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Rocks for yards ideas


23 Great Landscaping Rocks Ideas and Rock Types Explained

Why use landscaping rocks? They come in many shapes and sizes and can add a special touch to your garden. You can use them in creative combinations or just stick to a classic look. Whether you got plenty of space or just a tiny bit of greenery, you can integrate them into your garden design without any hassle.

Explore with us now landscaping rocks ideas and the different types of stones you can use.

People have been using rocks to decorate since the beginning of time.

The cavemen carved pictures into them, ancient Europeans made monuments out of them (just think of Stonehenge), and today, we use landscaping rocks to make our yards look nice.

Rocks are versatile and provide texture and contrast to a yard without future maintenance or repeated expense.

But there are so many types of rocks that your design options are almost infinite. Trouble is, infinite = super overwhelming.

To help you save time, we want to share with you the trendiest ways to include rocks and stones into your landscaping design. Let’s get right on to it!

Choosing the Right Landscaping Rocks

If you want to add a unique touch to your outdoor space, stones can be a great addition to your landscape makeover.

You can use them for a variety of purposes such as decorating a fountain, creating a path, or covering a wall. The possibilities are endless!

Landscaping rocks set the tone for your yard or garden so it’s very important to choose the right ones for you.

Before you run out and spend your money on the first pretty stones you come across, ask yourself this question:

What do I want my space to feel like?

Your answer will help you decide which rock shape, color, and texture to go for. It will save you a lot of time, too.

Here are so other tips to keep in mind:

Now let’s take a look at the most popular types of landscaping rocks that people with good taste use in their gardens. It’s the perfect starting point for your search.

Best Types of Landscaping Rocks

Landscaping can be so relaxing and fun. But here’s a word of caution: it can also be a lot of hard work–if you let it.

Knowing your options and having a plan of action saves you a lot of effort and energy. Your hands and your back will be both grateful.

If you’re considering adding rocks into the mix, take a minute to check out these essential types of landscaping rocks so you can start planning.

Decomposed Granite

Decomposed granite is granite that has been worn down so much that it only consists of very small and fine pieces.

It’s ideal for DIY pavements and comes in many different colors! It’s on the cheap side as well, you can easily get 20 pounds of decomposed granite for under 30 bucks. It can be a really good starting point for your new rock garden.

Crushed Granite

It’s all in the name when it comes to crushed granite. These small, earthy-toned rocks are good in your yard since they’re loose and you won’t have to worry about them creating puddles.

Crushed granite looks so natural that people like to use it along the edges of their pathways to create a nice blend between the path and the plants.

Crushed granite is a little more pricey than some of the options here, but it can last a very long time provided you stabilize it properly and ensure good drainage conditions.

Pea Gravel

You guessed it, pea gravel is made of pea-sized pebbles that have been smoothed and worn over time by water constantly rushing over them.

These pebbles are found near streams and bodies of water and they come in many earthy tones.

Pea gravel is the tiny gravel you see in dog parks and playgrounds and is sometimes used underground, too. Pea gravel is pretty inexpensive and also comes in a few different colors. 

River Rocks

River rocks are small rocks that have been smoothed down and had all their sharp edges worn away by water running over them constantly. These rocks are great for any water features you have in your garden.

River rocks can also be used instead of mulch. Unlike mulch, these rocks don’t break down over time. So that even if they can be a bit pricey, you may not need to replace them anytime soon.

Lava Rocks

Lava rocks are actually volcanic rocks made out of real lava that has crystallized after cooling. Lava rocks are very affordable, lightweight and water will flow well through them. Perfect for your garden in winter and summer!

At the same time, they can also help retain some water at the surface and distribute it to the plants, such as when it’s raining. They’re awesome barriers against weeds and bugs, too! 

Brick Chips 

Brick chips are small pieces of broken up brick. They have a distinctive color that draws more attention than other types of landscaping rocks.

If you choose to use them, you should first put down landscaping fabric to ensure the pieces don’t sink into the dirt and also to control weeds.

Brick chips are a really good alternative to mulch because they don’t break down, they do not attract bugs, and they retain water for the plants near them.

