3 days to a rockin’ yard

Rock has long been a staple of Arizona landscaping due to its low cost, zero-water requirement and minimal maintenance. Plus, one needs no special skills to install it; merely a shovel, a wheelbarrow and a strong back.

Follow these three simple steps to transform a yard from a barren dust bowl to a rock oasis.

Buy the rock
Often the biggest decision when covering a yard in rock is the type of rock to buy. Landscaping rock comes in a variety of colors and sizes, and it ranges in price from $25 to $42 per ton. One of the most popular is half-inch gold rock; it matches what many local builders used for front yards, and it is inexpensive.

To determine the coverage needed, calculate the yard’s square footage by multiplying the width of the area to be covered by its length. A rule of thumb is one ton of rock per 100 square feet of area, but the rock company’s salesperson will tell you how much rock is required for the type of rock and coverage you want.

Though an extra fee may be charged, the rock company will deliver the rock to your home, generally dumping it on the street or in your driveway.

Prepare the site
There has long been a debate about whether to spread a landscape fabric or plastic underneath the rock to prevent weed penetration, but most Arizona residents don’t use the plastic because it cracks in the heat and inhibits drainage.

To prep the site, remove all the weeds, debris and any other materials from the area to be covered. Then spray the area with an industrial-strength weed killer, wait 48 hours and then spray again.

Spread the rock
Now that the site is prepped, it is time to prepare for the heavy lifting: spreading the rock. For this step it is helpful to have a shovel, a garden rake and a wheelbarrow.

Simply fill the wheelbarrow with rock, dump it into piles across the yard and spread it evenly, about two inches deep.

Spreading rock is hard work; it could be broken into a multiple-day project to prevent muscle strain and exhaustion. It’s also a great opportunity to find out how much your friends and neighbors like you, as “many hands make for light work.”

Once the rock is spread, the job is done. The only maintenance required is an annual spraying to prevent weed growth.

Maricopans’ top 3:
Gravel is big business in Arizona with each quarry typically producing one type of material. According to Wildcat Landscaping, the three most purchased variations of gravel are: Arizona Gold, Walker Gold and Apache Brown.

What you need for the project:
• Gloves
• Rake
• Shovel
• Tape measure
• Weed killer
• Wheelbarrow

Where to buy rock locally:

Chitwood Family Feed & Supply
19884 N. Maricopa Road
520-568-5088

Wildcat Landscape Materials
19347 N. John Wayne Parkway
520-568-8298
(Wildcat Landscaping delivers gravel to your home.)

File photo

A version of this article appeared in the September issue of InMaricopa the Magazine.