Backyard Landscapes and Rocks | Takoma Park MD

Add character to your backyard landscape via decorative rocks.  Whether as a rocky “buffer” between a sun porch and the yard, or as a garden accent between floral elements, rock come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, providing for a wide array of landscaping options.  Rose quartz, geodes, lava rock, and agates are just a few examples.

It is helpful to have a basic understanding of the types of rocks out there when incorporating rocks into backyard landscapes.  There are three types of rocks: sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks.  Sedimentary rock, as the name implies, is formed from sediments or layers of sand, shells, pebbles, or other hard substances.  Sedimentary rock tends to be somewhat soft and may break easily.  An example of sedimentary rock is limestone.  Metamorphic rock is that which is formed under great heat and pressure under the earth’s surface.  Its surface has a ribbon-like layers and is usually shiny.  An example of metamorphic rock is marble.  While igneous rock is formed from the cooling of magma or molten rock, and is shiny and glass-like in appearance, such as obsidian.

A rock guidebook with pictures and brief descriptions is helpful to use, considering the wide variety of rocks out there.  Rocks can be found just about anywhere: along roads, river beds, and in fields to name a few places.  Some of the more rare rocks like agate are mainly found in select places, such as along the shores of the Great Lakes.  If you are searching for rocks for landscaping and the rocks are on someone else’s property, be sure to get permission first from the property owner.