Landscaping with Rocks

Landscaping with rocks will add character to your landscape. As well as provide year round interest. There are so many uses for rocks in the landscape

Dry Stacked Stone Walls
Mortared retaining Walls
Stone Walkways
Stone Patio's
Waterfalls
Garden Ponds
Rock Gardens
Stone Paths

When dealing with natural stone or rock keep in mind that the natural look and feel of Mother Nature should be applied when landscaping with rocks. But there are really no set rules or standards to follow.

Unlike landscaping with plants, where if you choose the wrong plant or don't like it after awhile you can remove or replace it, but when you landscape with rocks it's usally there to stay. So take your time in coming up with ideas and the planning of your rock landscape.

As much as I would like to be able to give you a perfect one size fits all idea or plan, that is impossible. But I will give you some ideas and tips to get you started on project.

Tips for Landscaping with Rocks

Do it Yourself or hire a Landscape Professional. Rock Landscaping is heavy, hard work think about this first.
When working with Rock or Stone prepare your base. Packing or tamping the soil or any other material you might be working with will save you lots of work and time in building your landscape project and in the future with having to redo it.
Remember stones and rocks are heavy and will settle in time. If you have a large area I suggest renting a motorized tamper to perform this job. For smaller areas you can you a hand tamper.
Rock gardens look there best when they are large and bold not small and puny this looks as if was a after thought.
When choosing rocks use the same type, but vary the sizes. It looks more natural.
Rock Landscaping looks the best on a slope.

Amount of Rock

If you are a do-it-yourselfer you will be amazed at the tonnage of rock you will need to do a landscape project. Most places that sell rock will be able to tell you how much you will need by supplying them with your measurements.

If you are building walls you will need the linear feet and how high you are going to build it. For paths, patios and walkways the square footage of the area is what you will need.

Gathering Rock Ideas

Getting ideas always seems to be the most difficult part of landscaping. I'm constantly searching for ideas so my projects do not become cookie cutter looking.

Drive around and see what Mother Nature has created with rocks and boulders. Take pictures so you will have them to refer back to.
Go to your local landscape rock supply business. Look and see what types of stone they have.
Take a tour through new upscale housing additions. The entryways to them are becoming popular to landscape with rocks.

Landscaping with rocks provides a permanent structure to your landscape. By this I mean it will be there always, never changing through all seasons.