While xeriscaping minimizes the use of natural resources and the need for a lot of chemicals in landscaping and garden, it does not have to minimize or sacrifice beauty and character. In some xeriscaping ideas where using few plants is either necessary or desirable, a little creative thinking will add interest to an otherwise dull and oftentimes monotone landscape.

Using fake dry riverbeds in desert landscaping ideas to fill up space and add xeriscape design interest is quite popular in the yards of many Southwest, Santa Fe, and Arizona style homes. Most often for just interest and curb appeal, still many of these dry river beds are actually functional for drainage or water harvesting in times of rain or flooding.

The following pictures show a few examples of using different sizes and colors of gravel to create fake dry rivers in xeriscapes and low water use gardens.

Dry Riverbed Idea
As you’ll see in all the pictures in this post, this xeriscaping idea shows how simple this is to make something beautiful and environmentally friendly with some gravel, rocks, and a few plants.
Fake River Bed
Another angle of the previous picture.
Xeriscaping With Two Color Gravel
Designing and creating designs with different color gravel is also a popular way of dressing up areas that won’t be using any plants or other hardscapes.

This type of design isn’t just limited to xeriscaping. almost any landscaping style can benefit from the different textures, colors, and interest of using two or more types of gravels.

While this example isn’t quite like the others in terms of rock size and definition, it is still suppose to represent a dry riverbed.

Dry River Xeriscape For Drainage
This xeric idea is actually functional for channeling water during heavy rains and flooding.
Other than the design created to channel drainage, these ideas are as simple as clearing an area, laying down a landscaping fabric, and laying two different types, sizes, or colors of gravel next to each other. No need for dividers or edging. The riverbed created for drainage has to be calculated for elevation, flow, and a channel trough cut underneath the gravel.
Plants and planting ideas can easily be planned for by creating more curves and pockets for plant displays or trees.

While these examples can be used to design xeriscapes, it’s important to remember that xeriscaping isn’t a design style but more of a set of methods or principles. See xeriscaping principles for a detailed outline of the practices and principles of drought tolerant water wise landscaping and gardening. Also see xeriscape design ideas for more plans, shapes, and plantings you can use to create an environmentally friendly landscape.

For further reading and ideas, see:

Xeriscaping Wikipedia
Xeriscape.org