Having a nature corner around the house is one of the best ways to keep your spirits high, enabling you to enjoy your free time at home. As homeowners increasingly realise the value of a beautifully designed garden, they are also looking for ways to build it sustainably.

Traditionally, gardens have grass and plenty of greenery. People have become more conscious nowadays of water waste. They are looking for alternatives that won’t impact the environment as much. One of them is creating eye-pleasing gardens and yards using stone landscaping.

Grass or Stone? Pros and Cons of Stone Landscaping

Large areas covered with grass require quite a lot of maintenance and have high water needs. If your yard consists mostly of soil, you will have a lot of work during each season. Soil can erode, retain water, or shift to different areas of your yard. You will also need to replace it once in a while or add more soil to it, as it loses its nutrients and properties.

Stone landscaping is low maintenance, sustainable, and extremely versatile. Here is a realistic view of the main pros and cons of stone landscaping.

Pros to Stone Landscaping

• Low maintenance costs. The stones you use for landscaping will not require treatments, replacements, repairs, watering, or any significant intervention after being placed.
• Long term cost-effectiveness. With landscaping stones and rocks, you only make one investment. After you get them, there is no further investment needed. Landscaping with rocks is therefore a cheaper and more stable investment. A stone garden will also look good over the years, contributing to the home value.
• Environmental friendliness. It is well-known that lawns require a lot of water to look decent continuously. Water waste is a major issue in the world, and many people are looking for better ways to beautify their outdoor spaces. Stone landscaping is one of the best alternatives to traditional gardening.

Cons to Stone Landscaping

• Installation can be complex. Before laying landscaping stones, you may need to place a weed barrier to prevent plants from growing randomly in between the rocks. Additionally, excavation may be required.
• It is harder to remove debris. Debris can accumulate fast because of the irregular shapes and cracks between the stones. It might also be more challenging to remove fallen leaves, sticks, sand, or dust.
• Stones get overheated during summer. Stone easily stores heat, and if it’s exposed to the sun for long, it can become quite hot. Children or pets might even be injured if they expose their skin to overheated rocks. Stone landscaping might also not offer many cosy seating options because of this.

Added Value vs. Added Costs

The cost of stone landscaping depends on several factors that include the volume of stone you need, how heavy the boulders are, services you hire (such as installation and transport), and the materials you go with. On average, a tonne of stone for landscaping will cost between $40 and $150. If you need installation and delivery, your costs can easily add up to $75 to $250 per ton.

When renovating a yard, you should also add the cost of site preparation, such as excavation work, removal of old stones or soil, or leveling. For large or complex jobs, hiring a specialised landscaping or construction company is the best way to ensure the success of your project.

Considering these factors, installing a high-quality lawn might not cost much compared to stone landscaping. However, you will spend over a thousand dollars a year on irrigation, reseeding, lawn mowing, pest control, and other operations. With that in mind, it is clear that stone landscaping is cheaper in the long run.

Go Big with Boulders

Boulders can also be fabulous statement elements for your landscaping. They can draw attention to a certain area, serve as a centrepiece for a sand garden or even a greenery square, or be paired with a water feature for a soothing ambient.

Hire a contractor when you decide to go with big boulders for your stone landscaping. Ensure they have the equipment and the experience needed for handling massive stone pieces.

Excavation and Stone Landscaping

Stone landscaping can mean something as simple as covering the soil in your garden with gravel or using stones to pave your paths. For more grandiose designs, however, you will need excavation work and heavy machinery to install everything.

Many modern gardens are decorated with large, uniquely shaped designer boulders and other large elements. Before placing them, the soil has to be prepared and cleaned up, levelled, or excavated. This takes an experienced team with the right machinery for the job.

Once dug in and expertly placed, asymmetrical boulders can be wonderful additions to your garden and make it easy to achieve a natural, wilder look. They look great when paired with other materials, such as wood, live plants, gravel, sand, or metals.

Stunning Stone Escapes

There are countless ideas for an outdoor design that include large stones. Bubble rocks, burbling fountains, stone benches, and bridges are perfect examples of how to incorporate stone in your landscaping. Once you have decided on the type of look you are going for, make sure you hire the best team for the job. The better the installation, the longer you will have a beautiful, safe stone garden to admire.

Is Stone Landscaping Right for Your Yard?

Stone landscaping is not only a wonderful aesthetic that you can add to your outdoor area, but it is also an eco-friendly, extremely low-maintenance alternative to grass. Because you only need to make an initial investment, stone landscaping is cheaper in the long run.

TFR Construction is a premier construction company in the Melbourne area. Our team has decades of experience in excavation work, site preparation, stone constructions, and fencing. We can help with the landscaping for your next project by offering high-quality materials, professional construction work, and excellent customer service.

Contact us for more information or request a price estimate based on your project specs. We love to help homeowners make the best decisions for their lifestyle and resources and to exceed their highest expectations!