Rock gardens are always popular, these are a special and bold way of landscaping and even xeriscaping. The trendiest rock garden type that we’ll speak about today is a dry river or dry creek one, it’s really a nice solution for those of you who prefer all-natural looking landscapes and gardens.
What Are Dry River Bed Advantages?
Fixing Erosion-Prone Areas
A dry creek bed can easily redirect water, so if you have wet or erosion-prone spaces in the garden, this is the best idea.
This dried creek seems to be dividing the parts of the garden: pne part shows off the blooms, the other shows off greenery.
This dry creek looks very romantic: there are some bright blooms that accent it.
The dry creek bed is accented with greenery and grasses, and large matching rocks make it look even more natural.
The dry river bed paired with bright blooms and greenery highlights the side yard.
I love the greenery and blooms around the light-colored creek, and this contrast looks adorable.
Giving Interest To Desert Gardens
Landscaping in desert climates can be quite tricky because of high temperatures and lack of water but you can always give your garden a bold look with some rocks. A dry river bed will look very natural in such a space and will bring texture and eye-catchiness.
The dry river bed is made more decorative: it's lined up with succulents and bold blooms and accented with bright pebbles and lights.
This dry river bed paired with natural plants for this area look so natural that the space doesn't seem to be a garden, just a natural part of land.
The dry creek highlighted with colorful blooms leads to a real lake, and that makes it even cooler.
Pebbles are lined up with large rocks, and bold flowers and grasses give interest to the creek bed.
This light-colored pebble dry bed is done with large rocks and accented with colorful blooms.
This long river bed acts as a border between the garden and the woodland.
The dry river bed looks very natural, and greenery along it makes it looks like a real one. (via gardeninacity).
Bringing A Cool Look
Whatever your garden style is, a dry river bed will match it for sure as it’s a universal and nature-inspired feature. If you don’t like manicured lawns and polished garden beds, a dry river bed may be a nice and natural-looking way to add interest to your garden. A river bed can also hide some eye sores, for example, if you have a staircase and want to hide its side, this is it. A dry creek bed can also add curb appeal to the front yard or accent a side one.
The side of the staircase is hidden with the help of a dry river creek.
This garden is spruced up with an all-natural looking river bed with a small bridge and natural greenery.
The front yard looks much more spectacular with a dry river bed and black rocks and greenery that accent it.
This long curved dry river bed looks like a natural part of the landscape thanks to the greenery and flowers and the choice of the rocks.
The landscaping is done with a lot of plants with much texture, and the dry river bed is very sleek and delicate.
This river bed is a border between the blooms and the lawn and it adds interest here.
Creating A Natural Border
If you want to naturally divide your garden into zones, a dry creek bed is a perfect choice. It can be also a transitional zone from a real rock garden to blooms and greenery.
The dry creek bed is accented with large rocks and surrounded with greenery.
This dry river bed is used as a border between the flower beds and the lawn.
The bold front yard is made with pebbles and rocks, greenery and colorful blooms.
This small river bed is created as a natural garden bed border, and it works perfect.
How To Style A Dry Creek Bed?
There are many ways to do that, from the most natural and somewhat messy ideas to the most manicured ones. You can use various pebbles and rocks, play with their size and color, add grasses along and in the bed, blooms around it or even some lights. You can also surround it with greenery, place some driftwood or other things to match the garden style. As for building this garden feature, anyone can do that and it won’t take much time or effort.
Large neutral pebbles stand out in the greenery and bloom backdrop adding texture to the space.
Create the shape of the dry creek with larger rocks and pebbles and then fill it with smaller ones and pebbles.
Natural pebbles and long grasses make the space look very eye-catchy yet not too polished.
Pair up pebbles and mulch around, add succulents and bigger rocks and voila, an easy-maintenance garden is ready.
This long river bed features only several large rocks, and greenery and trees along it.
This dry creek bed is accented with large rocks and small wildflowers that make the garden bright.
A dry creek bed is refreshed with grasses and decorated with garden spheres.
How To Maintain A Dry River Bed?
Maintaining such a garden feature isn’t difficult: remove the weeds and clear out branches and leaves that fall. Check the placement rocks after heavy rainstorms and voila!
If you can't have a lot of greenery and blooms but want your dry river to stand out, rock mulch of the shade that contrasts the rocks.
The dry creek bed stands out on the black ground, and greenery and bright flowers make it wow.
This mini dry creek bed prevent the rainwater from flooding the blooms.
The grey pebbles stand out on the black ground, and the greenery here looks natural.
Add a spectacular touch to the dry river bed using large rocks and stones.
This small white dry creek bed looks adorable with driftwood and ferns around, this is a whole eye-catchy garden. (via lawnknowledge).
The oversized rocks make the border of the dry river, and the small pebbles fill in. (via houzz).
A Japanese-style garden can also feature a dry creek bed, and the plants, characteristic of such gardens, will make it look special. (via westseattlegardentour).
Desert gardens really look great with dry river beds, which bring texture and make them bold. (via fredricksonlandscape).
This small and natural-looking courtyard includes some ferns and greenery and a very delicately made dry river bed. (via finegardening).