An in depth list of the top 5 landscaping ideas using rocks in your front yard, including the different types of rocks and stones used in the designs.
Are you interested in landscaping for your front yard but aren’t sure where to start? Give landscaping with rocks a shot! It’s a choice with endless opportunities and design styles.
Incorporating rocks and stones in your landscaping designs can be simple with filled flower beds and paths or more detailed with fountains, streams, and terracing. It doesn’t matter what type of yard you have or the amount of space there is to work with due to how versatile these styles can be.
Figuring out just how to accomplish this can be a bit overwhelming because the possibilities really don’t end. That’s why we’re going to discuss the five popular design ideas when landscaping with rocks of all types in your front yard. Of course, these can be used in your backyard as well, or anywhere else on your property.
Landscaping With Rocks and Stones
Landscaping with rocks and stones will always be a beautiful, classic choice when considering what to do with your front yard. The great thing is that front yard landscaping ideas with rocks can fit with both small and large spaces due to their diversity.
One of the reasons the designs are never ending is because there are so many different types of rocks you can use to decorate. Anywhere from big to small, smooth to rough, natural to manufactured.
Shall I list a few? Of course!
- Pebbles
- Slate rocks
- Slate chips
- Boulders
- Gravel stones
- River rocks
- Crushed stones
- Lava rocks
- Sandstone
- So. Many. More.
And they all come in different colors and sizes. Do you see my point about the endlessness?
A couple great sites to look at these rocks would be homedepot.com or wayfair.com. These are fun places for those who enjoy the option to browse in person, too.
Any of these can be used for things such as rock gardens, rock walls, a garden bed, raised beds, rock stairs, and even for a water feature. It doesn’t matter what landscape design you settle on, whatever it is will certainly add beauty and curb appeal.
Filled Flower Bed Designs
This is undoubtedly the most common use of decorative rocks and stones in landscaping designs. It is also most likely the most low maintenance of all the designs, thanks to part of its purpose being to prevent weeds from growing between flowers and other plants.
Filling a flower bed with rocks is a great way to incorporate them in your front yard, and give the beds a neat but natural appearance. The great thing about it is you can have rocks of any size – even boulders! – and they will always mix well with the plants.
In this photo, you can see that they’ve covered any exposed areas with layers of small rocks to keep weeds from growing. Spread throughout the flowers, bushes, and decorative grasses are larger stones that make the area look more like an oasis than a simple garden.
If the driveway leading from the street to your home takes up most of your yard space but you aren’t sure what you can do to give the limited area a little color and life, planting various plants there and filling the empty spaces with different types of rocks, such as the river rocks, small stones and big rocks, will certainly do the trick.
Another great aspect of this design is that it will seriously work with whatever you want! Trees, bushes, flowering plants, grasses – it doesn’t matter what you choose.
It also won’t matter what space you’re looking to use for it! Even in a 3 by 3 foot space, as long as you can plant one thing, you can cover the rest of the space with decorative stones! This really is the most low maintenance garden beds for rock landscaping ideas.
Garden Border Designs
Staying on the topic of gardens, let’s talk about borders. This, hands down, has to be my favorite retaining wall of all. The way the slab stones are layered and larger vertical rocks are added intermediately to act as a break in the pattern is stunning.
Designs like this are useful in so many ways. For instance, if your front yard has a slope, removing it and using large rocks to act as a sort of wall will prevent soil erosion and give your property a classy appearance!
A different scenario: you may not be able to plant anything in the ground. This could be for a number of reasons, such as unsuitable soil or a stubborn black walnut tree that keeps other plants from growing.
Using both small rocks and boulders can be a dramatic contrast but it creates a more diverse, less plain design to separate a garden from the grass. Not to mention, natural stones like these are much better than using rubber borders or a plastic retaining wall to keep things in place.
Here, their choice of white and light gray stones creates a clean distinction between the brick path leading to the front door and the space designated for plants. Again, adding large rocks gives the space more personality.
This design is the most interesting of all. This landscaping with rocks and boulders is very simplistic but manages to pull your attention right away. Of course, that might have something to do with the giant mound of dirt! Though there may be gaps between these rocks, it is still considered to be a border – clearly more for decoration than separation.
Terrace Designs
A sloping lawn can seem like a waste of yard space, I know! Unfortunately, there isn’t a lot that can be done with yards like this but I have prepared a collection of landscaping ideas using rocks and stones just to solve this problem!
Take this for example. A gorgeous house with a front yard that was more than likely difficult to mow due to the obvious downhill slope. They have used large rocks to provide stability so the soil doesn’t wash down the yard when it rains, and filled the space with various beautiful bushes.
A rock wall such as this provides more support for a steeper design. Notice how there are still raw, uncut boulders here and there. Unlike in the previous picture, rocks have been laid over the remaining flat ground to prevent grass from growing there.
