trickle, I went to the forest, learned from a real forest stream. True, the forest is many times larger, but it was useful. The technology itself is simple:

• outlined the future course;
• took out the soil, deeper, as for a path under paving with tiles (20 cm);
• since the depth is large, she did not lay anything on the bottom, but she made the flanging with a thick plastic wrap;
• covered a little sand;
• on top of the sand- a layer of gravel.

The stones lie on the gravel, so that they look natural, you need to lightly sink into the dump.

Flowing water"Lambs" symbolizes light rounded pebbles. At first, the Month of Strawberries planned to put it on the edge and deepen it, but at first it just sprinkled from the bucket along the river bed and it turned out quite naturally.

The second stream on her site imitates a dry bed and is made using the same technology, only it is concave, as it looks in nature.

For those who want to repeat, Strawberry Month has done a "decoding" of coastal vegetation for shady areas.

1. European hoof (species).

2. Geranium red-brown "Samobor".

3. Roadside grass, literally.

4. Buzulnik serrated "Othello".

5. Sugar lump.

6. Monet loam (species).

7. Fern kochedyzhnik female.

Although in the given example the participant of the portal did without a substrate, many recommend covering the channel with any dense non-woven fabric (geotextile, Agrotex). If a dry stream is also a drainage outlet, geotextiles are required, but with a maximum degree of filtration, and coarse gravel should be used as backfill. When in such a drainage the water is almost level with the surface throughout the warm season, the plants for decoration should be appropriate. Strawberry Month advises rut, calamus iris, marigold, parasol, various sedge species, calla and plantain ditties.

When the emphasis in a dry stream is precisely on the backfill, the combination of different breeds and textures looks gorgeous.

Liked? Press your finger!

In one of the previous materials – more details about homemade decorative bridges. If there is space and financial opportunities, you can break full stone pond. In video – garden with a whole complex of reservoirs.