If so, how did you design and put it together? I know this should be simple but mine didn't do so great last year. I am now CLEANING all the leaves, twigs, etc out and in the process I have moved the rocks out. Before putting them back I need a better plan. Thanks.

bump, hoping someone out there has put in a dry creek river rock bed.....

What do you feel went wrong? Did weeds grow up/through the rocks?

I had a horrible looking washed out ditch just to the side of my long, curved and sloped driveway. I shoveled the ditch deeper and more away from the drive then lined with heavy black plastic and put down a black drain pipe and mostly filled with large (very large ) gravel then topped it off with nicer looking rocks and planted low growing green bushes on either side. This was done 10 years ago and does not require much maintainence. I ended up doing two sections because of the slope and have a "pool" (dry rock area) separating the two lengths. All this dry bed is two to four feet wide and maybe 40 feet long. I put caps with slits for water but not leaves to go through on the up ends of the drain pipes. I'll get my hubby to download a pic or two this weekend. This was a project I did BY MYSELF!

Dry creek bed landscaping can range from simply lining banks with stones found in the creek bed to having stones delivered. A drain can be installed to collect the occasional run off or the creek bed left open for the rush of water. You don't need water to have an attractive creek bed. Stones can be selected and placed to look like they were deposited by rushing water.



You can give the creek a meandering look, if willing to dig. Stretch out water hose and curve until the look pleases you. Sprinkle some flour along the hose to mark where you will dig to shape the creek. Bed of creek can be deepened by digging. Use soil to build the banks of the creek bed. Cover banks and bed with landscaping cloth. Create depressions and place rocks along banks. Scatter some stones in bed. Fill in around rocks in bed with decorative gravel. Make slits in landscaping cloth for planting. Depending on number of available rocks, creek bed banks can make for rock gardens. If wanting a more natural look, plant native species that are drought tolerant.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: twelvepole,

You might be interested in an article in current Garden Ideas magazine (spring 08). Shows a make-over of a formerly all grass lawn using low water plants surrounding a dry creek bed. Discusses how to select plants to complement dry creek, how to blend compatible plants, picking colors, etc. Might be worth a look.

I too want to put in a dry creek bed. We live in the country and our yard is on a slope. We have so many oak trees that the grass does not grow well in the shade causing lines of gulleys in the yard when it rains.There is an enormous amount of leaves in the fall so I don't know if I would be creating a lot more work or if a leaf blower (which I don't have) would work. I hope you keep getting suggestions. It will help both of us

Five yrs ago I moved into my house which had a dirt backyard with a straight rock bed stretching across. I discovered the purpose of the rock was that every other summer water rises in that spot. My landscaper suggested putting some curves in it, placing the smaller rock in the middle and edging it with larger cobble to make it look more natural.

Had wonderful results! Yes, leave blow on it in the fall but most are easily vacuumed up. Remaining leaves aren't enough to ruin the effect.

Thank you for your replies. I can't seem to find the Garden Ideas issue you mentioned, wood fern. I'll keep searching though.
Amy56, I hope you can find some pix of your project, sounds very nice. I wouldn't need something quite as large but still the same effect. I haven't decided about plants yet as I don't know if this is staying or not..depends on DH.
Trista, hopefully we will get some more replies to help us both out
twosheps, the steps you took for your creek sound similar to what I did. I have to say, though, that my dirt/leaves do distract somewhat from the creek unless I continue to clean this out....not what I had in mind for a peaceful look How are you holding up from the storms today? We didn't get much rain in our area down here at all, and we REALLY need the rain