How to Create a Dry River Bed Landscape

Making a dry streambed with a mixture of rock sizes mimics natural river beds.

A dry river bed adds texture and a focal point to the landscape. It can control and direct excess water flow during heavy rains when placed near downspouts or in low areas. The bed also prevents erosion and creates a place to display plants. A dry river bed fits into many landscape and home styles. The hardscape feature is an investment that can last for years with minimal maintenance.

Things You'll Need

• Spray paint
• Tape measure
• Shovel
• Spade
• Landscape fabric
• Landscape staples
• Boulders
• Pea gravel
• River pebbles
• River rock
• Plants

Instructions

1. Select the location for the bed and mark the outline using non-toxic spray paint. Make the bed approximately 3 feet wide with some variations in width. The river bed should curve in different directions with no straight lines.

2. Remove all vegetation inside the markings. Remove approximately 1.5 feet of soil. For a more natural look, remove more soil in some areas to create depth variation and to cause the "river" to slope away from structures. You can create an island in the bed by leaving a spot with higher soil.

3. Cut the dirt on the sides at a gentle slope with a spade. Sloped sides allow you to cover the weed barrier you'll be putting down with rock and look more natural.

4. Unroll landscape fabric or weed barrier along the bed. If it does not cover the width, overlap the barrier in the center. The weed barrier should cover the entire bottom and the sloped sides. Secure the cloth using landscape staples as needed.

5. Place boulders of different sizes randomly throughout the dry river. The boulders break up the uniformity of the river rock and pea gravel and add height.

6. Spread a layer of a mix of pea gravel, pebbles and river rock to a depth of about 3 inches. This will prevent open standing water and improve drainage while looking like a river bed.

7. Install native plants, such as grasses and ferns, along the edges of the dry river bed. Space the plants strategically on the banks in clusters to mimic nature. The plants' roots will help prevent erosion.

8. Plant a small tree, such as a river birch, shrub or group of plants on the island. Pull back the rock, cut an X into the weed barrier and dig the hole for the plants. Replace the rock around the base once planted.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a stone calculator to find out how much gravel and rock you will need. Enter the width and length, along with the depth of the rock into the calculator.

• Place a few specimen plants in the river bed.

• Disguise the beginning of the bed with a pile of boulders and plants.

• Add a stone slab or stepping stones connected to a path to create a "river crossing."

• The weed barrier will prevent most weeds, but seeds that land in the river bed might sprout.

References

• Washington State University Extension: Dry Streambeds
• Colorado State University; Incorporate a Dry Stream Bed into Your Landscape; Penny Duchene-Carson

Resources

• Stone Calculator
• Colorado State University Extension: Xeriscaping: Perennials and Annual Flowers