Looking for Landscaping Rocks? Look No Further!
Landscaping rocks have been in fashion for ages. In 1761, the idea of using rocks for enhancing outdoor beauty became prominent after the rock garden was built in England. These iconic rocks are now a cult favorite decorative item for horticulturalists.
Today, landscape rocks are a much-coveted possession for gardeners and interior designers alike. They are a time-tested, popular aesthetic material that helps you bring out the beauty of your lawn or garden.
However, the breadth of rock varieties can easily put a beginner in a fix! There are so many to choose from, each one demonstrating its own unique flare and beauty.
Mexican beach pebbles, cobble, mulch, river rocks, flagstones, crushed stones, and many other landscaping rocks are available in all sizes and shapes.
Landscape rocks are high-quality alternatives to mulch; they make everything brighter and more alluring.
You can use the best complimenting landscape rocks for your botanical heaven, from black polished pebbles to red lava rocks!
They will shape-shift your ordinary lawn into an exquisite location where you can enjoy reading the newspaper while sipping your hot cup of tea!
Table of Contents
What is a landscape rock?
The landscape rock, also known as a decorative stone, is a visually appealing material used by garden owners to enhance the beauty of their yards.
Landscape rocks come in various material categories, including sand, gravel, granite, stones, and boulders.
They provide an exotic accent touch to the surroundings; their natural structure, durability, and no-fuss nature make them all the more desirable.
You must have seen them stacked or layered in local parks, patios, or household lawns, as they are becoming quite common.
Which landscape rock is the cheapest?
Landscape rocks may cost more than mulch, but they’re totally worth it.
If you’re looking for a highly cost-effective landscape rock to install in your garden, we suggest you consider decomposed granite for that ethereal look.
Decomposed granite gives your botanical yard a rustic, county, and more natural look. The price ranges from $40-$50 per cubic yard.
This form of granite is considered a highly accessible landscaping rock. It is low maintenance, lasts a lifetime, and comes in different attractive hues.
Cost, Color, and practicality are all you need to look at a landscaping rock before purchase, but never forget to look at your budget because some rocks can cost you $25 per square foot, whereas others may range as high as $1000!
How to choose the best and cheapest landscape rock
You should be aware of certain factors before shopping for landscape rock. Choosing the right finish, size, and colors to compliment the surrounding area is paramount for executing an aesthetic landscape project.
Defining your budget and priorities comes next.
Also, it would be best if you understood where to put the rocks and how you will use them. Always decide on the style or theme of your hardscape project.
Once you have all these factors determined, you can purchase the best available landscape rock at the most economical prices from the market.
5 most common cheap landscape rocks with cost, pros, and cons
Whether you want to purchase landscaping rocks to create stone pathways, water features, or flowerbed mulch, there are multiple choices that you can opt for.
From river rocks to pea gravel, you can easily buy any five of these rocks at rates that won’t leave you bankrupt.
They will make your botanical yard look like a colorful, artistic heaven and will last you a lifetime.
We have shortlisted some of the cheapest rocks used for landscaping so that you can choose the best ones for your garden.
Crushed Granite
Crushed granite is readily available in multiple sizes, qualities, and colors. It gives any stone pathway a more sleek and modern look.
Cost
Crushed granite usually varies from $50 to $70 per yard; it is, therefore, quite affordable.
Pros
Popular DIY material
Readily available
Affordable
Easy to install
It comes in brown, gray, and many other shades
It also allows drainage, which makes it an efficient rock type
Cons
It erodes quickly
Heavy rain can make it muddy and unstable quickly
It has a coarse texture which makes it hard for pets to walk on it
It requires maintenance after every few years
Pea Gravel
Resembling the size of a pea, this landscaping figure is a small, round rock that offers a wide color diversity. It comes in shades of gray, brown, black, and white.
Cost
Pea gravel is highly cost-effective; a 40-50 pound bag of the rock costs $4-$5.
Pros
It helps in preventing soil erosion
It offers a diverse set of colors
Pea gravel landscape rocks are affordable and appropriate for high foot traffic due to their refined shape
Cons
They are small in size, which makes it hard to keep them in place
They often require a barrier
These rocks require relatively more maintenance
River Rocks
These are washed stones harvested from the river banks. They come in various colors and sizes.
Cost
Typically the cost of a 30-40 pound bag of river rocks is between $20-$25, depending upon the rock color and size.
Pros
River rocks are one of the most readily available, affordable, and popular landscaping rocks Their color mix is spectacular, which allows them to match almost any surroundings
They are suitable for high foot traffic due to their ideal shape
Cons
Their large size allows for the accumulation of dirt and gunk, which leads to the growth of weeds (which arere hard to remo)ve)
Pebbles
Landscaping rocks are round or oval, resembling pea gravel and river rocks. They are relatively more prominent and are available in a whitish-gray hue.
However, red, black, and green shades of landscaping pebbles are also available in the market.
Cost
A 40-50 pound bag of landscaping pebbles is often sold for $20-$30 and is deemed one of the most affordable rock types.
Pros
They’re available in multiple shades
They are uniform, making them look aesthetically refined
These rocks can handle foot traffic because of their round edges and are more suitable for walking
They’re affordable and highly recommended for modern landscaping architects
Cons
They are harder to remove because of their large size
Dirt and debris can quickly accumulate in the stones due to their size, leading to early weed growth.
Lava Rock
Lava rock, also known as volcanic rock, is composed of solidified and cooled lava. Typically found in red and black varieties, the lava rock is one of the most popular landscaping rocks.
Cost
The cost of lava rock is determined by its size, coarse nature, and color.
This lightweight volcanic rock is often sold in lighter volumes. Typically, a 10-20 pound bag costs around $5-$25 on average, which is pretty economical.
Pros
Lava rocks are not rare and can be found easily in most volcanic regions, making them inexpensive.
They’re porous and help in drainage.
They are harder to keep in place because of their lightweight
Cons
The most considerable disadvantage of making a pathway using lava landscaping rock is that it’s incredibly coarse, making it painful to walk on
Some experts believe the lava rocks have fallen out of fashion in the previous years
Ask Away: FAQs
How can landscaping rocks help with bugs?
Rocks are solid, and unlike mulch and wood, they don’t attract any bugs or insects.
Can I hire someone to install landscaping rocks?
Of course, you can hire a professional to help you with the installation of landscaping rocks.
What size of landscaping rocks will look the best in my garden?
Landscaping rocks that vary between 1-2 inches are considered to be a perfect size, as they can be easily piled and drained effectively.
