One of the most beautiful settings in which you can utilize stone is in your outdoor garden and landscaping. People often associate stone with features in and on their home or building, but around it, too? That's right. Landscaping with stone brings an unsurpassed earthiness and natural beauty to your already lovely flowers and shrubbery, or softscape.
Hardscaping is in essence the artistic placement of boulders, rocks, pebbles, and every stone in-between in and around your softscape. Apex Stone can work with you and your landscaper to deliver the unique look you want for your garden. With a seemingly-endless supply of stone options, you are given the opportunity to create the exact feel you dreamt of.

Hardscaping ideas include stone perimeters for gardens, flagstone stepping stones, rock waterfalls, stone accent paths, retaining walls, and lone boulders placed in striking positions.

Landscaping with Stone: The Process

The first and most important step to landscaping with stone is to assess your canvas. Knowing your front and back yards and understanding where they lack or don't lack in full potential will help you know what you need to look for in stone. Would your driveway make a statement with a boulder next to it? Would a flagstone path fit well leading up to that bench? Your personal landscaper can help you in this vital process, or if you're a do-it-yourselfer, you certainly can decide on your own.

Be creative, yet practical in your selections. Be sure your vision complements your home's architecture and design, and that where you envision stone, the look won't be gaudy or "forced", but natural. If your garden or home has a theme, stone placement can be the force that ties each element together beautifully.

Once you have an idea, our on-site experts can help you make the final calls. Apex Stone will be there to help you understand the elements and unique properties of each type of stone, so you can remain secure in your decisions. When your stone selections have been made, we can work with you to deliver stone to your site direct from our quarry, or your landscaper can be our source of contact so you don't have to think twice about it.

Stone Placement in Hardscaping

If you had previously assessed where your stone would go, after delivery, all you or your landscaper has left to do is put it where it belongs! That being said, be sure to take time and put thought into how you lay out your stone in your landscape. If you will be moving heavy boulders, make sure the appropriate equipment is on-site to lift the materials. When making your stone selections at Apex Stone, we will guide you through process of preparing to move your stone.

The Final Touches

Once your stone is on-site, you will be able to make final assessments on how you should place it within the landscape. This should take thoughtful consideration, as random placement and dropping stones on grass rarely gives the natural look intended. Large boulders should be buried around 4 to 6 inches underground, and flagstone edges should fit naturally (but not forced) next to each other. The end goal should always be a natural, effortless scenery in which people wonder whether the rock had always been there.

If you are interested in learning more about what our stone can do for your softscape, please contact us or visit our showroom to begin envisioning your natural stone landscape.