The combination of stone and water is perfect and creates a lot of variety in the home garden. With a little skill, the stream ultimately looks as if it had always been there - and not artificially created. In an architectural garden, on the other hand, a water channel, for example created in a brick bed, or other modern gadgets would fit better.
How do you design a rock garden with a stream?
A rock garden with a stream can be designed to be lifelike and varied through the use of pond liner, a pump and targeted design such as natural heights, different water depths and suitable bank plants.
It doesn't work without technology
Even if the future course of the stream should appear natural and “as if it had grown”, it still cannot function without technology. Special pumps with 220 volt mains operation can be used for this purpose. Of course, this requires laying a power supply, although hoses etc. can be easily hidden behind larger boulders and under stones. The technology does not have to be buried to protect it from frost, as the pump has to be removed in winter anyway. The best way to seal water surfaces is to use pond liner (€10.00 on Amazon), which is laid on a geotextile mat to protect it from damage. Of course, once the work has been completed, the film must no longer be visible.
Make the stream natural
Ideally, the stream runs down a slope that is more or less steep, depending on the conditions. For example, if you combine the stream with a pond, you can use the earth resulting from excavation to model a hill. It is also important not to let the slope run at a uniform gradient. Instead, it looks more natural if you incorporate different plateaus and elevations. Accumulating the water in flat areas also brings variety, as do small waterfalls and cascades. Also remember that water always looks for the easiest route: abrupt changes in direction and too many curves seem all too artificial.
Design of the stream bank
It is also optimal if you plan the stream with different water depths - then you have more options when it comes to planting. In general, the planting and design of the stream bank is of great importance for the natural effect, because a newly created watercourse always looks a bit barren and rugged. Plant the bank with suitable perennials and trees that create the right setting. As in nature, quarry stones belong in the stream orGarden pond and pebbles only in the bank area.
Tip
Hide the edges of the film well - protruding edges, for example, can be easily camouflaged with gravel stones. Flat blocks can then serve as stepping stones or even seats.
