How to Make a Dry Creek Bed

Mimic nature with a dry creek in your landscape.

A dry creek bed brings a feel of untamed nature to the landscape. It can serve as a place to display plants, as an alternate run-off for downspouts and as a focal point in the yard. A creek bed enhances almost any yard. With minimal investment, a hardscape dry creek bed will last for years.

Things You'll Need

• Non-toxic spray paint
• Shovel
• Landscape fabric
• Pea gravel
• River rocks

Instructions

1. Use non-toxic spray paint to outline the size and shape of your creek bed. A width less than 3 feet works for most landscapes. The creek should have curves. Locate the feature to divert water in poor drainage areas, such as near a downspout.

2. Remove the soil in your outline with a shovel. Slope the sides with the surrounding soil level to create a natural appearance. The creek depth can vary, but aim for half the width. For example a 2-foot-wide bed would have a depth of 1 foot.

3. Spread landscape fabric in the bed. The fabric forms a weed barrier to prevent plant growth. Use fabric pins to hold it in place.

4. Fill the bed with 1 inch or less of pea gravel. The gravel compacts, holds the fabric in place and allows water to flow without washing it out during wet spells. Use a mulch or gravel calculator to find out how much you need.

5. Line the creek bed with various sizes of river rock. Use medium and small boulders randomly in the bed. Place flat stones along the edges, also in a random pattern. Avoid using large stones that overwhelm the size of the creek, except in bends.

Tips & Warnings

• Place native, drought-resistant plants along the creek bed for the most natural look and easy maintenance.

• Make the creek cross a walkway. Create a bridge with stone or wood.

References

• Washington State University: Dry Stream Beds
• Fine Gardening: Dry Stream Does Double Duty

Resources

• Indiana Mulch & Stone: Calculator