Enhance Your Home Landscape with Rocks and Boulders

By B. E. Conrad

When most people think about landscaping, they may think first of flowers, trees, shrubs and other types of plants. There are other elements to designing the perfect landscape, however, and rocks and boulders can provide an element of beauty, drama and grace to virtually any outdoor setting.

Rocks and boulders provide wonderful eye appeal, and they can turn the front or backyard into a thing of beauty. Best of all, these inanimate landscape design elements never need to be watered, weeded or cared for. They provide a wonderful sense of permanence, and years of carefree enjoyment for the homeowner.

In addition, rocks and boulders can provide an excellent compliment to the trees, shrubs bushes and flowers that surround them. This contrast is one of the most powerful, yet most often overlooked, parts of designing a beautiful landscape.

Of course it is important to draw up a plan for the placement of these rocks and boulders before getting started. After all, the last thing you want to do is end up moving that hundred pound boulder more than once. When placing the rocks and boulders, it is best to bury them partway in the ground. This setting provides a better eye appeal and a more pleasing look to the overall exterior landscape. Rocks placed in this manner will appear to be a natural part of whatever setting they are placed in.

In addition, it is best to place the rocks and boulders in groups, rather than as individual pieces. A group of three to five rocks generally works best, depending on the size and shape of the individual rocks and boulders. This grouping will help to provide a more natural look and feel to the landscape.

When placing rocks and boulders into your exterior landscape, wear heavy gloves to prevent calluses and injuries to the hands. Rocks are very coarse and rough, so this protection is essential. It is also important to use caution when moving heavy rocks, and to carry them only short distances. If the rocks must be carried longer distances, it's a good idea to use a wheelbarrow or wagon.

When choosing rocks for the landscape, gather up more than you think you will need. This is because the rocks will look larger when seen individually than they will when they are grouped in the landscape.

After they have been gathered, these rocks and boulders can be used in a variety of interesting ways. Rocks and stones can be used to create a unique garden path or walkway, and larger rocks can be used to create an attractive and useful rock wall. Placing stones in the ground is also a great way to prevent weeds from sprouting around decks, hot tubs, gazebos or other parts of the exterior landscape.

When landscaping with rocks, stones and boulders, the key is to balance the size, shape and color of the rocks you choose with the surrounding plants and other design elements. It is also important to use rocks and stones sparingly, and to keep in mind that during the winter months those rocks and boulders may be the only visible part of the exterior landscape. Rocks and boulders can be a wonderful part of the exterior landscape, but it is important to look at the landscape as a whole when planning the placement of these unique and useful landscaping tools.

© Doityourself.com 2006