We live in a dry region and that comes with the challenge of using what little moisture we get wisely. Creating a resilient yard means working with what you have. It is important to include landscape ideas that think about how water will be used and where it goes. Installing landscaping that allows for the weather to do its thing, will create the spaces you are looking for. Your plants will thrive no matter what mother nature offers us.
What is a dry stream bed?
A dry stream bed is a man made overland channel fed from your downspouts. It is lined with landscape fabric and filled with stones of various sizes.
Water travels to the lowest point along the easiest route. That might not be where you want it to go in your landscape. Creating a dry stream bed keeps water where you want it. It slows the path of the water. It makes a lovely accent while in use and while dry.
Having grade changes in a small space is a common occurrence. How you address it does not have to be boring or complicated. It does need to be delt with or you end up with flooding and erosion problems in the future.
This Stream bed keeps water on the property for you to use where you direct it.
- No more spring flooding,
- Erosion controls stop the damage that happened when the water was simply left to find its own course through the yard.
- Rocks slow the speed of the water while adjacent plants soak up pooling moisture.
- Rain water was available to supplement the gardens watering.
- The water can be redirected to gardens, and away from your home.
- It adds interest and beauty to the space
- Homeowners have a natural water feature that comes to life in rainfalls.
- In dry periods, the rocky stream adds interest and texture to the yard.
We have used these on hillsides, but also on flat ground to move water through the garden. With the addition of plants, this rock combination looks like it was always there.
- It forms a natural place for water to go
- Slowing the infiltration of the water into the yard,
- reduced surface runoff,
- improved the water quality in the community
You can feel good about that.
Maintenance is easy too.
- There is no grass to mow.
- Maintenance is simply a few times a year blowing debris out of the stones.
- You can add as much greenery, or as little as you want. It even looks good built into a xeoscaped yard.
When you design with nature in mind, you broaden your choices for what is possible, and you plan for success of the site.
We love to help homeowners in the Calgary and Cochrane area create landscapes that flourish. Visit us at /https://blossomsandstone.ca/front_page/landscape-installation.
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