The Spring Maintenance Tips You Need To Keep Your Landscape Rock In Tip-Top Shape

Landscape rocks are often used to fill pathways or create borders around gardens, bushes, and other plants. They really tie the outdoor ground space around a home together. However, this popular yard design detail looks its best as long as you maintain it well, and it's especially important to care for your landscape rocks when spring rolls around. After the winter snow melts and the weather warms up, they'll likely be covered in debris and dirt and overdue for an inspection. Whether you added a few rocks as part of a small backyard landscaping idea or used them to create a border around your garden, there are some spring maintenance tips you need to be aware of so that you can keep the rocks in tip-top shape.

As spring arrives, you should clear debris and weeds from the rocks, give them a good wash, settle them back into place, and check nearby drains for blockages. It's a good idea to complete these tasks just as snow clears away, because that's when you'll then have full access to the rocks. The pleasant weather also makes it easier to get outside and tackle these maintenance tasks. When you're done, this hardscaping element should look as good as new. Keeping up with proper maintenance using the following tips may even make your front yard look more expensive.

The first step to maintaining your landscape rocks during spring should be to check the aggregate for debris and weeds that may have sprouted during the colder months. You can clear away most debris with a rake, but for larger rocks, you may need to use a leaf blower to make this step easier. However, avoid using a leaf blower on smaller stones, which may be lightweight enough to blow out of place. As for the weeds, you can pull them out with gloved hands or an appropriate removal tool if you own one.

Next, move on to cleaning the rocks. A garden hose on a high-pressure setting should be powerful enough to remove most grime and dirt. If the stains are stubborn, you can scrub them with a cleaning brush and a solution made of dish soap and white vinegar. After you get the rocks nice and clean, use a rake to re-distribute them over the area and position them back into place. Smooth out any piles, cover any sparse areas, and add new rocks as needed. 

Finally, finish your spring maintenance by inspecting any drains you have in the area. Many homeowners have these rocks laid out around or near drains around the perimeter of their home. If drains in your lawn or garden become blocked, you may experience flooding. Identify blockages caused by displaced rocks, leaves, or mud and remove them to avoid this costly problem. When you're done, repeat this maintenance process as needed to keep your landscape rocks in excellent condition.