Choose a color for these accents that complements your house and/or other features in your yard. Make a big impression at a driveway entrance by flanking it with either rounded boulders or flat, pillar-like boulders.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. If you've hired landscapers for the installation, they'll make the necessary arrangements. 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.Īvailable at stone yards, you'll probably need to have boulders delivered to your property. Shape plays no part in the classification: A boulder can be rounded or can have flat sides. 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. It's heavy, but it's not particularly expensive if you settle for the ubiquitous local fieldstone in your area.īest for: Terracing, accents that need to show up from a distance You can order fieldstone from a home improvement center or a stone yard either way, you'll probably have to have it delivered. Stone retaining walls are a distinct sub-class they have specialized requirements that, in some cases, call for professional help. If your fieldstone is rounded, mortar may be necessary to hold the pieces together. Flat ones are best for mortarless walls (and also work well in stepping stone paths). The most basic distinction is between mortared and mortarless walls. The stone wall is one of the oldest uses of stone. As the need arose, they might harvest rocks from the pile to build a wall out of this "fieldstone." To get them out of the way, they would pile them up somewhere away from where they'd be growing crops. Farmers plowing their fields in rocky country encountered a multitude of stones. Moreover, the shine of the polished stones does fade over time, especially when subjected to full sun.īest for: Stone walls, including stone retaining wallsĪs with river rocks, "fieldstone" refers not to a geological classification but to the place this type of rock originally called home. 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). A dark element for contrast with lighter rocks in a dry creek bed.Filler in between plants in container gardens.Mulch to edge walkways, planting beds, and patios.They have a wide variety of landscaping uses other than as accents in water features, including as: They go by various other names, including black polished river rock and black polished beach pebblesīlack polished pebbles are quartzite stones that have been tumble-polished to give them their shine. To create a contrast, mix white marble pebbles with your black polished pebbles. 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. This puts you in better control as a DIY'er. A benefit here, unlike with crushed stone, is that you can buy them by the bag. It costs more than most other types of mulch, but you recoup your expense over time because of its durability.īlack polished pebbles are highly ornamental and widely available at home improvement centers. To be on the safe side, use crushed stone only around drought-resistant plants, and do not apply it directly up against your plants.Ĭrushed 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). Trees and shrubs are generally tough enough that they are not bothered. This heat retention may bother some annuals and perennials. In a sunny area, stone gets hot in the summer. In contrast with grass, crushed stone offers a low-maintenance option that minimizes the mess dogs make through digging, urination, and wear and tear.Īs a mulch in planting beds, crushed stone works better in some instances than others. 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.Īlthough 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. While most types of mulch are organic and decompose over time, crushed stone is an inorganic type. The Spruce Home Improvement Review Board.
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