Landscape small rocks
8 Types of Landscaping Rocks and How to Choose One
By
David Beaulieu
David Beaulieu
David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Published on 06/21/22
Reviewed by
Kathleen Miller
Reviewed by Kathleen Miller
Kathleen Miller is a highly-regarded Master Gardener and Horticulturist who shares her knowledge of sustainable living, organic gardening, farming, and landscape design. She founded Gaia's Farm and Gardens, a working sustainable permaculture farm, and writes for Gaia Grows, a local newspaper column. She has over 30 years of experience in gardening and sustainable farming.
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Landscaping rock (stone) is a popular and time-tested hardscape material used to bring out the beauty of plants, construct useful landscape features, add definition or an accent to your property, and effectively manage problem areas. It is durable, natural, and requires no maintenance. What may be most impressive is its versatility. However, along with that versatility comes a diversity that may be challenging for new homeowners to sift through: Some projects call for small landscaping rock, others for medium-sized stones, and still others for boulders. Even within those broad categories, there are different products suited to different needs. That's why we’ll explore, below, eight different types of landscaping rock and the factors you should consider in choosing the right one for your yard.
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01 of 08
Crushed Stone
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Best for: Mulch
While most types of mulch are organic and decompose over time, crushed stone is an inorganic type.
It comes from stone quarries. The stone (commonly granite) passes through a crushing machine. The end result is an aggregate of small (about 1 inch) stones with an angular shape. Although it has other uses (such as underlayment for patios), crushed stone is especially useful in mulching around certain types of plants and in creating a patch of yard where dogs will be kept. Dogs can destroy a lawn. In contrast with grass, crushed stone offers a low-maintenance option that minimizes the mess dogs make through digging, urination, and wear and tear.
As a mulch in planting beds, crushed stone works better in some instances than others. In a sunny area, stone gets hot in the summer. This heat retention may bother some annuals and perennials. Trees and shrubs are generally tough enough that they are not bothered. To be on the safe side, use crushed stone only around drought-resistant plants, and do not apply it directly up against your plants.
Crushed stone is available at stone yards and can also be ordered through major home improvement centers; you'll probably need to have it delivered (unless you own a truck).
It costs more than most other types of mulch, but you recoup your expense over time because of its durability.Pros
More durable than most mulches
Permits water and oxygen to penetrate into soil
Some find appearance superior around trees, shrubs, cacti, and succulents
Cons
Non-organic: releases no nutrients
Isn't as soft to walk on as wood or straw mulch
Leaves sink between the stones, break down, and become soil weeds can sprout in
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02 of 08
Black Polished Pebbles
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Best for: Accents in water features
Black polished pebbles are highly ornamental and widely available at home improvement centers. A benefit here, unlike with crushed stone, is that you can buy them by the bag. This puts you in better control as a DIY'er. If you don't need many of them, this also keeps the cost down somewhat, although they are more expensive than similar natural beach pebbles.
To create a contrast, mix white marble pebbles with your black polished pebbles. They go by various other names, including black polished river rock and black polished beach pebbles
Black polished pebbles are quartzite stones that have been tumble-polished to give them their shine. They have a wide variety of landscaping uses other than as accents in water features, including as:
- Mulch to edge walkways, planting beds, and patios
- Filler in between plants in container gardens
- A dark element for contrast with lighter rocks in a dry creek bed
You can also buy natural beach pebbles. You might regard them as a better option because they're cheaper, although they lack the shine that people value in black polished pebbles (whose shine also makes them look darker). Moreover, the shine of the polished stones does fade over time, especially when subjected to full sun.
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03 of 08
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Best for: Dry creek beds
"River rocks" refers not to a geological classification but to a place of origin.
Gathered from river beds, these stones have been rounded and smoothed by nature. They come in all sizes, from gravel to boulders. In fact, they look best in such a mix. You can order them online from home improvement centers. River rocks are tailor-made for dry creek beds, where, aesthetically, the aim is to create a natural-looking landscape feature. Besides appearance, though, dry creek beds have a practical function:
If you have a hill on your land where excess water flows or collects, water may pool in areas where you don't want it to, such as near a house. You can address this drainage problem with a dry creek bed. When runoff gets bad, excess surface water is channeled down the dry creek bed to a place where it will be less problematic.
