Eliminate Grass & Weeds
Ideally, you were able to put landscaping fabric down before you installed the decorative rocks. However, you should expect to see a few weeds or blades of grass show up occasionally. You can hand-pull weeds and grass or use a chemical preparation. Either way, eliminating the undesirable plants around the decorative rocks gives them an instant facelift, especially if you have dark-colored decorative rocks, such as polished black river rock.
Choose How to Clean the Decorative Rocks
During the fall and winter months, it’s common for dried leaves and twigs to fall into decorative rock beds. You can use a rake to remove the debris, or you might have better luck using a leaf blower to get the dead plant life out of the decorative rock beds. If you have lighter-colored rocks, such as snow-white pebbles, that have a little mildew growth, spraying them with vinegar and giving them a scrub with a push broom can remove the discoloration. Sometimes you may not have to do more than give the decorative rocks a spray with your garden hose to wash away dust and surface dirt.
Check the Current Depth
Once you’ve weeded and washed the decorative rocks, you’re ready to make sure they’re at the correct depth. With proper care, you shouldn’t lose decorative rocks over time. However, they can move out of place due to gravity or heavy rainfall. If the decorative rocks are deeper at one side of your rock bed, you can spread them out evenly using a rake, your hands, or a shovel. Then make sure they’re still at the right height for your landscape. If not, ordering more decorative rocks can correct settling that occurred over time.
Assess the Border
Some people use natural borders for their river rock gardens. In this case, make sure the grass, boulders, or other elements are still holding the beach pebbles in place. If you use plastic or metal edging, taking a moment to make sure it’s in good repair ensures your newly cleaned decorative rocks stay in place.
Top Off the Rocks as Needed
The final step to refreshing the river rocks is to top them off with fresh ones when you’ve noticed settling. During this step, you can opt to mix in some new colors of decorative rocks. For instance, adding mixed gold pebbles to a solid-color rock bed can change the overall look for a fun new landscaping design.
For expert advice on using river rocks and beach pebbles in any area of your yard, reach out to the pros at RS&P Rocks Stones & Pebbles, a premier decorative rock and supply superstore. We specialize in drought-tolerant landscaping materials, including a variety of Mexican beach pebble and river rock. To learn how we can help you enhance your landscape with beautiful decorative rocks, call us today.
