Building a dry creek bed.

Many homeowners integrate a dry creek bed into their property as a way to direct water across a front or back yard in an aesthetically pleasing manner.

If you have a problem area that you want to spruce up, do a little investigating and planning at home and then stop on by our location to see the selection of products that we carry.

Planning and executing a dry creek bed is easier than you think:

1. Planning the course.

The first step is to plan the course that the dry creek bed will take. Mark the two edges of that course with landscaper’s paint or string. Take note that a curving course that winds its way down the hill will look more natural than a straight course. Also, if you plan your creek bed to emerge from behind a larger boulder or plant, this will make the beginning of the water stream essentially disappear, inviting intrigue.

2. Excavating.

The general rule regarding the size of your dry creek bed is that it should be twice as wide as it is deep. As far as slope goes, a 6 inch drop over 100 feet is generally sufficient. Place the excavated dirt along the side of the dry creek bed to help elevate the sides as you dig. Tamp down the dirt on the sides down after digging to eliminate large mounds and ensure the soil is packed well enough to reduce erosion.

3. Installing fabric and rocks.

Next, lay landscape fabric down in the trench, also covering the dirt on either side. This fabric can be held in place either by fabric pins or simply by the rocks that you are placing in the trench. The rocks that you use in your dry creek bed should be of varying sizes – larger boulders for the beginning of the bed and along the edges, and smaller rocks next, which gradually get smaller as they reach the middle. Most homeowners prefer to use rounded river rocks in their dry creek beds, but the aesthetic of the rocks is completely up to your own discretion.

It is important to remember that water diversion has impacts, and you should check with your municipality if you are allowed to direct the water towards a street or alleyway. And always, always, Call Before You Dig.