Stone landscaping is a versatile, natural, and timeless option for your garden. It provides ground cover, a backdrop for flowers and plants, and a decorative touch that adds character and interest to your landscape design. There are many types of stone landscaping to choose from, including pea gravel, river rock, crushed granite gravel, and flagstone. Read on to learn about them, their benefits, and how to shop for them.
Pea Gravel
Pea gravel, also known as CM-16 or tan pea rock, is a smooth, naturally formed stone about the size of green peas. It is used for decorative landscaping, pathways, and around pools and waterscapes.
This stone is a wonderful choice for updating the appearance of your garden or patio and requires minimal upkeep. It comes in various colors: gray, cream, tan, gold, black, and white.
Pea gravel is also environmentally friendly, as it supports proper drainage and helps keep your backyard free of puddles. It also adds a beautiful, natural aesthetic that works well in cottage gardens or modern landscapes.
River Rock
Landscape products like river rock are a type of stone that has been smoothed and rounded by moving water. It can come from beaches, streams, rivers, or oceans in various shapes and colors.
Whether used as a dry creek bed, a decorative element, or in place of mulch, river rocks add texture and aesthetic appeal to landscaping projects. They can also be used to control erosion and enhance soil drainage.
Landscapers often use a mulch to protect their flowerbeds and other planting areas from weed growth, conserve water, regulate plant temperature, and keep soil from splashing while watering. However, mulch can wear away after a few years of use and may need to be replaced.
In addition, mulch can damage plants and erode the topsoil of sloped yards and gardens. Fortunately, river rock is an excellent choice for these applications because it can effectively prevent erosion and runoff.
Crushed Granite Gravel
Crushed Granite Gravel is an affordable and practical landscaping material. It comes in various colors and textures and may be used for multiple applications.
It’s also durable and easy to install. In addition, it doesn’t decay and won’t require any special maintenance or replacements, making it an excellent choice for landscapers looking to save time and money.
It’s a great alternative to mulch. It also lasts longer than mulch, so it’s less expensive to use over the long haul.
Flagstone
Flagstone is one of the most versatile materials for stone landscaping. It comes in various shapes, sizes, and colors, depending on the type of flagstone you’re using and the region where it was mined.
The most common use for flagstone is to create a patio. It is an excellent space for entertaining family and friends and a way to take advantage of the beautiful scenery around your home.
Another benefit of flagstone is its ability to help with drainage issues in your landscape. It can be laid dry, which makes it more absorbent than poured concrete or other wet-laid materials.
Boulders
Of all the types of stone landscaping, boulders add a dramatic effect to landscaping, whether you use them in a clearing or a grassy spot overlooking a view. They can also create a series of retaining walls on a sloped property.
Landscapers also use boulders in groupings for a sculptural look to garden beds and a variety of water features. For the best results, boulders should be partially set into the ground for safety and to help them resist shifting, bending, or cracking from stress.
Plants, shrubs, and other vegetation around the bases of boulders soften their edges and help them blend with a plant bed.
