How to Use Rocks in Your Landscape

Natural stone is one of the most versatile elements available for a landscape makeover. Landscaping with rocks adds texture and contrast, providing durable groundcover that requires little or no maintenance.

By: Jacquelyn McGilvray and Sherry Rauh

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The Benefits of Landscaping With Rock

Incorporating rocks into your landscape is an investment that pays off with attractive, low-maintenance and long-lasting results. Rocks can be used to add a variety of interesting elements to a lawn or garden, including walls, water features and rock gardens. They can also serve as a durable alternative to mulch that won’t need to be replaced year after year.

When choosing rocks for your landscape, consider the tone they'll set for the rest of the property. Tawny beach pebbles or river rocks add warmth, while white marble chips help brighten up shady areas. Flat terra cotta stones complement a tropical landscape but can seem out of place in a more formal garden. For a minimalist modern landscape or Polynesian-themed garden, try black lava rocks. Because stones last indefinitely, it's important to choose a look you'll be happy with for many years.

Lay Out a Stairway

A pathway and stairs made up of large unhoned stones help create a natural, forest-like setting in this gorgeous front yard.

Find More Ideas: 40 Ideas for Creating the Perfect Pathway in Your Yard

Line a Pathway

Decomposed granite (essentially, granite worn down into particles) is compacted into a soft-underfoot pathway. Small boulders along the edge add layers to the border and enhance the desert-like feel.

Find More Ideas: 40 Ideas for Creating the Perfect Pathway in Your Yard

Mulch With Stones

Rocks may be more expensive than mulch, but they have several advantages as a groundcover. The first is durability. Mulch must be replaced every season, while rocks can last the lifetime of your garden. Another advantage is that pale-colored stones provide striking contrast against deep-colored foliage and help brighten up shady corners of your landscape. Rocks will also discourage weed growth around your prized plant. For the best results, lay landscape fabric on the ground first and install a weed barrier before putting the stones in place.

Learn More: Which Mulch is Best for Your Yard?

Fill Flowerbeds

If your flower beds are looking sparse and your thumb isn't too green, use large boulders to fill in the open spaces. In this mountain home, the boulders add dimension and year-round interest to the planting beds. Buying big boulders can be pricey, so check new construction sites, where you may be able to get some rocks for free — but you'll probably have to pay for hauling. Also try websites like Craigslist or Marketplace to find what you need.

Find More Ideas: 25 Ways to Get Instant Curb Appeal for Less Than $100

From: HGTV Magazine

Create a Fairy Ring

Stack landscaping rocks a few rows high to create a barrier between the plants and the play area in this DIY children's fairy ring.

Get the How-To: How to Create a Magical Backyard Fairy Ring

Step Into a Zen Garden

This Japanese-inspired garden uses stepping stones and a dry creek bed to create an organic escape that blends beautifully with nature. The plants provide a backdrop for the statue and the pathways, rather than acting as a focal point themselves.

See More of This Yard: Luxurious Zen Garden Retreat

From: Margie Grace

Build a Bench and a Border

Oversized steppingstones function like a stairway as this path ascends along the sloped garden. A custom stone bench provides a spot to rest and enjoy the plantings and wildlife.

Find More Ideas: Backyard Decorating Ideas on a Budget

Plant a Rock Garden

For a more exotic look, add a rock garden to your landscape. Choose an area that gets plenty of sun and install two or three small boulders. Surround the boulders with closely spaced low-lying flowers, such as portulaca (left), ground orchids or decorative cactus. Carefully fill in the gaps with smaller stones that complement the color of your boulders.

Find More Ideas: 30 Gorgeous Rock Gardens

Create a Beautiful Vignette

A mixture of rocks, stone slabs, potted plants, ornamental grasses and ground covers transform the border areas of this pool into a wonderful study in textures and contrasts.

Find More Ideas: 40 Stunning Ways to Landscape Around a Swimming Pool

Build a Stone Table and Bench

This permanent outdoor living room provides a charming respite and a wonderful place for relaxed conversations. The curved banquette, ivy-covered coffee table and pea-gravel flooring are right out of a storybook or exclusive high-end resort.

See More of This Yard: Moutainview Garden Entrance

From: Margie Grace

Use Rocks in a French Drain

Install a French drain using pebbles to create an appealing and practical drainage solution in your yard.

Get the How-To: How to Install French Drains

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Edge a Garden

This tasty-looking edible garden by Home & Garden Design features a quartet of raised beds with natural stones and a variety of cool season favorites such thyme, kales, lettuces, fennel and parsley.

