10 Types Of Landscaping Rocks Every Homeowner Should Know
Garden Landscape With Gravel, Limestone, and Green Shrubs.
While landscaping brings greenery to many people's minds, rocks are an important part of landscaping, too. Perhaps more accurately a hardscaping element, the various types of landscaping rocks add a natural feel to an outdoor scheme.
In addition to adding color, texture, and structure to the yard, landscape rocks can provide a low-maintenance option for walkable surfaces, mulch for planter beds, and a material for features such as fire pits and retaining walls.
RELATED: The Invincible Yard: 25 Ideas for Lazy Landscaping
1. FlagstoneA grey flagstone walkway surrounding flower beds full of daffodils
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Flagstone makes for quality patio rocks and paths because of its consistent flatness and durability. Since most flagstone slabs are flat and level, they can easily create a safe walkway with little variation in the height of the stones. Comparable in price to concrete pavers, they require additional effort to install, due to their varying shapes, sizes, and thicknesses.
Common types of flagstone include sandstone, slate, bluestone, limestone, and quartzite. Sandstone and limestone tend to be the least expensive of the bunch.
Best For: Walkways and patios
2. Pea Gravelpea gravel landscaping rocks in a home zen garden
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Pea gravel is often used in driveways, walkways, playgrounds, dog runs, and other high-traffic areas. It's also a frequent filler around larger stones or for garden mulch. Additional practical uses include incorporating it into projects to improve drainage in wet areas, where water runs off, and even around some types of underground plumbing.
Because it's permeable, pea gravel is eco-friendly and shouldn't cause any runoff issues. The small size of pea gravel results in few gaps, which helps minimize weed growth.
Best For: Driveways, pathways, patios, dog runs, and drainage
3. River RockRiver rock fill surrounding a home wildflower garden
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Slightly larger than pea gravel, river rock is a smooth sedimentary, igneous, or metamorphic rock that comes from rivers and creeks. There are roughly dozens of shades of black, gray, brown, and green river rock to choose from, and they're usually up to 3 inches in diameter. River rock can also feature stripes, striations, or speckles. One unifying trait is that all river rock has been worn down by moving water, so it has a smooth surface.
Like pea gravel, these garden rocks are often used for drainage, for walkways, and for filler between stepping stones. It's also used in water features and in dry river beds, as well as an alternative to mulch in garden beds.
Best For: Pathways, patios, water features, and drainage
4. Crushed StoneCrushed stone rock garden containing a boulder and small green shrubbery
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Crushed stone is a low-maintenance choice for mulched beds, walking paths, driveways, and patios, or as an underlayment. While gravel occurs naturally, crushed stone is a byproduct of mining. Common types of crushed stone are limestone and granite, which are passed through a crushing machine to create 1-inch stones with sharp edges. The larger crushed rock is best as an underlayment or as mulch and runoff control where there is no foot traffic.
Smaller crushed rock (also called crusher fine or crusher run) consists of smaller particles mixed with dust that can harden to form a walkable surface. Because it's inorganic, crushed stone doesn't decompose like other types of mulch, and because it's permeable, it enables draining and allows rain to reach plant roots or groundwater. Crushed limestone can add nutrients and reduce the acidity level of the soil. It can also trap heat, an important consideration when placing crushed stone.
Best For: Paths, driveways, mulch, underlayment
5. BouldersLarge boulder border surrounding a garden bed of wildflowers and Aspen trees.
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Technically, boulders are stones that are 1 foot or more in diameter, but stones are commonly included in this category if they're too large for one person to pick up. Beyond that qualification, they can come in a range of sizes, shapes, and colors. Not all boulders are round; they can be flat or angled. In fact, flat boulders make good steps.
These large landscape rocks are sometimes used to build retaining walls or tiered yards because their weight can retain soil. They are also used as focal points or accents in the lawn, under trees, in planting beds, and along driveways and paths, where they add texture and attract the eye.
Because boulders usually have to be delivered and placed with the aid of equipment, the cost of adding these landscaping rocks to your yard can be high.
