| Thursday Tips: Using Stone in the Garden |
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| Written by Heleigh Bostwick Thursday, 16 May 2013 | |||
 Using stones in the garden doesn’t mean you need to build a Stonehenge or succumb to a Zen lifestyle. Honest! Nor does it necessarily equate to rock gardens. If you’ve ever visited a quarry specializing in landscape stone you know that stones come in all shapes and sizes from pea gravel to cobblestone to boulders and flat stones perfect for diving rocks. Stone can be used formally--as in a bluestone terrace or retaining wall--or informally as a meandering stone wall or a water feature. And, it can be used in many ways to enhance or define the landscape such as focal points for planting pockets (think a group of medium sized boulders surrounded by yellow daylilies), benches, diving stones, pathways, or even to mark an entrance to a path or outdoor room. In other words, there are many ways to use stones in your garden and landscape. A few facts: Smaller stones like pea gravel (perfect for informal paths and surfaces) are sold by the cubic yard or metric ton. Fieldstone such as that used for walls and other vertical surfaces is often sold by the linear or face foot. Paving is typically sold by the square foot. Larger stones including boulders are sold by the metric ton. Boulders weigh in at different amounts depending on the type of stone—about 170 pounds per cubic foot (granite) and 155 pounds per cubic foot (limestone). Recommended reading: Sunset Landscaping With Stone 
Stone in the Garden: Inspiring Designs and Practical Projects
Garden Stone: Creative Landscaping with Plants and Stone
Photo source: www.plantaplant.com |
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