River Pebbles for Landscaping

Definition

• River pebbles are petite rocks found in river beds. These rocks are rounded and generally smooth in texture. They vary in size from 2 to 75 millimeters. There is not one set type of mineral of which all pebbles within this category are composed. Instead, they are made of an assortment of different types of material, each of which has a different look, allowing landscapers to pick the hues and veining they find most appealing.

Types

• The material that makes up river pebbles depends on their rivers of origin. Whatever minerals make up the river bed also make up the pebbles that fill it, as these pebbles are simply smoothed chunks of these minerals that were created when pieces broke off and traveled downstream, bumping into rocks and becoming smooth as they made the trip. Marble is a common mineral in river pebbles and can make up pebbles ranging in color from pink to yellow. Limestone is also relatively common, producing pebbles in blacks, grays or whites.

Uses

• River pebbles can serve an assortment of different functions when integrated into landscaping. They can act as decorative ground cover, filling a flower bed in the same way mulch commonly would. You can also put them to use in creating borders. Many landscapers who have water features in their landscaping, such as man-made ponds, add river pebbles to the bottoms of their ponds or lay these pebbles in the areas directly surrounding the water feature. Aside from being an attractive addition, these pebbles also serve several purposes. When used as ground cover, they can block weeds, reducing the amount of time the landscaper has to spend plucking these pesky invaders from the ground. They can also enhance drainage, as these stones do not absorb water in the way that mulch or dirt would but instead allow the water to run down to the root systems of the plants they surround.

Care

• Caring for river pebbles when you include them in your landscape is quite easy. Generally these pebbles only require washing from time to time. Because dirt can build up on them, many landscapers elect to scrub them down seasonally, using a deck brush and mild detergent along with water to give these garden elements a quick bath. If these stones become worn or stained they can easily be replaced with freshly harvested river pebbles, often for little money.