Where stone beats mulch
Stone does not decompose, so it does not need replacing every spring. That makes it the right answer along foundations, in narrow side yards, under decks, around downspouts and anywhere a mower cannot reach.
It is not the right answer everywhere. Stone holds heat, which stresses plants in full sun, and it is difficult to remove once installed. In a bed you plan to replant every few years, mulch stays the better choice.
Drainage work
Manville and the Raritan and Millstone river towns know water. A dry creek bed gives runoff a defined path away from your foundation instead of letting it sheet across the lawn and pool at a low corner. We shape the channel, line it, size the stone so it does not wash out and set the outlet where the water can leave.
Downspout extensions into a stone splash bed solve the smaller version of the same problem: the trench of bare mud and splashed siding under every gutter drop.
How we build it
- Sod and topsoil excavated to depth, since stone dumped on grass sinks into it
- Grade checked so water runs away from the structure
- Commercial weed fabric laid with overlapped seams and pinned
- Steel, aluminum or paver edging set to contain the stone
- Stone placed and leveled at a depth that suits the size of the material
Choosing material
River rock reads soft and natural and comes in a range of sizes. Crushed stone locks together and stays put on slopes and paths. Larger cobble suits creek beds and areas with moving water. We bring samples and talk through what fits the look of your house before anything gets delivered.
Free estimate
Call or text (848) 702-6937 and we will measure the area and price the material and labor. We install stone throughout Manville, Hillsborough, Bridgewater, Somerville, Raritan, Bound Brook, South Bound Brook, Franklin Township, Millstone and Whitehouse Station.
Common questions
- Does landscape fabric stop all weeds?
- No. It stops weeds coming up from below. Seed that blows in and lands on top of the stone will still sprout in the dust that collects there, so plan on occasional spot weeding.
- How deep does the stone go?
- Two to three inches for smaller decorative stone, more for large cobble. Deeper than that wastes material without improving coverage.
- Can you put stone over an existing mulch bed?
- The mulch has to come out first. Stone laid over decomposing mulch settles unevenly and sinks within a season.