Think about Your Desired Purpose
River rocks serve a variety of different purposes. You could use them to line pathways, or you might create a trail of them for people to walk on directly. Rocks also work great as an edging material you can use to define flower beds and gardens. Or you can use them to create a natural look near water features. Due to the beauty and usefulness of rocks, it’s common to see several different types and sizes in one landscape. Taking a look at your landscaping design plan helps you see exactly where you’ll want to place your rocks, which makes it easier to decide on size.
Consider the Way Nature Works
If you have the opportunity to take a field trip, it might help to check out a local river to see how rocks appear in nature. You’ll likely find larger rocks lining the river and smaller ones lying within the riverbed. Seeing how different-sized rocks work together in the real world makes it easier to pick out the sizes you need to achieve the appearance of a more natural landscaping feature.
Get the Most Versatility with One-Inch Rocks
One- to two-inch rocks are considered to be the perfect size for many different purposes. At this size, they can easily be piled into areas to create rock gardens and to use as an alternative to grassy ground cover. These smaller rocks are comfortable for people to walk on, which makes them useful for walkways, but you can also pile them up with rocks of other sizes to create interesting designs around water features.
Pick Medium-Sized Rocks for Water Features
Two- to three-inch rocks are perfect for building waterfalls, rivers, and pools. At this size, the rocks stack well on each other, and you’ll have options to create large areas that serve as focal points in your landscape. Since water features should look as natural as possible, you can explore the option of using several different sizes and colors, such as mixed gold river rock, to keep the feature from looking too uniform.
Use Larger Rocks to Attract Attention
There will also be times when you want to go bigger and bolder with your rocks. Three- to five-inch rocks are attractive, and they’ll be noticeable from a greater distance. You can add bigger rocks to the perimeter of a flower bed in your front yard, or you might want to use this size rock as the main part of a waterfall. Medium- and large-sized rocks also work great as a mulch substitute that can add an attractive look to succulent gardens.
No matter what type of landscaping project you’re planning, you can enhance its character and beauty with river rock in a variety of sizes and colors. For expert advice on designing your landscape with rocks, reach out to the experts at RS&P Rocks Stones & Pebbles, a premier landscape rock and supply superstore. We specialize in drought-tolerant landscaping materials, including a variety of Mexican beach pebbles and river rock. To learn how we can help you create the landscape of your dreams, call us today at (866) 380-0580.