Landscaping With Rocks
Pool Design with Natural Stone – Tips and Styles of Choosing Rocks
Character Rock – This could be a rock with moss or lichen growing on it.
The rock may have veins running along it or another kind of rock running through it.
Structural Rock – A rock that contains two relatively flat sides making it easier to stack one rock on top of another.
Waterfall Rock – A rock with natural channels that water has carved into it. Sometimes this happens when a rock is in a stream with water running over it for many years. When incorporating this rock into the waterfall, make sure to run feeds to those channels so that the water is actually running over the rock as it did naturally. Taking care in both the selection and positioning of the water feeds enhances the natural look that is so important.
Grotto Rock – This is the most important rock and the most difficult to find. Look for a rock that is very flat and large enough to cap the top of the grotto. It also must have a very nice face. The face of the grotto rock is what you will see when you are looking at the grotto waterfall. The face needs to look very nice and natural, not a broken or sharp. The rock needs to look as if water would naturally flow over it. These rocks need to be thick enough to be structurally strong, but not so thick that they look bulky hanging out over the grotto.
Transitioning Rocks – These rocks are used on either side of the waterfall to blend the waterfall back down into the landscape making the falls appear to come out of the ground organically. To achieve this, look for rocks that are triangular in shape so that the waterfall angles down into the landscape.
Veneering Rocks – These are perfect for the back side of waterfalls. I recommend selecting a rock that may have been laying flat in the woods and therefore has all kinds of moss and lichen on it. When you stand the rock up on end it should have a lot of usable square footage. This kind of rock is perfect for the back side of a waterfall because it can be veneered to the back of a concrete planter. Make sure the rock is relatively thin giving you a lot of square footage without a lot of weight. The weight of rocks is an important factor to keep in mind because all of the rocks are shipped by the ton, so the heavier the rock the higher the cost.
Another important thing to check in selecting a rock is to make sure that the rock looks completely natural and not quarried. Make sure there are no scuff or cut marks on the rocks from being handled by machinery. It is also important that the rock isn’t broken or sheared off. Every rock must look very natural and organic. Using a broken piece of rock will destroy the natural feel of a pool design.
There are many different types of rocks and the selection criteria must be based on use as well as looks. When selecting rocks it is very important to think about the application that you have envisioned. A rock that will work perfectly for veneering won’t necessarily make a beautiful waterfall rock. Think about what you are trying to build, envision it, break it down into the individual rocks, and then search for those rocks. Look at thousands of rocks with an idea in your mind of what you are trying to create. Each rock has its own purpose in the design.
About the Author
Lucas Congdon is an expert at building dream vacation backyards and swimming pools with natural stone waterfalls. Visit his website http://LucasLagoons.com to get more inspiration for your own natural stone swimming pool. If you are looking for quality craftsmanship and backyards that last a lifetime, contact Lucas Congdon today.
Landscaping rocks? I need to know what rocks are best for guiding water toward a drain in my back yard?
This is what happen. I have a pool in my backyard. The pervious owners broke a oval circle in the concrete to install the pool on the dirty instead of just installing it on top of the concrete. So I have a gap between the pool and the rest of the concrete. So when it rains the water just backs up in that gap instead of heading to the drains on both sides of the pool. Anyone know if I can fill that gap with rocks and hope the water will go towards the drains? If not rocks anyone have any ideas what I can do?
River rocks are natural & decorative. I use them in my flower beds to make like a “creek bed” so the water running off the roof doesnt wash away my mulch.
You can purchase them from garden centers…not expensive at all.
Create your Own Landscape Design : Steel & Rock Landscape Edging
