Landscaping Ideas With Stone

Patios

• Stone has long been used in patio construction. The durability of stone allows patios constructed of it to last for decades. In previous times, stone masons would cut stones for patio construction, and these stones would often be mortared together. Now, stones are often cut into specific shapes by machines instead of by hand for patio construction. Another option often used is casting concrete into blocks that resemble stone. These paver stones are then assembled to complete the patio, often in intricate, eye-catching designs.

Walls and Borders

• One of the most common uses of stones in landscaping construction has been in walls. From huge projects like the Great Wall of China or Hadrian's Wall to smaller walls used to divide property, many walls have stood for hundreds of years. While most homeowners no longer use stone walls to mark their property lines, they are still used in other landscape projects. Stone is often used in retaining walls constructed along a hill to prevent soil in the hill from eroding, which can lead to landslides or destroy structures placed on top of the hill. Stone can also be used as a border around a garden or flower bed or as the wall in a raised garden bed.

Walkways

• Stone can also be used when constructing walkways. This can be as simple as digging holes in the ground large enough to contain large, flat stones to be used as stepping stones or can involve building a more advanced walkway consisting of large, flat stepping stones set inside a trench that has been excavated and filled with gravel or other small stones. You can also use stone to construct natural-looking steps by digging into a hillside and placing large, flat stones at different heights to create the staircase.

Fire Pits and Waterfalls

• Fire pits are another way to use stone in a landscaping project. The durability of stone shows again in its resistance to heat. When constructing a fire pit, you can use stones that have been cut or precast specifically for this use or build a fire pit of natural fieldstone held together by mortar. If fire isn't your thing, you could use stone to construct a small waterfall in your yard. You can make this part of a small pond, such as a fish pond, but some people go as far as to build small streams in their yards with waterfalls built into the stream.