Flagstones

You know those very nice walkways or paths made of stone? Those are generally made out of flagstone.

This type of rock is smooth and usually square or rectangular. You can always lay down a layer of sand and put the flagstone on top of that. But if you really want something permanent, it’s best to lay the flagstone in concrete.

Good to know: Flagstone lasts a very long time if you install it properly and avoid damaging it.

Landscapes with Rock Ideas

They say “diamonds are forever,’ but the same is often true of stone landscaping designs. Make sure that you select the one that’s not just trendy, but that will stand the test of time.

The following landscaping rocks ideas are both trendy and timeless.

1. Backyard Landscaping Rock Path

If you have lots of shrubs, bushes, or other greenery, a bluestone sidewalk can be an inspired addition to your space.

The contrast between living and nonliving creates a strong appeal that can’t be achieved by rock or plant alone.

Tip: If you’re not feeling the bluestone vibe, there are other types of landscaping rocks that you can use for a walkway. Pavers are a good option as are bricks.

2. Contrasting Landscaping Rocks

Again, contrast is key! Why settle for just one type of rock when there are so many to choose from? This landscape design shows how amazing an outdoor space can look when two or more stone types share a space.

Tip: Look for differences in color, texture, shape, and even size when choosing complementary rocks to feature in your yard.

3. Water Garden with Landscaping Rocks Ideas

One of the reasons landscaping rocks are popular is because they look very natural. They are easy on the eye.

But rocks alone can be, well, a bit boring. Introducing water into the mix can shake things up! If you have the willpower (and we think you do!), why don’t you try your hand at recreating your own version of the design above?

Creating a small pond or water garden is more affordable than you might imagine, especially if you do most of the work yourself.

4. Leveled Garden Beds

This is one of our favorite ways to decorate any outdoor garden! Adding stones, bricks, rocks, or pebbles brings more colored textures into your landscape while also providing functional value.

There are so many different ways to mix this up. You can do square beds, rectangular beds, or create an Alice in Wonderland-like maze. The possibilities are endless.

5. Landscaping Rock Waterfall Garden Design

Creating a rock waterfall in your backyard is one of the best landscaping rock designs around.

With a garden waterfall similar to the one in the picture above, you’ll rave to all your friends about how tranquil and serene your outdoor space has become. Or you’ll just enjoy the tranquility in silence–depends really on your character.

Not sure where to start? Believe it or not, many rock waterfalls are DIY friendly. Start by drawing a basic plan on paper.

6. Budget-Friendly Landscape

For the most part, landscaping rocks aren’t cheap. Still, they are a good long-term investment. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly landscape idea, make sure to compare rock costs before ordering.

For example, Mexican Beach Pebbles are 15 times more expensive than decomposed granite while stone pathways are a lot more expensive than brick.

Tip: If you want to save money, consider using landscaping rocks in a small space for now, such as the main pathway. You can always expand later.

7. Eclectic Landscape Rocks

Spaces that look like a hodge-podge of different types of rocks are some of our favorites. This landscaping approach doesn’t look forced and recreates what we find in nature: random collections of things.

Tip: If you go for an eclectic landscaping design, choose landscaping rocks that are different in color and texture. For example, the sharp brown rocks above are placed beside smooth white ones.

8. River Landscaping Rock Design Ideas

If you have (or plan to add) water features to your outdoor space, river rocks can be an inspired choice.

Although river rocks are neither cheap nor always easy to get, their natural beauty makes them worth all the trouble. This is especially true if you contrast them with water plants.

9. Beautiful Landscape with Slope

Part of the American dream is to have a home with a comfortable garden and backyard. If you have plenty of space, consider adding a slope to your green space: it will make your walks all the more pleasant.

But don’t just take the landscape design above for granted. What do you love about it? What would you change? What would you improve?

Get creative! When you’re having fun designing your garden, the result will be beautiful, too!

10. Inspiring Asian Garden Design

How to feng shui your garden is a whole other post, but it’s something you should consider looking into. This is especially true if you’d like a zen garden or feel drawn to some other Asian design.

