Build a Dry Creek

A dry creek can be just for aesthetic purposes or serve a practical purpose. This dry creek was a drainage swath from a paved driveway into the woods. The woods was converted into an extensive shade garden with a meandering path which happened to go right through the muddy swath of drainage.

The bridge is a simple and subtle design so as to make the dry stream a focal point rather than the bridge. You can easily build your own bridge like this by leveling too pressure treated 4X6 posts parallel to each other. Lay them about 6” closer than you want the width of the bridge so you can have a 3” overhang on each side. Now simply screw down pressure treated 1X4’s (with the 3” overhang) use a spacer to make even gaps between the deck boards to allow the boards to expand and contract. Or, if you were thinking of a little more "ornate" style. You can get great deals on them here.

Garden Bridges

Its helpful if you can use a tractor for excavating the dry creek trench. The trench should be excavated wide & deep enough to accommodate the rock, wood and gravel and still be below the surface of the original ground level or grade.

Tie-par road fabric from the local building store was used as landscape fabric for it’s extra longevity beings how nothing will be grown in the stream.

The use of various different sizes of rock gives it the natural look making it more believable.

Place the larger rocks first in locations that would naturally cause the water to change directions, these are known as “turning stones”. Also larger stones near the bridge give it stability these are “anchor stones“.

Incorporating some wood such as roots, logs or stumps softens the rock and adds to the illusion. Place these next so they can be blended in with smaller rock and gravel. Situate them in positions where water would naturaly wedge them in.

Last of all add the small rock or gravel that represents the water. Cover the bottoms of the larger rock and stumps to make them look like they have been there for some time with grvel being deposited & building around them.