Stones for landscape design +50 photo examples of use
To arrange a summer cottage without any special expenses, prudent owners use improvised materials. Some are lucky: in the hacienda there are stones of different sizes. How to realize the existing wealth? Use the natural potential to make the garden special, unique, memorable.
To decorate the site around the country house, designers propose to combine four natural elements - earth, water, wood (living plants) and stone. Decorative stones for landscape design are selected taking into account the appearance of the main structure.
Garden styles using stone decor:
castle;
Japanese minimalism (rock garden);
rural;
classicism;
antique.
The chosen style dictates the use of a certain material. Wild stone varies in degree of strength (granite has more), dimension, color scheme, ease of processing. Artificial material is what the customer wants it to be. Special additives increase strength, expand the color palette, create a structure, increase dirt and moisture repellent properties, and regulate weight. In addition, concrete stones can be made by hand using molds for garden paths.
Natural stone - a gift of nature
The variety of natural (natural) stone is so great that it is not difficult to choose the appropriate option that takes into account the required characteristics.
Material
Granite
Basalt
Sandstone
Slate
Limestone
Marble
Tuff
Specifications
Solid gray red tones
Weather resistant, dark gray to black-green
High porosity, shades of gray-yellow
Layered, prickly
Gray, changes color depending on impurities
Solid, fine-grained, wide color gamut
Durable, weatherproof, porous, yellow-pink hues
Application possibilities
Paving, rubble stone, crushed stone
Paving stones, exterior cladding, material for sculptures, crushed stone
Facing material, crushed stone
Exterior finish, roofing material of small architectural forms
Material for sculptural forms, crushed stone
Facing, sculptural forms, mosaic panels
Wall structures of small architectural forms, cladding
Artificial Stone: Infinite Variability
The use of natural stone as the main material for creating a beautiful landscape around a country house has been practiced for a very long time. However, modern technologies offer natural material a worthy alternative - artificial stone. It is not inferior to a fellow in terms of quality characteristics, in addition, having undoubted advantages:
The widest color palette;
Extended size range;
Significant weight loss;
The ability to create elements of complex configuration (the top of the fence posts, cast columns, balusters, decorative inserts);
The ability to simulate any texture.
Artificial stone includes types of bricks, clinker, concrete-based products, synthetic options using natural stone chips. The main point when choosing an artificial stone is confidence in observing all technological conditions in its production.
Size matters
The simplest dimensional classification of natural stone is the option where all the diversity is divided into categories:
Lump - stone formation of large volume with sharp edges;
Boulder - a stone of a large volume of rounded shape;
Cobblestone - a roundish formation of medium size (up to 30 cm);
Crushed stone - the result of crushing of large stones, has sharp edges, 5-15 cm;
Pebbles - flat-rounded stones up to 10 cm;
Baby is the smallest fraction of crushed natural stone.
In the landscape design of your own home you can use any size. A huge boulder will become the focus of the alpine hill, rubble stone will become the basis for laying the basement, cobblestones will go to erect the fence. Rounded middle stones will become a frame of flower beds, retaining walls on the terrace. Flattened pebbles placed on the edge, forming spiral patterns, will decorate garden paths.The crushed stone of the smallest fraction will provide mulching of the groups of evergreens.
The color of stone chips should harmoniously complement the green shades of conifers - gray-graphite tones successfully set off bluish needles, red-brown - traditional greens.
Granite: application in landscape design
Strength, resistance to weathering, soft colors, affordability - these are the main advantages of this material. The disadvantages include weight and processing complexity. Examples of the use of granite:
A granite block is an excellent vertical for arranging a relaxation corner with sun loungers. On sunny days, the stone heats up quite a lot, therefore, having covered the other sides with a hedge, the owners of a suburban area will receive a zone with a unique microclimate where you can sunbathe even in early spring.
Granite paving stones are almost an eternal material. A garden path made of pavers (small cobblestones) will serve even great-grandchildren, and its laying is comparable in simplicity to playing children's cubes.
Granite crushed stone or screening - serves to fill the space between individual stones in rockeries, alpine hills, emphasizing the "rockiness" of the man-made composition.
Sandstone - light, beautiful, smooth
Sandstone allows you to get flat slabs of the desired thickness with torn edges, is widely used to create garden paths, trim the basement of the house, they are framed by the contours of raised flower beds, creating the desired height.
If the sandstone slabs are not fastened with mortar, then the inner part of the flowerbed is duplicated with dense geotextiles to prevent the washing out of fertile soil through the cracks during irrigation.
