How to Use Natural Stone in Your Landscaping

Beautiful and functional, natural stone is a classic choice for your landscape design—whether the style you’re going for is rugged and rustic or modern and minimal. While natural stone costs more per square foot than other materials, you’ll appreciate its low-maintenance durability during harsh winters, and the “wow” factor it offers is hard to beat. Here are some tips for how to use natural stone in your landscaping from some of our favorite Great Goat projects:

Rock the Foundation

Slate or flagstone is a versatile choice for patios and walkways, as these sleek stones look good paired with almost any home style (stucco, brick, wood) and outdoor decor. Plus, they never need to be refinished like decking. While some homeowners consider pavers a DIY project, installation can be tricky due to the stones’ varying widths and tendency to shear over the years if laid down incorrectly. Give us a call at Great Goats to have the job done by an experienced professional.

flagstone-patio-flagstone-walkway-eden-prairie-mn

Mix It Up

Once you have your walkway, build up using a combination of different stone types, which will keep your space from looking overwhelmingly monochromatic. A dry creek bed lined with shiny river rocks makes for a great contrast to flagstone, and a fire pit in a different colored stone creates continuity on your patio without looking too matchy-matchy.

Focus on Functionality

Since stone is such a long-lasting (and comparatively pricey) material, put it to good use! Instead of buying patio furniture that you’ll have to store during the winter and replace after several years, consider using rough-hewn accent stones as seating. Like the look of those dry creek beds? They also serve as drainage channels to protect your home.

KaniveFirePit2

Nature Is the Best Teacher

Boulder Wall
Natural stones and forest rocks are a great way to personalize an otherwise standard backyard and give you the serenity and privacy of a walk in the woods. Instead of buying a prefab fountain, consider installing a custom one lined in shiny river rocks. We also love using using large boulders as decorative accents to add visual interest to flower beds and borders.

With nearly two decades of experience in natural stone installations, we here at Great Goats are eager to help you bring the great outdoors into your own backyard.

Beautiful, Functional Retaining Walls

If you’re planning your dream yard, chances are you’ve ogled photos of custom patios and pinned pictures of fire pits. Retaining walls? They don’t usually command as much attention in the landscape design world. We hope these examples of some of our recent projects will convince you that a low-profile wall can be a beautiful, functional part of your landscape design. Here are some of the benefits of adding a retaining wall to your property.

Curb appeal

Front yard retaining wall

A retaining wall provides a grand border for your home. With a mortared-stone wall fronting the sidewalk and steps leading up from street level, you have a sophisticated design that will make your house stand out from the neighbors. Also noteworthy: If you sell your home, a front-yard landscape upgrade is estimated to have the highest return on investment of any renovation, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Flower power

retaining-wall-landscape-lighting-minnetona-mn
Highlight the fruits of your green thumb by planting them against a natural stone backdrop. A knee-height wall provides structure for your gardening and helps to section off shrubs from flowering plants. Plus, with a solid border in place, you’ll be able to spot-water more effectively either by hand or with an irrigation system.

Extra seating

patio-retaining-wall-saint-louis-park-mn

Far from keeping guests out, a low, smooth-topped wall invites friends and neighbors to take a seat and visit for awhile. And unlike those rusting patio chairs, this “furniture” can withstand even the most inclement weather. (A retaining wall also creates a perfect pedestal for outdoor decor, like jack-o-lanterns, potted plants, and holiday decorations!)

Help for hills

retaining-wall-anchor-saint-louis-park-mn

Got topography? A retaining wall can help segment your property both visually and functionally, carving out usable space from every sloped square inch. A wall also helps corral leaves, making cleanup easier, and keeps loose dirt off of your driveway and patio.

Improved drainage

retaining-wall-boulder-boulders-maple-grove-mn

Snowmelt and rain runoff aren’t glamorous design topics, but you’ll appreciate the benefits of a retaining wall each winter. You can trust us at Great Goats to not just build you an aesthetically pleasing wall, but also one that works with the specific contours of your property to divert water away from structures.