Creating my first ever dry creek bed has been a labor of love and a lesson in patience. Between rained-out weekends and pesky root systems I was able to slowly make progress.

Step One: The Trench
The main job was the trench. Digging along the fence line proved slow and back-breaking. Every few feet I fought with rock-hard top soil, pockets of clay and various roots. Once the trench was dug several waves of rainy days hit the Dallas area. The rain was a blessing. The downpour highlighted areas that needed modifications.

Step Two: Landscaping Fabric – not this time
For some, the second step, would be to place landscaping fabric to help control weeds. I opted to pass on this step, just means I will be pulling weeds, which is fine.

Step Three: Layering The Rocks
First, was boulder placement. I picked random areas along the trench to place the boulders. The boulders add visual interest. Second layer, pea gravel. It’s a cheap base filler. Third layer, large river rock. I used the larger river rock to edge the trench. Layer four, medium river rock to fill the balance of the trench. The final layer, small river rock randomly thrown over the medium river rock to add texture.  All in all, I shoveled, lifted and placed 3.5 tons worth of rocks.