Clever Ways to Use Pebbles for Ground Cover

If you’re a seasoned gardener, the word “groundcover” might evoke images of green clover blanketing the soil of your garden beds. Groundcover plays a pivotal role in garden health, protecting the topsoil from washing away after heavy rain and improving drainage for plants.

Grasses are most commonly used for groundcover, but if you like to get creative with landscaping, you have other options. In this post, we’ll focus on garden pebbles as an advantageous alternative to plant groundcover, highlighting how best to use them and their benefits.

As Decoration

Who says groundcover has to be boring? Spunk up your space with Rain Forest Grey Mexican Beach Pebbles layered over topsoil in flowerbeds or around the base of tree trunks (to cover exposed roots). 

Pebbles are the perfect color contrast material if your landscaping design embraces clean-cut lines, or if you just want to stray from the typical grassy look with something unique.

For Moisture Retention

Pebbles do more than just look good. They provide plenty of benefits for your garden! One of the biggest is moisture retention, especially if you live in an arid region where it’s difficult to grow grass groundcover and water is scarce.

The pebbles hold in moisture longer, ensuring it’s evenly distributed to plant roots over time.

As Support

Are you setting fence posts in your yard? Are there uneven areas or bare patches where grass should be? River rocks are one of the easiest materials that provide impeccable support and drainage for troubled areas in the yard.

To Define Edges

As mentioned, landscaping stones create defined lines that help ease the transition from one area of your yard to another. 

For example, if you don’t want your sprawling grass ground cover to creep onto your swimming pool deck, pebbles can be used as a barrier to edge the sides of your pool. Best of all, there is a multitude of colors and sizes to choose from, giving you plenty of creative freedom.