There are many different types of decorative stones to use in a landscape. Choose from crushed stone, gravel and native rock in a variety of sizes, textures and colors. Depending on the size and type of stone that you choose, your options are limitless for adding an ornamental touch to make a beautiful and unique outdoor setting.

Six Ways to Give Your Landscape an Ornamental Touch with Stone

1. Use stone as groundcover to add texture and color to different areas of a garden, or around driveways, walkways, pools, and recreation areas. Be creative by making your own design along a grass border or by widening an existing sidewalk. Specialty crushed stone, river rocks and lightweight aggregates can help give an unforgettable natural look to any outdoor area.
2. Mix and match large boulders with an area of smaller pebbles. You can add two to three boulders to a garden bed and then surround the area with a border of pebbles. The larger the boulder, the more prominent is the appearance. For a less prominent effect, switch it up by adding smaller pebbles as mulch around plants and then place medium-sized boulders or riverrock around the bed in place of edging.
3. Create something special using boulders. Place one large boulder or a few together in a decorative display. You can choose a location that almost implies a story. If you have a pond, randomly place a few boulders to create a natural feel. Or if it is structure you are looking for, choose several boulders of the same size and space them at consistent intervals in or along a garden bed.
4. Stack drystack stones or riverrock in columns or create a wall for visual height or depth. Placing four stone columns around an outdoor seating area or building a short stone wall around a patio can set apart the area by acting as a decorative frame.
5. Use drystack stones or granite cobblestones to build an ornamental design feature. A fountain or fireplace adds luxury and beauty to any landscape. If it is a casual atmosphere you are designing, stack the stones in an offset pattern or with no particular pattern. If you want to achieve a more structured appearance, stack the stones evenly in a consistent pattern.
6. Add custom cut limestone, bluestone and sandstone fabrication to pool and spa copings, outdoor fireplace surrounds, and window sills and trims for ornate detailing that is sure to impress. Fabrications are custom cut to your designs and will enhance the beauty of any outdoor space.

As a landscape architect or homeowner, you are sure to have projects where you will find unique, functional, and creative uses for stone. Fieldstone Center can help you choose the right stone to add an ornamental element to your project. Contact us at (770) 385-7708 for more information or to arrange to view our stone selection.

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Here are some reasons to consider using decorative stone:

Solid Barrier

Stone creates a solid barrier in your garden or lawn. Whether you want to build garden beds or a retaining wall, drystack stone and granite cobblestones are great options. You can stack stones low or high, long or short. Keep the weeds out and eliminate fungal and insect problems. Depending on how you use decorative stone in your landscaping design, it is an excellent material to control erosion.

Timeless Beauty

It gives a timeless feel to a boundary or terrace. Instead of a fence, stack riverrock or drystack stones to create a wall along a portion of your property or to terrace a hilly landscape. You can also create a stone wall around a patio for a private enclosure. And because stone is weather-resistant, it looks just as fabulous over time!

Ornamental Design

Create a beautiful, ornamental design. Bluestone steppers are a very popular choice when it comes to stones that are used for steps along a walkway. There are also a number of designs for pavers that give an ornamental look to walkways and patios. In your garden, add rock boulders as decorative objects instead of statues. Or use larger aggregates or granite cobblestones as a unique edging along paths or a driveway.

Minimal Maintenance

Stone is hard and durable, requiring minimal maintenance. Lay smaller aggregates along paths or mixed in your garden in lieu of mulch. Aggregates can also be intermixed with paving stones for a casual yet clean look. Aggregates and other stones are long lasting, so unlike mulch, you won’t need to replenish them each season. And when used in areas to replace grass, they help conserve water.

Stone is a great investment and adds a decorative touch to hardscaping. When designing your landscape, remember that stone can mix well with other materials to create a rustic look or it can give solid lines and structure for a well manicured appearance.

Decorative stone for landscaping is available in many shapes, sizes, and colors. Whether you want to use stone in a large portion of your landscaping design or as an accent, Fieldstone Center has a wide selection to choose for your next project.

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