If you are looking for a way to add an interesting accent to your hardscapingTM project, consider boulders. A boulder is more than a big rock. Boulders can be small — “garden rounds”, medium –“one-man boulders,” or large to huge — “landscape boulders.” 
Boulders are hardscaping project features that can be local or shipped in from other parts of the country. Location of origin will dictate color, so the range of options is enormous. Each boulder is unique in shape. With this huge selection of size and color, consider hardscaping boulders for the following uses:
Garden Rounds:
- Edging a garden
- Around a tree
- Around a mailbox
- Clustered in a garden around a featured plant or statue
One-man Boulders:
- In a garden as a focal point, consider unusual colors
- Engraved or painted as artist labels, e.g., Mom’s Garden, home address number
- Engraved as markers, e.g., pet burials
- Placed in a ring as a firepit
Landscape Boulders:
- In the yard as a focal point, covering an area where grass won’t grow
- Hiding an unattractive object in the yard, e.g., pipe access
- As a bench on a patio or in a rustic sitting area
- As a diving board for a swimming pool
- As a planter or a stand for an outdoor planted pot
- Inset into a manufactured retaining wall for accent
- Next to a step as a handrail
Ideas are endless. Garden rounds and one-man boulders can generally be handled by a homeowner or two. Since they are large hardscaping project features, landscape boulders will require equipment to move around. Professional contractors will quote prices to place hardscaping boulders or build boulder accessories such as accented walls, benches and water features.
Be creative!
Hardscaping is a registered trademark of EP Henry Company.
I really love all of these ideas for hardscaping. In my old house, I remember helping my mom and dad with giant rocks around all of our trees. I remember that my parents didn’t like it and so they hired a professional residential hardscaper who made it look fantastic!