4 Stone and Rock Landscaping Ideas

When you think about landscaping, plants and flowers often come first to mind. However, you should also consider the important role that rocks and stones play in your overall landscaping layout. For a natural look that is both unique and suited to the climate, try one or more of these four stone and rock landscaping ideas to take your landscape to the next level.

What are the Common Types of Gravel?

You may have a certain view in mind of what gravel should look like. While your idea may be accurate, there are also other options available. Gravel comes in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. Most gravel comes from grey granite and is sifted so that the gravel is more or less of a uniform size, but there are variations in both color and size. You may select from crushed gravel, river run gravel that has been made naturally smooth, or cobbled gravel, which includes larger pieces.

Ground Cover

There are so many reasons to trade out your lawn for stones, the best of which is decreasing your water consumption. You can easily switch from grass to gravel, with an attractive property that is easy to maintain. Some people like to use mulch, but mulch must be replaced at least once a year. With the use of gravel for ground cover, you can worry less about your water bill and just enjoy the plant life you want to put in. Depending on the color you choose, the gravel highlights some of the ideal features of your yard without distracting the eye.

Rocks as a Focal Point

On the opposite end of the design spectrum, you might choose to make a particularly engaging rock or boulder the primary focus of your landscaping design. It may be a rock that you have kept from your childhood home, or something you bought from a landscape designer. Either way, you can make it the centerpiece of your yard. Select complimentary colors and use foliage artistically, so that the boulder appears bold and singular as you view the space.

Borders for Water Features

While you can certainly use cement to border water features such as ponds and fountains, it is much more natural-looking to use rocks instead. Take a selection of stones that are approximately the same size, in uniform color or with a variety of hues that coordinate with your nearby plants and flowers. Arrange the rocks around the water’s edge, to help keep the water in its place and provide a clear delineation between the water feature and other parts of the property.

Stone and Rock Landscaping with Plants

Ultimately, rocks are meant to be an important part of the landscape. In fact, there are ways that you can encourage stones and foliage grow together to make your yard look as if it had come straight out of natural land. Identify a few sizeable stones or larger rocks that deserve a place in your garden. Surround them with plants that will grow comfortably around them, such as succulents. Over time, the space will settle and expand in such a way that it will appear to be timeless.

Stone and rock landscaping belongs in your yard every bit as much as plants, flowers and trees. As ground cover, a focal point, borders or in symbiosis with plant life, rocks can improve your landscaping and make it more energy-efficient. There are virtually unlimited styles available, and you can pick the one that works best for you.