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04 of 08
Lava Rocks
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Best for: Accents in rock gardens
Like black polished pebbles, you can buy lava rocks in bags at home improvement centers at a reasonable price.
While red is a popular color, they also come in black. Choose your color based on your design needs. Lava rocks can work well in rock gardens as accents. If possible, look for a color match with your house or another landscape feature. Your color selection may even be influenced by the plant material in your rock garden. Red lava rocks look good with hen-and-chicks plants (Sempervivum tectorum) when they turn red, for example, while white flowers contrast nicely with black lava rocks. Lava rocks are also well-suited to fire pits.
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05 of 08
Flagstone
David BeaulieuBest for: Walkways and patios
Flagstone is sedimentary rock of various types (sandstone, slate, etc.) that has been quarried and sold in flat slabs. Its flatness and durability readily suggest its use as a paving stone upon which people walk in walkways and patios.
For informal walkways, wood chips and other materials may be fine; but, for formal walkways, it's hard to beat flagstone.
With its irregular shapes, it's more interesting to look at than brick or concrete pavers. Generally, a mix of colors looks best. Alternatively, if you are trying to match or complement your house color, you can build a flagstone walkway or patio in one color.
You can buy flagstone at stone yards and through some home improvement centers. While flagstone is not expensive compared to concrete pavers, the labor involved in installing it is greater. So install yourself if you can. Building a flagstone walkway is well within the skill set of the average DIY'er.
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06 of 08
Cobblestone
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Best for: Driveway aprons
Cobblestones exude a traditional charm that makes them irresistible for some people. A quarry product, cobblestones (or "Belgian blocks") come from basalt, limestone, or, especially, granite that has been cut into a rectangular shape.
A popular use for them is in driveway aprons.
This is particularly popular with people who like the look of cobblestone pavers but can't afford to build a whole cobblestone driveway. If you're doing the job yourself, you can pick up cobblestones at a stone yard.
The most durable of the pavers, the drawbacks of cobblestones are cost and roughness of surface: If you're having them installed, they cost $40 to $70 per square foot, and their exterior is just uneven enough to make snow removal difficult.
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07 of 08
KenWiedemann/Getty Images
Best for: Stone walls, including stone retaining walls
As with river rocks, "fieldstone" refers not to a geological classification but to the place this type of rock originally called home. Farmers plowing their fields in rocky country encountered a multitude of stones. To get them out of the way, they would pile them up somewhere away from where they'd be growing crops. As the need arose, they might harvest rocks from the pile to build a wall out of this "fieldstone.
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The stone wall is one of the oldest uses of stone. Stone walls come in many styles. The most basic distinction is between mortared and mortarless walls. But a variety of rocks can also be used. Flat ones are best for mortarless walls (and also work well in stepping stone paths). If your fieldstone is rounded, mortar may be necessary to hold the pieces together. Stone retaining walls are a distinct sub-class; they have specialized requirements that, in some cases, call for professional help.
You can order fieldstone from a home improvement center or a stone yard; either way, you'll probably have to have it delivered. It's heavy, but it's not particularly expensive if you settle for the ubiquitous local fieldstone in your area.
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08 of 08
Boulders
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Best for: Terracing, accents that need to show up from a distance
While, technically, a "boulder" is any rock that measures about a foot or more in diameter, the term, in common usage, is restricted to a rock that is too heavy for a person to move unaided.
Shape plays no part in the classification: A boulder can be rounded or can have flat sides. Boulders cut across many rock types, including granite, limestone, marble, and quartzite; cost will be dependent on rock type, as well as factors such as where you live.
Available at stone yards, you'll probably need to have boulders delivered to your property. If you've hired landscapers for the installation, they'll make the necessary arrangements.
