How To Build An Artificial Stream In A Summer Cottage

2024 Author: Sebastian Paterson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:47

• Stream planning
• Choosing a pump for a stream
• Stream decoration

Brooks and springs in private plots are very rare, and the designer has the task of constructing an artificial water body. This object should naturally fit into the existing natural landscape. The owner of the site is lucky if there is a natural reservoir nearby, then the appearance of a stream is more appropriate, besides, it is much easier to build it.

Stream planning

Decorative streams are calm - with a smooth flow without changes in water level and fast - with a lot of unexpected turns, rapids, with stones in the channel breaking the stream. To revive the water picture, drops are arranged along the channel in the form of groups of stones blocking the stream or flat stones forming steps. By narrowing the channel with carefully laid stones, a turbulent stream can be created. In places where the flow expands, the water flow rate slows down.

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A rugged mountain stream can be turned into a quietly murmuring stream by using a flow regulator or changing the pump performance. To create the impression that the stream is hiding in the rocks, its mouth can be hidden with the help of a plastic container dug into the ground and disguised.

The starting point for a stream can be a suitable boulder with an uneven surface or a grotto made of several stones. A stream can flow over stone steps, flow in a winding channel, or directly flow into a body of water. To ensure the water cycle, you will need an electric pump, which will supply water from the reservoir back to the source through a hose.

When constructing a stream, a channel of the desired shape and length is dug. Usually, the dimensions of the stream are maintained in the following parameters: width 40-150 cm, depth - 30-50 cm. When creating a stream, it is important, firstly, to build it correctly, and secondly, to decorate it correctly.

There are various ways of channel formation. Most often used:

1. film,
2. concrete and
3. fiberglass.

When planning a stream, the shape of the garden must be taken into account. A narrow, slightly curving stream visually deepens the space, so a small area will seem larger than it really is.

The stream is a narrow stream of water with a winding channel approaching natural analogues. Therefore, before starting planning, it is advisable to choose the type of flow in relation to the existing conditions. On a flat horizontal surface, a flat type stream is usually arranged, having a very winding channel, making its way through moisture-loving vegetation.

On a site with a slope, a mountain stream is laid with a rocky bed, a cascade falling from small ledges and interrupted by quiet backwaters.

Changing the slopes along the path of the stream movement is a very effective method of approaching natural analogs, while you need to remember: the steeper the slope, the narrower the channel and vice versa. Any stream begins with a source, but it is possible to design a source in its pure form, provided that the collecting water is removed.

To get the perfect stream shape, follow my advice.

Choosing a pump for a stream

When choosing a pump, it all depends on what you want to see on your site: a stormy mountain stream or a gently murmuring stream. In any case, the pump must have a certain power reserve, and its performance at the outlet at the source of the stream is taken into account.

It is most rational to use various submerged pumps, since they are compact, quiet and at the same time quite efficient. The water from the pond rises to the source through a polypropylene pipe, which is located underground along the shortest section connecting the source to the mouth. These pipes are frost-resistant and do not collapse, even if you forget to drain the water for the winter. When connecting polypropylene pipes, hot welding is used.

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Stream decoration

There are a lot of ways to decorate the artificial stream of the source and the lower pond, ranging from stone sculptures and masks, with streams flowing from them, to round, lined with cobblestones, with keys making their way in the center.

Green the stream, and sprinkle the remaining free areas with light pebbles. This will prevent the water from heating up too quickly. When building, keep in mind that after turning off the pump, the stream retains water with the help of small retaining steps and does not dry out immediately. To protect the living space of aquatic microorganisms, it is best to have your stream flowing around the clock.

Local rocks give the stream a natural look. If you want a blue-gray bed, choose shale, gneiss or basalt.

Granite has reddish brown, greenish and gray shades.

Limestone and noble white marble will give you the opportunity to add light accents in your stream.

A beautiful effect can be achieved with the help of rounded shiny pebbles, they will make the stream flicker with a mysterious light. In the design of the channel, large granite boulders are used, preferably not rounded. Large stones, up to half a meter in diameter, are laid out the retaining walls of the stream.

Also read:

Plants for stream decoration

The bottom is usually covered with river pebbles, flat sandstone, granite pellets. Downstream, especially with a large difference in height, it is advisable to build dams with terraces, rifts and waterfalls. For their device, flat stones are used - flagstone. Accumulating in the backwaters, the water flows in a powerful stream along the terraces. Small streams are good to decorate with limestone. However, keep in mind that in terms of strength it loses much to granite boulders.

Coastal shallows are made from decorative dumps. For a stream with a slow current, when decorating the bottom, it is better to use a large flat rounded stone and river sand. It is also advisable to create deep backwaters (up to 40 cm deep), into which aquatic plants can be planted later. In this case, it is advisable to use a water filtration system, and make the banks in a natural style with a small amount of stone and vegetation at the very edge of the water.

In the stream, illumination in the form of coastal and underwater searchlights is used, bottom lamps are installed in backwaters.