When most gardeners dive into a landscaping project, they typically — and naturally — think of plants. But landscaping with rocks and stones to accompany plants and trees or to use as stand-alone elements can be a refreshing way to add texture, color, and interest to your yard. Rock landscaping will transform your appreciation for the exciting world of natural stone.

Strategically placed rocks look great and help direct water, slowing it down so it soaks into the ground and is more available for plants. Over time, rock installations will catch small amounts of soil and organic matter and create niches for plants to grow. Watch where the water runs when it rains, and place a small outcropping of various size rocks in its path. Bury up to a third of the rocks’ surface for a more natural look.

Rock landscaping can have a strong unifying influence on the landscape year-round, so it can be a powerful and practical element in any scene.

Replace Mulch

Rocks may be more expensive than mulch, but they have several advantages as a groundcover. The first is durability. Mulch must be replaced every season, while rocks can last the lifetime of your garden. Another advantage is that pale-colored stones provide striking contrast against deep-colored foliage and help brighten up shady corners of your landscape. Stones or pebbles used in shady areas require little maintenance.

“Call attention to a favorite shrub or specimen tree by surrounding it with medium-sized river stones. This creates the effect of a ‘living sculpture’, and will also discourage weed growth around your prized plant, but for the best results, install a weed barrier before putting the stones in place.

Plant a Rock Garden

Even if you don’t have a naturally rocky site, you can easily create one. For a more exotic look, add a rock garden to your rock landscape. A stone wall offers an ideal foundation and border for a variety of low-growing alpine classics fill crevices between stones and help to integrate the stone wall with the rest of the terrace garden.

Create a Centerpiece

A large, unusually-shaped boulder can serve as an eye-catching focal point. Use as a tidy, low-maintenance centerpiece in a small garden, where an ornamental shrub might become too large or unruly. In larger gardens, a rock centerpiece can add visual interest to monotonous border areas, such as hedges.

Make a Stepping Stone Path

A stepping stone path is a picturesque option for rock landscaping in shady areas alongside your house, where there is too little sun for most plants to thrive. It’s also a practical way to keep shoes clean when walking up to a side door or back door. For a tidy look, surround large stepping stones with small pebbles in a contrasting color.

Sculptural Beauty

As you choose plants and design your garden, consider form as well as color. Pair perennial favorites with dwarf conifers that bring year-round texture and height to the scene. In this rocky site, the bright pink blooms of perennial sea thrift softly enhance the sculptural forms of dwarf conifers and large boulders. Surround the boulders with closely spaced low-lying flowers, such as portulaca, ground orchids or decorative cactus. Carefully fill in the gaps with smaller stones that complement the color of your boulders.

Designing with Succulents

A rock garden can give a diminutive succulent a place to shine. Here, hens-and-chicks tucks into a rocky crevice and stands out from the rocky site with its contrasting green and red hues. Although succulents may look fragile, they can thrive in intense sun and do well in dry conditions with little maintenance.

Invest in the product that endures for millennia. Rock landscaping products provide timeless, durable elegance and a profound feeling of integrity in the home and its grounds.