What to Do With Extra Rocks in Your Yard
Creative Backyard Ideas With Rocks From Your Yard
Hardscaping with rocks and gravel is a great way to create a low-maintenance and eye-catching yard. Rocks last much longer than other forms of organic mulch and grass, improve drainage in your yard and can save you money in the long run.
The average cost of a landscaping project using river rocks is about $655. But why buy new river rocks when you already have gravel and rocks in your yard? Let's learn how to create a fun, affordable and eco-friendly backyard from the rocks you already have.
Types of Landscaping Rocks
Before you get started on your backyard landscaping project, it’s important to know what materials you’re working with. There are many different types of landscaping rocks to choose from, depending on your project. Kick your rock landscaping project off without a hitch by taking inventory of the rocks already in your yard. Then, you can figure out which projects you can complete and what kind of rocks you still need to get.
- Crushed granite and pea gravel are smaller stones best suited for rock mulch.
- River rocks are stones found in river beds. They’re great for creating a stream to help with yard drainage.
- Flagstone can be made from various types of rocks. It’s sold in flat slabs and works great for creating stone walkways in your yard or garden.
- Boulders take many forms but are typically defined as rocks that are too large for a person to move without help. They make great accent pieces.
- Fieldstone is smaller than a boulder and found in fields. Use them to build stone walls.
Want to include hardscaping at home while keeping a budget-friendly backyard? You can replace any of these store-bought rocks with rocks already hanging out in your yard.
- Gravel and pebbles found at home are a great substitute for crushed granite, pea gravel and river rocks.
- You can likely find boulders and fieldstones or medium-sized rocks already in your backyard.
- You can also break down larger rocks and boulders into smaller pieces to create flagstone or pea gravel.
If you’re moving or breaking down rocks by yourself, it’s important to take safety precautions so you don’t hurt yourself.
"There are precautions to take when picking up a rock by hand. One rock that looks the same as another can be a very different weight."
Trevor Thompson, President, TerraClear Inc.
Need more simple solutions for getting rid of rocks?
Check out our Complete Rock Disposal Guide!
10 Creative Ideas for Reusing Rocks Found at Home
Decorative rocks or gravel add visual appeal to your landscape design. Check out what to do with rocks in your yard to create new hardscaping sure to boost your curb appeal.
1. Build a Dry-Stacked Rock Garden Wall
A decorative rock garden wall can be a nice addition to edge your raised flower beds. And using rocks from your yard can save you money. The average cost of stone per square foot for a wall runs from $15 to $95.
Putting in a dry-stacked wall means you won’t need any mortar, but you’ll need to do some basic landscaping to ensure the rocks stay in place. Note that a wall taller than two feet may require a permit from your municipality.
2. Paint Rocks
Looking for a fun, creative idea using rocks? Paint smaller stones found in your yard to add a personal touch to your garden. Label areas of your garden with the rocks you paint or create garden décor with rocks by painting cool designs and bright colors. In addition to being a great playtime craft, these painted stones make a great addition to any kid-friendly backyard.
3. Set Up a Rock Garden
Found a variety of boulders, fieldstone and gravel in your yard? A rock garden is a great, eco-friendly landscaping idea. By using stones instead of mulch, you’ll save on landscaping because rock lasts much longer than traditional wood mulch.
Use your larger rocks to outline the garden. Then, plant your flowers and shrubs. Succulents and drought-resistant flowers, like purple ice plant, lavender and creeping thyme, are best suited for planting in your rock garden. After planting your foliage, fill in the empty spaces with rock mulch.
4. Edge Your Garden With Stone
Another great landscaping idea using rock is to edge your garden with crushed stone or medium-to-large rocks, depending on your preference.
First, dig a shallow trench around your yard or garden. Add a base, such as leveling sand, before filling in the trench with your rock of choice. Last, fill in any gaps with soil to keep the rocks secure.
5. Replace Your Mulch With Gravel
Enhance your landscaping with rocks and conserve water by using smaller rocks and gravel you have lying around your yard as mulch. You won’t have to replace it each year, and it allows water to drain quickly.
6. Reduce Water Use With Xeriscape Landscaping
Landscaping with rocks is an eco-friendly way to reinvent your yard. Xeriscape landscaping uses rocks of all types and sizes to create a drought-resistant environment at home. Install a patio or walkway with your larger rocks, and use gravel to fill in space between your xeriscape plants.
7. Install a Rock Walkway
For a more elegant look without the expense, design a walkway that’s (literally) a natural fit with your garden. Whether you’re looking for a gravel path or stepping stones from larger rocks, this project takes only a day or two and will leave a lasting impact on your curb appeal.
A rock walkway is more sustainable than concrete because you only need to use a little water to keep it clean.
The average cost to install a 35’x4’ gravel walkway yourself is about $595. That includes about $325 for 140 square feet of gravel — a cost you can reduce by repurposing gravel you’ve already dug up.
8. Build a Fire Pit
Build a backyard fire pit with some of the flatter stones you’ve found for a practical and fun DIY idea using your rocks. You’ll also need some gravel, mortar and/or fast-set concrete and a fire pit ring. Depending on the size and type of fire pit you want, you can save good money using the stones from your yard. Fieldstones can cost anywhere from $350 to $3,000 for this type of project.
On average, installing a fire pit yourself may cost $150 to $300, depending on what materials and tools you already have. That compares to the $250 to $2,200 it would cost for a professional to do it.
9. Make a Stone Birdhouse
Looking for a fun DIY idea to do with rocks? Making a stone birdhouse is a great way to use up extra gravel and create a new feature in your yard. Not only will you have a unique birdhouse, you’ll also have a new flock of birds visiting your home.
Use smaller rocks, like pebbles and crushed stone, to mosaic a wooden birdhouse. Start on one side of the birdhouse and arrange and glue down your rocks. Then, you’ll need to mix some grout and spread it over the rocks to fill in the gaps. When you finish, use a damp sponge to clean the grout off the rocks without removing the grout between them. Let the grout dry and repeat these steps on the other sides of the birdhouse.
10. Create a Zen Garden
Building a Zen garden is a great way to create garden décor with your rocks. You can use any size rocks depending on the size of the garden. Large boulders are great for accent pieces. Medium-sized fieldstone works well to edge the outside of the garden. You can fill in the garden with sand or pebbles. And if you want to include a stream, river rock is perfect for filling in the stream bed.
The seven principles of Zen design are:
- Simplicity
- Austerity
- Asymmetry
- Naturalness
- Mystery or Subtlety
- Magical or Unconventional
- Stillness
When creating a Zen garden, less is more. This is a perfect project if you have a small variety of rocks lying around.
Other Things to Do With Rocks in Your Yard
Want to get rid of rocks for good? If you have more rocks than you need for your projects, consider renting a roll off dumpster for proper disposal. If you don’t dispose of rocks properly, you can contaminate soil and water sources, affecting the environment. A dumpster rental ensures that your rocks go to the right place without the headache of hauling them yourself.
Ready to Rent a Dumpster? Order Online
Get Ready to Tackle Your Next Landscaping Project
Find some inspiration with our DIY garden and landscaping guides.
