Outdoor Landscaping With Black River Rocks

Monochromatic

• Use your black river rocks to create a monochromatic design in your landscape. A single color used throughout the space allows your visitors' eyes to move without interruption among all the features in your garden. Creating a smooth transition between spaces fosters the illusion that the overall space is relatively large when the physical dimensions are relatively small. Alternatively, use your black river rocks sparingly among other river rocks as accent pieces to add contrast to the setting.

Aesthetic Projects

• Rely on the strong impression even small river rocks create to highlight elements in your landscape, including fountains and dry river beds. Adding river rocks to your fountain restores the rocks to their natural water setting. Water flows smoothly over the rocks and wet rocks exhibit the strong dark color that make black river rocks compelling additions to the landscape. Mimic the flow of an actual waterway by laying down your river rocks along curved lines. Group the stones together roughly according to size and shape to help promote the idea of movement. The uniform color tricks the eye into filling in the spaces between the rocks to further support the idea that you are looking at rushing water.

Functional Projects

• Layer river rocks over garden beds to help block weeds from growing. A consistent layer of black rocks will help to moderate the soil temperature by absorbing and holding heat. Line river rocks along beds mulched with another type of material to add visual contrast between the line of black rocks and the color of your other materials to help define the area. Fill pathways with river rocks to create a surface smooth enough to walk along barefoot without fear of sharp edges jabbing your feet. A path of all black rocks creates a uniform and tidy appearance. The dark color adds weight and grounds the path.

Purchase Considerations

• Measure the spaces where you plan to use your river rock, include width and length as well as the depth of the rocks. Home improvement centers sell bags of river rocks and quarries sell bagged and loose stones. Stores may charge a premium for all black rocks due to the extra cost associated with separating the rocks. Travel to quarries or specialty landscape supply stores for the widest selection of sizes and shapes. You may have to pay extra for specific types of black stones, such as black Mexican beach pebbles.