Gardens are calming by design, but Asian gardens can take that calmness to a whole new level. They can be the perfect solution for stress relief.

Tip: More than features like Japanese steps, opt for Asian plants and maybe even an Asian-style gazebo.

11.  Traditional Landscape

This is a great design for someone looking for a more classic feel. If you have luscious green grass and want to showcase it, light-colored bricks placed close together can create contrast–and the perfect walkway.

Tip: Quiet designs can be very beautiful, so don’t be afraid of simplicity. Sometimes, you can make your garden design more beautiful not by adding but by removing things from it.

12. Patio Landscaping Rock Ideas

Don’t forget that you can integrate landscaping rocks into your garden lounge in elements such as a fireplace or fire pit or the pillars of the canopy (like in the image above).

The landscaping ideas you choose to pursue should depend entirely on your own personal taste. For example, if you don’t like the furniture above, replace it with something more your style. Always make the design your own!

13. Tropical Garden Design

Constructing a water feature in your garden can create a calming effect. So can tropical plants!

Of course, you need the right type of climate for this type of design to work, so check your hardiness zone before buying a ton of exotic trees and plants to showcase with your landscaping rocks.

Hint: A contemporary pond can be a perfect match for lush tropical plants.

Best Landscaping Rocks For Sale

Now that you have a better idea of the types of landscaping rock designs you can accomplish using rock and stone, let’s look up some landscaping rocks you can use to complete your vision. Here are some of the best.

1. Gold Path Decomposed Granite

Decomposed granite usually has a reddish-tan color and will turn into a lighter tan as it fades over time. It’s best for pathways and patios.

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2. Grey Pea Gravel

Pea gravel is not actually the size of peas. In reality, these landscaping rocks come in a variety of sizes including 1/4″, 1/2″, and 5/8″. They can be brown, white, tan, and other colors.

Pea gravel is best for patios and pathways. However, you can also use it as a filler between flat rocks such as flagstones.

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3. Rainforest River Rocks

River rocks are bigger than pea gravel. They come in different sizes and colors. They are effective for drainage as well as for dry creek beds.

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4.

Rainforest Mexican Beach Pebbles

Mexican beach pebbles are a favorite of many homeowners because they look elegant. These are actually small round rocks that are very smooth.

They typically have a grayish-black color. Mexican beach pebbles are perfect for a garden and you can also use them for edging patios or for decorating the surroundings of boulders.

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5. Flagstone Stepping Stones

Flagstones are great for creating patio floors and pathways. You can likewise create a landscape accent with a bunch of flagstones. A great way to create a dramatic look is to use flagstone for retaining walls.

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6.

 San Marcos Beach Cobble

You can use beach cobbles as a ground cover for traditional or modern gardens. They can add texture and provide contrast against concrete paving.

We think they are excellent when it comes to absorbency for your plants. If you are looking for an interesting element to supplant an old lawn or borders, cobbles can be an inspired choice.

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7. Southwest Boulder & Stone Decorative Rock

Ground Cover Decorative Rock is much bigger than pea gravel. It’s best for covering a large open area. It can also provide a color base for your plants and boulders.

These glacier pebbles provide supreme polarity since they mix gray, white, and beige. You can think of them as the yin and yang of rocks.

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8.

 River Rocks

River Rocks are round rocks that you can use to mimic a dry creek running through your front yard. They have a high density and are available in many sizes.

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9. Natural Sandstone Landscape Rock

Monoliths can become a key feature of your landscape. You can plant shrubs around them and you can partially bury them or cover them in ivy to make the setting look more natural.

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Tip: Be sure to choose a color that suits the other elements nearby.

10. Exotic Pebbles Polished Gravel

Landscaping rocks might be more pricey than mulch, but they are very beneficial when used as a groundcover. Polished gravel can last a long time while mulch has to be replaced each season.

These pebbles can also create an eye-catching contrast with your deep-colored foliage. They can also brighten up any shady portions of your outdoor space.

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Landscaping Rocks Commonly Asked Questions

What are the best landscaping rocks to use in my garden?

