Decorative stones elevate flower beds to a whole new level of sophistication. They come in a range of shapes, colours and sizes, and when they contrast with the foliage colours of your plants, the result can be spectacular!
- Crushed, smooth, or polished;
- White, yellow, brown, grey, slate, black or bark-coloured;
- Between 1/2 in and 6 inches in diameter.
Nothing beats the durability of stone. Stones also have the clear advantage of conserving their colour and facilitating drainage. Furthermore, stones that are at least two inches in diameter are perfect for controlling soil erosion and unlike mulch, they will never blow away.
If you have a lot of trees, and therefor a lot of leaves, larger stones are a better option, simply because cleaning and raking will be easier. Smaller stones are better suited to areas free of vegetation.
Multiple uses
- As an interesting ground cover around conifers or in large plantings of trees and shrubs;
- Between curbstones along perimeter property lines – ideally stones ¾ in or more in diameter;
- In modern landscaping and small, formal flower beds;
- For trails and pathways;
- Along the edges of water gardens, streams and waterfalls to camouflage the geotextile sheet.
Installation and maintenance
- Apply at any time;
- Spread a geotextile sheet on soil free of weeds (this is particularly important for smaller stones);
- Spread approximately 10 cm (3 in) of decorative stones;
- Hose down the stones to clean;
- Every two or three years, refresh the stone cover simply by adding new stones;
- In the spring or throughout the growing season, use a leaf blower to clean out organic material.