Various Ways To Create An Artificial Stream At A Summer Cottage

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

• Creating a stream with pond film
• Create a stream using trays
• Create a stream with concrete
• Calculation of pump performance for a stream and waterfall

Creating a stream with pond film

Using pond liner, you can create a stream of any shape and size. Keep in mind, however, that for a 40 cm wide stream, the film used must be at least 100 cm wide in order to provide sufficient sidewalls and anchoring. After laying the stone slabs and planting the plants, the stream will look even smaller.

When using plastic wrap, the stream bed is freed from debris, stones and tree roots, tamped well and made a sand pillow at least 5 cm thick. A special non-woven material is laid on it, which serves as an additional protection for the film.

This is especially important if you plan to decorate the bottom of the stream with stones. In this case, it is better to use butyl rubber or EPOM membrane for the bed. When laying the film, they try to do without folds. But if they did form, they can be easily disguised with pebbles used to decorate the bottom. The film is cut, cut to the desired configuration and glued.

× Gardener's handbook Plant nurseries Stores of goods for summer cottages Landscape design studios

Film manufacturers offer special adhesives for these purposes. When constructing a concrete channel, a sand and gravel cushion of 25–30 cm thick is required, on which a polyethylene film is laid. Concrete 10-15 cm thick is poured from above.

A prerequisite is the reinforcement of the bed with a metal mesh (thickness 3–5 mm), which makes it possible to simulate any turns of the stream. A mortar is spread into the formwork of three-millimeter plywood and leveled with a shovel.

Create a stream using trays

When using fiberglass, the simulated bed is laid out with fiberglass mats and filled with polyester resin. The main advantage of this method is absolute freedom in choosing the configuration of the future stream. Plus, you don't have to worry about creases and seams. And the strength of such a surface is very high.

The work is simplified if you use special trays for strands manufactured by HEISSNER and UBBINK, which can be connected to each other in any way. Thanks to the decoration reminiscent of rocks, they naturally blend into the natural landscape. The overflows located above prevent the discharge of water when the pump is turned off, and the green areas enclosed by low sills keep the marsh plants moist, but are not washed off. Tap wood or straw under the prepared stream trays. This provides shelter for insects useful to the garden and ensures their reliable wintering.

When using fiberglass, the simulated bed is laid out with fiberglass mats and filled with polyester resin.

The main advantage of this method is absolute freedom in choosing the configuration of the future stream. Plus, you don't have to worry about creases and seams. And the strength of such a surface is very high. The mouth of the future stream is equipped with a pump that supplies water to the beginning of the water flow.

The pump is placed in a reservoir for overflowing water. During the construction of the reservoir, the same methods are used as for the construction of the channel. Its dimensions should take into account the length of the stream, as well as the speed of the water flow and its volume. If these parameters are large enough, water evaporation is also significant. If the size of the lower pond is small, you will have to add water to it.

Create a stream with concrete

When constructing a concrete channel, a sand and gravel cushion 25-30 cm thick is required, on which a plastic film is laid. Concrete 10-15 cm thick is poured from above.

A prerequisite is the reinforcement of the bed with a metal mesh 3-5 mm thick, which makes it possible to simulate any turns of the stream.

A mortar is spread into the formwork of three-millimeter plywood and leveled with a shovel. When concreting large surfaces, expansion joints are left every three meters, which are filled with waterproofing material, for example, bituminous mastic.

× Notice board Kittens for sale Puppies for sale Horses for sale

Calculation of pump performance for a stream and waterfall

Calculate the required pump capacity for the stream and waterfall. For 1 centimeter of stream width (waterfall width), you need 100 l / h at the pump outlet.

Like a stream, bubbling springs carry oxygen into the pond, providing microorganisms with a favorable living space. Stone springs can be placed in a pond or on the shore. To do this, you can drill a 25mm hole in the boulder and insert the hose end 3/4 inch. You can put in different sized pebbles and lay the end of the hose in it.

Connect the other end of the hose to a pump that can be used to power other sources. Calculate the required pump capacity: for a centimeter of the diameter of a stone source or for an entire pile of stones, you need 60 l / h.

Example: you want to install a stone 40 cm wide in a waterfall. Then the calculation looks like this: 40 cm x 60 l / h = 2400 l / h

Only use stones you find in the field after they have been thoroughly cleaned.

Read the first part of the article:

How to build an artificial stream in a summer cottage