I want to use stones for a shrub bed. Where do I get them, and what is the approx. cost?

Question

I am leaning toward natural mixed rocks for the bed. . .pebble size. Basically I want these to take the place of the wood chips surrounding the shrubs in the front of the house. I know you can get these by the bag at a garden store, but I'm looking at a 600 sq foot area and decent coverage (covers the underlying weed "plastic"). Are there companies that deliver this by the truck? Any rough idea of the cost for such a project?

Answer 1

In 2 hours I am driving to a rock retail store in New Paris, IN to get a truck load of these myself! Try a gravel pit. If you are buying in bulk stay away from the Lowes, Walmart, Home depots unless you have an arm and leg to sacrifice. I too am landscaping with rock and know where to find it. If you don’t have a rock retail outlet near you try also try a garden center. Some garden centers do sell this material in bulk. My experience though says the garden centers are also high priced so I mostly buy at the local gravel pit. They sell all kinds of rock from pea gravel to the next size higher (called eights) to the next size higher to boulders or larger. They also sell sand and dirt and all kinds of rock at wholesale price. They charge by the ton and you either have a truck to shovel it into or a container to put it in. They also deliver. I am guessing cost per ton should be from $30 to $75 depending on what you want not including delivery.

I also use landscaping FABRIC under my rock, bought at Sams Club in 4’ x 100’ rolls for $30. Plastic will deteriorate and hold water quicker than professional lands fabric.

Answer 2

I would check for companies that sell dirt, mulch, and stone by the bulk (truck load). They will be cheaper then landscape companies and nursery's. Don't use plastics to block weeds as an under lament, because you will have standing water. Then to solve that you would have to punch some holes in the plastic for drainage, then that will give you a weed problem. I have found that weed block cloth applied in a couple of layers is OK, but in time the weeds will come through that too. I have used old carpet as a weed control and it works great. It allows water to penetrate and the weeds will not come through.

Answer 3

Call a few nursery's out of the yellow pages and get quotes. I know most of them will drop truckloads by the yard in your driveway, but if you have a truck you can go get it yourself and it's a little cheaper. I'm not sure about rocks but I know it costs me around $40 for a truckload of topsoil ( i picked up myself ) and about $30 for a load of bark. Have fun I love yard projects

Answer 4

Here in Central, FL,,, USA,,,Lowes sells 3 cu. ft bags all sizes, river rock, for under $4 a bag. I imagine HD does as well.

Rev. Steven

I just did my ex wifes entire back yard in river rock and pavers

Bulk certainly is cheaper, and delivered. Yellow pages under pavers, landscapers, rock, etc etc

Answer 5

You can buy them at a home improvement store like Home Depot. If you're getting a lot, they will deliver.

Also, a landscaping company would have access to large quantities.

Answer 6

Any landscaping company that sells trees and black dirt. look in the phone book.