Using Rocks in your landscape. As we discussed laying the groundwork for fresh projects last month, the first part being the inevitable spring yard cleaning. It’s inevitable because no matter how well you take care of your property, winter’s heavy hand takes its toll ... tree limbs fall ... etc.

If you’re an old pro at gardening and landscaping having worked the same land for years, the routine you use probably doesn’t vary. But for a beginner, the game plan is wide open. If you started a new project, one thing you usually find, there are plenty of rocks.

“Oh, no,” you say. “I have to move these rocks ... what a pain.” But, before you pick them up and throw them into the woods, you might want to think about where else they might be used.

Many people think about the greenery portion of a project, but those rocks you are getting ready to dump, might come in handy. No matter what you order to plant, why spend extra for commercial planters, when a nice arrangements of rocks will do wonders. They also add to the natural beauty and many rock gardens are aesthetically pleasing.

With a bag of cement, you can turn the rocks into just about anything. Do you have an area which slopes? You can terrace it using the rocks as the breaking points for each section. Or how about a nice miniature rock fence? Large flat rocks are great for stepping stones and can turn your little trail into something guests will remember.

To compliment your stone creation, crushed rock and gravel are available from many quarries, delivered right to your home reasonably priced. Colors ranging from white, brown and black make it possible to offset your greenery, stone and gravel for an even more pleasing result. But, if you don’t have a lot of stones available don’t fret.

Many popular types of flagstones and sandstones are available commercially. That’s right ... they sell rocks. These are commercially made out of concrete and the advantages are easily noted. Mainly, because they are poured, they maximize the top surface and cut down on that oh-so-heavy iceberg like protrusion underneath the flat surface. This means a reduction in the size of the hole you have to dig, and, more importantly, a reduction in the number of hernias one might receive picking up a too heavy rock.

Bricks are also a commercial alternative to home-grown rocks and they too come in many colors.

So since most outdoor artisans look into both the aesthetic, and the practical, result ... don’t forget rocks can be your friend.