Every homeowner dreams of having a backyard they can escape to when the pressures of life get too much. But you won’t get the feeling of retreat in a boring backyard that’s missing the features that would make it perfect for you. We recommend nature’s original building material: natural stone. Here are 4 ways to incorporate natural stone from our landscape supply into a landscape design in Sussex County, NJ.
Why choose natural stone?
The appeal of natural stone centers around its character. No two stones are alike, which opens up amazing opportunities to create beautiful nature-inspired landscapes - even in the middle of suburbia.
Using natural stone in landscaping doesn’t have to mean you’re limited to creating rock gardens or waterfalls using boulders, or building stepping stone walkways. Natural stone comes in every imaginable shape, size, and texture. In other words, the design possibilities are virtually endless!
Walkways
You could opt for a rustic stepping stone walkway with grass, gravel, or low ground covers between the stone; or, you could choose natural stone that has been shaped into dimensional pavers that are ready to be installed on a masonry walkway that is both elegant and timeless.
Patios
Natural stone is incredibly durable. After all, plazas and roads built by the Romans are still in use today and although the stones may be worn smooth by foot traffic, their character remains intact. No two stones are ever alike. This means, your patio won’t be a cookie-cutter version of what everyone else has. Even from the same quarry, natural stone comes with inherent variations in color, veining, patterns, and textures. When you embrace this character, you’ll absolutely love the results!
Retaining Walls and Steps
Whether your landscape is perfectly flat or sloped, make use of natural stone retaining walls and steps to add vertical interest and dimension. You’ll get the best results using locally-sourced stone (or stone that looks like it could have been picked up right from your own property). The colors, shapes, and textures simply belong - and it shows. Somehow, nature’s splendid design ensures that native stone and native vegetation work in perfect harmony together.
Larger stone pieces can be used to create natural stone steps, no matter the elevation change. Stone slabs are available with a rough chiseled edge or a smooth edge to fit in with your design style.
Water Features
Bring dynamic interest and the tranquil sounds of water to your landscape. A waterfall made with natural stone could use a combination of rounded boulders and flat ledgestones. Boulders and ledges can be precisely placed so that the height of the waterfall and the landing(s) create a unique soundscape, ranging from the soft bubbling of a mountain stream, to the dramatic rush of a sheer drop waterfall.
Continue the use of boulders and ledgestones around the catch basin, whether it’s a pondless waterfall filled with pebbles or if the waterfall empties into a pond. Boulder-lined ponds make the pond look as though it’s been there forever. And, it’s the perfect opportunity to add water-loving vegetation to integrate the pond into the landscape.
Also consider creating a spot to place a bench so you can enjoy the water up close. Flagstone, bluestone, granite, or even pea gravel are great ways to keep the area around the bench free of mud, as well as creating a level area.
Related: WHY CHOOSE A STONE SUPPLY THAT OFFERS UNLIMITED VARIATION NEAR SUSSEX COUNTY, NJ
