What Is the Cost of Rock for Landscaping?

Adding rocks to your next landscaping project is a great way to add beauty and practicality. But the question on every homeowner’s mind is: how much is this going to cost? The cost of rock for landscaping varies greatly, as prices depend on the rock, its purpose, and quantity. For example, the price of a few medium-sized rocks to place in your garden is going to be very different from the price of many pounds of gravel. So it’s easy to wonder, “how much is rock for landscaping?”

When trying to calculate the price of rock for landscaping, it helps to know how you plan on using it. Some rocks may work better for different purposes, making it easier to determine a price when you know what rock you’re looking for. Size is also an important factor that affects cost. Small rocks tend to measure in somewhere between .75 and 1.5 inches. Large rocks are typically between 2 to 6 inches. Large rocks are usually more expensive, but the biggest determining factor is still the type of rock you select, making “how much is rock for landscaping?” a dependent question to answer.

Garden Rocks

Rocks are a great addition to any garden. You can use rocks to line garden beds or even serve as the bed itself. Larger rocks are typically better for lining garden beds and mulch as they are heavier and less likely to wash away. You can use smaller rocks like pieces of gravel to make up entire garden beds.

Including rocks in your garden landscaping has many benefits, especially on the health of your soil. Using stones to line the edge of your garden bed can help retain soil. Your soil is much less likely to wash away or blow away when there are stones keeping it in place. Stones also add a nice, tidy look to your garden bed. 

Gravel gardens use gravel throughout the garden, not just around the edges of garden beds. Gravel gardens are significantly less work to maintain than traditional garden beds. Because they use rocks instead of soil, they are less likely to blow away or wash away. Gravel gardens use less water, since water can better flow to plant roots without causing runoff. Gravel also makes it harder for weeds to take root. For the same reason, plants are more secure when planted within heavy gravel. Bee balm, butterfly milkweed, and purple coneflowers are just some of the many beautiful plants that thrive in gravel environments. 

When looking to answer “how much is rock for landscaping?,” stones used for lining garden beds typically cost between $12 per foot and $20 per foot depending on the size and type of stone. River rocks, lava rocks, and Mexican beach pebbles are some of the most popular stones you can use in landscape gardening. Alternatively, gravel can cost anywhere from $15 per cubic yard to $75 per cubic yard.

Bedrock Landscaping Materials

Bedrock is the layer of solid rock underneath other materials like soil, gravel, or sand. Bedrock can be a difficult obstacle in your landscaping journey depending on its depth. When bedrock is too close to the soil’s surface, it can be hard for plants to be able to grow deep enough in the soil. They might not be secure enough in the ground and their roots might not be able to find enough nutrients. If you have shallow bedrock, you may require extra materials when landscaping or gardening.

Building raised garden beds is the best defense against difficult bedrock. While some plants may be able to grow in cracks of exposed bedrock, it is generally not very hospitable to most plants. A raised garden bed usually refers to a garden bed of soil placed on top of existing soil. They are a great alternative for gardeners whose soil is less than ideal. They are usually behind enclosures as well. 

If you encounter shallow, exposed bedrock when gardening you will most likely want to install a raised garden bed. You’ll need some materials to get started. The number of materials you’ll need will depend on the space you have. Unsurprisingly, this will affect the cost as well. 

A raised garden bed needs soil. A cheap bag of soil costs around $10 while more expensive bags could reach up to $40. More expensive soil usually includes organic soils or special varieties. If you don’t feel like your garden will need specialty soil, feel free to opt for the cheaper or middle-of-the-road brands. To create the raised effect, you can assemble a box yourself or purchase one already assembled. Wood prices can vary greatly based on the wood and the amount needed. Raised beds start at around $70 but can cost as much as $200. 

Landscaping Stones

Stones can be used in many creative ways to enhance your property. Businesses and private homes alike can benefit from the practical and visual benefits of landscaping stones. Stones both big and small can have huge impacts on your landscaping. When it comes to cost, landscaping stones can be very cheap or very expensive depending on what you are looking for. 

Small stones like gravel can be used as mulch in gardens. Gravel can also be used to make pathways, driveways, and more. Gravel can come in many different colors and textures. It can even be a mix of stones. Larger stones can be used to surround other features like ponds, fire pits, or gardens. If you’re looking for something really unique, try arranging large stones as a feature itself. You could build a wall or a beautiful piece of sculpture using stones. Sometimes large enough stones look nice all by themselves or arranged on top of each other. The larger the stone, the more expensive it is. Landscaping boulders are common and can be used in any of these ways, or simply placed alongside other fixtures. They can cost as little as $50 per boulder, but they typically cost around $150 per boulder.  

There are many ways you can use stones to beautify your home or business, but there’s only one way to make sure it’s done right. That’s by calling Arbeen Landscaping.