Selecting & Placing Rock Boulders in your Garden

Natural stone is among the most long-lasting and beautiful additions to a landscape. It is also the most unpredictable. No matter how well your designer places the boulders, the actual rock used may not resemble the shape at all. Every boulder is unique and that determines the final selection and placement to be done.

Due to the cost of obtaining stone for landscape, it is vital that each piece is used to its maximum advantage. There are six factors that influence the visual appeal and practicality of using rock boulders.

v Does it fit in: In India, there are hundred different types of stones and building materials. The right choice must work properly with both the details of the house and landscape. The most commonly found boulders are the round ones. They are rounded and offer detailed interest. Iron stained boulders look good too. Where rock is used for on-site construction, try to maintain the same look by getting similar boulders.

v Keep it local: Rocks are incredibly heavy. The cost is not only for the rock, but for also hauling it from the source to the home site. Obviously, a local source will be far less expensive compared to long-distance hauling. If you don’t want huge rocks, you can also go in for small rock boulders.

v Keep it in scale: The scale of the immediate space, also contributes to the proper sized boulder for the job. The most common error in using undersized boulders is the weight of the larger ones makes them expensive to deliver and place. If the scale is wrong, the rock won’t deliver the intended look.

v Accessibility and placement: Moving a rock from one place to another requires a lot of manpower. Thus, to eliminate cost overruns, plan your space accordingly. The rock should be placed in such a place that provides easy accessibility.

v Arrangement options: Nobody places just one boulder. In a garden, you are most likely to find boulders of different sizes linked by the same parent material. Place boulders in different corners to accentuate the look of the garden.

v Planting and nesting: The way boulders are arranged create ideal planting opportunities. Plants grow at the edges of boulders for protection from the elements and to access moisture sequestered beneath the stone in dry seasons.

Using the rock boulders the right way can go a long way in maintaining the aesthetics of your landscape.

R Shivakumar, Managing Director of Sri Kirthika International, Salem. Exporters & Wholesale Suppliers of Building Materials, Polymer Products & Foods Products in India.