How to Identify Landscaping Rock Types

Check the rock for plant growth. If you see that the rock is saturated with mineral deposits and plant growth, it's might be tufa rock. Tufa rocks have fine channels that cause them to retain water, breathe and respond well to "lime-loving plants," according to Ronning Landscaping Inc. of Arizona.

See whether the rock is movable. Large rocks are sometimes woven into a landscape's design if they are too big to move. Rocks that appear as natural features within a landscape are indigenous rocks. Such rocks can become hand-chiseled parts of Zen gardens.

Examine plant leaves for damage. If you find scorches on leaves, maybe the reflective glare of marble chips from a rock is burning the plant. Marble chips also raise the soil's pH level as they age. The result is yellowing leaves with green veins. So if plants near the landscape rock look sickly, the marble chips may be causing their iron deficiency.

Look for summertime flowers. Rudger's New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station issued a guide containing an interesting revelation about naturally rounded cobbles: "During the summer, flowers spread across the stones, creating color delights during the growing season."

Assess the nearby ground for erosion. If you don't see any, perhaps river rock and landscape fabric are covering the dirt. Master gardener Luanne Harms says that the combination prevents erosion, especially the during warm summer months.

Search for traces of fireproof landscaping. Landscapes with stepping stone pathways, gravel and decorative rock deter home fire damage. The decorative landscape rock is an asset in breaking up the "continuity of the vegetation," according to Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Coordinator F.C. Dennis of the Colorado State Forest Service.