Landscaping with Boulders, Stones, Rocks and Streams

When we think of landscaping, we usually first visualize plants and trees. But nature offers us some intriguing inorganic elements with which to create a spectacular landscape. Adding boulders, stones or rocks to your design can add interest in the way of shape, color, and texture. These hard materials contrast and harmonize with the soft green organic elements.

Boulders

With a single large boulder you can have a focus point to design your garden around. Or you could place a group boulders. Odd numbered groups of three to seven are best and could include rocks of different sizes and shapes. A boulder can also be a platform for other items such as bird baths and feeders.

Boulders are also an excellent way to create levels in your landscape; each level can be a special area of interest. Japanese and Oriental gardens traditionally make use of boulders and stones.

Because boulders are extremely heavy you should carefully plan your design prior to delivery so they can be placed exactly where you want them.

Stone

Smaller stones are often used for garden paths, patios and borders and can make very attractive walls. One can use rounded cobblestones or flat rocks such as flagstone. Planting small groundcovers between the stones creates a very pleasing natural look.

Rocks and stones can be used as a groundcover in large areas as an interesting element on their own. In addition they are a natural choice to include in a desert garden landscape design.

River Rocks and Streams

A beautiful dry stream bed can be created from rounded river rocks. Give it a meandering path to make it look more natural. In designing a flowing steam, you can place the river rock on the borders or as the stream bed itself. Keep in mind when installing a stream you will need to circulate the water with a pump. Stream kits can be found at garden centers or on the Internet.

Landscaping streams can be a very labor and time intensive endeavor. It would be wise to thoroughly plan it out before starting the work. Start by making a sketch of your proposed stream design. Landscape design software could be very helpful for this project.

Native plants and grasses would be a good choice for the stream banks. It would be a good idea to place ground screening to hold the newly planted greenery together until it is established with good roots. If there is heavy rain all of your new plantings could be washed downstream.