Rock Scapes
Rock scapes refer to any landscape that has rocks, stones or boulders included in the design. Most people are familiar with stone edger sold at hardware stores. I prefer not to consider this part of rock scapes since they are a man made product which is nothing more than concrete. Stone creates a more natural look and can be every bit as neat. Typically using natural stone is much cheaper than the man made stones and it can be just as appealing. There is a huge variety of rock types and looks available. Below is a photo of a rock border done in two levels to help hold back erosion. The rock is a typical composite and very cheap.
Boulders are also a great addition to any garden beds. I like to scatter boulders throughout my yard in groups of three to provide backdrops to specific plants. Many people create rock gardens in tiers to allow plants to cascade down the rocks. I would not suggest purchasing stone from anywhere other than a rock or quarry dealer, the home improvement stores charge way to much. Typically the rock and quarry dealers charge buy the pound, you just drive you vehicle on a big scale before and after you load the stone. You can also use small stone to edge or line beds and pathways. There are many varieties of small stone available including crushed, flat and rounded stone in a multitude of colors. These can be purchased at the same location or at hardware stores by the bag. Crushed stone can be packed down to create an informal walkway which is quite comfortable to walk on. Rounded stone can be used for things such as edging or filling in under a bench. Even just one large exotic boulder properly placed can highlight a garden or a focal shrub. Stone is frequently used to hide liners for ponds and waterfalls. When creating a pond or waterfall from scratch, it's necessary to anchor the liner with some heavy stone. Often stone is included within the falls and pond as it would be in nature. Which ever way stone, rock or boulders are used it will create a natural look that will last forever. Try just one in a special place and avoid those man made concrete blocks if possible.
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