When filling the bed of the garden path, geometrically regular sandstone tiles allow you to leave minimal gaps. It is optimal as a material for the construction of retaining walls: a flat surface facilitates masonry.Flat faces can be so well adjusted to each other that sometimes they use the "dry masonry" method, excluding the binder mixture. Slabs of reduced thickness are successfully suited for decorating vertical surfaces, cladding small architectural forms.
Limestone (shell rock): exploring the pros
An airy, porous, but sufficiently strong stone interspersed with the remains of biological organisms is suitable for the construction of wall structures of light buildings (arbors, gazebos, arches, pseudo-antique ruins), cladding of solid structures. To increase the service life, it is recommended to treat it with water-repellent compounds.
The color of limestone adds warmth to the atmosphere of a country house. Shell rock goes to create garden furniture (benches, deck chairs), the construction of barrier walls that separate the garden from the main space. A similar fence looks like a picture from a glossy garden magazine and has 2 big pluses:
the zone of garden plants warms up better, the walls protect from the effects of winds;
during natural weathering, the rock enriches the earth with calcium compounds, which are transmitted to the "garden residents".
If there is a boulder in the garden
A huge stone in a summer cottage - an insurmountable problem or a good opportunity to make a garden space unique? It all depends on the approach to resolving the issue. If you cannot eliminate what is stopping you, make the stone a designer accent.
Lumps of considerable height can become central stones during the construction of alpine hills, less high, stretched horizontally - the base of the rockery. The space between them is filled with cobblestones, volumetric horizontal planes are covered with rubble or pebbles. A freestanding expressive stone is able to play the role of a modern conceptual sculpture, acquired for "big money".
In order not to get into an unpleasant situation when you did the marking, started digging a foundation pit, and suddenly it turned out that there was a huge boulder in one of its corners, do spot test drilling. After making sure that there are no obstacles, proceed with the land work.
We decorate a country site with a stone
Having created a landscape design project, having decided on the objects to be embodied in stone, it is necessary to decide which material is better to use.
Fake diamond
Natural stone
Application options
External cladding of buildings, fences, garden paths, flowerbed framing, decor elements (sculptures, flowerpots, decoration stones)
The outer cladding of buildings, the construction of the IAF, the creation of garden paths, the construction of fences, retaining walls, landscape changes (slides, rockeries, ponds), decorative elements
Artificial stone (concrete with the addition of plasticizers) can be used for the creation of garden art objects with your own hands. Large-leaved plants (rhubarb, burdock) are used as forms, and as a result, original drinkers for birds and framing elements of flower beds are obtained. Masters carve sculptures from it, imitating the plexus of tree branches, reproducing the texture of the tree bark.
Stone for stairs and walkways: highlights
Garden paths, stairs, descents - landscape design objects that are experiencing the greatest load. The materials for their creation are subject to increased strength requirements. With a well-made foundation, the face surface can be either natural or artificial dimensional stone. The use of limestone is complicated by the need to select fragments, laying out with cobble stones takes a lot of time, arranging pebble mosaics requires an artistic taste, great patience.The use of artificial analogues puts work on the construction of a pedestrian walkway on the stream: all blocks are ideally suited to each other, the amount of waste is reduced to zero, there are many options for coverage. Concrete stones with a wood texture create the complete illusion of a path made of wooden blocks. Concrete paving stones can be ordered in the main color of the house to maintain the unity of the building and the surrounding space.
Natural harmony - the union of water and stone
Owners of ancient stone fountains can only be envied. Today, these design objects are often made of molded concrete. But they can be done independently, using various cliches, cascading the elements and, having provided for the installation of light sources, get a luminous waterfall. Creating a stepped fountain made of wild stone is also easy: a flagstone is used, along which water flows. But the device of the pond is advisable only using natural stone.
A pond is a natural body of water, even if it is man-made, therefore, an artificial analogue is of little relevance here. The mirror of the pond is framed by a stone that is resistant to moisture: it can be both slab and round shapes. The main thing is to make the stone edging as natural as possible. The upper step of the pond, the bio-plateau, where the plants are planted, in addition to the earth, is filled with coarse pebbles, small cobblestones so that the base holds roots tightly.
Stone flower beds: we frame flower beds according to the style of the site
When designing flower beds, the model is a country house style. Accordingly, the size, shape and material going to the fence of the beds are selected for him:
The classic style involves the creation of geometric flower beds (round, square, rectangular). For their edging, granite borders, or analogues of artificial stone, emphasizing clear lines are suitable.
