Choosing rock and boulders
When we're helping you choose rock, we look at more than just the colour you like. The size and type of rock matter, especially with Winnipeg weather and the amount of blowing, shovelling and snow clearing your yard sees.
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River rock (1 to 1.5 inch)
This is our go-to for most decorative beds. It's heavy enough to stay in place when you're blowing leaves or cleaning up the yard.
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Crushed granite or limestone (3/4 inch)
A good choice if you're after a cleaner, more modern look. Because it's smaller and lighter, we don't recommend putting it right beside areas where a snowblower or leaf blower will be throwing it around.
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Large river rock (2 to 4 inch)
This works well in areas where water is moving, such as underneath downspouts or in a dry creek bed.
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Boulders
We set larger boulders on a properly compacted base and bury roughly the bottom third. That keeps them from shifting, settling or tipping as the clay moves through the seasons.
If you're not sure what would look best, we'll show you examples of rock beds we've installed so you can get a better idea of what each option actually looks like in a Winnipeg yard.
- Building since
- 2014
- Rated on Google
- 5.0
- Working across
- Winnipeg and southern Manitoba
Where rock works and where it doesn’t
Rock can be a great choice along foundations, in side yards where grass has a hard time growing, around patios and decks, and in areas where you're dealing with water runoff. We've also used dry creek beds and rock splash zones around downspouts to help direct water away from the house.
That said, rock isn't the answer to every drainage problem. If there's a larger grading or drainage issue in your yard, simply putting rock on top isn't going to solve it. We'll let you know if the area needs drainage work before we landscape the bed.
There are also a few places where we'd recommend something else. Rock against a south- or west-facing wall can hold a lot of heat during the summer, which isn't ideal for some shrubs. Along a driveway, smaller rock can end up scattered across your lawn every winter when the snowblower comes through. And if the bed is mainly there for plants, mulch is often a better choice.
Recent rock bed installation projects
Take a look at some of the rock beds we've built around Winnipeg to get a feel for the different rock sizes, colours and layouts we work with.
How we build a rock bed on Winnipeg clay
Whether we're putting in a brand-new bed along your foundation or replacing an old one, we start with the same goal: build it properly so you don't have to redo it a few years down the road.
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Clear it out
We remove the sod, weeds, and any old rock, usually digging down about 3 to 4 inches. If there's old black plastic underneath, that comes out too. On Winnipeg clay, plastic can trap water against your foundation, which is the last thing you want.
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Fix the grade
Before we put anything back, we check how the ground is sitting around your house. Your soil should slope away from the foundation so water has somewhere to go. If the grade is working against you, we'll correct it before moving on.
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Lay the right fabric
We use permeable landscape fabric that allows water to move through while helping keep the rock from disappearing into the clay. It's a simple step, but it makes a big difference in how the bed holds up.
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Edge the bed
We install edging to give the bed a clean finish and keep the rock where it belongs. It also helps stop grass from slowly taking over the bed.
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Place the rock
Most decorative rock beds get around 2 to 3 inches of rock. That's enough to give you good coverage without making the bed unnecessarily deep or difficult to maintain.
Rock bed questions
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How deep should landscape rock be?
For most decorative beds, we recommend about 2 to 3 inches. That's enough to cover the fabric and give you a finished look without adding unnecessary cost or making the bed harder to clean.
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Will a rock bed stop weeds?
It will cut them down considerably, but no rock bed is completely weed-proof. Over time, leaves and dirt naturally collect in the bed, and the occasional weed can take root. A quick cleanup a couple of times during the season and blowing the leaves out in the fall will keep it looking good.
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Can you put new rock over my old rock bed?
We generally don't recommend it. Older rock beds often have plastic underneath and have already settled into the soil. If we simply add new rock on top, the new material will eventually settle along with the old bed. Taking it out and rebuilding it properly costs a little more upfront, but it's a much better long-term solution.
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When's the best time of year to install?
As long as the ground is thawed and reasonably dry, we can install rock beds. In Winnipeg, that generally means sometime between May and October.
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I just took possession of a new build. Can I put rock beds in now?
If your lot grading hasn't been approved by the City of Winnipeg yet, we'd recommend waiting before changing the grade around your property. We can still plan the beds and figure out your layout, rock and edging ahead of time, then get the work done once you're cleared to make changes.
What Winnipeg Homeowners Say
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Great experience working with Jordan and Heavyscape. They landscaped both my front and back yards, installed pavers, built a fence, and constructed new stairs and a landing. Throughout the project they were flexible and thorough, approachable and easy to work with. Communication was excellent, the price was fair, and great quality of the work. Highly recommended.
mupayet
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Great experience with Jordan and his team. Communication was good and work on project was professional. Highly recommended. Would work with again.
Paul Laporte
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Great job! Good experience with planning, Jordan made improvements to our plan and the function is even better than we thought. Crew was friendly, organized and fast. Very happy with the experience and quality of the work.
CJ T