This is largely a matter of personal preference. You need to consider what size, texture, and color you think would look best in your setup. Remember: gardening is a work of art, and you should make it your own. Explore some amazing rock landscaping design ideas.

Are landscaping rocks expensive?

If you choose to buy your landscaping rocks at a lawn and garden store, they can carry a hefty price tag. But you can probably find cheaper deals online. Don’t be tempted to steal rocks from parks and other public places, though–it’s illegal!

Is it difficult to learn how to use landscaping rocks?

There are plenty of landscaping rocks DIY ideas that make rock landscaping easier than ever. Whether you just picked up the skill yesterday or you have been doing this for years, you can create something that you can be proud of. Don’t be afraid to get creative–that’s the whole point!

What is the cheapest rock for landscaping?

Crushed gravel and pea gravel tend to be the cheapest landscape rocks. But you may come across other varieties at a good price. Explore now the different types of landscaping rocks.

What can you do with landscaping rocks?

You can use landscaping rocks to create pathways, patios, borders, creative features, or incorporate them into your garden walls or covered areas. The possibilities are almost endless.

Landscaping rocks can be a fantastic addition to your garden or outdoor space. There are many budget-friendly gardening designs you can recreate if you are willing to get creative.

And there are lots of lavish ones too if you’ve got the budget for them.

Unlike mulches, rocks don’t decompose: when properly installed, landscaping rocks can last a lifetime.

Now that we’ve explored landscaping rock ideas together, we’d love to hear about your personal favorites and how you plan to incorporate them into your projects.

Reach out to us at any time. You know where to find us!

21 Unique Rock Landscaping Ideas For Your Yard

There are many rock landscaping ideas that you can use to create beautiful areas of your yard that are less suitable for traditional gardens.

It’s the perfect way to improve curb appeal and solve problems with soil erosion, poor drainage and sandy soil at the same time.

Fortunately, there are so many great rock landscaping ideas you can tap into to find the perfect solution for your situation.

Or you can choose rock landscape design for its stunning natural look and beauty it provides.

It works great in any outdoor space and has the great advantage of being low maintenance as well.

Types of Landscape Designs Using Rocks

Rock Gardens
A rock garden is a garden bed where the rocks can be the foundation or focal point of the garden bed.  

Instead of wood chips, use small stones. The use of smaller stones or even gravel will still allow you to easily plant your shrubs, trees or perennials.

Rock Pathways
Small stones or gravel can be used to provide a walkway between points, whether it’s in the front yard or backyard.

These can also be combined with stepping stones, like my DIY concrete ones or concrete pavers.

Dry Creek Beds
These are excellent for dealing with low areas that stay moist. Usually, stones of different sizes will be used to help with drainage, as well as for nicer aesthetics.

Drought-resistant vegetation can also be added to these types of garden beds.  

Rock Walls
Rock walls are great for soil erosion problems. These can make a dramatic difference in a landscape. Typically larger rocks are used.

Rock Water Features
From ponds to small streams to waterfalls, rocks are the perfect vehicle or backdrop for any water feature in your yard.

How to Design With Rocks in a Garden

Start by creating a focal point. This can be a special plant, tree, garden sculpture or water feature. Just something that stands out or is special for you.

Create layers to bring in visual interest. This can be achieved by using a mixture of small and large rocks.

In addition to using different size rocks, also think about using unique shapes and textures, and a variety of different colors.

When it comes to shapes or textures in stones, combining flat and round or smooth with a more jagged texture makes for a beautiful multi-layered look.

It provides a foundation or backdrop that looks great for planting ornamental grasses, flowers or any type of vegetation in front.

Unique Rock Landscaping Ideas

Check out this great idea for making a gorgeous dry river bed using river stones.

Birdz of a Feather used a cool statue and special tree as a focal point.

They thoughtfully included stepping stones for meandering through their dry creek bed oasis.

They also used landscape fabric to inhibit weed growth, which is also a natural act of the river rock, and in combination makes this a very low maintenance rock garden.

If you suffer from wet ground and soil erosion, then a gravel garden can be a fantastic solution to your problem.

