I come from a place where there are no rocks. That was in south Louisiana where all the land was formed by sediment from the Mississippi. Flat as a pancake. But I've recently taken up gardening in Georgia and keep digging up all these rocks. Being rock disposal deprived, it seemed reasonable to me to just piled them all up in and out of the way place. And when asked, I refer to it as my rock group. So tell me, those of you who grew up with these things, is there a good way of dealing with rocks?

Depends on how many you have, what size, etc. I use mine in areas where the roof overhangs the yard; it's as dry as a bone because the rain can't reach it, and the sun beats down on it all day. I piled large rocks there and created a rock garden. We're talking boulders here. I also use largish size rocks to provide shade for the roots of my clematis, and I saw a picture in a gardening magazine of a lovely "bench" that had been made from large rocks cemented together and overgrown with moss; it was stunning. And here I've been sitting on just the individual rocks on the ground, when I could have had a bench all along!

I have zillions of very small rocks. I used pieces of bluestone and slate left over from a patio and made a sort of terrace with plants in between and the small rocks in the spaces left. I edged it with old brick dug up from various places in the yard.

From one flatland native to another. I never had to deal with rocks until we moved to Waynesboro, VA in 1974. I started a low rock border around my garden which was quite large. Never got to finish it because I really didn't think to start this until 1976 and we ended up moving in 1977. Had smaller types in Manassas, VA which I simply used as mulch in some areas to keep weeds out. In West Virginia, I was introduced to boulders (that should be its nickname - the boulder state). The ones I could move, I used to create a low rock wall around our front yard. Figured I'd be adding to it for the rest of my life, but we moved from there, also, before it got very high, although it did help with soil erosion from our newly seeded lawn. In my current yard, we have mostly smaller rocks which I'm currently collecting and using as mulch with the intention that if I collect enough to use them to prevent grass from growing between our patio squares. I also use them for protection against my dogs trampling certain plants, and I use one medium size one for pounding stakes in the ground for my tomatoe plants.

Those of us in Michigan have a love-hate relationship with our rocks. Have so many. Backbreaking work to pick rocks but many uses. Here's some ways we have dealt with them:

built a rock garden for sedums
used pretty blue rocks around our water garden
in the process of building a dry stone wall
used stones at base of clematis to keep roots cool
used stone to secure post before pouring in cement
used stone to mark the end of garden rows of squash, etc.
used a boulder for the waterfall on goldfish pond
used stones to hold plants in place in water garden
painted small stone bright red to discourage birds around strawberry plants
used rocks as hammers (can never find one)
used pretty rocks in garden where there is a bare spot
when the kids were little they played with rocks
when the kids were in school they did reports on rocks
gave away rocks to family and friends that were rockless

People visiting from other states like our rocks. When we go on vacation out of state, we like their rocks.

Buy 22 tons and gravelscaped the front yard...seriously. Then I start gardening, cuss the rocks that cost me money and continuously dig nearly the same thing out of every hole. Now I have rocks upon rocks and buy soil, BUT... these rocks are used as mulch, edging, secondary fencing to keep the dog from digging under the real fence, layered under the hose to keep the soil in place when you're deep watering, thrown back in the holes for drainage, etc. Anything pretty goes in among the flower beds. Anything unusual goes into my native American rock collection.

Look! Just learn to love'em ha! Wish I had some of them . When vacationing in NC I search river beds for FOOT shaped rocks.They make nice gift paperweights or garden ornaments. I use permanent marker(black)to mark of toes/nails,then use my (old) nail polish to paint the toe nails. My flower garden has a few left ,as I give them to friends who compliment them. I live in FL,and feel it is time to head to NC, as my garden rocks are low! Have FUN gardners

I grew up in Michigan- always had rocks. Then in college I lived in Florida for a while. I was babysitting one day and thought we would play hopscoth. Lo and behold, no rocks to toss onto the squares! I don't remember what we did use- pinecones, I think!

Thank you all. What I'm hearing is: "use them creatively and have fun with them. But don't just leave them in a pile." This could turn into a chalenge.

We live on a ridge in NJ where every time it rains more rocks appear. We just keep adding them to the stone rows. If, when digging a bed, they're large enough and the 'right color' they become edgers and/or stepping stones.

Extending the already existing stone wall from when the land along the boundary. Using them to fill in strange depressions in the lawn, then covering with turf. Sitting on the large ones, with a cup of tea. Ignoring the biggest three and pretending its some kind of zen thing . . .

I've used flat rocks under the drip line of a porch that had no gutter. Before, the water splashed dirt onto the plants. The line of rocks doubled as a maintenance path for the back of the garden. Round river stones made a mulch under a rose; I used larger river stones to edge the area. Sounds kind of cheesey, but it gave a pleasant cottage garden look. I use very small pebbles for humidifying my houseplants. I put them in a tray, then set the houseplants an top, keeping the water level below the bottom of the pot.

I pile a few stones in corners of the vegetable garden. They come in handy as markers and to weigh down row covers.

Janet

I have a rock Herb Garden idea that you may want to try. Start with a large circle of rocks, on top of prepared soil, or lay down a few inches of wet newspapers, if you're starting on grass. Begin at a point on your circle, using large rocks, and make a "swirl" of rocks, as you add dirt and compost, ending with gradually smaller rocks. Eventually, you will have a really neat, terraced, swirled rock Herb Garden to plant. Mine is only about 3 feet high at the top, and about 5 feet across,but I have seen them up to 5 feet tall. This may be hard to visualize, so email me, if you want further details. Diana ;D

If you want to meet a very creative Gardner go to the website of Laurie Laur8@webtv.net She paints cats on rocks! Go there. Do something with those rocks Gardners! Have fun. :)

Each year I go on a rock hunt - led by a retired Geology professor. He takes us to a farmer's plowed field way out in the country (I can't ever find it on my own!), where we can pick up all the petrified, crystalized wood/rock that we want (that's how that farmer clears HIS land each year!!!!). They are thousands of years old, coming down with the glaciers from North Dakota and other northern states. The individual crystals on the rocks catch the glint of the sun at different times of the day. I put them out amongst all of my little gardens and enjoy their twinkles - as if I had gardens filled with diamonds! Kathy in Kansas

I use them to make borders for all kinds of flower beds!Ginna

I like to carve them! I use my dremel, and a big bad air chisel and make bird baths and things like that. I give them away. I have one someone said in another room that was cute, they put pressed flowers on. Now I just need to figure out what to do with that one. I just have fun with them. We line ponds and make waterfalls we line some of our paths with them .......

I like to print the names of my special hostas on them. This way I can see the names at a glance and visitors can also identify the special ones. Peg

I started my rock walls just digging the gardens. Every time i put the shovel in the ground i give birth to a new rock. I now have many rock walls and people often stop and want our rocks. Doesn't hurt to live right behind the gravel pits. They are giving us a HUGE rock- weighs tons. Looking for a place we can put it where it will not have to ever be moved. Becouse the pit is closing and the huge piece of equipment used to move it will be moving on. Dh has started a new wall across the front yard. I looks great.Just love rocks.

put the rocks in pails and set them at the end of your drive. i am ALWAYS looking for good rocks to add to my aquariums, and i know many other aquarists have this problem too.

I sometimes use beach stones to cover the soil on large potted plants. That way, when the plants are watered, the soil stays put, the stones turn their beautiful bright colors again, and the moisture doesn't evaporate from the plants as readily.