West Seattle Dry Creek Bed Installation Services

A pretty ribbon of rock won’t fix soggy lawns or paths by itself. Dry creek beds work only when they’re graded right, fed by real inlets, and built with the correct rock mix over a stable base. We design and install creek beds that carry water in storms and look natural the rest of the year.

We serve Admiral, Alaska Junction, Alki, Fauntleroy, Arbor Heights, Delridge, Gatewood, High Point, Morgan Junction, and Roxhill.

What’s the Problem?

• Seasonal water cutting across lawn or walkway
• Downspouts blasting mulch and soil during storms
• Soggy side yard with no daylight route
• “Decorative creek” that just sits there and grows weeds

What We Build (form + function)

• Real flow path — shallow swale graded at ~1–2% fall so water actually moves
• Layered rock mix — large cobbles for banks, midsize river rock in the thalweg, and fines only where needed to lock stone (no loose pea gravel marbles)
• Splash pads & inlets — armor under downspouts and at pipe outlets so storms don’t crater your beds
• Check stones / weirs — subtle “riffles” to slow flow, reduce erosion, and make it look like a real stream
• Hidden structure — compacted sub-base and non-woven geotextile separation over clay (not landscape cloth in planting zones)
• Smart outlets — daylight to a safe lawn basin, drain inlet, or tie-in to a dispersion trench/dry well when code allows
• Native planting — grasses, ferns, and shrubs to knit banks, hide edges, and invite pollinators

Dry creek vs. French drain: a dry creek moves surface water; a French drain intercepts subsurface water. Many yards need a combo. We’ll tell you straight.

How We Install (no shortcuts)

1. Site read & elevations — we shoot grades, map runoff, and pick legal outlets
2. Utility locate — we call 811 before any digging
3. Excavate the channel — set subgrade, shape pools/riffles, and widen bends so stone doesn’t raft away
4. Fabric & base — non-woven geotextile over clay; compacted crushed rock base where soils are soft
5. Place stone by size — lock banks with larger cobbles first, then infill mid-channel; set “keystones” at bends
6. Build inlets/outlets — armored downspout pads, pipe boots, and discreet check stones
7. Backfill & edge — bury fabric edges, transition cleanly to mulch or lawn, no visible fray
8. Plant & mulch — right plants for sun/shade and splash zones; mulch where appropriate (not in the thalweg)
9. Hose test — we run water to prove fall and fix any flat spots before we leave

Permits/right-of-way: if discharge touches the street or public systems, we follow the rules. If it’s not allowed, we design an onsite solution that is.

Sizing & Ordering (so the numbers pencil)

• Coverage per yard of cobble/river rock (rule of thumb):

  • 1 yd³ covers ~80–100 sq ft @ 3–4” depth (mixed sizes)

• Channel volume per linear foot:

  • 2.5’ avg width × 0.33’ avg depth ≈ 0.83 cu ft/LF → ~32 LF per yd³

• Add 10–15% for lock-in and banks; curves and splash pads eat rock faster.

Example: 24’ run × 2.5’ width × 4” depth ≈ 2.2 yd³ → order 2.5–3 yd³ (varied sizes).

Where Dry Creek Beds Shine

• Downspout dispersion — tame roof bursts without trenching the whole yard
• Side-yard corridors — give water a lane that’s clean, not muddy
• Path crossings — set stepping stones flush through the creek for daily use
• Rain-garden pairing — creek carries, rain garden soaks; best of both

Our Annual Maintenance Plan (Your Yard’s Routine)

• Leaf & debris sweeps — keep the channel open before the first big fall storm
• Rock reset — rake fines out of the thalweg, re-seat any travelers after heavy rain
• Plant care — trim back encroachers so flow lines stay open
• Inlet/outlet check — clear splash pads and confirm downspouts still land on rock
• Top-ups — a little new stone every few years keeps it looking fresh and locked

We’re a low-maintenance landscaping crew. Goal: fewer puddles, cleaner beds, and less work for you.

Service Cadences (Pick What Fits)

• Quarterly — fall storm prep + winter and spring checks + summer tidy
• Bi-Monthly — best under big leaf droppers, conifers, or heavy slope flow

What Annual Maintenance Includes

• Debris removal and hose-test flow check
• Rock re-seat and minor grade tune-ups
• Downspout pad inspection and touch-ups
• Plant cutbacks and light mulch refresh at banks
• Photo updates so you can see it working

Why Annual Maintenance Matters

• Prevents blowouts — open channels don’t undercut banks
• Keeps water moving — fewer slick, muddy spots
• Looks better, longer — fresh, locked stone and tidy plants
• Saves money — small adjustments beat rebuilds

How It Works

1. Free Estimate — photos/video or a quick walkthrough; clear, upfront pricing
2. Design & Materials — path, depth, rock mix, and planting plan
3. Build Day — excavate, fabric/base, set stone, plant, hose-test, clean finish
4. Follow-Up — simple care tips and a maintenance schedule that fits

Why West Seattle Chooses Neat & Tidy

• Local crew that knows clay pockets, winter rain, and tight alleys
• Licensed & insured; code-smart outlets and tidy sites
• Upfront pricing — materials, labor, hauling, and disposal included
• On-time, respectful, clean work
• Green-first approach — infiltration where suitable, smart dispersion where not

Ready to turn the soggy into scenic?

Call or text Neat & Tidy for a dry creek bed that looks natural and actually works. We’ll keep it tidy—so you don’t have to.