People often ask me how I select the rocks for a particular project. I would like to share the process I use when I select the rocks for one of my waterfalls. I am actually looking for several categories of rocks: character rocks, structural rocks, waterfall rocks, grotto rocks, and veneering rocks.
Rock with Character
When I say a rock has character I mean that the rock looks unique. It could be that the rock has moss or lichen growing on it. The rock may have veins running along it or some other type of rock running through it.
Structural Boulder Rock
If I find a rock with character, I then look to see if there are two relatively flat sides so that it can be used as a structural rock. These flat sides are necessary because they allow me to stack one rock on top another fairly easily.
Natural Waterfall Rocks
One of the signature elements of my design are the waterfall rocks. I’m looking for a rock with natural channels that water has carved into the rock.
Sometimes this happens when a rock is in a stream and water runs over it for so many years that it actually carves channels in the rock. When I incorporate this rock into my waterfall, I make sure to run feeds to those channels so that the water is actually running over the rock as it always has been. This care in selection and positioning of the water feeds enhances the natural look that is so important.
Rock shaped Triangular
For either side of the waterfall, I like to blend the waterfall back down into the landscape so that it seems to come out of the ground organically. To achieve this, I look for rocks that are triangular shape so that the waterfall angles down into the landscape.
Another important thing to check in selecting a rock is to make sure that the rock looks completely natural and not quarried. To achieve this look I make sure there are no scuff or cut marks on the rocks from being handled by machinery. It is also important that the rock isn’t broken or sheared off. Every rock must look very natural and organic. Using a broken piece of rock will destroy the natural feel I am striving for.
Boulder Rocks for Veneering Walls
On the back side of the waterfalls, I like to find rocks that have big, beautiful faces. I will often select a rock that was laying flat in the woods and has all kinds of moss and lichen on it. When I stand the rock up on end I have a lot of usable square footage. This kind of rock is perfect for the back side of a waterfall because I can veneer it to the back of the concrete planter. Because the rock is relatively thin I have a lot of square footage without a lot of weight. The weight of rocks is an important factor to keep in mind because all of the rocks are shipped by the ton, so the heavier the rock is the higher the cost.
Grotto Waterfall Rocks
Probably the most important rock, and the most difficult to find, is the grotto rock. I look for a rock that is very flat and large to cap the top of the grotto. It also must have a very nice face to it. The face of the grotto rock is what you will see when you are looking at the grotto waterfall. I want this face to look very nice and natural. I don’t want a broken or sharp face. I want something that looks as if water would naturally flow over it. These rocks need to thick enough to be structurally strong, but not so thick that they look bulky hanging out over the grotto.
Single Boulder Water Feature
Some rocks are so beautiful on all sides that they can stand alone as simple pieces of art in the garden. They can be alone in the landscape or they can become another water feature. A single beautiful rock can be transformed into a water feature by core drilling the rock and running a water feed to it. These rocks don’t need any other rocks around them because they are so beautiful.
There are many different types of rocks and the selection criteria must be based on use as well as looks. When selecting rocks it is very important to think about the application that you have envisioned. A rock that will work perfectly for veneering won’t necessarily make a beautiful waterfall rock. A rock that’s a stand-alone piece of art might be too hard to build around in a waterfall application. Think about what you are trying to build, envision it, break it down into the individual rocks, and then search for those rocks. Go look at thousands of rocks with an idea in your mind of what you are trying to create. Find your building rocks, your feature rocks, and your veneering and grotto rocks. Each rock has its own purpose in the design.
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Outdoor Design by Lucas 