Can A DIY Creek Bed Save Your Garden From Flooding?

With firsthand experience of shifting weather patterns, extreme drought, and increased flooding, gardeners are well aware that the climate is changing, and many are looking for solutions to protect their outdoor spaces. One way to help save our gardens from excessive rainfall is to use smart solutions to direct rainwater, such as dry creek beds. These landscaping features comprise a shallow trench filled with rocks. Also known as dry river beds or dry stream beds, these features represent a stone landscaping idea that will add charm to your outdoor space while redirecting water to a desired location.

Extreme downpours can wreak havoc in the garden by causing physical damage to plants and leaving them more at risk of insect and pest problems. Flooding can also bring toxins and other contaminants into your yard, causing safety and health concerns. On the other hand, redirecting rainwater to desired areas, such as rain gardens, can save our cherished landscaping and prized plants from the ill effects of extreme rainfall. So, if your region is at risk of being drenched with excessive rains, installing a dry stream might be a prudent decision; better yet, this smart solution can also prevent erosion in your yard. But to reap the benefits and avoid legal problems, it's important that you install your DIY dry creek bed properly.

A dry creek bed can look quite beautiful while helping mitigate flooding if you follow some important tips. First, try to fit it into the natural topography of your yard. Install it on a 2% slope, so that the water flows away from the house; or dig a ditch along the intended path to encourage movement. Add curves to the dry stream to help slow the water down and direct the excess flow into a rain garden to help it infiltrate the soil and save your yard from damage.

Use rounded river rocks to form the bed, choosing a variety of rock shapes and sizes. Some choose to put landscaping fabric on the bottom of the bed to prevent weeds. However, this will only work in the short term and can make weeds harder to remove when their roots get entangled in the cloth.

Depending on where you direct the flow, you may need to double-check the legality of adding this stormwater solution. To avoid violating local codes and ordinances, rather than designing the DIY creek bed to empty into the street or onto a neighbor's property, encourage it to spread out and sink into the soil on your own property, preferably in a rain garden as mentioned above. Be careful to direct floodwater away from the foundation of your house as well. Also, before you embark on this project, ask your local planning and building officials (and the Homeowners Association) if you must adhere to any specific guidelines, which vary by region.