Landscaping rock (stone) is a popular and time-tested hardscape material used to bring out the beauty of plants, construct useful landscape features, add definition or an accent to your property, and effectively manage problem areas. It is durable, natural, and requires no maintenance. What may be most impressive is its versatility. However, along with that versatility comes a diversity that may be challenging for new homeowners to sift through: Some projects call for small landscaping rock, others for medium-sized stones, and still others for boulders. Even within those broad categories, there are different products suited to different needs. That's why we’ll explore, below, eight different types of landscaping rock and the factors you should consider in choosing the right one for your yard.
01of 08 Marble grits While most types of mulch are organic and decompose over time, crushed stone is an inorganic type. It comes from stone quarries. The stone (commonly granite) passes through a crushing machine. The end result is an aggregate of small (about 1 inch) stones with an angular shape. Although it has other uses (such as underlayment for patios), crushed stone is especially useful in mulching around certain types of plants and in creating a patch of yard where dogs will be kept. Dogs can destroy a lawn. In contrast with grass, crushed stone offers a low-maintenance option that minimizes the mess dogs make through digging, urination, and wear and tear. As a mulch in planting beds, crushed stone works better in some instances than others. In a sunny area, stone gets hot in the summer. This heat retention may bother some annuals and perennials. Trees and shrubs are generally tough enough that they are not bothered. To be on the safe side, use crushed stone only around drought-resistant plants, and do not apply it directly up against your plants. Crushed stone is available at stone yards and can also be ordered through major home improvement centers; you'll probably need to have it delivered (unless you own a truck). It costs more than most other types of mulch, but you recoup your expense over time because of its durability. Pros
More durable than most mulches
Permits water and oxygen to penetrate into soil
Some find appearance superior around trees, shrubs, cacti, and succulents
Cons
Non-organic: releases no nutrients
02of 08 Black Polished Pebbles Black polished pebbles are highly ornamental and widely available at home improvement centers. A benefit here, unlike with crushed stone, is that you can buy them by the bag. This puts you in better control as a DIY'er. If you don't need many of them, this also keeps the cost down somewhat, although they are more expensive than similar natural beach pebbles. To create a contrast, mix white marble pebbles with your black polished pebbles. They go by various other names, including black polished river rock and black polished beach pebbles Black polished pebbles are quartzite stones that have been tumble-polished to give them their shine. They have a wide variety of landscaping uses other than as accents in water features, including as:
Mulch to edge walkways, planting beds, and patios
Filler in between plants in container gardens
A dark element for contrast with lighter rocks in a dry creek bed
You can also buy natural beach pebbles. You might regard them as a better option because they're cheaper, although they lack the shine that people value in black polished pebbles (whose shine also makes them look darker). Moreover, the shine of the polished stones does fade over time, especially when subjected to full sun.
03of 08 River Rocks "River rocks" refers not to a geological classification but to a place of origin. Gathered from river beds, these stones have been rounded and smoothed by nature. They come in all sizes, from gravel to boulders. In fact, they look best in such a mix. You can order them online from home improvement centers. River rocks are tailor-made for dry creek beds, where, aesthetically, the aim is to create a natural-looking landscape feature. Besides appearance, though, dry creek beds have a practical function: If you have a hill on your land where excess water flows or collects, water may pool in areas where you don't want it to, such as near a house. You can address this drainage problem with a dry creek bed. When runoff gets bad, excess surface water is channeled down the dry creek bed to a place where it will be less problematic.
04of 08 Lava Rocks Like black polished pebbles, you can buy lava rocks in bags at home improvement centers at a reasonable price. While red is a popular color, they also come in black. Choose your color based on your design needs. Lava rocks can work well in rock gardens as accents. If possible, look for a color match with your house or another landscape feature. Your color selection may even be influenced by the plant material in your rock garden. Red lava rocks look good with hen-and-chicks plants (Sempervivum tectorum) when they turn red, for example, while white flowers contrast nicely with black lava rocks. Lava rocks are also well-suited to fire pits.
05of 08 Flagstone Flagstone is sedimentary rock of various types (sandstone, slate, etc.) that has been quarried and sold in flat slabs. Its flatness and durability readily suggest its use as a paving stone upon which people walk in walkways and patios. For informal walkways, wood chips and other materials may be fine; but, for formal walkways, it's hard to beat flagstone. With its irregular shapes, it's more interesting to look at than brick or concrete pavers. Generally, a mix of colors looks best. Alternatively, if you are trying to match or complement your house color, you can build a flagstone walkway or patio in one color. You can buy flagstone at stone yards and through some home improvement centers. While flagstone is not expensive compared to concrete pavers, the labor involved in installing it is greater. So install yourself if you can. Building a flagstone walkway is well within the skill set of the average DIY'er.
