How to Landscape With Wood & River Rocks

Landscaping with wood and river rocks

Wood and river rocks are popular landscaping materials, especially for gardeners living in woodland regions. By incorporating some of the natural surrounding elements into your landscaping plans, you are able to create a landscape that blends seamlessly with the region. Depending on the size of the wood or river rocks, you can create striking focal points for the yard or use either material to replace ground cover.

Things You'll Need

• Stakes
• String
• Shovel
• Herbicides

Instructions

1. Draw a diagram of your yard. According to the University of Texas, gardeners should draw a base plan in order to get a proper overview of their property before landscaping. Include immovable objects such as driveways, trees, pathways, swimming pools and garden beds.

2. Decide if you want to use wood or river rocks as ground cover, flower bed borders or large pieces as focal points. River rock comes in sizes as small as pebbles and as large as boulders. Wood mulch can be used as ground cover for pathways and bigger pieces of wood can create seating areas. In addition, both types of landscaping material come in a number of colors that can be used to brighten up the yard or blend with the rest of the surroundings.

3. Press stakes into the ground around the perimeter where you want to place your river rock or stone. If you are creating a pathway, press the stakes in the proposed pathway. For focal points, drive stakes into the ground where you want the large piece of wood or rock to be. Tie string around the stakes and step back to get an idea of how the material will complement the yard.

4. Remove the grass where the river rock or wood will be place in the yard. Dig up grass and spray a herbicide in the area to prevent weeds or grass from growing under or around your landscape material.

5. Spread or place the landscape material in its designated location. Large pieces can either be wheeled in with a wheelbarrow or delivered by a landscape material company.

Tips & Warnings

• Buy more than you need to keep in storage for replacing small decorative river rock.

• Avoid placing a piece of river wood that is acidic like pine near plants that prefer alkaline soil. The acidic substances in the wood will change the pH of the soil.

References

• Home Buying Institute: River Rock Landscaping Ideas
• Plant Care: Landscaping Stones
• Walter Reeves: Wood Chips Myths and Facts

Resources

• University of Texas: Base Plans