Best For: Garden accents, rock walls, and terracing
RELATED: What Is the Cost of Landscaping Rocks and River Stones?
6. FieldstoneFieldstone wall in front of trees with red foliage
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Fieldstone typically consists of large and round stones, and their makeup can consist of different types of rock. In days past, when farmers plowed new fields in rocky regions, they piled up the rocks as they unearthed them. They would then use these stones from the field to build walls. In fact, the stone wall is one of the first uses of stone.
These stone walls may be mortared or simply stacked, depending on the shape of the rocks. Flat field rocks often don't require mortar, and they can also be used as stepping stones to create garden paths. Large flat fieldstone can serve as seats around a firepit.
Best For: Rock walls, retaining walls, garden paths
7. Lava RockZen garden containing lava rock, sand, and succulent plants in terracotta dishes
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Lava rock, or volcanic rock, is made from the molten lava that volcanoes emit. Available in red or black, it tends to weigh less than many other landscaping stones. Thanks to its porosity, lava rock makes them a good choice for drainage areas, but these rocks are more often used as a mulch replacement that doesn't decompose.
Because lava rocks have a rough texture and irregular shape, they're typically not suitable for pathways. However, those same characteristics mean they work well in rock gardens, desertscapes, and fire pits. The texture and color of lava rock can be incorporated into rock landscaping ideas with a tropical, island, or desert theme.
Best For: Fire pits, mulch, rock gardens
8. RiprapCloseup of a gabion retaining wall made of riprap and a metal wire frame
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Riprap, aka shot rock, isn't the most handsome of yard rocks, but it is practical and even necessary for specific sites. Principally used along shorelines, stream banks, spillways, culverts, storm drains, or other waterways to limit erosion, riprap consists of large stones interlocked together. In home landscapes, it can be used in gabion walls, an affordable and effective type of retaining wall.
Rocks typically range from 2 to 24 inches. The diversity in size enhances interlocking. Alternatively, smaller rocks can go into grout or cement applications in which the binder helps hold the aggregate together.
In addition to preventing erosion, riprap walls along the water's edge can provide a clean look, are easy to maintain, eco-friendly, and long-lasting. However, they don't work on very steep slopes, can be expensive to repair, won't prevent flooding, and can inhibit some wildlife from easily accessing either the water or the shore because they are difficult to walk on.
Best For: Waterfront property, ponds, and retaining walls
9. Cobblestonecobblestone pathway in home landscape
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Made of durable natural stones such as granite, limestone, or basalt, cobblestone is sold in small blocks. Belgian blocks are a popular type of cobblestone because they are fairly uniform, easing the task of installation. They require little maintenance and are easy to repair if needed.
In addition to being one of the most durable surfaces, cobblestone imparts an old-world feel that can add charm and elegance to a driveway, pathway, or patio. It tends to be an expensive choice but conveys an aura of sophistication and history that can add value to a home—while greatly enhancing the look of certain architectural styles, such as English Tudor, French country, and colonial houses.
Best For: Driveways, driveway aprons, walking paths, patios
10. Brick ChipsBrick chip planter bed with green shrubs planted in it, surrounded by gray brick path.
Photo: istockphoto.Com
Brick chips are made from bricks that have been crushed and screened. If you're looking for unique landscaping ideas with rocks, choosing brick chips can be an effective alternative to mulch or ground cover in flower beds. This is because brick chips don't decay, fade, or attract insects. They also help the soil retain moisture and maintain temperature, both of which promote the growth of healthy plants. Because they're porous, they allow water to permeate the soil beneath them.
Brick chips are also used for paths and trails, as well as for baseball warning tracks—the wide strip of dirt along the wall or fence that goes around the track.
Best For: Mulch alternative
FAQ About Landscaping Rocks Q. What is the most popular landscape rock?Lava rock and pea gravel are among the most popular types of landscaping rocks, followed by crushed granite, boulders, river rock, gravel, brick chips, marble rocks, and flagstone. However, the popularity and availability of landscape rocks varies by region and use.
