Great Landscaping Rocks Ideas and Rock Types Explained

Although river rocks are neither cheap nor always easy to get, their natural beauty makes them worth all the trouble. This is especially true if you contrast them with water plants.

Tip: If you go for an eclectic landscaping design, choose landscaping rocks that are different in color and texture. For example, the sharp brown rocks above are placed beside smooth white ones.

For example, Mexican Beach Pebbles are 15 times more expensive than decomposed granite while stone pathways are a lot more expensive than brick.

With a garden waterfall similar to the one in the picture above, you'll rave to all your friends about how tranquil and serene your outdoor space has become. Or you'll just enjoy the tranquility in silence--depends really on your character.

There are so many different ways to mix this up. You can do square beds, rectangular beds, or create an Alice in Wonderland-like maze. The possibilities are endless.

But rocks alone can be, well, a bit boring. Introducing water into the mix can shake things up! If you have the willpower (and we think you do!), why don't you try your hand at recreating your own version of the design above?

The contrast between living and nonliving creates a strong appeal that can't be achieved by rock or plant alone.

They say "diamonds are forever,' but the same is often true of stone landscaping designs. Make sure that you select the one that's not just trendy, but that will stand the test of time.

Brick chips are a really good alternative to mulch because they don't break down, they do not attract bugs, and they retain water for the plants near them.

River rocks can also be used instead of mulch. Unlike mulch, these rocks don't break down over time. So that even if they can be a bit pricey, you may not need to replace them anytime soon.

Pea gravel is the tiny gravel you see in dog parks and playgrounds and is sometimes used underground, too. Pea gravel is pretty inexpensive and also comes in a few different colors.

You guessed it, pea gravel is made of pea-sized pebbles that have been smoothed and worn over time by water constantly rushing over them.