The calendar may say February, but if you’re already longing for warmer weather and longer, sunnier days, there’s no better time than now to start planning this year’s landscaping projects. Instead of just relying on the usual rock, mulch, and trees, consider adding a unique and creative touch to your yard by including natural stone steps, retaining walls, and other eye-catching features. At The Rock Garden of Fort Collins, we have everything you need to create a one-of-a-kind oasis right in your very own yard.
Whether you’re planning to work with a landscape designer or you’d rather design your own outdoor space, incorporating natural stone can provide many benefits. For one, it is a naturally green building material. It isn’t created or casted – which often uses a lot of energy and synthetic materials. At The Rock Garden, we get our stone from a natural quarry located just a few miles away from our store.
In addition to being a more eco-friendly option for your landscaping, natural stone is known for being more durable. In other words, it’s more resistant to breaking, chipping, cracking, or even fading – which is incredibly important when you have over 300 days of sunshine a year.
Landscape design is somewhat of an art and utilizing natural stone can provide height, depth, and delineation that you simply can’t get from your average small rocks so commonly used in Colorado yards. Natural stones come in all shapes and sizes so they can be used to create a focal point that is truly unique.
Whether your desire to incorporate natural stone steps is related to functionality, beauty, or a little bit of both, The Rock Garden has many different sizes and colors to meet your needs. Natural stone steps may require a little more investment upfront, but it’s definitely worth it. They’ll add value to your property, are low-maintenance, and virtually indestructible.
Retaining walls are another landscape element that can add not only visual interest to your property but they can also add protection from rainwater and erosion. Dry stack and strip stone are both great options for constructing small retaining walls that have a straight and tidy appearance. Walling rock, on the other hand, is preferred when you want a more rustic, natural-looking retaining wall.
For large-scale hardscaping, features, and focal points, you might want to consider bringing one or more natural rock boulders into your yard. They’re not only one of the easiest ways to add visual interest and instant curb appeal, but they can also be used to create custom elements such as water features and sculpture bases.
One of the popular types of natural stone used to pave spaces and paths is flagstone. This flat stone is irregularly shaped and comes in large pieces for patios and outdoor kitchens or smaller pieces that can be used for steppers. The appeal of flagstone is that it’s easy to install, and you can shape it to create all types of patterns - from irregular and rustic to clean and organized. But, the benefits don’t end there. Flagstone is naturally slip-resistant and maintains its durability even in extreme weather environments.
If you’re looking for some ideas or just want to learn more about natural stone and how to use it in your landscaping, consider planning a visit to our landscape stone supply store. We have a beautiful rock garden that you can walk through to help you find the inspiration you’re looking for. We encourage you to take pictures, ask questions, or just relax and enjoy Mother Nature’s artistry all around you. We’re normally open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the winter months, but please call ahead just to be sure.
Incorporating natural stone into your landscaping is a smart way to enhance and elevate your property. With so many colors, shapes, and sizes to choose from, the possibilities are virtually endless!