All About Using Landscape Stones and Rocks

In March we talked about 3 uses for gravel in landscaping, but what about working with larger weathered stone and freshly quarried rocks? Landscape stones and rocks don’t exactly fit between stepping stones or work as the primary material in a Zen garden, yet they can still offer a great deal in adding to the curb appeal of your home. They are especially great for adding texture to a plant-filled garden and for incorporating more natural elements in your garden design. Wondering how you can use landscape stones or rocks in your own landscaping projects? Read on to learn about some of the most common uses for them in landscaping.

Garden Accents

One of the easiest ways to incorporate stones and rocks in your landscaping is to select larger, more attractive pieces and strategically place them around the plants in your garden to serve as garden accents. This will give your garden texture, interesting variations in height, and a more natural look. Our boulders and larger decorative rocks are perfect for this landscape rock use.

Dry River Bed

Another option is to create the look of a dry river bed with a spread of meandering landscape rocks. Dry river beds look best accented with larger stones and lined with decorative foliage and flowers along the sides. The best landscape rocks to use for these are two- to four-inch decorative rocks and slightly smaller smooth pebbles.

Retaining Wall

Retaining walls are used to hold soil in place and prevent erosion. They are great for creating tiers in a landscaped space or for working with sloping terrain. Some retaining walls are created with landscape rocks without the use of a holding material, while others make use of concrete to hold the rocks in place.

Rock Border

On a simpler level, another option with landscape rock is to line the edges of a garden with larger rocks or stones, leaving at least a few inches of dirt between the edge of the rock border and the grass.

Water Installation

Landscape rocks are also the perfect complement to a water installation in your landscaping. Rocks can be used to line a cascading waterfall, or to serve as the foundation for a backyard pond.

We at Asphalt Materials, located in West Jordan, Utah, carry a wide range of pebbles, stones, rocks, and boulders for landscapers to work with, and we’re equipped to answer any and all landscape rock questions you may have. Feel free to explore our Rock & Sand page to see our selection, and stop by in person so you can get started on creating a naturally beautiful landscape suited perfectly to you and your home.