In landscaping, boulders are typically thought of as rocks so massive that they show up from a distance and/or provide structure for landscape features. For example:
- Make a big impression at a driveway entrance by flanking it with either rounded boulders or flat, pillar-like boulders. Choose a color for these accents that complements your house and/or other features in your yard.
- Placed properly, boulders retain enough soil behind them to be useful in terracing a slight slope
- Incorporate a boulder in your rock garden in a way that looks natural.
Don't just place it on the surface: Bury most of it (as you would find it in nature), leaving just enough exposed to suggest how much lies under the surface.
- Flat boulders are just the kind of massive slabs that are useful in constructing sturdy outdoor steps.
- A boulder can be plumbed by a stonecutter to function as the central feature in a garden fountain
Choosing Landscaping Rock
There are four main factors to consider when buying landscaping rock: size, color, cost, and ease of use.
Small stones have a wide array of uses that simply don't apply to larger stones; for example, as mulch, because they allow for drainage. But large stones have uses that small ones don't; for example, in structural elements such as retaining walls, where stability is needed. Generally, the smaller the rocks, the better the drainage, and the larger the rocks, the greater the stability.
Color choices are more subjective. But the discriminating designer relishes opportunities to incorporate color so as to achieve matches, create interesting contrasts, etc.
Some types of rock have beautiful coloration but carry a high price tag (especially of a boulder size or if needed in great quantities) that will be prohibitive for some people. In such cases, look to plants for the colors you want, content to let less expensive landscaping rock serve as a backdrop.
Unlike many other landscaping rock projects, boulder installation is unsuited to the solo DIY'er. You will likely have to hire a professional with the equipment and expertise needed to handle such massive objects. This fact may dissuade you from landscaping with boulders if you prefer to gather your own materials, develop your own designs, and implement those designs when you undertake landscaping projects.
The Best Landscape Design Software
A guide to choosing landscaping rock?
Anyone planning landscape design these days is spoiled for choice when it comes to both rocks and stones. Whether you need decorative garden rocks, structural materials, or a combination of the two, you’ll find many options for your project. With the wide variety of materials, finishes, and sizes, you are almost certain to find the perfect rocks for your project.
How much are landscaping rocks going to cost? How do you choose from all the options? The first step: define the style you are going for and clearly identify your needs. After determining your vision and budget, as well as the functional and structural needs of your project, you will be able to determine which options are right for you.
Once you fully understand the vision you have in mind for your landscaping project — and which types of landscaping stone and materials fit your criteria — choosing the best landscaping rocks can be a lot simpler than it first seems. So let’s get started.
Incorporating Landscaping Rocks with More Colors and Sizes
When first seeing how many landscaping material options are out there, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with the variety of colors, sizes, and other options. But incorporating the right combination of decorative garden stones and structural stone features (such as retaining walls) can really help your landscape design stand out.
At Minick Materials, we get our rock from the best sources, and we have colors and types of decorative stone you won’t find anywhere else. We can also make a crushed rock to any size you desire. But how much are rocks for landscaping going to cost you? Just remember the old laws of the market: the more specific your requirements are, the higher prices are likely to be.
Mixing up smaller, colored landscape rocks and decorative boulders can be a great option, but you need to know what direction your overall design will take first. You also need to ask how much are large landscaping rocks going to cost versus smaller ones. Then, you can know which decorative options are a priority for your outdoor decor and which can be swapped out for more budget-friendly alternatives.
First, Consider What's Trendy in Landscape Stone vs What You Want
Looking at existing designs and best-selling decorative landscaping rocks can inspire your next design by helping you discover the design elements you like best. But it’s important to figure out what design features will stand the test of time — which can be a matter of personal taste.
Overall, adding to landscape design with rocks for outdoor spaces is more than a trend — it is an environmentally friendly, cost-effective, beautiful way to enhance your spaces. However, what architects and designers are doing with decorative stones can change over time. Recent designs can inspire you and provide you with a good starting point while giving insight into what elements may go out of style in the near future.