Lush flower beds of flowing forms will support the rural style of the cottage, their contours will be distinguished by the low walls raised from the cobblestone, flagstone, artificial antique bricks raised above ground level.
A raid of antiquity in the garden will add a fence for a flower bed made of shell rock blocks with a weathered surface.
Small, but removed: crushed stone, pebble, baby
Most summer residents want to relax in suburban areas, spending a minimum of time on gardening. Therefore, the modern garden dictates special requirements for the arrangement of space: do it once, do not dig, do not weave. A crushed stone is able to provide a solution to a difficult task. When planning plant compositions, it is necessary to provide for their mulching with stone chips. Crushed stone with a fraction at the lower limit is optimally suited for this purpose. Using various colors of filling, you can enhance the visual effect - the horizontal surface of the flower beds itself will become an element of garden decor. Filling with small pebbles the gaps between the main boulders of the rockery will allow creeping plants (sedum, young, saxifrage) to grow freely, and laying small pebbles under the plants in volumetric flowerpots will eliminate the appearance of weeds. An interesting garden element can be a “dry stream” - a pebble-lined riverbed with a forged bridge will add a touch of romanticism to country life.
What you should not forget
The choice of material, the realization of one’s own fantasies is the prerogative of the owner of a suburban area. The main thing when using the stone in landscape design is its relevance, compliance with the chosen architectural style, as well as the size of the possessions. Marble Hercules on 6 acres with a wooden house will cause bewilderment, a miniature alpine slide will look strange among ship pines. But a well-made object, corresponding to the general concept, will delight the eye every day.
To arrange a summer cottage without any special expenses, prudent owners use improvised materials. Some are lucky: in the hacienda there are stones of different sizes. How to realize the existing wealth? Use the natural potential to make the garden special, unique, memorable.
Content
Varieties of stone: main features
To decorate the site around the country house, designers propose to combine four natural elements - earth, water, wood (living plants) and stone. Decorative stones for landscape design are selected taking into account the appearance of the main structure.
Garden styles using stone decor:
The chosen style dictates the use of a certain material. Wild stone varies in degree of strength (granite has more), dimension, color scheme, ease of processing. Artificial material is what the customer wants it to be. Special additives increase strength, expand the color palette, create a structure, increase dirt and moisture repellent properties, and regulate weight. In addition, concrete stones can be made by hand using molds for garden paths.
Natural stone - a gift of nature
The variety of natural (natural) stone is so great that it is not difficult to choose the appropriate option that takes into account the required characteristics.
Artificial Stone: Infinite Variability
The use of natural stone as the main material for creating a beautiful landscape around a country house has been practiced for a very long time. However, modern technologies offer natural material a worthy alternative - artificial stone. It is not inferior to a fellow in terms of quality characteristics, in addition, having undoubted advantages:
Artificial stone includes types of bricks, clinker, concrete-based products, synthetic options using natural stone chips. The main point when choosing an artificial stone is confidence in observing all technological conditions in its production.
Size matters
The simplest dimensional classification of natural stone is the option where all the diversity is divided into categories:
In the landscape design of your own home you can use any size. A huge boulder will become the focus of the alpine hill, rubble stone will become the basis for laying the basement, cobblestones will go to erect the fence. Rounded middle stones will become a frame of flower beds, retaining walls on the terrace. Flattened pebbles placed on the edge, forming spiral patterns, will decorate garden paths.The crushed stone of the smallest fraction will provide mulching of the groups of evergreens.
Granite: application in landscape design
Strength, resistance to weathering, soft colors, affordability - these are the main advantages of this material. The disadvantages include weight and processing complexity.
Examples of the use of granite:
Sandstone - light, beautiful, smooth
Sandstone allows you to get flat slabs of the desired thickness with torn edges, is widely used to create garden paths, trim the basement of the house, they are framed by the contours of raised flower beds, creating the desired height.
When filling the bed of the garden path, geometrically regular sandstone tiles allow you to leave minimal gaps. It is optimal as a material for the construction of retaining walls: a flat surface facilitates masonry.Flat faces can be so well adjusted to each other that sometimes they use the "dry masonry" method, excluding the binder mixture. Slabs of reduced thickness are successfully suited for decorating vertical surfaces, cladding small architectural forms.