It certainly makes your life easier when you don’t have to wheel the lawnmower down there for a single strip of grass!
This definitely used to be a hill, right? It can’t be considered a slope with how steep it looks!
Still, this design works here as flawlessly as ever. With walls that aren’t paved together, these stone slabs give more of a natural vibe and even allow viney plants to grow through the gaps and add some greenery to the gray tones.
Once again, decorative boulders can be spotted throughout the flowers and bushes.
But maybe your front yard doesn’t slope at all. Don’t worry, terrace designs can still work in flatter spaces, it just takes a bit more preparation. This is only because you have to add the layers by hand instead of the simpler details of pursuing terracing designs in a front yard that already sits on multiple levels.
It’s more work but it turns out to be just as stunning as it would anywhere else. Don’t take my word for it, just look at that picture!
Path Designs
Stone path designs are another popular option for those looking to incorporate rocks and boulders landscaping in their front yard – and definitely less complicated than others. This option is the easiest: Small rocks encased in a border that lead guests right to your front door.
Small rocks make another appearance, this time stark white and complemented by dark slate stones. Plus, they can double as a path and garden filler to keep grass from growing – but you can still plant what you want to decorate it!
You shouldn’t have to settle with a graveled area as the path that leads to your doorway!
A similar example, neater than the previous path with the border to keep the rocks in place. But it doesn’t stop you from lining this path with plant life! This is a beautiful yard landscaping idea for someone who has a lot of empty lawn space.
The small stones have been arranged in clean lines thanks to the retaining wall that curves along with them, complemented by plants all the way.
If you can’t see yourself committing to such a long stone pathway, choosing stone slab stairs is a classic alternative. With natural, large flat stones like these, you really achieve the raw look that gives the illusion that the steps were there already.
It also opens the doorway for other rock decor ideas, like small rocks here and little pebbles there. You might even still add flower beds on either side to give the space a little green. Truly, the possibilities with landscape stairs are endless.
Let’s face it: not everyone has the yard for a long and winding stone path. We can’t let that small hill of a lawn keep you from the design you want, though, can we?
Having a stone path in a sloping front yard is still possible, I promise, but it takes more work than it would on flat ground. As long as you’re willing to put in that work, such as making sure the stones are supported so they won’t slide down, you can do anything!
Water Designs
This, without a doubt, is my favorite design! Using water alongside stone just completes the natural look of any area, even in your front yard! It certainly makes an impression on anyone visiting the property for the first time.
I would definitely be in awe if I came over and saw a little waterfall in your front yard!
A tiny pond? Yes!
Bordered with sand and varying sizes of stones, this is a great way to set your front yard apart from your neighbor’s without too much effort. If you wanted, you might even install a coy pond with fish. Just don’t let the cat get too close!
A large carved boulder with a trickling water feature is an excellent idea. There is just something about having flowing water in your yard that exudes elegance! And the great thing is you don’t have to spend half of your life savings on plumbing and a water fountain to do it.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t! Just look at all of the different rocks, stones, and boulders that complete this design – it’s stunning to say the least. River rocks would be an excellent choice here.
These designs don’t just have to be for looks, either. Grab a chair and a book, and settle in next to the calming trickle for some time to relax. After installing this, you certainly deserve it!
You know what? Why not put all of these designs together?! A winding water path filled with stones and rocks, guided by a border that separates it from your lush garden of exotic plants that sit on different levels of your yard. Let’s not forget the finishing touch of adding large stones – how could you when they’re huge?
This is undoubtedly the ultimate front yard landscaping idea with large stones, small rocks, and everything in between. Who cares if this water feature is just a little bit excessive when it makes such a beautiful statement?
Hiring A Landscaping Service
I know after looking at all of those great landscaping ideas, you’re definitely feeling inspired. Unfortunately, inspiration isn’t all it takes to get the work done and, unless you’ve decided to go with something simpler like a low maintenance rock garden using smaller stones, you might consider the fact that these front yard landscaping ideas require an immense amount of labor.
This is especially true if you’re wanting to go with the terraced or water feature designs. Terracing requires a lot of digging and supports, and using water might demand plumbing and pipe installation.
Getting a hold of a landscaping business or company is a good idea regardless of what you want done. They will provide you with an estimate of what it would cost for rock gardens, traditional gardens, and whether or not your front yard is suitable for your preferred landscaping ideas.
Not to mention placing rocks is a workout! And I think we know I’m not talking about the smaller rocks.
Homeguide.com provides you with 20+ landscaping companies near you. All you have to do is enter your zip code, answer a few questions, and voila!
Can I offer you a bit of advice? Get price quotes from a couple different companies before deciding on which to go with, so you’re sure you’re getting the best quality for your dollar!
Which front yard landscaping ideas are your favorite?