Learn about the five decorative rock trends to watch to discover more about recent landscape stone trends to inspire your design process.
Decorative Stone for Traditional Design
If you favor the traditional style, try utilizing types of rocks and stones that will flatter and compliment your spaces, such as clean river rocks and Aztec stones. These types of rock come in more traditional shades of brown, and their slight color variation makes them blend in beautifully.
So while this can be a more safe approach, especially for older properties in more established areas, there’s nothing monotone about them. More traditional design projects can still incorporate a variety in terms of rock sizes, as mixing large landscaping rocks with pebbles and gravel can add interesting texture and contrast without clashing with your design vision.
Decorative Stone for Modern Design
For those who prefer to be at the forefront of design trends, our recommendation would be crushed white marble chips — it is simply gorgeous, luminous, and really in style right now.
Forget about lava rock, which had its day in the 70s and 80s, and think of Salida river rock instead, or anything else in whites, grays, and solid colors.
A really hot trend right now is using two contrasting kinds of rocks to outline a pathway — choose from Salida, granite, Desert Gold, or any of our beautiful gravel options, and place two complementary colors side by side for a very modern look.
Looking for a Timeless Design?
Trends are fun, but you might be looking to do a decorative rock installation that won't go out of style in two years or the age of the property you’re working on. If that is the case, let us advise you — we have been in this business since 1958, and there are many types of rocks that stay at the top of our best-selling list decade after decade. For a timeless design, you might want to consider crushed granites, Aztec, naturally-colored river pebbles and what we call “natural” colors, which are a warm, hearty blend of tans and browns.
Design Planning with Landscaping Rocks
Once you have an overall design or theme in mind for your stone landscaping work, you can start to break down the design process into discrete projects. Not only can that help solidify your design plans, but this approach can also prioritize your spending so you can stay on budget while achieving your desired look.
Let’s go over several popular projects in more detail.
Stone for Walkways, Paths, and Stepping Stones
A garden path made with stepping stones is natural and soothing, and it engages all the senses. There are many natural stones that are suitable for this purpose, with slate being one of the most popular. Using large, flat stones instead of concrete pavers or paths creates a beautiful, layered look in your garden.
Conversely, you can use large, irregularly shaped rocks to delineate where you don’t want foot traffic and to discourage pets from walking in certain areas.
Smaller rocks, such as beach pebbles, are ideal to create gravel walks — the crunch under your feet when you walk on them is incredibly satisfying, and they are gentle for dog paws. If you like the look of larger paver stones, you can always use gravel or small crushed rock between them as a sort of grout.
Rock as Mulch Ground Cover
Bark mulch and chipped wood are the most traditional mulch and ground cover materials, and they are beautiful and good for your plants. However, if you’re an experienced gardener you probably know that landscape architects recommend replacing wood mulch twice a year: mulch discolors, decays and disintegrates with time and rain. While some of that natural decay is desirable, after a while it looks untidy and can put your plants at risk of disease.
Enter stone mulch: a permanent ground cover solution that will not fade or change with time and never needs to be replaced. In the long run, this makes for great savings, both in terms of money and effort. If you’re using landscaping stone as ground cover, keep the use in mind when you choose the size:
- Large rocks are better for drainage, and to add weight to your flower beds, however, they do limit the kind of plants you can use. If you choose gardening with large stone mulch, stick to plants with tall, strong stems.
- Small rocks are better for compaction and weed control, and they allow more flexibility when planting. Just remember they may slow drainage and cause your soil to retain moisture.
Stone for Fire Pits
The fire pit has made a comeback, and now they are sleeker and more convenient than ever before. If you have an outdoor space, you can have a fire pit!
You don’t have to go all-out with a built-in gas-fueled fire pit, although it would certainly be nice. There are many trendy DIY tutorials online, showing how to make a stylish fire pit with as little as river rocks and a can of chafing gel.
