A balanced landscape is composed of lush greenery as well as the harsher appearance of rocks and stones. While we covered major hardscape materials, such as concrete patios and paths made of pavers, in our last blog post, we didn’t dive into the smaller rock varieties that can add a valuable element to your landscaping. Let’s take a look at a few of the many types of landscaping rocks available and how you can use them effectively.
Pea Gravel
As the name implies, these landscaping rocks are small, rounded rocks about the size of a pea. You can find variations in the size of pea gravel, including half of an inch, one-fourth of an inch, and five-eighths of an inch. Pea gravel typically comes in color mixes of tan, brown, and white to complement the other elements of your landscaping. You can find other color varieties of pea gravel, such as rainbow, but these will typically come at a higher cost.
Pea gravel is a very popular alternative to mulch. It makes as good of a weed barrier as mulch but it doesn’t decompose. The small size of pea gravel causes it to have low heat retention, meaning that any annuals and perennials near the gravel won’t overheat. Many homeowners also use pea gravel to cover driveways, spaces between stone pavers, and pathways that receive a medium amount of traffic.
As far as landscape supplies go, pea gravel is an extremely versatile and cost-effective choice for homeowners. You can use it to artfully fill in spaces that would otherwise be plain and boring. The most maintenance you need to do with pea gravel is sweeping it back into its area. It has a tendency to stray, especially if there is no edging, and this can look messy if a lot of the gravel comes out of place.
River Rock
River rock is rounded and smooth like pea gravel, but it comes in a wider variety of sizes. You can find river rock ranging from one-quarter of an inch to six inches in diameter. These landscaping rocks are available in a wide variety of colors, from whites and tans to dark and light grays. The range in color, size, and shape of river rock is meant to mimic the rocks you would naturally find by a river or other body of water.
You can use river rock as mulch, but be sure to do so only in the shade or with heat-tolerant plants. Unlike pea gravel, these stones retain heat from the sun and can overheat plants that prefer to keep their roots cool. With its large size, you can make appealing landscape features with just river rock alone. You could use river rock to create a dry creek bed for purely aesthetic purposes or to direct drainage through your property. Homeowners also use river rock to decoratively edge or accent a garden.
When using river rock, you may want to install landscape fabric underneath it. This will help prevent this heavier rock variety from settling into the soil below it and creating worrying dips in your yard’s foundation. You can use a blower to get rid of debris like leaves and soil that settle on the rocks, just remember to remove any weeds that pop up to ensure they don’t get out of control.
Flagstone
While pea gravel and river rock are primarily used to create natural and aesthetically-pleasing borders and features, flagstone is often used as functional stepping stones. These wide and flat landscaping rocks can create beautiful pathways that wind through a garden or entire patios that come off of the back of your home. Flagstone is available in a range of colors, allowing you to customize it to the overall look of your home and garden.
If you decide to lay down some flagstone, remember to first put down a bed of sand. This initial layer will give your flagstone project a stable surface as well as good drainage. In between the flagstone, you can place pea gravel as mentioned above or plant low-growing ground cover, such as creeping thyme, for a more natural look.
If you want to give your landscaping a facelift, consider focusing on the non-living elements. By adding some well-chosen landscaping rocks, you can create the perfect aesthetic balance in your yard while also providing functionality. Contact Gateway Home and Garden Center today to learn more about the rocks you can incorporate into your landscape design.
