How to make a DRY RIVER BED! River rock tips and tricks for the perfect DIY landscaping project.

Install river rock in a way that looks natural and is easy to maintain. Quickly and easily install a river rock detail in your landscape with these easy to follow tips and visuals.
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To achieve a natural look with River Rock landscaping, the key is to dig some contours to create a visually appealing layout. Start by laying down fabric as a base to prevent weed growth. Begin by setting the biggest rocks first, followed by adding dimension with rocks of about three inches in size or larger. Gradually decrease the rock sizes to about one to two inches and finish off with pea gravel or torpedo, the smallest rocks, for contrast and easy maintenance.
Incorporate different sizes of cobbles, ranging from three to six inches, along the edge of a Paving stone patio to create interest. Group them together to form low spots that meander through the middle, acting as a barrier between mulch and river rock. Use pea gravel or torpedo to fill in the lowest spots, resembling water when settled.
For maintenance, periodically blow out leaf debris collected on the surface with a blower, ensuring a clean look. By taking inspiration from natural river landscapes, mimic the flow of water, various sizes, and contrasts of gravel for an authentic feel. Implement a hidden drainage system with perforated pipe and clear crush wrapped in fabric to ensure quick drainage along the patio's edge.
Enhance the River Rock motif with additional features like boulders for a natural touch or lighting elements for ambiance. Drill holes for deck lights to incorporate hidden accent lights strategically placed to emphasize height differences and add to the overall aesthetic. Play with light to enhance the contrast and height variations within the landscape design.
The tutorial emphasizes creating a natural and visually appealing River Rock installation by varying rock sizes, incorporating drainage systems, and adding lighting elements for a complete and well-maintained outdoor space. By following these steps, you can achieve a picturesque and easy-to-manage landscaping feature that mimics the beauty of natural river environments.

[@ndill1597]

My new favorite channel-

[@HardscapeCanada]

Love it thank you!

[@shkevinwang]

The most beautiful dry creek on youtube! The color of them is specifically beautiful. Can you tell me where and which type of stones you get?

[@HardscapeCanada]

Hey thank you! These are simply what we call River rock, which is often locally sourced so colours will really depend on the local supply. It comes in many sizes from cobbles down to pea gravel!

[@christine_hazel_lange]

aww i wish i could do this now,.. im in a rental

[@mrmarty1403]

The lighting idea is super. Any particular company you recommend?

[@HardscapeCanada]

Hey I really like the simple install and clean fixtures from In-Lite myself!

[@DestinyLabMusic]

Could you use netted pebble tile over a rounded surface like a berm? When I put weed barrier down with regular gravel or bark chips over my rosebush berm mounds the gravel or bark chips always ends up rolling off exposing the black weed barrier over time. I want to get some netted pebble tile like cobblestone rock and basically tile it down with a rubberized flexible grout that will last long term on my berm mounds with holes around my rose bushes and plants to grow. Have you ever seen anything like this before?

[@suedoe8710]

I love everything about this dry creek and I’m currently making one and wanted to ask you what kind of rocks you used? I know there are various sizes but what kind of rock is this?

[@HardscapeCanada]

Hi there, the bigger rocks are just called a river rock or cobble, and the smaller stuff is round drain rock.

[@TimberJay]

Thanks for sharing video, I'm a Landscaper and will steal your ideas I'm a new subscriber as well.

[@HardscapeCanada]

Welcome! That’s what I’m here for, steal all of the ideas you need and let me know if there’s a video you’d like to see that I haven’t made yet

[@tonymarshall3162]

Fun video ! Thanks for the time and effort to produce it !

[@HardscapeCanada]

Hey my pleasure! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jonathanv4694]

This is really helpful, thank you! What kind of fabric do you recommend for placing underneath the rocks?

[@HardscapeCanada]

Any weed barrier that is sturdy will work just fine, but I prefer a non-woven geotextile drainage cloth, to allow water to flow rapidly through and it’ll stay together if you ever needed to pull it up!

[@Panda-ei2xf]

Omg that light trick is so dope! And the glow rocks! 😍 this is a beautiful setup, and you made it look so easy to diy

[@4coopdawg]

How do you keep the gravel from washing away on a slopped yard ? Ty

[@HardscapeCanada]

Hey, I would suggest using some larger angular rock as a way to create shelves for the smaller rock, so that it helps stop the small stuff from being easily washed downhill. You could dig some contour into the ground as well before adding rock.

[@geoffbarker6998]

How do you estimate how much river rock you will need?

[@mixedupmenopausaladhd3999]

Beautiful ideas, thank you

[@HardscapeCanada]

You are very welcome!