There are several unique advantages to using rocks in a landscape or outdoor garden, one of which is the naturally attractive element it provides.
When used correctly, landscape rocks and boulders will add a subtle touch to your home’s exterior that works to bring the surrounding features together.
In addition, landscape rocks also double as protective barriers and markers to keep weeds from sprouting up in undesirable locations. To get the most use and benefit from your landscape rocks, though, you need to choose the right ones.
Here we’ll take a closer look at some of the things to consider when choosing rocks for your landscape.
Size
Landscape rocks come in a wide variety of sizes, ranging from tiny pebbles to large boulders. You’ll want to pay close attention to the size of any rocks you are considering using in your landscape or garden.
Ultimately, size is a personal preference that only you can decide, as both small and large rocks can work when used correctly. With that said, you’ll need to use a greater amount of rocks if you choose small ones.
Depending on the size of your landscape and how much work you intend on putting into it, you may need several bags of small landscape rocks, which is both costly and overwhelming.
Most experienced landscape artists and gardeners will agree that it’s far easier to use just a couple large boulders than bringing in several bags of small rocks.
Color
The color is also something that you’ll want to consider when choosing rocks for a landscape. As you can expect, black and other dark-colored rocks will absorb more of the sun’s heat; thus, becoming quite hot during the daytime hours.
This generally won’t be a problem for most people unless you intend on using the rocks around a flowerbed or as stepping stones. Placing dark rocks around a flower bed may actually burn and cook them, which is something no gardener wants to see happen.
A better choice would be a soft-colored limestone or moss rock. With their maroon-reddish color, lava rocks fall somewhere in the middle in terms of heat generated. They are also extremely porous, though, which means they will absorb plenty of water passing by.
If you are trying to prevent a flower bed from getting washed out by the rain, place some lava rocks in the flower bed. Doing so is a simple and effective way to protect your plants against the dangers of flooding.
Flat Base
A lesser-known feature that many people overlook is the shape of the rock’s base. Setting up large boulders and rocks with uneven bases will contribute to weed growth, increasing the difficult of their maintenance.
When purchasing landscape rocks, look for ones with a flat base that will essentially smother the ground underneath them. While this won’t completely prevent all weeds from popping up, the flat base will help reduce the number tremendously.
By smothering the ground, there’s less room for weeds to spring up, making them easier to maintain.
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I’ve been trying to decide what kind of rocks to use in my garden. When I went to go check some out, I found that there are a ton of different kinds! I’ll make sure that I look for them based on size and color. Thank you very much for sharing!
This is some great information, and I appreciate your point that it’s easier to use several large boulders in your landscape. I’ve been wanting to make some changes in my landscape, and I’d really like to incorporate some rocks to add visual interest and cut back the need for watering. To keep things simple, I’ll definitely look into using just a few really large rocks instead of a lot of small ones. Thanks for the great post!
Such a great post here.
Definitely a great overview people can refer to when choosing rocks for their landscape.
My wife and I have been thinking about getting new rocks for our garden area, but we didn’t know how to choose the right stuff. I really like that you say to consider the colors and how much heat they will absorb. It would be nice to know that the garden isn’t going to get too hot because we chose an odd color.
I agree with you in that using blog rocks for your landscape can help you save since you would only need a few of them to get the design you want. As I see it, taking the time to plan carefully and to make a map of the type of landscape you want can help you avoid having to move your rocks over and over until it looks best. We just moved to a new house and it looks like putting a few boulders on the lawn can help its appeal so I want to make sure I find the best professionals to help us find them and move them to the place where I want them.
I’ve been thinking about replacing some of the grass in my front yard with rocks. That could help me cut back a lot on water usage. I agree that color is important to consider when choosing rocks. I like the idea of getting black rocks, but it’s good to keep in mind that they can get really hot, like you said.
My fiance and I have been thinking about remodeling our landscape, and we are thinking about adding rocks. I like that you recommend considering the size you want and require depending on how you’ll use that determined area. I will definitely pay attention to the details, and the image I want my landscape to portray to be able to choose the right rocks.