5 Types Of Stone Needed For A Dry Creek Bed

A dry creek may not always be dry, as its purpose is to help drain off excess water from rain or irrigation. These faux creeks begin with a sloped trench, which is lined with landscaping fabric to keep out weeds before stone is added to finish it out. You will need several types of stone for this project if you want the dry creek to look nice and perform well. 

1. Boulders

Boulders in the case of a dry creek are any stones that are fairly large. They are primarily used to line the edges of a dry creek. The boulders should be similar in size but not identical, as some should be larger than others for a more natural look. The largest boulders can be placed on the outside edge of any curves in the creek in order to emulate the way larger boulders tend to collect around the banks of natural creeks.

2. Large Rocks

Large rocks refer to any stones that are about the size of or slightly larger than a baseball. These are used to line the bottom of the dry creek bed and to fill in larger spaces between the boulders along the edges. Smooth rocks are ideal as they don't settle together as tightly as angular rocks. This allows more space for water to infiltrate between the stones so that the creek bed can effectively help with drainage.

3. River Rocks

River rocks are somewhat smaller than the large rocks above, and they tend to be perfectly smooth with no angular areas or protrusions. They will also make up the main visible surface of the dry creek bed. The river rocks are spread over the top of the larger rocks and are used to fill in smaller spaces along the edging boulders.

4. Gravel

Any type of small pebbles or pea gravel can be used, simply choose a color of stone that complements the rest of the ones used in the dry creek. The gravel is sifted over the bed to fill in any remaining gaps between the larger stones below so that the liner doesn't show. 

5. Accent Stones

A few accent stones can really add pizzazz to the finished dry creek. A few larger and more decorative boulders can be placed at intervals in the creek itself to draw the eye — simply put these down first then add the large rocks and river rocks after. You can also use decorative boulders as accents along the edge of the creek at intervals, or utilize flat stones to create a faux waterfall at the beginning of the dry creek bed. 

Contact a local company like Southridge Farm and Nursery.