A properly built stacked stone wall will last for generations.
Rock is a lasting landscape treatment that is very low-maintenance once it is in place. A rock area does reflect much more heat than a cooling green lawn, and weeds will grow through gravel beds without underlying barriers. But, in general, well-constructed rock landscape features continue to enhance the curb appeal of a home season after season without much attention. A few tested techniques provide the best results when installing rock in the yard. Does this Spark an idea?
Rock Walls
Rock or stacked stone walls are a timeless border for a property line or the edge of a garden. If properly built, they will outlast the rest of the landscaping. Keep stacked stone walls low -- 3 or 4 feet is safe -- and slant them slightly inward toward the top for the best stability. Alternate joining flat stones on each succeeding level by placing a stone across the spot where two stones meet on the level beneath. Curve corners for a more natural look and greater strength and curve the whole wall for solid construction and an informal appearance. An uneven landscape with hills and valleys is highlighted by allowing the wall to meander up and down with the terrain. Be sure that any areas that drain after rainstorms or heavy snows will not undermine the footing of the wall and cause the stones to shift or sections of the wall to collapse.
Colors and Mass
Rock landscaping should look natural, and there are some design principles to follow to make that happen. If there is a special, extra large or unusual boulder in your yard, make it a focal point of the landscape. Bury any large rocks partially so they appear to have been in place for millennia; a boulder sitting on top of the lawn is patently fake. Use uneven numbers, groups and heights of large stones and avoid placing them in patterns. Real stone formations are random. Don't mix in too many colors. Stone in its natural setting is seldom a rainbow of geology from every type of quarry. Find rock from your area or limit the rock you use to a few colors and types so it is visibly harmonious and not jarring. White rock "pops" from the landscape. If it is used as a plant border, it will draw the eye away from flowers and foliage.
Rock Sculpture Garden
Don't just make a rock garden; make a sculpture garden and turn your yard into a work of art. Beautiful rocks are interesting visual features all by themselves. Showcase them on neutral-colored beds of gravel, such as river rock or pea gravel, a technique favored by artist Isamu Noguchi, who used minimalist principles to create stunning landscapes. A carved or natural boulder with a hollowed center to hold a pipe could become a fountain, sitting on river rocks that disguise a hidden water reservoir and pump below. A large yard and garden could handle a stone arch that looks like a piece of Stonehenge, with a "matching" bench of similar rock nearby for contemplation. Environmental sculptor Andy Goldsworthy says that quarries may have split or unsuitable sections of rock that they can't use for standard construction blocks and shingles. They will often sell those at a discount. A sculpture of stacked, flattish or broken stones is an interesting treatment for the corner of a garden, a conversation piece more original than a sundial. Plant simple foliage such as bamboo or silvered ground covers around rocks to integrate them into the landscape.
Tags: stacked stone, properly built, stacked stone walls, stone walls, your yard
