Landscaping with Rock- BORING...OR IS IT?!
Prior to meeting Nic, I used to associate rock with adjectives such as boring, brown, desert, dull, rough…you get the idea. I had no idea that rock could be so much more! Landscaping with rock is one of the most affordable and easy ways to pull together any yard!
Rock has many functional purposes. Smaller gravel can be used to create walkways, driveways, and as an aggregate for concrete. Utilizing gravel rather than just dirt provides for better traction, helps keep the dust down, and is much more esthetically pleasing. Rock can also be used for drainage. It can be used to line flower beds, put in the bottom of flower pots, form a drainage route for runoff water, and help prevent and control erosion.
Landscaping with rock offers homeowners a ton of options as well. Rock can be simply used as filler or in place of grass. It can also be used, however, to make borders, paths, or even a beautiful rock garden. By incorporating small mounds in your landscape design, building small mounds around the perimeter of your trees, and laying rip rap to create a river bed, a yard can be drastically changed fairly easily. There are a variety of unique rock colors available today including: Apache Rose, Palomino Gold, Arizona Blonde, Yavapai Coral, Cherokee Sunset, and Desert Spice. With such a selection and such beautiful colors to choose from, you are sure to find the right color to not only accentuate your house, but also provide a focal point for your landscaping.
There is also a huge variety of rock sizes available. Small, smooth pea gravel is best used as a filler, to replace grass and mulch. Larger river rock can also be used as filler, but also is used for edging. Elegant, yet rustic flagstone can upgrade any yard. Being wide and flat, flagstone is excellent for use in pathways, patios, walls, or even edging. Finally, boulders are always a great way to add some architecture, color, and a dramatic focal point to any yard.
When landscaping with rock, it is vital to start with a clear, flat area. Remove any debris, grass, weeds, etc. We recommend lying between 2 to 3 inches of rock to get the richest look. It is important to spread out the rock evenly and level off. Additionally, spray off the rock when finished to remove all the dust! You might be surprised at how the color will change!