Creating a dry stream in the garden – instructions and tips for planting

There are many beautiful ways to integrate the element of water into your garden design, be it with natural streams and ponds or artificial fountains. But what do you think of the idea of ​​creating a stream in the garden that doesn't require any maintenance? No technology, no instruments, no art. We're talking about the dry stream that is lined with stones. A dry stream in the garden is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also proves to be a practical solution for rainwater drainage on the property.

A beautiful but also practical design element

Dry streams are a unique, sustainable way to use natural stone in garden design while solving stormwater drainage issues. A dry stream in the garden usually does not contain any water, but rather collects rainwater and allows it to slowly seep into the ground. The dry stream helps to slow down the runoff of rainwater and direct it in the desired direction.

Dry streams are useful wherever drainage is required, which relieves the pressure on the soil and, above all, drains away rainwater. They can be placed at the bottom of a slope, in a low spot where rainwater occasionally collects, or on a small knoll to capture and direct rainwater as it flows down. Because dry streams are filled with natural stones, they look wonderful in Japanese and natural gardens. But they also fit a variety of landscaping styles.

Every dry stream is different depending on the area, the rocks used and the conditions. But the common element in all designs is the foundation. After the ground has been dug up, pour a 20 – 30 cm layer of coarse grit and lay garden fleece on the ground. The grit stores excess rainwater and acts like a drainage system. Become over the gritRiver pebbles and other stonesdistributed.

How to create a dry stream

It is not too difficult to create a dry stream in the garden. You need a sufficient number of fairly large stones (size approx. 30 - 45 cm), chippings as a base, a roll of garden fleece and pebbles for filling.

First, dig a slightly curved channel and widen it in certain places. The shape and orientation of a dry stream is important to ensure it looks natural.

Think about how water moves through a landscape. Streams in nature are not straight channels, they meander back and forth. Make your dry stream a curved line, ensuring you have a wider area for the invisible water to “flow.” Cover the edges with large natural stones and place monitoring plants that bring a beautiful visual effect.

The width of the dry stream should vary. Part of it could be narrower, about 40cm in width (before placing the stones) and other sections as wide as you like. The stream bed should be at least 25 – 35 cm deep (or more if it is intended to serve as a deep rainwater catchment basin).

Pile the excavated earth on the sides of the stream. You can pile up more soil on one side of the stream to create a taller plant bed. This creates a focal point in the landscape and works particularly well with plants that have their stems drooping. As if they extend to the stream bed.

Then the entire stream bed is covered with weed fleece (not plastic!). Also extend beyond the sides. Place large stones and boulders along the stream to hold the fleece in place. You can leave the stones higher than the ground level or the plant bed. It depends on what effect you want to achieve.Upright rockshave a robust appearance and create a dynamic image. Experiment with the curbs as you place them. There is no wrong decision here!

After the large stones are placed, fill the gaps with gravel and stone and ensure that the fleece sheet is well covered. Behind the bank on land, the soil should be optimally supplied with nutrients so that the plants can thrive.

Fill the stream bed with grit and gravel. A layer thickness of 0.5 – 1.5 cm is sufficient. If there is a problem with the drainage, it could also be thicker. In such cases, it is best to install an underground pipe with a diameter of 10 cm and connect it to an underground catch basin.

Over the gravel layer, carefully spread a single layer of rounded pebbles of your choice. The stones form a nice contrast to the rocks on both sides of the stream. You can use decorative stones of different sizes and colors.

Plant dry stream in the garden

Once the dry stream has been created in the garden, the plants for the coastal zone should be selected. The following applies here: you shouldn't overdo the decoration of the banks, otherwise the dry stream will quickly turn into a flower bed. When selecting shrubs, perennials and flowers, it is important to consider the composition of the soil, exposure to sunlight and periods of rain.

A carpet of flowersalong the edges of a dry stream can be created using ground cover. For an even more beautiful effect, choose blue, purple and pink flowering varieties. From spring to late summer and even in autumn, perennials provide a beautiful sight. Popular plant species are: Dalmatian bellflowers (Campanula portenschlagiana), large-leaved Caucasus forget-me-not, cushion phlox, Ajuga reptans, blue cushions (Aubrieta), lobelias, grape hyacinths (Muscari), thick-leaf bergenias (Bergenia crassifolia), star moss, primroses, astilbes, columbines, heuchera , Iris sibirica and others.

A dry stream made of stones does not look complete without daylilies, ornamental grasses, bamboo and reeds. The lush foliage of these plants creates an optical illusion of wild thickets on the bank. The most popular are: miscanthus, blue fescue, pampas grass (Cortaderia), sedges, hostas and calamus.

If you want to have a wintergreen hedge of conifers on the rocky shore, it is best to choose dwarf juniper, mountain pine, spruce and fir. These plant species grow well in sandy loam soil.

Low deciduous trees should be selected with caution. Because in autumn you have to remove the fallen leaves that get stuck between the stones. Have you already purchased a leaf blower for this purpose? Then you can plant shrubs such as cotoneaster or barberry. They will enchant you all year round with their bright colors.

An example of planting a dry stream

1. Green Powder Bamboo (Phyllostachys viridiglaucescens)
2. Iris (Iris barbata)
3. Lobelien (Lobelia)
4. Kriechender Günsel (Ajuga reptans)
5. Hanging cushion bellflower (Campanula poscharskyana)
6. Greek Blue Cushion (Aubrieta deltoidea)
7. Großblättriges Kaukasusvergissmeinnicht (Brunnera macrophylla)
8. Sternmoos (Sagina subulata)
9. Rotblättriger Günsel 'atropurpurea'
10. Pfahlrohr (Arundo donax)

A cleverly designed, decorative dry stream gives the impression that it has just been dried up, but water will soon flow there again. Let the examples in our picture gallery inspire you for your own project!