Find More Ideas: 25 Raised Garden Bed Ideas

Create a Centerpiece

A large, unusually shaped boulder can serve as an eye-catching focal point. Use as a tidy, low-maintenance centerpiece in a small garden, where an ornamental shrub might become too large or unruly. In larger gardens, a rock centerpiece can add visual interest to monotonous border areas, such as hedges.

Find More Ideas: Desert, Xeriscape and Rock Gardens

Add a Dry Creek Bed

A dry creek bed can be decorative as well as functional. It adds natural charm and helps divert heavy rains away from the home. This boulder-line dry creek is bridged twice with a wood structure for the driveway and a large stone slab for the lawn pathway.

See More of This Yard: Dry Creek Adds Structure to Entry

From: Aquaterra

Don't Forget the Sidewalk Strip

The strip between the street and the sidewalk — often call hell strip or road verge — can often be an eyesore. To keep it low-maintenance and looking good, hardscape the space with boulders, river rocks or pavers. Here, the small retaining wall and plantings are mimicked in the sidewalk strip for a clean and cohesive look.

Find More Ideas: 25 Ways to Get Instant Curb Appeal for Less Than $100

Add a Waterfall

A rock-lined waterfall creates a zen-like feel with its soothing sounds and calming effect. The bright perennials and annuals surrounding the water feature help create that lush, mountainous look.

Find More Ideas: 15 Waterfall Designs

From: Mickman Brothers

Lay a Path to Your Door

The front yard of this contemporary lakeside home features a beautiful, symmetrical design with large rocks, a pea-gravel walkway and green shrubs filling the landscape with natural color.

Find More Ideas: 40 Ideas for Creating the Perfect Pathway in Your Yard

From: Juxtapose Design Build

Stack a Stone Wall or Fence

A stone retaining wall or fence can add a charming sense of character to a yard and garden. These meticulously landscaped slopes are filled with succulents and colorful blooms that spill over the stone walls.

See More of This Yard: Fire-Ravaged Gardens Reborn

From: Margie Grace

Build a Pond

Large rocks are the key to giving your backyard pond that fairytale look. The right type of stone will help camouflage unsightly black pond liners and provide contrast to the dark pond water. For the most natural effect, choose rocks that are similar in size but irregular in shape and color.

Learn More: 10 Things to Know Before You Build a Pond

Put Up Borders

Use large rocks to define different areas of your yard. Here, landscape boulders create a border around the pond and provide extra seating for the fire pit area.

Learn More: 55 Gorgeous Fire Pit Ideas and DIYs

DIY a Stone Planter

Dress up your porch or patio with this combination wall and planter box. It's more decorative than a standard railing and it's the perfect way to grow herbs and veggies right outside your kitchen door.

Get the How-To: How To Build a Stone Planter

Circle a Fire Pit the Easy Way

A fire pit does not necessarily have to be a stacked ring of landscape pavers. Here, natural stones outline the fire pit while a surrounding layer of pea gravel keeps the flames contained and the terrain easy to navigate.

See More of This Yard: Hillside Haven in California

From: Margie Grace

Create a Naturalistic Poolscape

Stacked stones and natural rocks are placed around this swimming pool to create an organic design that complements the nearby lake view.

Find More Ideas: 40 Stunning Ways to Landscape Around a Swimming Pool

From: Duckworth Interiors

Make a Low-Maintenance Container Garden

Instead of setting up a container garden on your deck or patio, where the pots need regular watering, place them in a rockscape that's within reach of your watering system. Line the area with a weed barrier and set the containers on top. Cut holes in the barrier, so the bottoms of the pots can fit through and settle into the soil. Make sure the pots have adequate holes for drainage. Surround the pots with small stones in a complementary color. The result is a striking container garden that is low-maintenance and looks great.

Get the How-To: How to Plant a Beautiful, Thriving Container Garden

How to Use Rocks in Your Landscape

Related To:

Shop This Look

The Benefits of Landscaping With Rock

Lay Out a Stairway

Line a Pathway

Mulch With Stones

Fill Flowerbeds

Create a Fairy Ring

Step Into a Zen Garden

Build a Bench and a Border

Plant a Rock Garden

Create a Beautiful Vignette

Build a Stone Table and Bench

Use Rocks in a French Drain

Edge a Garden

Create a Centerpiece

Add a Dry Creek Bed

Don't Forget the Sidewalk Strip

Add a Waterfall

Lay a Path to Your Door

Stack a Stone Wall or Fence

Build a Pond

Put Up Borders

DIY a Stone Planter

Circle a Fire Pit the Easy Way

Create a Naturalistic Poolscape

Make a Low-Maintenance Container Garden

Landscaping Rocks and Stones

How to Create a Rock Garden

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