Gravel recommendation for dry creek bed on slope

jz2022 · Jun 19, 2023

I have a around 25 degree sloppy side yard. I would like to dig a dry creek bed for better drainage. Also I am going to place some pavers for traffic. I need some advices of what type of gravel I should be using for the dry creek bed, size and the type. Some people say that it is better to use 3/4 inch crushed gravel as it is good for drainage, compact that can handle heavy traffic. But my concern is that it is a little too small and it could be easily 'washed' by heavy rain and water stream. A 1~1 3/4 inch is better? Most of the larger size gravel are called 'river rock' and sometimes they are round shape, which is not suitable for drainage and slides around when walking on them.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

J

corneliani · Jun 21, 2023

I don't necessarily see that pitch in this picture, but is this showing the aftermath of the runoff? Thats a lot of moving water, if so. Ideally you'd catch that and direct it somehow. Anytime it runs above ground it is bound to move material around and carve out soil. If you can create a catch basin somewhere and divert/reroute it would keep that water from flowing on the surface. Otherwise why not just plant sod there and intersperse the pavers as needed? At least grass has roots to dig into the soil, vs gravel which gets pushed around.

jz2022 · Jun 27, 2023

This is working in progress picture. There were some gravels (1~2 inch) and I removed them. I plan to place 1~1 3/4 inch rive stone with the paver in the picture. My concern is the river stone is somehow roundish and they might move on the slope with heavy rain. I did try sod before and it did not work. I don't plan to dig in to create underground drainage. I prefer to use slope to drain the water.

GCoco · Jun 27, 2023

Bigger the better. If you get a hard rain then the rocks will wash downhill.

Gravel recommendation for dry creek bed on slope

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