We refurbished a muddy, weed garden into what will next year become a lush, gravel garden. And it will eventually be virtually maintenance-free.

This is because the gravel is 4-6” thick and the plants were actually potted in the gravel and not in the soil they came in.

There’s even a small rock garden portion set to the side in this gravel bed.

Check out the detailed tutorial for how to make this, so you can reduce your time spent weeding the garden. 

Here is lots of useful advice on different ways to create a rock water feature, including ponds and waterfalls.

Kelly will explain what considerations to take into account when it comes to combining water and rocks.

For example, what type of rock to use and why different types of rocks create different effects. As well as when to use large stones, vs flat rocks, natural stones or artificial ones. 

For fabulous details on how to execute perfect stone paths, you’ll want to check out how Craving Some Creativity made this one.

This low-budget solution to a walkway improved the aesthetics of their yard as well as made it infinitely more functional.

Here are 15 other garden path ideas you may be interested in as well.

If you loved our first rock landscaping idea, then here is the tutorial for the corner rock garden portion of the dry creek bed.

The use of ground cover and drought tolerant plants make this an easy type of garden to care for.  

Here’s the perfect way to add literal curb appeal to an awkward patch of grass next to your sidewalk.

This rock garden pathway edging uses a landscape barrier to control weed growth. 

With the contrast of dark mulch and different sizes of rocks, you can transform an  awkward space into a beautiful garden bed.

You can make an awesome flagstone path right on top of dirt! Just remove any weeds or sod first. Of course there are a few other important things to know, so check out the detailed tutorial for great tips!

I bet you didn’t think weed-free flower beds were possible. Well Girl Just DIY can show you how it’s done.

You may have guessed the theme by now, landscape fabric and gravel can be powerful barriers to weed growth.

This combination uses multi-colored granite for the gravel. It works perfectly for perennials and succulents. 

If you love these ideas but are not interested in going the DIY route, then this is the post for you.

Bigger Than The Three of Us decided to hire out their rock bed job and can give you a sense of costs- both materials and labor, as well as the time involved.

The dry creek bed turned out fantastic with the large river rocks, mixed with smaller ones.

It’s especially stunning in contrast with the dark mulch that borders it on one end and lush green grass on the other.

There’s more information in this guide to help you decide whether to pay for a stone pathway installation or to do it yourself.

This one is a bit different but thinks outside the box. Use concrete to make a faux rock to conceal less appealing solar lights.

The round “rocks” are a natural fit in any garden or pathway. We have these placed in our 4-6” deep gravel garden. In case you missed it, it was the second item on our list. 

The artificial solar rock lights make for the perfect ambiance at night.

And during the day they add visual interest to the garden due to the varying changes in heights, much like the rock garden portion of this garden.

Here is a nicely detailed tutorial for a gorgeous flagstone pathway made from pieces of rock (which may not be officially flagstone) but look very much like it.

Any flat pieces of rock will work for a flagstone-like path. Check out the tutorial from Farm Fresh Vintage Finds to see how.

For great tips and advice on how to incorporate larger rocks into your landscaping design, you’ve got to check out this post from Lane and High.

She’ll discuss different design options and why she made the choices she did for her front yard rock landscaping project.

And in addition, she’ll even give you the breakdown of costs.

Usually, when you purchase rocks from a landscape supply, you typically need to buy them in bulk.

This almost always ends up in having a fair amount leftover that you need to get creative with.

DIY Danielle has found several great ways to utilize small rocks all around the yard. From a stone pathway to hard-to-mow areas, to drainage locations.

Check out the post for more ideas on how to put your leftover stones to good use.

Here is a landscape makeover using pea gravel and landscape rocks.

There had been a large, plain area of grass that didn’t have much visual appeal and also couldn’t be used recreationally.

Landscaping rocks was a great choice for visually breaking up the space to make it a little more dynamic.

In addition, the rock acted as a retaining wall for a raised garden bed.

Use large boulders to create stone structures, or stone cairns to add appeal to an awkward space.

You’ll have to check out On Woodland Lane’s fantastic rock landscaping ideas on stacking rocks.

