 There’s nothing like a nature walk to provide endless inspiration for garden projects. If you’re considering adding a dry creek bed to your landscaping, a walk along Galena Creek, Whites Creek or Jones Creek in South Reno can show you the beauty and serenity of a meandering stream. A dry creek bed in your yard can be both functional and artistic.Creating function
Creek beds can do wonders for any drainage problem you have, such as water running off your roof after a rainstorm, or runoff from your sprinkler system. It’s a way to divert water away from your home in a path you designate. Your goal is to harvest the water from one part of your property and redirect it to another through an artistic trough of rock. Ideally, the water will seep into the soil along the creek bed and percolate into the ground before it pools at the end of the stream. Recreating nature
The trick to making your creek bed look like something nature intended is to take your cues from Mother Nature herself. To achieve the aesthetic qualities of a natural stream, you must do more than just dig a trench and line it with rock.
Landscape architect Tom Stille of Interpretive Gardens says the biggest mistake gardeners make is to construct a straight line gulley with rocks marching down the border in a row. “They don’t put enough curves in it, so it ends up looking like an engineered ditch. Adding exaggerated bends and curves help a dry creek bed look more natural,” says Stille. “You also want to vary the width along the way by developing low-lying areas similar to small retention ponds where water would pool before it continues on,” explains Stille. “Rocks along a stream are never in a row. There are wide spots along the way, with groups of variable sized rocks that look haphazard, yet purposeful,” adds Kitty Robinson, a landscape drafter with Artistic Gardens. She, too, thinks natural streams are a great source of design techniques. She suggests burying each rock about one-third down in the soil along the banks.  “Rocks that just sit on top of the dirt don’t look like they’ve been there for a while,” she says. The best way to achieve a well- seasoned creek bed is to place the larger rocks of varying sizes along the outside edge and fill in the creek basin with smaller river rock. She says the best results come from combining your drainage needs with a decorative style that groups rocks and plantings in a cascade of form and color.
Creating drama
What you plant along the creek can also help you achieve a realistic setting. Ornamental grasses such as Feather reed grass are perfect along the bank. Perennials such as purple Coneflower, Salvia and Shasta daisies can also add bright spots of color. Robinson suggests that you plant in small groups. “It’s best to group your plants in odd-numbered plantings. You can place three grasses in one area and another by itself a little farther downstream,” she explains. Shrubs also work well along your creek (Red Twig Dogwood, Buffalo berry, and even native roses). And shrubs such as Russian sage or butterfly bushes can be a great way to hide the beginning or ending of your creek bed. The idea is to be thoughtful about where you place the rocks and plants so they complement each other and provide a natural backdrop. 8 Steps to a Spectacular Dry Creek Bed 1. Plot the course of your creek bed as it winds down the slope. You can mark the borders with landscaper’s spray paint. Be sure to include lots of bends and curves along the way. You can even wind around existing plants and trees. 2. In nature, dry creek beds tend to be twice as wide as they are deep. So a good general dimension is 3 feet wide to 1 1/2 feet deep. Just as you varied the downward path of the creek, be sure to vary the width as you go, constructing wider spots for low-lying areas.
3. Now for the sweat equity of the project: dig down to your desired depth all along the bed, leaving the sides banked higher than the basin.
4. Line the trench with weed-blocking landscaper’s fabric along the entire length of the bed. (It’s no fun to weed a creek bed once the rocks are in place.) It’s a good idea to fasten the fabric into place using fabric pins or garden staples so the cloth doesn’t shift as you lay the rock.
5. The rock you choose is also a key design element that will enhance the project. River rock is a great choice because its rounded edges suggest that water has smoothed the rock down over time. Buy bigger rock for the border in different sizes ranging from 2 1/2 feet to 1 foot. The bottom of the bed can be filled in with smaller river rock that’s 6 inches or smaller. Have the rock delivered to your home if you are planning a big project, and ask to have the rock dumped as close to your project as possible. 6. Each border rock should be carefully placed and dug down into the soil about 1/3 the depth of the rock. Because it’s easier to work downhill, start at the top. 7. As you position your border rocks, you may want to plant the bigger grasses and shrubs too, to give the impression that the plants are growing among the rocks on the banks. 8. Finally, step back and take an objective look at your work and reposition rocks that look out of place. Karen Reuter, a broadcast journalist, is also a Reno-based gardener and writer
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