Rock is the right answer for some parts of a yard and the wrong one for others. It does not wash away, does not need topping up every year and suits slopes, downspouts and hot strips beside the driveway. It also heats up in the sun, gets weedy when leaves break down on it, and is hard to remove once it is in. This guide covers the landscaping rocks we use across Hamilton, Burlington and Oakville, how much you need, and the rock garden ideas that last.
Inspiration close to home
If you want to see what a rock garden can be, visit the Rock Garden at Royal Botanical Gardens on York Boulevard. It began as an abandoned gravel pit and was built between 1929 and 1932 with escarpment stone brought from the Red Hill Valley, then rejuvenated and reopened in 2016. It shows the principle every good rock garden follows: large stones set deep, as if they belong there, with plants filling the pockets between them. Your yard does not need tonnes of stone to use the same idea.
Types of landscaping rocks
| Stone | Size | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| River rock | 3/4 inch to 3 inches, rounded | Dry creek beds, downspouts, foundation beds |
| Pea gravel | About 3/8 inch, rounded | Paths and sitting areas, with a firm edge |
| Clear crushed stone | 3/4 inch, angular | Drainage, under decks, along foundations |
| Decorative granite or marble chips | 1/2 to 1 inch | Modern beds, colour contrast |
| Mexican beach pebbles | 1 to 3 inches, smooth and dark | Accent areas, around water features (costly) |
| Boulders and armour stone | From about 1 ft up | Slopes, focal points, low retaining edges |
| Flagstone stepping stones | Flat slabs | Paths through rock or planted beds |
What landscaping rocks cost
| Item | Unit | 2026 Ontario range |
|---|---|---|
| Decorative stone, delivered | Per cubic yard | $70 - $180 |
| River rock or stone bed with fabric and edging, installed | Per sqft | $8 - $18 |
| Boulders, placed by machine | Each | $150 - $600 |
| Steel or aluminum edging | Per linear foot | $12 - $25 |
| Planted and mulched bed (for comparison) | Per sqft | $19 - $46 |
Specialty stones such as Mexican beach pebbles cost several times more than river rock, and small bags from a garden centre cost far more per yard than a bulk delivery. Access matters too: stone that has to be wheelbarrowed through a side yard costs more to install than stone dumped next to the bed.
How much rock do you need?
One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. That covers about 160 sqft at 2 inches deep or about 110 sqft at 3 inches. Use 2 inches for small stone and gravel, and 3 inches for river rock of 1 1/2 inches and up, so the fabric does not show. A cubic yard of stone weighs roughly 1.3 to 1.5 tonnes, which matters when a supplier quotes by the tonne and when you think about your driveway. Our mulch and topsoil calculator works for stone volumes too: enter the area and depth.
Rock garden ideas that work in Ontario
1. A dry creek bed
A shallow channel lined with river rock, with a few larger stones along the banks, looks like a stream bed and carries water from a downspout or a wet spot to somewhere it can soak in. It is one of the few ideas that is both decorative and a real drainage fix. Size it for the water it has to carry, and give it somewhere to go. If water pools in your yard, read our guide on why water pools in a backyard first.
2. A boulder slope
A steep slope is hard to mow and prone to erosion. Set boulders into it, buried by a third or more of their height so they look natural, and plant the pockets between them with creeping phlox, sedum, thyme and ornamental grasses. On a slope that has to hold back soil, a wall of armour stone does the job more reliably. See our retaining wall cost guide.
3. Stone beds along the foundation
A strip of clear stone or river rock along the house keeps soil and mulch off the siding, lets you see the foundation, and does not hold moisture against it. Grade the soil under the stone so it slopes away from the house first; stone does not fix a bed that drains toward the basement.
4. A hot strip by the driveway
The narrow strip between a driveway and a fence gets reflected heat, road salt and car doors. Rock handles all three better than lawn or mulch. Add a few salt-tolerant grasses or junipers to soften it.
5. A gravel sitting area
Pea gravel inside a steel or paver edge makes a cheap, casual sitting area for a bench or a fire bowl. Put 3 to 4 inches of compacted base under the pea gravel so it does not feel like walking on a beach.
6. A dry garden with drought-tolerant plants
Stone mulch around plants that like it hot and dry, such as sedum, lavender, Russian sage, yarrow and little bluestem, makes a bed that needs almost no water after the first year. Our drought-tolerant landscaping guide lists plants that suit our winters.
7. A Japanese-inspired stone garden
Raked gravel, a few carefully placed stones, moss and a single maple create a calm space that looks good in every season, including under snow. See our Japanese garden design service.
Rock or mulch?
- Choose rock for slopes, downspouts, dry creek beds, foundation strips and hot areas by the driveway, where mulch would wash away or break down quickly.
- Choose mulch for beds full of shrubs and perennials. Mulch feeds the soil as it breaks down and keeps roots cool. Stone heats up in the sun and can stress plants that like cool roots.
- Think ahead. Mulch can be dug into the soil later. Rock has to be removed by hand, which is heavy and slow.
For the mulch side of the choice, see bulk vs bagged mulch.
How to build a rock bed that stays clean
- Book locates through Ontario One Call before digging.
- Remove the sod and weeds, roots and all, and dig down 3 to 4 inches.
- Grade the soil so water flows away from the house.
- Install a solid edge of steel, aluminum or pavers. Our garden edging guide compares the options.
- Lay woven landscape fabric with overlapping seams, and cut X shapes for plants.
- Spread the stone 2 to 3 inches deep so no fabric shows.
- Keep the top clean. Blow off leaves every fall and pull the odd weed while it is small.
Frequently asked questions
How much do landscaping rocks cost in Ontario?
About $70 to $180 per cubic yard delivered for decorative stone, and about $8 to $18 per square foot for a finished rock bed with fabric and edging, in 2026.
How much area does a yard of river rock cover?
About 160 sqft at 2 inches deep or about 110 sqft at 3 inches deep.
Is rock better than mulch?
Rock is better on slopes, downspouts, foundation strips and hot areas. Mulch is better for planted beds because it feeds the soil and keeps roots cool.
Why is my rock bed full of weeds?
Leaves and dust collect between the stones and break down into soil, and weeds grow in that layer on top of the fabric. Clear leaves off every fall.
Do I need landscape fabric under rocks?
Yes, under stone use a woven fabric. It keeps the stone from sinking into the soil and slows weeds from below. Do not use fabric under wood mulch.
What is the best rock for a dry creek bed?
A mix of river rock from about 1 to 3 inches, with larger stones and a few boulders along the edges so it looks natural.
Where can I see a good rock garden near Hamilton?
The Rock Garden at Royal Botanical Gardens on York Boulevard, a former gravel pit rebuilt with escarpment stone between 1929 and 1932 and rejuvenated in 2016.