Natural stone is a classic and elegant way to enhance your garden while also providing functional benefits. Here are some ways it does this.

Around Flower Beds

Rocks bring interesting textures into the garden. Around flowerbeds and lawns, they spice up a yard while organising and delineating different sections. Your garden already has foliage, bark and soil, but stone brings a whole new element into the mix. Irregularly shaped boulders harmonise with the winding and uneven lines of nature, while their hardness adds something distinct. You could use roughly consistent sizes around the beds, and add a couple of extra large rocks elsewhere for contrast. 

In Place Of Mulch

The point of mulch is to protect your garden, keeping it moist and preventing weeds from taking hold. Crushed stone or gravel can perfectly fulfil this role also. As stone absorbs moisture, it can protect beds during a hot summer by retaining some coolness and dampness. Also, gravel is more durable than mulch and won't need replacing so often. Additionally, crushed pebbles and stones look beautiful within the garden. Different gravels are available in assorted types and colours, letting you harmonise the landscape. You could even match it to shades within your home's architecture. If you have a favourite tree or plant, why not encircle it with decorative crushed stones at its base to create a focal point?

Stone Walls And Pathways

Stone walls can feature in gardens in numerous ways. They can section off an outdoor table and seating area, separate the vegetable garden from the rest of the yard or create a border for a driveway. Around an outdoor entertainment area, a stone wall can provide additional seating that is perfect for entertaining. Rock textures look stunning against rich timber furniture and accents, that might also feature in the area.

In a sloping yard, a retaining wall can help you to relandscape the earth to create several flat tiered surfaces out of one sloping plane. This can enhance your garden's health by preventing rainwater rushing down the incline, taking nutrients and plants with it. Natural stone pieces also form attractive pathways. They impart a natural feeling because of their curves and textures but without the straight, rigid lines of some paths. Either smooth or rough, the hard stone complements soft green foliage. Again, with rock, you can select from a variety of different colours and looks to create a cohesive design.