A stone feature creates visual interest in any space where a garden may not fit. This type of structure is also perfect for a small space.

You can make a rock water feature with a dramatic effect.

This DIY waterfall incorporates some lava rock so that not all of the large rocks are heavy to lift.

Check out the post to see how the waterfall was made with relatively few materials and at a lower price than you’d think.

This is a simple way to use rocks in your landscape. This bird bath was repurposed into a rock garden.

If you have a challenging landscape with steeper grading then rock stairs just may be the perfect solution.

The stone blends in beautifully with the natural surroundings.

The tutorial is very detailed and also has a video, so you’ll be sure to have the information you need to create your own set of outdoor stairs.

Here’s another amazing solution for a steeply graded yard. Use boulders to act as a retaining wall to allow for usable outdoor space.

Check out how they were able to squeeze a large patio into what used to be a tiny space.

Okay so you’ve got 100 ideas on how to use rocks in your home’s landscaping, so now you need to know how to do a little repair should the need arise.

This may come up if you have rock walls or water features that are experiencing a little bit of slippage.

Check out this post to learn how to repair stones that are coming out of place. 

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Modern courtyard design

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Cottage Decor Design Home Ideas Stones Hacks Gardening

Creation of cosiness, harmony and beauty in summer cottage or in the yard of a private house is a responsible and far from easy task.

In recent years, landscape design tends to be minimalist. It consists in a minimum of decorative elements and regular geometric shapes. This style is characterized by orderliness in everything, an abundance of open space, as well as the use of stone as the main material.

And today edition "So Easy!" invites you to learn 11 easy ways to create a yard or garden of dreams using stones. Moreover, any option is suitable: both an ordinary river stone and decorative pebbles.

© DepositPhotos

  1. The art of creating a garden with stones originated in Japan many years ago and has come down to us in the form of various design options.

    Beautiful and unusual solution, isn't it?

  2. Minimalism is not characterized by hedges and various colors. Flowerbeds are created from several types of plants, which also do not differ in variegation and brightness. And again, one of the main elements is a stone!

  3. The decoration of the backyard territory with stones will be a wonderful decoration for a house and a summer residence, a cottage and a villa.

  4. It's a great idea to complement the space of the territory with a container made of wire mesh fabric filled with stone fragments (gabion).

    Due to the fact that each gabion is connected to those nearby, the design has high strength and stability. The plastic mesh sags under the weight of the filler and becomes consistent with the terrain.

  5. Depending on the general style of the site and the selected plants, the design of a stone bed can be very diverse.

  6. How wonderful it is to walk in your own rock garden! A feature of this design solution is the placement of stones not close to each other, but at a distance of several centimeters between them.

    This creates the illusion of a chaotic arrangement of stones. Grass should be visible in between. It turns out that the road is as if trampled on the ground.

  7. Some more interesting ideas!

  8. Do not despair if there are no trees at all on the site - you can replace them with artificial plants or simply plant small shrubs.

  9. And I will definitely show this idea to my husband, I liked it very much!

  10. Before starting landscape work, be sure to consider a layout plan. For example, you can beautifully pave a space that allows you to enjoy your garden all year round!

  11. landscaping natural stone is mainly used now, which has replaced the artificial material. This is due to the large selection of varieties, ease of processing and a more natural appearance.

Editorial tip

And I also suggest you learn a wonderful way to make paths in the garden, and quickly and without spending a lot of money, literally from improvised materials. Such "paths" not only give the yard a well-groomed and pleasant look, but also allow you to easily move around the territory even in the worst weather!

What do you think about these beautiful yard or garden designs, did they inspire you to redo it? Personally me very much!

Turn your yard into a real treat with stones and don't forget to share amazing ideas with your friends. Creative success!

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70 photos of decorative stone application

One of the most promising materials for creating a unique landscape design can safely be called natural and decorative stone. Of course, pleasure is not cheap, but the use of the immediate and public gifts of nature makes us at least a small step closer to its pristine beauty, which means it helps to bring peace and harmony to the soul, which many people lack in the crazy pace of modern life.

