Boulders are occasionally overlooked by homeowners for landscape use, and I am not certain why, when these oversize rocks may be employed to deal with numerous problems. It may be that individuals believe that anything that big and hefty has to be expensive, but as a landscape designer I can state that boulders are usually an extremely cost-effective way to deal with very common landscape problems. Below are a few common — and perhaps some rare — ways of employing this jumbo stone.
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Is not a boulder only a big rock? Well, it depends. The distinction between a major rock and a boulder is, size, well. There is A boulder a stone that is at least 10 inches across. It can be rugged or smooth, rounded or somewhat flat, but it’s the size which sets it aside. Every geographical area has its own native boulders, whether limestone, honeycomb, moss stone, black basalt or granite.
Practical Boulders Are Sold
Most boulders are sold at stone yards and landscape supply yards by the lot. You may go and pick out the boulders you would like, and the stone yard staff will load them onto a pallet to weigh them.
Very dense boulders such as granite will therefore probably be more expensive than same-size honeycomb boulders which have a whole lot of holes and weigh less. The price will vary broadly depending on the type of stone you get, but you may expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $200 per ton and up.
Most stone yards will deliver boulders to your house; ask about the delivery fee and minimum purchases prior to buying. Consider how you will get the boulders set up once they are delivered. Smaller boulders can be transferred by a couple of powerful adults, while larger ones will require either a stone dolly or machines like a front end loader to move. Machinery can be rented by the day.
Finally, shield your spine when transferring these giant rocks in place. Wear gloves and bend your knees when picking up smaller ones, and also try rolling bigger ones into place to prevent back strain. When in doubt, use machines or telephone in a friend or four to assist — there is nothing that dampens a fantastic garden job like pulled and achy muscles.
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How to Utilize Boulders
Bordering water attributes. You can’t beat the impact of boulders for water characteristics that are meant to appear very organic and natural. These rocks are often mortared round the borders of ponds as well as used to make waterfalls or stone walls on the borders of swimming pools.
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For retaining walls. When the floor is sloped or on an incline, known as a grade change, big boulders can be transferred into place to make unique degrees, or terraces. The dirt is cut back to make a ledge or a horizontal surface, and boulders are settled into maintain the dirt back.
Boulders may be mortared together or dry place, stacked or dangling without mortar. Many times it’s the absolute weight of the boulder that keeps it in place.
When creating a retaining wall of any sort, remember to include weep holes, so moisture or rainwater can escape. You can achieve this by including a smaller-diameter PVC pipe between the rocks to serve as a drain.
Margie Grace – Grace Design Associates
To restrain erosion. When you’ve got a slope or grade change on your landscape but would like not to make terraces with retaining walls, boulders can be added to keep soil in place. Large boulders are a creative choice for keeping dirt from eroding down a hillside, but it’s very important to nestle them into the dirt to prevent any rolling.
Use natural plantings, such as ornamental grasses and flowering perennials, around erosion-controlling boulders to create an organic look.
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As garden seats. Flat-top boulders may be used for landscape seats in collecting areas. This works well bordering patios, around fire pits and in courtyards. Be careful if adding boulder chairs in very hot and sunny areas, however, since the boulder surface will probably become too hot to sit on comfortably during summer months.
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For landscape accents. Although boulders are obviously practical, there’s no reason why they can’t be added to a landscape for their sheer rugged beauty.
Construct a patio round a giant one, add a group on your landscape bed or utilize a big, horizontal one for children to scramble over and perform on. Use boulders in artful ways as well — pile them to make a tower, make garden sculptures or put in home numbers to a large one on front yard.
Pat Brodie Landscape Design
For a garden boundary. Most households have some type of edging that keeps dirt and mulch inside the bed when keeping grass and other landscaping materials out. Smaller boulders may be used to define these beds in a very natural way; simply nestle them inside the borders of the bed before planting and mulching.
Search for boulders which are approximately 1 to 2 feet in diameter and have a somewhat rustic look, then line them up end to end to place your beds apart from a bold and dramatic way.
Jeffrey Gordon Smith Landscape Architecture
To make a flame pit. Boulder fire pits lend a very natural, bold look to an outside gathering space and may be quickly built with a couple powerful adults. The regional stone yard may have the ability to give you directions for creating a fire pit as well — just remember your aim is to make something that is durable and secure for a fire as well as that looks great.
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