Q. What is the least expensive rock for landscaping?Pea gravel is the cheapest landscape rock offered by most retailers, priced at around $4 to $5 for a 40 or 50-pound bag.
Q. What size gravel is best for landscaping?The best size of gravel depends on the intended landscaping use and type of rock. To line or mulch a garden bed with smooth gravel, use rocks 1- to 2-inches in diameter. Generally, 10 to 18 mm (about .4 to .7 inch) is the best size for driveways; it doesn't look too large and won't easily be displaced by tires. Crusher fines, or decomposed granite, works best for pathways when ¼ inch or smaller.
Q. What color of rock is best for a home landscape?It depends on the look you want. White rock can brighten dark corners; black lava rock suits a modern or contemporary design. Terra cotta adds warmth and a tropical effect.
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12 Expert Landscaping Ideas For The Front Of The House
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Your front yard, regardless of its size, plays an important role in your home's overall curb appeal. Attractive landscaping, however, requires more than just a beautiful lawn. A well-landscaped front yard should take into account the style and size of your house, how it's sited on the property, the amount of sunlight the yard receives, and how it can best be enhanced by plantings, bushes, shrubs, and trees. The front yard should also include hardscaping features, from walkways and driveways to raised beds, planters, and decorative containers. What are the best practices for front-of-house landscaping? To learn more, we reached out to Dorian Winslow, certified landscape designer and owner and president of Womanswork, an online retailer of gardening apparel and supplies.
1. Find a Focal PointEvery view in your landscape should have a focal point. "For your front yard, the focal point is the front door, so be sure you don't hide it," advises certified landscape designer and Womanswork.Com president, Dorian Winslow. If you are considering major plantings such as trees, think about how they will frame the front door as you approach your house.
RELATED: How to Pick a Front Door Color That's Right for Your Home
2. Make Good Use of Ground CoversGround covers are a low-maintenance alternative and complement to grass. "Because they're low to the ground and dense, they give a neat appearance with very little maintenance," says Winslow. "They also allow you to introduce spring bulbs to your landscape, because the ground cover hides the dead leaves after the bulbs bloom."
RELATED: The Best Low-Maintenance Ground Cover Plants for Your Property
3. Set a Direct PathWhen considering the pathway from the driveway to your front door, "remember that our natural instinct is to take the most direct route to where we're going," notes Winslow. A curved path to the front door is nice, but a meandering path may not be. "If you want to take your visitors on a circuitous route, be sure you plant densely along each side of your path."
RELATED: The Right Path: 15 Wonderful Walkway Designs
4. Rethink Foundation Plants"Avoid treating foundation plants as if they were little soldiers pressed up along the perimeter of your house," advises Winslow. "For a two-story house, foundation plantings should extend at least 8 feet out from the house." When you're planting shrubs, think about how they will look in 3 to 5 years. "You don't want to select varieties that will block your windows," she adds.
RELATED: The Best Shrubs for the Front of the House
5. Add Some PrivacyIf you are looking to add some privacy in your yard, consider a buffer of shrubs, suggests Winslow. "A buffer that includes multiple plants at varying heights can accomplish the same thing as a solid hedge or a fence but is far more welcoming," says Winslow. Alternatively, if you are just trying to block the view from a particular room—or a part of your yard from your neighbors—plant a couple of trees or shrubs with strategic precision.
RELATED: The 15 Best Trees and Shrubs to Grow for Backyard Privacy
6. Deter the DeerIf deer are an issue in your area, select shrubs that are deciduous (lose their leaves in the winter) but retain their form even when their leaves are gone.
RELATED: 17 Deer-Resistant Plants, Flowers, and Shrubs
7. Consider Your Home's Orientation"Your house is a large object that will block the sun for part of every day," notes Winslow. If your house faces north, the front yard is never going to get great light. If it faces east or west, it may get searing sun for part of the day and then no sun for the remainder. Make your plant selections with your house's orientation in mind.
