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Landscape Design Gardening with Stone

Help my washed out rock garden!

5 years ago

Hi,

I've had a nice rock garden here for over 25 years. But a couple of things happened that is destroying it. First, a neighbor diverted some water flow and now the garden is getting more water (BTW, I have no issues with the diversion, it is helping my basement from flooding). The 2nd thing that has occurred is I live on the east coast and for the past month we've been getting a ton of rain. So what's happening now is a casual look at the garden and everything looks fine. But several large holes are appearing where the water is washing away the base of the garden. Dirt is flowing down my steps when it rains hard, the source is the garden. Not the topsoil, the base. In the attached photo you can see such a hold - while it is hard to see it is probably over a foot deep. I filled a couple of these with pea sized gravel, that washes out as well.

If this keeps up I imagine the garden will collapse. Doesn't look like I can divert the water easily, would filling the holes with heavier gravel, concrete or something help?

Thanks!

Bob

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Comments (5)

Saypoint zone 6 CT
5 years ago
The water has to go somewhere, so no matter what you put in the hole, it’s going to come back out. Can you take a photo from further back so the whole area is visible? Are the larger rocks small enough to move to work on the area? How big is it? Without seeing it, I’m wondering if you can make a “stream bed” with large, medium and small sized rocks to minimize erosion and dig a dry well at the bottom to take the resulting water. Or a drain to divert it elsewhere. Otherwise, I’d consult a professional who can see the site in person for advice.
PRO
Colwynn Garden Design
5 years ago
You should try filling the holes with 3/4" gravel, this will hold together but will have enough air gaps between the rocks to allow water to pass through. Pea gravel usually just washes away with storm water.
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Amelia Bumsted
5 years ago
You can funnel a little paver base into the holes. It firms up and holds well—but it’s ugly so you want to follow with a little sand perhaps (allows drainage and fills gaps) and then nicer pea gravel, sometimes labeled as smaller river pebbles, depending on the overall coloring and texture.

I’ve practiced xeriscaping for the past 12 years and have an impressive 50’x150’ rock garden feature/path and hydrangea garden in my front yard (in Chicagoland) so I’ve dealt with freezing, raining, drought—you name it.
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Drawn by Nature Landscaping
5 years ago
Hi Bob, Pea gravel is so lightweight that it's really easy for minimal flowing water to pick it up and carry it downhill. You are on the right track when you started talking about larger (heavier) rock. It will stay in place a lot better. Lastly, if you choose this option, choose a type of rock that is triangular in shape and not round. Triangular rock locks itself into place and stays put much better than round rocks that have big void spaces and are susceptible to rolling out of place.
wantonamara Z8 CenTex
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Maybe one should incorporate asmall waterfall feature in the drainage area? It sounds like it wants to be one.

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