Discover Creative Dry Creek Bed Landscaping Ideas Here

Many people are looking for landscaping materials to hide a dry creek bed in their backyard. Indeed, a dry creek bed may be just a trench for draining water during the rainy season, but it can be made to look beautiful and become a remarkable hardscape feature in the layout of the land. 

In this article, we will share the most inspirational river rock landscaping ideas we have discovered over years of supplying our clients with natural rock and other hardscaping materials. We know that one of these river rock design ideas is just what you were looking for to enhance the appeal of the exterior of your residential property.

What Is a Dry Creek Bed?

Draining water away from your house is crucial for the safety of the foundation and for preventing basement flooding. This is why a dry creek bed is built. It is an open trench that will direct excess water away from the house after heavy rainstorms.

Now that you know what is a dry creek bed, let us show you how to create one.

Simplicity is always beautiful in dry river bed landscaping.

How to Build a Dry Creek Bed

In most of the places, you do not need a special permit to build a dry creek bed. But you should check your local regulations before you get started. You will need a shovel, a wheelbarrow, a tamping tool, a utility knife, a steel rake and two garden hoses. As for the materials, our landscaping specialists will select everything you need and deliver your order to your door.

Once you have everything you need, here’s how to build a dry creek bed:

1. Lay out the creek patch using the garden hoses

2. Mark the sides of the trench with landscaping spray paint

3. Start digging within the spray paint lines to a depth of 12-18 inches

4. Cover the trench with landscape fabric to prevent weeds from growing in the trench

5. Place boulders to keep the fabric in place

6. Fill in the trench with river rock

Now that you have your dry creek bed, it’s time to make it look beautiful.

Try One of These Dry Creek Bed Landscaping Ideas

Here are some of the most beautiful river rock landscaping ideas we recommend you to try:

Walking Path 

This is the simplest river rock design if you want to complete your DIY project quickly. You can create a walking path with flat stones in various colors to create a beautiful pattern along the dry creek bed. With a flower pot placed here and there, the basic draining trench becomes a beautiful path running through your backyard. We can help you with a large selection of materials for your walking path. 

Drainage

The drainage trench design is another simple and beautiful idea for your dry creek bed. Pour smooth pebbles and add an assortment of larger river stones. The new drainage gully will appear a natural feature of the landscape to anyone looking at it.

Rock Bridge

A tiny rock bridge across the trench is a charming dry river bed landscaping idea. Inspired by the design of Japanese gardens, the bridge will allow you to cross over the drainage trench and will add visual appeal to the side of your patio.

Stepping Stones

Another simple DIY project is creating a dry creek bed with stepping stones. Just like in the case of the walking path, choose flat stones that will offer you stability when stepping over them.

Blue Lake

Do you miss the idea of an actual river running through your backyard? Here’s a simple idea: fill the dry creek bed with smooth glass pebbles in two tones of blue. They will give the impression of water running in the grass, especially when the sun is shining straight onto them.

Cacti are beautiful and resilient plants for your dry creek bed.

Let Us Help You Select the Best Dry River Bed Landscaping Materials!

Allied Landscape Supply is your trusted supplier of natural hardscaping materials for decorating your dry creek bed. We are a family owned and operated business and are always ready to help you find great river rock design ideas.