River Rock Landscaping
A landscape is something that practically everyone has in their garden. However instead of having something that everyone else has, why not create a landscape that is interesting and unique. Something that is not so easily found in other people’s gardens, like river rock landscaping.
The basic principle to river rock landscaping lies in using rocks and boulders in the landscape. While implementing river rock landscaping, it is important to create drama using rocks and boulders. This can be done by choosing a large boulder as a focal point in the yard. This rock should be a rock with natural interest like irregular shape, color or texture. You are sure to find the right rock from the local nursery, or perhaps a neighbor or friend clearing their lot of rocks.
Once the focal point boulder is chosen, you have to plan a garden around the boulder. This garden may be big or small; according to your imagination. You could start on the river rock landscaping by clearing the grass in the area where the garden is to be. The edge of the garden then has to be lined with smaller rocks. Once this is done, adding perennial flowers and decorative grasses to the area around the boulder is next on the agenda.
You have to plant perennial flowers or decorative grasses every 3-4 cubic feet, depending on the garden area. There is no point in planting them any closer as it crowds on the maturing of the plant. Even planting them too far apart only makes the plants look sparse in future years. It is best to plant perennial flowers in groups of three to give a robust look and color. Adding landscaping bark in between plants help in controlling weeds and retaining moisture in the soil.
You can create added drama in the river rock landscaping by adding a walkway of flat stones to the focal point of the landscape. Remove the grass in the walkway region and create a winding path. Add some soil to make leveling of stones easier. You could also consider planting small variety of trees near the boulder, if space permits. Dwarf river birch, mountain ash and dwarf crab are some great choices. Add a bench or garden gate to the river rock landscaping for a special look to the river rock landscape to make the landscape into a great family photo spot.
Once the river rock landscaping is complete, you could consider adding some final touches to the landscape. Adding a decorative or patriotic flag helps add some color to the river rock landscape. This flag colors the landscape when the flowers are not in bloom; moreover, watching the flag fluttering in the breeze tends to give a whimsical feeling to the river rock landscape.
This is just a basic idea to river rock landscaping. Like other forms of landscaping, with imagination and hard work, the sky’s the limit when it comes to creating the perfect river rock landscape in your garden.