RELATED: 25 Shade-Loving Plants for Where the Sun Doesn't Shine
8. Make Long-Term Plans for TreesIf you're planting trees in front of your house, plan 12 to 15 years out. They are considered permanent fixtures in the landscape, so you want to be sure they are not too close to the house. "If you are thinking of selling your house, a tree can be an asset—unless it is one that prospective owners think they will have to remove. Then it's a liability," cautions Winslow.
RELATED: The 20 Best Dwarf Trees for the Front Yard
9. Dress Up the DrivewayTo enhance a standard asphalt driveway, install a border of Belgian block (more expensive) or cement pavers (less expensive) along the edges of your driveway. A border gives the driveway a more finished and "expensive" look.
RELATED: 10 Creative Driveway Ideas Your Neighbors Will Want to Copy
10. Create an Entrance"If your driveway is a straight line from the street to the house," says Winslow, "soften the line with a curved planting bed where the driveway meets the front corner of your yard." This will create a pleasing sweeping effect as you approach the house.
RELATED: 11 Eye-Catching Driveway Entrance Ideas
11. Add a Flowering TreeA flowering tree provides wonderful curb appeal and is delightfully welcoming for those few weeks in spring when it's in bloom. Flowering varieties provide color and fragrance and, because they tend to be smaller trees, they usually don't block the house.
RELATED: 11 Flowering Trees Every DIY Landscaper Should Know
12. Keep It SimpleDon't crowd your front yard with lots of objects or plants. Have a clear structure to the design and an obvious focal point. Keep it simple.
Pioneer Landscape Centers Launches ECommerce Capabilities For Bulk Landscape And Hardscape Materials
Pioneer Landscape Centers Launches eCommerce Capabilities for Bulk Landscape and Hardscape Materials
Pioneer Landscape Centers, a regional supplier of landscape and hardscape materials in the western U.S., has launched a new eCommerce site and a handy mobile app that enables customers to see what products are available at each site and to order materials in bulk.
"When consumers buy bulk bark or rock at a big box store, they get a pallet of bagged material," said Craig Mauk, Pioneer's chief operating officer. "We're giving people the ability to buy rock and mulch by the ton or yard and to spare themselves the hassle of opening bag after bag of product. Plus, the savings over local garden stores are substantial when buying in bulk."
The new eCommerce site and app can be easily found at www.Pioneerco.Com and supports both iOS and Android platforms. Both the eCommerce site and the app allow customers to see exactly what material is available at nearby Pioneer retail centers and to order products for either delivery or pick-up.
The new eCommerce site and app have been enhanced to give customers easily accessed and valuable information. For homeowners and others who aren't landscape professionals, the site has educational features. Each product is shown in at least three different product photos plus a lifestyle shot that shows what the product looks like in an outdoor setting. The products also have detailed descriptions, ideas on how to use them and pricing, so people with little landscaping background can learn which materials fit various applications.
Finally, "do-it-yourselfers" will benefit from the order history they'll build online. When it's time to freshen up mulch or fill in holes with some landscaping rock, the eCommerce site and app will show customers what they bought before so they know what to reorder.
For contractors, the eCommerce site and app allow them to check product availability, order materials and save time with speedy pick-up or scheduled delivery. On the business end, the new eCommerce capabilities also let contractors see past invoices and current statements, as well as the ability to request credit increases. Registered Pioneer contractors will also see special pricing for their accounts.
"Online ordering spares our customers from having to come into the store to see if we have what they need. They can tell from the website," Mauk said. "This new eCommerce capability will be a huge time saver for contractors and consumers alike."
"Pioneer's focus on innovation has culminated in this new customer-centric offering and exemplifies Pioneer's commitment to providing a top-notch customer experience," Mauk concluded.
About Pioneer
Established in 1968, Pioneer is a leading distributor of landscaping and hardscaping materials in the western United States. With production facilities in Colorado and Arizona, Pioneer operates 34 retail distribution centers and a fleet of over 250 trucks, making Pioneer uniquely positioned to serve commercial, wholesale and residential customers.
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Gabrielle Puccio Pulse8 [email protected] (919) 610-6694
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