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Rock in your yard!  |
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You have no doubt come across large rocks as you excavate or build new beds each season. Instead of relegating these large rocks to the back forty, might I suggest leaving them in the yard and building around them?
Rocks and stones are not easy to work with because of their often-cumbersome shape and size, but the dramatic effect that they bring to your landscaping efforts is well worth it. Available in any number of shapes and sizes, rocks can be used very simply or in conjunction with other rocks and stones to form unique centerpieces in the yard and garden. Check out some o four suggestions below on the best way to use rocks in your garden.
• Step One: The first and most common application of rocks in the garden is the construction of a dry stonewall. Rock walls lend themselves very well to edges of beds and even platforms upon which beds can be built. A larger stonewall can conceal compost bins and other often unsightly garden necessities. The use of stone to build the wall leave sit as a part of the natural landscape rather than the often-unsettling timbers or commercially available blocks. When building a dry stonewall dig down a few inches into the earth and then fill this trench with sand. The rocks will bed more solidly in this manner and ensure longevity of the wall. Remember that anything over a few feet tall should really employ a mortar mix to hold it in place.
• Step Two: Another common use of stone in the yard and garden is stone paths. A stone path along with a stone backdrop for your beds will make your visit to your garden flow. As a rule, a more formal approach with your stonework is expected at the entrance to your garden or from the doors of your home to the sidewalk. A formal design will mean selecting rocks that will fit tightly together and be similar in shape and size. The texture of the surface of the rocks should also be smooth for safety reasons. Once inside the garden or even in the backyard, the stones used can be more outlandish and obscure which can mean some creative work.
• Step Three: Along the same lines as paths in the yard and garden, stones are an excellent candidate when building steps. Typically in a garden, you may only have to create one or two steps to bring visitors up and over a small watercourse or into a raised section of the garden. If a patio area is nearby, stone steps will help make a smooth transition between the two areas. When building steps it is recommended that mortar be used between the stones to hold them in place more securely as they will often receive a great deal of punishment in everyday use.
• Step Four: Taking the use of stone to extremes you can actually create a rock garden. Typically not the entire garden, rather a portion that acts as a transition between two very different types of plants or between ground cover and flowers. Select rocks that are colorful and of interesting shape and size for the best results. Plantings among these rocks can be as simple as some of the native moss or ivy in the area. If your garden site is very rocky and sections of bedrock protrude you can use a pick ax or similar tool to dig small bowls in the surface where topsoil can be added along with plants to help erase the obscure bedrock slab.
• Step Five: Using stones in more of a decorative manner means that you are taking much greater care in selecting size, shape and even color and texture of the stones. Used as an accent in a bed of flowers or as a focal point along a well-placed stone path, using rocks in this manner is often some of the most rewarding time spent in the yard and garden. Use stones around watercourses to make them appear more natural, and along the perimeter of your home to shield outdoor lighting, etc.
Whatever your inclination, using stone is hard work. It is important to wear gloves and if you cannot do any heavy lifting, have a neighbor help you move larger stones into position. While buying stones at the nursery can be quite expensive, a trip to the nearest streambed or similar nature area (where approved) can yield some very interesting specimens for the garden and at no cost other than your time spent collecting them. Be creative in your landscaping and use stone to bring new life to your yard and garden.
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