Since they are totally fire-safe, landscaping rocks are a great option to keep your fire pit stable, secure, and ready for happy hour. Go ahead and make a fire pit the focal point of your patio or terrace!
Rock for Garden Ponds
Water features bring gardens to life, providing motion, sound, and a sense of serenity to your outdoor space. River stones are naturally suited to water features, and their colors look vibrant when they are underwater. Use them to line the bottom of your ponds or creeks, or to create a small fountain or waterfall features.
We have seen minimalist DIY fountains in which water just pours out of a hole in the middle of a large river stone for a mesmerizing effect. You can also place river rocks under a trickle of falling water, and enjoy the soothing sounds they make.
How Much Rock for Landscaping Projects is Needed?
Different projects call not only for different types of rock, but for different amounts. The volume you need varies not only by the area you need to cover, but by the types of rocks you use and how you use them. Luckily, we have a volume calculator you can use to determine how much you need for your project.
Rock for Other Decorative Purposes
As a nationwide seller of decorative rock, we’re always fascinated by how different types of rock are more popular in certain locations than others. That said, we have some all-stars like Salida, black Mexican beach pebbles, and desert gold, which are popular nationwide for their beauty and versatility.
Gravel Crushed Rock
Not everybody knows that gravel and crushed rock are man-made, so they can be made to measure to whatever size or dimensions you require. We have many colors available, some are even exclusive to us! A very popular crushed rock is Desert Gold — it looks great on driveways and as a ground cover. Pea gravel can also be a great option for high-traffic walkways.
Cobblestones
Nothing beats the feel of cobblestone for a traditional or antique-looking path or driveway, and we have many styles for you to choose from. The most popular among them are multicolor, Salida, and Washita — whether you prefer warm or cool tones, darker or lighter stone, we have it.
River Rock
An absolute classic, river rock comes in tones ranging from golden to bluish. With a wide range of sizes and uses, you cannot go wrong with river rock for contemporary, minimalist, or more natural styles. Clean river rock is the one we sell the most of, because of its natural beauty.
Decorative Rock Near You
Minick Materials has been providing America with sand, rock, soil, and other landscaping materials for generations. We strive to help all our customers get the customer service and materials they need and staff the industry experts to support your success.
Whether you’re a design professional or a DIY-er, contact us online or give us a call at one of our Oklahoma locations to talk about your landscaping projects, and remember: we ship nationwide.
A hero in landscape photography
There is an opinion that a landscape should be free from people. Nothing anthropogenic, only pure pristine nature. I've known photographers who didn't capture stunning scenery because the road was in the frame. In one of the photographs of the Manpupuner Plateau, the editor removed a man placed there for scale. Such a format, they told me then. But the more we shoot, the more we understand that even the coolest landscape can be made even cooler by a small person, or a mediocre landscape can reach a high level. What can a hero give us? To begin with: the presence of a familiar object will allow you to assess the scale of what is happening. It is worth saying that not only a person, but also any animal, house or car can cope with this task. But this is far from the most important.
Text and photo: Anton Agarkov
Full review and test drive NIKO D500
Nikon D500,
AF-S DX Nikkor 16-80mm F/2.8-4E ED VR,
222 f/4.0, 1/8000, ISO 640
Familiar human objects help to understand the scale in the landscape
The presence of a person always brings history to the frame. A climber crawling along a mountainside, a lone nomad leading a herd, a traveler on the edge of a cliff. All of them fill the landscape with some additional meaning. In such photographs, the hero does not have to come to the fore, he should not occupy a large area of \u200b\u200bthe frame. Quite a small silhouette, but placed in a key place. Carefully work with composition, geometry in the frame and lines to draw the viewer's attention to your character.
Nikon D500,
AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR Lens,
f/11. 0, 1/250, ISO 100 rock blue and contrast yellow makes the hero of the frame clearly distinguishable against the background of the landscape
In such a frame, we show not just the beauty of nature, but a certain plot, the story of people who interact with this nature. These photos, staged or not, can be an important part of any travel report. You show at the same time the place of action, the hero and the conditions in which he lives.