But how to turn ordinary stones lying around on the site into a real work of art? What kind of landscape design can be the backdrop for your creativity?

In this article you will find answers to these difficult questions, as well as some useful tips to help you create a truly unique design project.

Brief content of the article:

Where to use the stone?

In landscaping, there have long been many options for using stone to decorate areas. Almost any modern project is not complete without this kind of decor. So, with the help of stones they make out:


Of course, nothing limits your imagination here; stones can be used not only for decoration or cladding, but also as an independent element (or even the center) of the composition.

So, such projects are usually implemented through the creation of a Japanese garden or a Japanese zone on the site, because it is in the culture of this country that raw stone plays a very important role, and it is simply necessary for the garden.

How to use natural stone in the landscape?

Japanese garden is a case when you do not need to buy decorative stone or tiles, invite a designer. It will be enough to create a collage on your own (suitable photos of stones in landscape design can be found on the Internet), and then put it into practice.

The more natural there is in the selected boulders and pebbles, the more canonical the garden will turn out. It is especially worth taking a closer look at the stones of an irregular, but streamlined shape: the key to your success is the smoothness of the lines and the softness of the transitions, the absence of sharp corners.

Pebbles should be soft and light; oval, round or bean-shaped: everything in the Japanese garden speaks of softness and peace.


Another great solution would be to use natural boulders in any landscape type landscape design, because the motto here is to imitate nature in all its manifestations. This means that you do not even need to carry boulders from place to place, process them by knocking down sharp corners, clean, split or remove moss and lichen.

All these are traces of natural influence, so for a site sunk in greenery and the shade of centuries-old trees, a large century-old stone will become an excellent element of decor, visually complementing the composition and as if transferring the viewer somewhere to endless ancient and mysterious forests.

For those who like to apply their hand directly to the creation of landscape design, as well as for creative people, there is another way to decorate your site with unique creations of human imagination - this is painting garden stones.

You can create intricate designs or simply paint boulders with different colors for incredible color mixing. Special craftsmen can even create a real masterpiece by depicting a landscape or portrait on the flat side of the stone.

For these purposes, it is better to use acrylic paints or paints in spray cans: they are not washed off with water and are erased more slowly than others.


To give the design a glossy shine and fix the image, you can cover the surface of the stone with a clear varnish, but usually a design with natural wear and slightly faded colors is much more pleasing to the eye than a huge boulder glaring in the sun.

Types of stones for landscape design

Conventionally, all rocks that designers use in their work can be divided into three large groups:

Natural stone

Granite and gneiss. Graceful and aristocratic-conservative, they are used for facing pavilions, arches, fountains and buildings. Attractive here is the range of eye-pleasing shades, which allows you to choose the perfect color solution for almost any landscape model.

Basalt looks interesting in the design of the decorative elements of the composition: the range of shades varies from smoky gray to black-green.

Soft rock: sandstone, slate, limestone, which are most commonly used for paths, paths, garage or barn cladding. Such a stone in the decor looks neat and does not catch the eye.

Stones, which are clusters of crystals, give the landscape a special glamor. These rocks include marble (easy to process, unpretentious in care and making it possible to choose the right color from a huge number of known shades) and porphyry, the color range of which is expressed in various shades of red.


Tuff. It is a porous, light, sponge-like stone. It absorbs moisture well and seems to be a clear example of natural erosion - such an effect is only at hand for designers.

Artificial stone

Brick. Usually brick is used because of its cheapness, but even with proper use it can be a good addition to the composition. It is usually used in the design of paths, small empty open spaces or for decorating borders.

Concrete is less commonly used, but due to its strength it is suitable for a driveway leading to a garage or parking spaces.

Phosphorescent stone

A very special category. In the light for them, they are no different from other decorative elements and are completely invisible, but at night you will notice a bright glow.

That's why it's worth using to completely pave paths or simply decorate a border. Also, luminous stones for the garden and landscape will fit the sides of pools, ponds and fountains.

The functional side of using stone

If we talk about the use of stones in the landscape of the site from a functional point of view, there are several main advantages: