So, you’ve just laid down your beautiful landscape rocks, and now they’re sinking in the dirt. That’s unfortunate! Landscape rocks can be expensive, and it is frustrating when we put them out there only to watch them sink into the ground.
Fortunately, there are a few tricks on how to keep landscape rocks in place and looking good for years to come:
Most people don’t think about landscape rocks until the day they buy them and bring them home. They are usually placed on top of dirt or gravel, which is not a very stable base.
This leads to many questions: how do you keep landscape rocks in place? How do you keep landscape rocks from sinking? How can I stop my landscaping rocks from sliding?
These are all important questions that need answers! In this blog post, we will discuss various ways to prevent your landscaping rocks from sliding so that you can have an attractive yard.
Contents
- Why are your landscape rocks sliding?
- How to keep landscape rocks in place?
- 1. Using Landscape Fabric Under the Rocks
- 2. Using Rocks as Edging
- 3. Using Gravel Grids
- 4. Using Concrete Blocks
- 5. Using Sand under Landscape Rocks
- How to keep landscape rocks from sinking: FAQ’s
- Q: What kind of landscape fabric should Is use?
- Q: Should I put plastic under River rock?
- Author
Why are your landscape rocks sliding?
The main reason that landscape rocks slide is that they are not placed on a solid base. Earth, sand, or pebbles do not provide enough support for the weight of the stones and will lead to slippage over time.
When landscaping rock sinks into soft ground, it often leads to stressed plants due to restricted drainage in addition to slipping.
To improve the stability of landscape rock, you need a base that is both firm and solid. A good solution for this problem would be to place landscaping rocks on a four-inch bed of crushed gravel or, even better – river pebbles.
This will provide an excellent stable foundation under the stones, so they don’t move around as quickly.
How to keep landscape rocks in place?
If your landscaping rock is already on the ground and starting to sink, don’t worry! There are ways of holding those stones in place so that they will not continue their downward slide. let’s have a look at different solutions:
1. Using Landscape Fabric Under the Rocks
Landscape fabric is a thin material that can hold soil and stones together. You can simply place it on top of your dirt or gravel bed, then put the rocks on top of that.
In order for landscape fabric to work effectively, it needs a few inches of soil on top of it before being covered by your landscaping rocks.
This will create a solid base that the stones can be placed on, and you shouldn’t see any more sinking after this step.
You should also make sure to cut holes in the fabric where plants or other objects need to go, so they don’t get suffocated underneath all of the rock!
The fabric will hold down your stones and prevent them from moving around or sinking into the ground.
2. Using Rocks as Edging
If you are looking for a long-term solution, why not try using landscape rocks to hold down the ones that have already sunk into the ground? This will prevent your landscaping stones from sinking further and becoming more damaged over time.
To use this approach successfully, simply place loose rock around each stone after being laid and stack them one on top of the other.
This will create a solid foundation that is stable enough to keep your stones in place without sinking further into the ground over time.
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3. Using Gravel Grids
Some landscaping rocks come with their own grids. These work by providing a solid base for the stones and preventing them from sinking into dirt or gravel, which is not enough support to keep your landscape rock in place!
They can be set up on top of an already existing stone foundation, but they also work great when placed independently. Simply fill them with crushed gravel, and you will be set!
You can also use these grids to create a border around your garden beds or even in between stepping stones for added support and stability at the same time.
They are very versatile, so don’t hesitate to get creative with how they are used; there really are no limits to what you can do!
4. Using Concrete Blocks
Concrete blocks work in a similar way to gravel grids and landscape fabric. They provide solid support under the stones so that they don’t move around or sink into dirt, causing damage over time.
You can also use them as edging for your landscaping rocks (similar to how we used rocks).
The best part about these blocks is that they will not shift over time as other options might do. This means the stones will stay in the same place you put them, which is precisely what we are looking for!.
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5. Using Sand under Landscape Rocks
Many people use sand as a simple yet effective way of holding down their landscaping rocks. It is relatively inexpensive, easy to find, and can be purchased in large quantities at almost any home improvement store.
When using sand, you must make sure the surface of your new landscape rocks is perfectly smooth and even.
If there are any dips or bumps in the ground, it’s best to fill them with gravel first and pack it down firmly before adding your sand on top of that.
Once you have a smooth surface ready, all you need to do is cover the entire area up with about an inch of sand (more if needed).
It should be enough to hold the weight of your rocks and keep them from sliding.
If you want a more natural look, don’t use white sand! Try using colored or dyed sands instead, which will help blend in with any existing landscaping features that are already there.
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How to keep landscape rocks from sinking: FAQ’s
Q: What kind of landscape fabric should Is use?
A: There are multiple options available, and it really depends on what you need.
For example, if your stones will be placed over dirt or gravel, then a plastic fabric that prevents rocks from sinking into the ground is best.
On the other hand, if they’ll be set up on top of an already existing foundation, then landscape fabric with self-sticking backings will do the trick!
Q: Should I put plastic under River rock?
A: No, you should place landscape fabric between the ground and your rocks to prevent them from sinking into dirt or gravel.
You can then stack up as many stones as needed on top of it before placing a border around the edges for added support if needed.
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Using these landscape solutions will help prevent your stones from sinking into the ground and becoming damaged over time.
It is important to use some sort of support, so they don’t move around or sink further, but it’s also worth noting that you shouldn’t add more than one type of solution at a time.
This can create excess weight on the stones and cause problems, so it’s best to stick with just one approach for now.
Hey! Listen, the small garden in my backyard looks so gorgeous at the moment and I just want to make it even more beautiful. When you mentioned that we can even use concrete blocks to keep our landscape rocks in the right position, I was totally enthralled. I’ll certainly use this tip later on so the end result will be great.
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I found it helpful when you said that you can place loose rock around each stone to create a solid foundation. My mother will surely consider this tip because she mentioned last Monday over our dinner date that she wants to improve her garden’s looks. She is thinking of ordering rocks in order to build spaces that are beautifully designed by rocks.
I have a paver walkway with pavers separated with 4 inch spaces covered with small pebbles. How do I keep the landscapers from blowing the pebbles all over the grass??