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Using River Rock in Your Landscaping - 5 Ideas

by Brandon Cornett

River rock is an attractive product that can be used in many different ways in your landscaping projects. In this article, I'll offer some tips and ideas for using river rock to improve your landscape.

What is River Rock Anyway?

Just so we are all on the same page, let's start with a definition of river rock as it applies to landscaping projects. These stones come in a wide variety of colors and sizes, but what they all have in common is the softly rounded shape and smooth finish. Unlike rocks dug from the earth (which can be chunky and rough), river rocks have worn down by water currents over time. This gives them a more pleasing appearance, almost as if they were shaped by hand.

One of the great things about using river rock as a landscaping supply is the variety you'll enjoy. As you can see by the picture below, these stones come in many different sizes and colors. The rocks vary based on the location where they were found, and many other factors.

Granted, you'll be limited by what your local landscape supply yards have to offer. But just know that there's a lot to choose from in must supply yards. River rock is not the kind of product you'd want to have shipped from far away (too expensive), but if you call around to your local supply yards you'll have more options to choose from.

The Dry Creek Bed

This is a popular technique for river rock landscaping that can be used in a variety of situations. No matter type of yard you have, or what kind of obstacles are in the way, you could use river rock to give the appearance of a dry creek bed running through the yard. You can make the "creek" run through a larger bed of pea gravel or past other features such as plants and boulders.

River Rock Path

You could also expand on the previous creek bed idea by widening the path and putting it in a functional area, so it serves as a walkway as well. If you do this, you'll need to use flagstone or a similar product for steps. Walking on river rock alone is a good way to twist an ankle.

Other Landscaping Ideas

These are by no means the only options for using river rock in your landscaping plans. These are just some of the most common uses for this particular product. This is one of the most versatile landscaping products you can use, so there are endless possibilities on how to incorporate it. Before you make a final decision, I recommend browsing through some landscape books at your local library or bookstore, and looking at photo galleries online.

Hire a Professional Landscaper

The delivery and placement of river rock can be a pretty big job, especially when you're dealing with large spaces and quantities. If you'd like to pitch your project idea to some local landscape companies in order to get some quotes, you can do so by using the link below.