It is important that the hero in the frame helps to better understand the scale of the landscape. A person standing against the backdrop of mountains on a sheer cliff helps to clearly understand how big these mountains are compared to a person, how difficult it was to climb these mountains. Staged photographs, thought out and staged, in which the person was not accidentally included in the frame, will help to convey a certain message. For example, the greatness of nature and the insignificance of man, or, conversely, the strength of a man who was able to conquer these mountains.
Nikon D500, AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR,
f/5.0, 1/500, ISO160. ,
Compared to him, the landscape takes second place
The hero in the photograph performs another important function. Seeing the hero in a landscape of crazy beauty, the viewer involuntarily associates himself with this hero. “He was there, so I can too.” And so suddenly the amazing places from the picture become much closer, the viewer wants to go there himself, and he understands that his desire is fulfilled. Perhaps that is why landscapes with characters are more commercially successful than traditional landscapes without people.
Nikon D500,
AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR Lens,
f/5.6, 1/800, ISO 320
sometimes just makes a landscape with a smile
Cozy cottage with fireplaces - INMYROOM
House and cottage
Architects from the Kolman Boye Architects Bureau were built on the Norwegian island of Vega, a traditional 140-square-meter cottage with a fireplace and warm, minimalist furnishings
This cozy house was built near the Arctic Circle, among the majestic mountains and rocky wastelands, windswept all year round. Authentic cottage fits perfectly into the surrounding landscape, and nothing prevents its inhabitants from enjoying the view of the Atlantic Ocean. As conceived by the architects, the house is reminiscent of the Naust boathouse and combines a traditional form with a modern aesthetic. A warm, minimalist interior with whitewashed walls, a fireplace and oiled plank floors can easily be recreated in any Russian dacha. Moreover, our climate is appropriate.
Landscape: natural context
The Norwegian island of Vega is a World Heritage Site UNESCO. The historical occupation of the locals is fishing, so many boat sheds have been built along the coast. Paying tribute to this heritage, the architects gave the house a traditional view and tried not to disturb the impression of wild untouched nature, visually uniting the building with the surrounding landscape.
The house is located on a hilly area, on a slight slope - therefore from its windows in three directions offers a stunning view of the surface Atlantic Ocean and nearby islands, on moss-covered rocks and formidable jagged mountains Trollvasstind. This cottage is like a safe and cozy refuge from the brutal Norwegian weather, waiting for traveler in these beautiful but wild places.
Exterior: home like part of nature
The building is a simple combination of two miniature buildings of a laconic design, which made it possible to most rationally organize internal living space in such a limited area. Like most Norwegian houses, it resembles a small and cozy dwelling of a troll, lost in these gray stony plains.
This impression is reinforced by the original façade finish, made with the use of thin textured pine boards in a light gray shade, which over time became almost indistinguishable in color from gray boulders covered with moss. Thanks to the Norwegian climate, the wood has acquired a silvery gray shade that blends with the surrounding landscape. The gable roof is covered with metal embossed panels - nothing superfluous, only clear minimalist contours and a chimney.
The entrance to the house is located at the back of the building - to protect him from rain, snow and the icy north wind blowing through plains. In order not to disturb the surrounding landscape, a barely noticeable path to the house laid in a natural ravine overgrown with gnarled arctic birches, and sprinkled with white sea sand from the nearest beach. As a result, it creates the impression that the house is completely cut off from civilization.
Interior: warm and comfortable shelter
The interior of a two-story house consists of two parts - a common areas and bedrooms. The small bedrooms and living room are on the top floor, downstairs there is also a rather spacious gallery - the territory of light, warmth and serenity, concentrated around the stone hearth, which gives warmth to inclement weather.
Large panoramic windows in three directions, light pine and white walls, thoughtful, but rather ascetic environment in eco-style - all this brings additional light, warmth and special homeliness to the interior. Charm. The perfect setting for relaxing get-togethers with family and friends cold northern evenings or quiet solitude and enjoyment stunning views.
