River Rock Landscaping

The addition of round, smooth river rock to landscaping is always appealing and often quite affordable.

The rainbow of colors that magically appear when water meets stone is amazing.

Below is the Sand & Sisal homestead.

It’s a beautiful home that we’ve put a lot of work into to make beautiful inside and out, but it is lacking one important item…

GUTTERS.

The rooflines all seem to drain to one spot in the front, left of the front door.

It’s a virtual 20 ft. double waterfall each time it rains, cascading into a pool of water around the tall holly tree.

It’s safe to say drainage is a problem.

The rain was splashing so much dirt on the bricks, and eroding the soil, so in lieu of a major gutter system purchase,

we decided on a river rock dry bed.

We added additional soil, that had previously washed away with the rains, and sloped the grade away from the house.

We dug out shallow channels, layered the areas with crushed pea gravel, and landscaping fabric.

Then 1.5 tons of river rock was brought home from the garden center (that’s 2 Toyota Tundra bed loads).

The rock was $180 for 1.5 tons.

The whole family went to work unloading and layering the rocks in all the prepared dry beds.

I added interesting plants between the rocks such as liriope and creeping jenny.

Don’t you just love the chartreuse color!

Hens & Chicks succulents are worry free, add beautiful texture.

All of these plants are self multiplying perennials, which is so very kind to the wallet.

Any corner that receives run-off is a candidate for a faux riverbed.

Keep the rocks trailing in a natural, meandering form, curving and bending.

And here’s a special DIY TIP for those who find themselves watering the rocks because you love the gorgeous wet color…

spray the rocks with clear Thompson’s Water Seal!!!!!

The dry beds are functional, inexpensive and add another organic element of design to your landscaping.

 

Kim