Ideas for decorative rock?? (Ajo: homes, landscaping, buying)

[john3232]

I've done some landscaping in front of my mother's home. I planted three boxwood bushes on each side of the walkway and now would like to laydown some decorative rock.

I'm thinking screened Apache pink 1/2 inch or should I get "washed" rock instead?

Any thoughts or ideas on attractive decorative rocks would be appreciated.

Thanks

[ScottsdaleMark]

There are so many different types of rock it is incredible.

There are a LOT of vendors and I could not speak to any of them, but this website seems to have a decent amount of pictures: LINK.

I kind of like the look of smaller rock, it looks more natural to me than the big chunky rocks, which of course means the homes I've bought always have larger rock laid down, haha.

[DetroitN8V]

Are you sure you want to go with pink? I'm partial to Madison Gold. It's not unique but seems to be the most neutral.

[D.Rock]

Originally Posted by DetroitN8V

Are you sure you want to go with pink? I'm partial to Madison Gold. It's not unique but seems to be the most neutral.

Yeah i agree with this. The pink seems kinda harsh on the eyes after awhile and is harder to match to different exterior paint colors...

[Bungle]

Decorative Rock « Granite Express

Here's a great local supplier.

[john3232]

O.k. thanks for the color recommendations.

Question: given I am only covering the walkway to the door entrance which size rock is preferred? 1 inch or 1/2 inch.

I'm thinking the 1/2 might look better under the bushes but on the other hand a 1 inch rock might be easier to keep within the property boundaries.

[ajonesaz]

Originally Posted by john3232

O.k. thanks for the color recommendations.

Question: given I am only covering the walkway to the door entrance which size rock is preferred? 1 inch or 1/2 inch.

I'm thinking the 1/2 might look better under the bushes but on the other hand a 1 inch rock might be easier to keep within the property boundaries.

Bigger is better, the smaller stuff for some reason disappears. It is also easier to clean up with a leaf blower because the rocks stay put.

[AZgarden]

Ajones is right. I have the Apache pink and love the color but it's not easy to clean up the leaves and debrie because it gets into the rock and you end up taking half of the rock with you. I think I must have lost at least a fourth of my rock around my yard already. But, it is easier on the dog's paws for sure.

[Zippyman]

Always buy the "washed" rock if you can get it - depending on the size & type of rock, many times what you're buying might be 30% rock dust ("fines") & 70% rocks - the washed stuff is all good rocks.

I got some washed 3/8" Madison gold for my parents place & it was awesome - that particular stone tends to crush into a "round" shape, kinda like pea gravel, which means it never "locks in" like some of the other stones, which crush into sharp/flat shapes & lock-in like concrete after a few months. If you get a weed with the "rounded" rocks, you can push the rock aside & get the weed out. It also looks kinda like a "zen garden" if you run a hard rake over it.. The small rock cleans up great with a leaf blower & a stiff rake