good place to buy "landscaping" rocks?

[Sigarms]

good place to buy \"landscaping\" rocks?

I could start another thread on "did you ever think"...

Any place in general to find a decent price (or give away) on landscaping rocks? Ok, any "big" rocks? Looking at putting mulch around about 20 trees that line our driveway into our home. Would use landscaping timbers to place around the trees, but land around the trees is very uneven and would be a pain to cut and level the timber. Much easier just palcing rocks around the trees and place mulch inside the rock perimeter.

Went to local farmers market and they had "large" rocks for .20/lb. That can add up quick.

Any place or suggestions to look at?

The reason for the comment about the other thread...

Personal info. I'm now 40, just married for the first time two years ago. "Some what" professional job the last 13 years. Before my "real" job, worked for "uncle sam", not thinking that I'd make it past 30. Hiked the A.T (all 2300 miles), scuba dived most parts of the world, kayaked over 140 rivers in the U.S, Canada and Mexico, basic bum, ran triathalons, jumped out of airplanes. When I moved, I could move everything in my two vehicles.

Now...Married, 20 year house payment with land. Last 4 months I cut about 12 trees down (40'-60' range) used 30 gallons of deck sealant to finish the deck, sprayed about 100 trees for insects, going to farmers markets looking for "deals", and now, after kayaking all of those river with rocks out the wazoo all over the place...I'm looking at trying to buy rocks!

I called my buddy up in W.V to ask him if it was possible to "relocate" some rocks on the rivers up there, and he mentioned to me "have you looked at my garden lately"?

I can only laugh now. If 3 years ago you would of told me that I would be on a web site like this, I'd say your nuts!

Sorry for the ramble, but ended up over the weekend mowing, taking care of 2 hornets nest, and yet another tree.

Don't see an end in sight, but I am not complaining!

Thanks

 

[bczoom]

Re: good place to buy \"landscaping\" rocks?

Sig,

The best places around here to get rocks:
1. The piles along the edges of farmers fields (where they pulled them out of the field and piled over the years). Obviously, check with the farmer first but they're normally happy to get rid of them (and may also load for you).

2, Along the sides of roads where they dug out of a hill/mountain to cut the road.

3. Creeks/rivers.

Come on up here. I'll give you all you want.

Brian

 

[dmccarty]

Re: good place to buy \"landscaping\" rocks?

Sigarms,

I built some raised beds a few years ago out of Rip Rap from the quarry. The stones sold by the landscape companies where/are too much money. Rip Rap comes in three sizes that I saw at the quarry, A, B, and C. I forgot which is the large and small sizes. B is in the middle. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The large ones weighed well over one hundred pounds.

I would hand pick and load them in truck since I was building walls with them. I dry stacked them and then put in dirt behind them for landscaping. The tallest wall is about 18 inches tall. I did this 5-6 years ago and the walls have not moved. I just laid the rock on the ground and started fitting them togather. Its time consuming and hard work but its not going to rot.

I think it turned out pretty good. It minimized what I would have to mow at the house. I could mow, weed wack, and blow the grass/dirt in no more than 60-90 minutes. If I did not have to edge 30 minutes max.

Rip Rap is the grayish stone you see on the highways that is dumped to stop erosion. Go to the quarry, weigh your truck going in and let them know what you are doing. Weigh your truck on the weigh out and pay up. The bigger stone was more expensive, smaller classes where cheaper. I paid something like $10 to $17 a ton.

Wild guess is that I hauled in 6-10 tons. To edge 100 feet of beds and build two raised areas roughly 20x10 feet and 20x20. Those are rough guesses. The rock is cheap. The work will get you though. You just need a strong back and a weak mind. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Actually it takes a bit of mental work to get it to fit togather. Its a big jigsaw puzzle.

Later,
Dan