If you're tired of the expense and labor of keeping your lawn lush and healthy, then you may want to consider replacing it with decorative rock that needs no care at all. A rock or gravel lawn could be a great idea if you travel a lot and don't want to worry about your lawn or if you just hate yard work. Here are some tips for using landscaping rocks from a company like Portland Sand & Gravel Co Inc to replace your grass.

Start With a Soil Base

It's necessary to remove the old grass first, just as if you're preparing for new sod. This ensures the surface will drain properly and that grass won't grow between the rocks. Landscaping fabric offers further protection against weeds and grass growing through the rocks. Avoid plastic materials as these cause water to collect on the surface of your yard. Instead, opt for porous fabric that allows water to seep down through the soil.

Choose the Edging

Another important part of preparing the base is to create edging around your lawn. Edging is important, or the rocks will gradually shift out of place when it rains or when you walk on them. Edging can be a variety of materials such as bricks, plastic edges, or even larger rocks. The edging should be higher than the rocks so even if the rocks move around in driving rain, they won't spill into the street or onto your driveway.

Select the Rocks

You can choose from different types of rocks for lawn replacement. You might want small white gravel or more colorful river pebbles. Rocks come in jagged pieces or with smooth edges, and they come in different colors and sizes. Smaller rocks are probably best for putting on your lawn, but you can use different sizes for different purposes if you also plan to have walkways and plant beds in your yard. You'll need to arrange for a landscaping company to deliver the rocks since you'll be buying them by the ton when you replace your lawn. The landscaper can also help you determine how many tons you need if you supply the dimensions of your yard.

Smooth pebbles are easy to walk on, but you can also put in large pieces of flagstone to create a walkway and add visual interest. In addition, you might want large river rocks for creating a border around your trees or to just to add some color. You can even buy glass gravel that comes in different colors for adding bright color to your yard for a walkway or to mimic the appearance of a stream that meanders through your yard.

Landscaping rocks can make your yard more beautiful, especially if you have trouble keeping your grass alive and your yard is in bad shape. The good thing is that once the rocks are in place, you won't have to tend the yard. If you ever want to get rid of the rocks and put grass back in, the rocks can be reused somewhere else so they won't end up in landfills or create unnecessary waste.