Description

Standard landscaping helps organize yourplantings and makes your yard look nice and tidy, but if you want abit of drama and artistry try adding stone borders. Landscapingstones are available in every shape, size, color and design offeredby nature and then some. If you like a very uniform look,manufactured stone can provide just that.

Creating beautiful stone borders for your flowerbeds and pathsgives your yard a unique and natural look. Additionally, stoneslast forever and only become more beautiful with the passage oftime so they represent an excellent investment.

Where Can You Get Good Landscaping Stone?

You can actually find good looking stones all over your area.For a truly authentic look, you can search for stones around yourneighborhood or even in your own lawn. Use these alone orincorporate them with other stones purchased at a local landscapematerials store or garden center. An artistic combination of stoneswill add visual interest to your outdoor environment.

What Kind Of Rock Or Stone Is Best?

Both river rock and flagstone are nice choices as the foundationfor any type of landscaping project. Flagstone comes in lots ofattractive natural shades to enhance any outdoor setting. Whensmaller sized rock is needed (e.g. when filling in open areas orcreating walkways) river rock excels.

Hiring A Pro Can Save You Money & Hard Labor!

If you are purchasing large amounts of stone, be sure to askabout home delivery as this will save you backbreaking labor andwear and tear on your vehicle. Additionally, take the time tocompare prices between purchasing stone and doing the laboryourself VS having it done by a professional landscaper. Prosalways have access to excellent prices in landscaping materialsthat offset the labor costs. Additionally, setting stone forpathways and borders is an arduous task that can cause significantaches and pains for the inexperienced DIY landscaper.

Stone Landscape Is Functional & Beautiful

In addition to borders, you can also set stepping stones orcreate walkways and retaining walls using stone. This choicecreates a natural, beautiful, enduring effect in your yard andgarden while fulfilling practical needs. Using similar rocksthroughout lends a touch of uniformity to your design. If you are arock hound, using fairly uniform natural rocks such as flagstone orriver rock for your landscaping helps draw attention to artisticdisplays of your unique finds.

Step 1: Planning

The first step to installing a stone border is to PLAN. Choose astone that matches the architecture (shape and color) of the homeand identify the color of mortar that will look best (grey orbeige).

Next, decide where the stone border will go. Think about futurelandscape expansions too, it is easier to add the space now thentrying to redo the border later. Sprinkler systems are also anissue, design the border to stay clear of any sprinkler heads.

Tip: Most home improvement stores only carry a traditional greymortar, but I will explain how to custom mix mortar to make a beigecolor in Step 4.

Calculations: Figure 1 ton of stone per 100 feet of border, andcalculate one bag of mortar per 3 to 5 feet.

Step 2: Layout

Now that all the planning is out of the way and all thematerials are on hand, it's time from some fun! It's time to laythe outline of the stone border. I recommend using a garden hose,or some other object that will allow for easy adjustments until thefinal layout is determined.

Once the final layout is in place, use marking paint to spraythe outline. This will act as a guide when digging.

Tip: If there are long curves, use 1/2 inch diameter PVC pipeand grade stakes to help get a smooth curve. Determine thebeginning and end points of the curve and drive in one stake ateach end. With the PVC pipe wedged against the two end stakes, pushthe middle of the pipe until the desired curve is achieved. Drivein the middle stake to hold the pipe in place.