Gardens with natural stone elements like boulders and aggregate have an earthy, rustic appeal. Strategically placed, these rugged materials contrast beautifully with plants and other landscaping features. Sourcing them is an eco-friendly way to achieve this look while reducing costs. Read on to learn design tips for incorporating recycled stone in your garden.
Choose the Right Boulders
Recycled boulders come from various sources, so availability varies by region. Granite, quartzite, limestone, and sandstone boulders are common. The best stones for gardens have interesting shapes, textures, and colors. Neutral earth tones blend in, while distinctive patterns or colors become focal points. Select a variety based on your landscape design and plants.
Boulder sizes range from small accent stones under 1 foot to massive feature boulders over 5 feet tall. Using different scales creates visual interest. Groupings of similarly sized boulders have coherence while contrasting a large centerpiece boulder with smaller stones can be striking.
Use Aggregate Creatively
Crushed stone aggregate includes gravel, decomposed granite, limestone screenings, and recycled concrete. These versatile materials, like mulch, perform practical functions to suppress weeds or footpaths. Aggregate also provides creative opportunities to add texture, define spaces, and complement other stones.
For example, a path through a rock garden lined with gravel invites visitors to explore up close. Or, swaths of decomposed granite can form the backdrop to set off colorful plantings—contrasting colors and textures of plants, boulders, and aggregate layers visual dynamics.
Design Tips
Follow these guidelines to incorporate recycled boulders and aggregate successfully:
Set the foundation - Lay landscape fabric or weed barrier before adding aggregate to limit unwanted growth. Outline planting beds and hardscape areas first.
Follow contours - Arrange stones to complement your terrain and beds rather than fighting or changing gradients.
Scale and balance rocks - Combine a few dramatic heroic boulders with a supporting cast of smaller accent stones nearby.
Create flow - Transition aggregate materials from one area to the next for a cohesive, flowing look.
Contain edges - Define aggregate paths and beds with stone borders or steel landscape edging to keep materials in place.
Bring Your Garden Vision to Life
Recycled boulders and aggregate offer versatility in realizing garden designs while meeting sustainability goals. Start sourcing these eco-friendly stones to create your unique landscape vision without breaking the bank. Add a visual punch with attention-grabbing boulders, then unify the look with aggregate as the connective design element. With some planning and creative work, you’ll have a conversation-starting garden that reflects your style.
The key is sourcing recycled stones and hardscape materials for your regional market. Consult qualified landscape suppliers and designers to determine optimal colors, textures, and proportions. Bring photos to illustrate your vision. With helpful experts and quality eco-friendly stones, you’ll create an inviting garden gathering space to enjoy for years.
Comments