Beginner Gardening: Considering building a dry creekbed, 1 by TexasLizzy

TexasLizzy wrote:
Stone prices vary from region to region and with the cost of fuel have skyrocketed. Stone we were getting for under a 100$ a ton is now over $300. You said there would be boulders - those add up FAST! to the cost. Each one can be a couple hundred to $800 depending on type, etc. The river rock - again, can add up fast. I calculated for ours that we would need 2 tons (based on spreading 4" ove rhte square foot coverage) and we ended up needing more. However, we did cut costs by using a less decorative sotne underneath and more expensive stone on top - sprinkled through. We are in Texas - where river rock is NOT a natural stone, thus I didn't wnat it to look too unnatural.

In the pic below please note the area between house and retaining wal & fence is not complete yet.

These are the instructions:

we had a serious drainage issue on the East side of house where our roof drained (no gutters) along with neighbors house (again no gutters - cheap builders!) and his 18 ft. driveway that comes to the porperty line into a 10 ft wide area along the 50ft of house length. Houses were so close that our neighbors could watch our TV in Fam room from their breakfast nook. We first built a fence anchored with columns that will be venetian plastered (not done yet) with a retaining wall on our side - soon to be a herb garden. all the water flows into a swail that flows to the dry creek.

To construct the dry creek we drew out the layout (using old garden hoses - yes, I keep those with holes in them just for this purpose) then we began digging the stream. Used a 2 ft level taped to an 8 ft straight 2X4. You would think as contractors we would have a 6 ft level, but alas it was stolen when our storage/shop was broken into and we lost over $7K of tools-OUCH! Anyway, making sure that we kept the slope to about a 1/2 bubble down grade we dug the "creek", making sure we kept the levels in to the approx. grade to marry to the swail between our house and the newly constructed ret wall. Once we were happy with the layout, and the grade, we installed the green steel bender board. This step was to curb any invasive plants on the beds on either side to NOT grow into the creek.

We also took the time to install drainage culverts from any future downspouts to the creek from the front of the house and the side of the house to go to the creek. We dug trenches, laid the hoses, added the fittings to match the downspout, and then filled the dirt back over - AGAIN ensuring that the grade was correct and would flow to the street.

Next was the plastic liner. Basic 20mil plastic to keep weeds from growing. I am constantly looking for cheap ways to do things. My neighbor is a pool guy and brought us some leftover plastic, so we used that.

Last step was to go to the rock yard and purchased the river rock. For our 35 ft creek we used 3 yards of rock.

Hubby wanted to accent the bed with larger boulders. Again, my cheapness raised its ugly head, and considering the rock yard wanted over a $1000 for a few boulders, I went on a hunt. A new house was being constructed about 2 miles from my house and had these BEAUTIFUL unearthed bedrock pieces. Hubby, my neighbor and I went and harvested them after discussing wiht the builder. Builder was extremely happy that we took them (he had less to dispose of) and we got them for free.

We placed our new beauties in the bed on the edges in strategic spots (like where the creek curves) and surrounded with the river rock. We even have some of the bedrock pieces in the center of the "stream" again, trying for that natural look. I added pink muhly grass on the slow water side of the large boulders - again, a more natural look.