Limestone (shell rock): exploring the pros
An airy, porous, but sufficiently strong stone interspersed with the remains of biological organisms is suitable for the construction of wall structures of light buildings (arbors, gazebos, arches, pseudo-antique ruins), cladding of solid structures. To increase the service life, it is recommended to treat it with water-repellent compounds.
The color of limestone adds warmth to the atmosphere of a country house. Shell rock goes to create garden furniture (benches, deck chairs), the construction of barrier walls that separate the garden from the main space. A similar fence looks like a picture from a glossy garden magazine and has 2 big pluses:
If there is a boulder in the garden
A huge stone in a summer cottage - an insurmountable problem or a good opportunity to make a garden space unique? It all depends on the approach to resolving the issue. If you cannot eliminate what is stopping you, make the stone a designer accent.
Lumps of considerable height can become central stones during the construction of alpine hills, less high, stretched horizontally - the base of the rockery. The space between them is filled with cobblestones, volumetric horizontal planes are covered with rubble or pebbles. A freestanding expressive stone is able to play the role of a modern conceptual sculpture, acquired for "big money".
We decorate a country site with a stone
Having created a landscape design project, having decided on the objects to be embodied in stone, it is necessary to decide which material is better to use.
Artificial stone (concrete with the addition of plasticizers) can be used for the creation of garden art objects with your own hands. Large-leaved plants (rhubarb, burdock) are used as forms, and as a result, original drinkers for birds and framing elements of flower beds are obtained. Masters carve sculptures from it, imitating the plexus of tree branches, reproducing the texture of the tree bark.
Stone for stairs and walkways: highlights
Garden paths, stairs, descents - landscape design objects that are experiencing the greatest load. The materials for their creation are subject to increased strength requirements. With a well-made foundation, the face surface can be either natural or artificial dimensional stone. The use of limestone is complicated by the need to select fragments, laying out with cobble stones takes a lot of time, arranging pebble mosaics requires an artistic taste, great patience.The use of artificial analogues puts work on the construction of a pedestrian walkway on the stream: all blocks are ideally suited to each other, the amount of waste is reduced to zero, there are many options for coverage. Concrete stones with a wood texture create the complete illusion of a path made of wooden blocks. Concrete paving stones can be ordered in the main color of the house to maintain the unity of the building and the surrounding space.
Natural harmony - the union of water and stone
Owners of ancient stone fountains can only be envied. Today, these design objects are often made of molded concrete. But they can be done independently, using various cliches, cascading the elements and, having provided for the installation of light sources, get a luminous waterfall. Creating a stepped fountain made of wild stone is also easy: a flagstone is used, along which water flows. But the device of the pond is advisable only using natural stone.
A pond is a natural body of water, even if it is man-made, therefore, an artificial analogue is of little relevance here. The mirror of the pond is framed by a stone that is resistant to moisture: it can be both slab and round shapes. The main thing is to make the stone edging as natural as possible. The upper step of the pond, the bio-plateau, where the plants are planted, in addition to the earth, is filled with coarse pebbles, small cobblestones so that the base holds roots tightly.
Stone flower beds: we frame flower beds according to the style of the site
When designing flower beds, the model is a country house style. Accordingly, the size, shape and material going to the fence of the beds are selected for him:
Small, but removed: crushed stone, pebble, baby
Most summer residents want to relax in suburban areas, spending a minimum of time on gardening. Therefore, the modern garden dictates special requirements for the arrangement of space: do it once, do not dig, do not weave. A crushed stone is able to provide a solution to a difficult task. When planning plant compositions, it is necessary to provide for their mulching with stone chips. Crushed stone with a fraction at the lower limit is optimally suited for this purpose. Using various colors of filling, you can enhance the visual effect - the horizontal surface of the flower beds itself will become an element of garden decor. Filling with small pebbles the gaps between the main boulders of the rockery will allow creeping plants (sedum, young, saxifrage) to grow freely, and laying small pebbles under the plants in volumetric flowerpots will eliminate the appearance of weeds. An interesting garden element can be a “dry stream” - a pebble-lined riverbed with a forged bridge will add a touch of romanticism to country life.
What you should not forget
The choice of material, the realization of one’s own fantasies is the prerogative of the owner of a suburban area. The main thing when using the stone in landscape design is its relevance, compliance with the chosen architectural style, as well as the size of the possessions. Marble Hercules on 6 acres with a wooden house will cause bewilderment, a miniature alpine slide will look strange among ship pines. But a well-made object, corresponding to the general concept, will delight the eye every day.