06of 08 Cobblestone Cobblestones exude a traditional charm that makes them irresistible for some people. A quarry product, cobblestones (or "Belgian blocks") come from basalt, limestone, or, especially, granite that has been cut into a rectangular shape. A popular use for them is in driveway aprons. This is particularly popular with people who like the look of cobblestone pavers but can't afford to build a whole cobblestone driveway. If you're doing the job yourself, you can pick up cobblestones at a stone yard. The most durable of the pavers, the drawbacks of cobblestones are cost and roughness of surface: If you're having them installed
07of 08 Fieldstone As with river rocks, "fieldstone" refers not to a geological classification but to the place this type of rock originally called home. Farmers plowing their fields in rocky country encountered a multitude of stones. To get them out of the way, they would pile them up somewhere away from where they'd be growing crops. As the need arose, they might harvest rocks from the pile to build a wall out of this "fieldstone." The stone wall is one of the oldest uses of stone. Stone walls come in many styles. The most basic distinction is between mortared and mortarless walls. But a variety of rocks can also be used. Flat ones are best for mortarless walls (and also work well in stepping stone paths). If your fieldstone is rounded, mortar may be necessary to hold the pieces together. Stone retaining walls are a distinct sub-class; they have specialized requirements that, in some cases, call for professional help. You can order fieldstone from a home improvement center or a stone yard; either way, you'll probably have to have it delivered. It's heavy, but it's not particularly expensive if you settle for the ubiquitous local fieldstone in your area.
08of 08 Boulders distance While, technically, a "boulder" is any rock that measures about a foot or more in diameter, the term, in common usage, is restricted to a rock that is too heavy for a person to move unaided. Shape plays no part in the classification: A boulder can be rounded or can have flat sides. Boulders cut across many rock types, including granite, limestone, marble, and quartzite; cost will be dependent on rock type, as well as factors such as where you live. Available at stone yards, you'll probably need to have boulders delivered to your property. If you've hired landscapers for the installation, they'll make the necessary arrangements. In landscaping, boulders are typically thought of as rocks so massive that they show up from a distance and/or provide structure for landscape features. For example:
Make a big impression at a driveway entrance by flanking it with either rounded boulders or flat, pillar-like boulders. Choose a color for these accents that complements your house and/or other features in your yard.
Placed properly, boulders retain enough soil behind them to be useful in terracing a slight slope
Incorporate a boulder in your rock garden in a way that looks natural. Don't just place it on the surface: Bury most of it (as you would find it in nature), leaving just enough exposed to suggest how much lies under the surface.
Flat boulders are just the kind of massive slabs that are useful in constructing sturdy outdoor steps.
A boulder can be plumbed by a stonecutter to function as the central feature in a garden fountain
Choosing Landscaping Rock
There are four main factors to consider when buying landscaping rock: size, color, cost, and ease of use.
Small stones have a wide array of uses that simply don't apply to larger stones; for example, as mulch, because they allow for drainage. But large stones have uses that small ones don't; for example, in structural elements such as retaining walls, where stability is needed. Generally, the smaller the rocks, the better the drainage, and the larger the rocks, the greater the stability.
Color choices are more subjective. But the discriminating designer relishes opportunities to incorporate color so as to achieve matches, create interesting contrasts, etc.
Some types of rock have beautiful coloration but carry a high price tag (especially of a boulder size or if needed in great quantities) that will be prohibitive for some people. In such cases, look to plants for the colors you want, content to let less expensive landscaping rock serve as a backdrop.
Unlike many other landscaping rock projects, boulder installation is unsuited to the solo
Rocks are so common that most of us take them for granted—cursing when we hit them with the garden hoe or taking advantage of them to drive in tent pegs on summer camping trips.
To geologists, a rock is a natural substance composed of solid crystals of different minerals that have been fused together into a solid lump.
The minerals may or may not have been formed at the same time. What matters is that natural processes glued them all together.
There are three basic types of rock: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.
Extremely common in the Earth's crust, igneous rocks are volcanic and form from molten material. They include not only lava spewed from volcanoes, but also rocks like granite, which
Which type of rock is used for decoration?
The best known metamorphic rock used for decorative purposes is marble, formed by metamorphism of limestones or dolostone. Fossils are destroyed as the calcite or dolomite recrystallises, giving a sugary granular texture. Pure marble is white, and any colours are due to impurities.
Why are rocks used for decoration?
Decorative rocks are used to enhance the arrangement of earthen landforms and are an important part of landscaping. Such rocks can be used as arrangement materials to add beautiful elements to your gardens, yards, lawns, or other outdoor living areas.
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