The Mirage of River Rock

I have to admit something: I hate river rock in landscaping!

I say this knowing that many of you have them in your homes—and perhaps you are still in the honeymoon phase with them. But others, who have had pebble-covered spaces for several years, may know what I’m talking about…

What Is the Purpose of River Rock in Landscaping?

The use of pebbles dates back to ancient times, when they were mainly used to cover the ground in courtyards or paths to make the surface more stable and passable. However, it was in Japan, starting in the Middle Ages, that they took on a real aesthetic dimension, particularly in Zen gardens, where they evoke water and are used to visually structure the space. In Europe and North America, their decorative use remained marginal until the 1980s, when river rock gained popularity thanks to the rise of rock gardens and low-maintenance landscaping. Since the 2000s, river pebbles have become a staple of landscaping: they are appreciated as much for their natural look as for their great versatility, whether in dry, Zen, contemporary, or naturalistic gardens.

Alternative perméable au dallage

I often see river rock used to create paths or patios that are not heavily trafficked. It is a much less expensive alternative to paving stones or slabs, and it has its own charm. Laid on geotextile fabric and surrounded by edging, it can—in theory—limit weed growth. They are also a permeable option, unlike asphalt or concrete, making them a good choice for those looking to promote water infiltration into the soil.

Clean Strip

In fact, its permeability is one of its greatest advantages. I remember when I first started out in landscaping as a laborer some fifteen years ago. At the time, the trend was to install a clean edge around houses, especially contemporary-style houses, which often didn’t have cornices. This strip of pebbles, installed all around the house, was used to prevent rainwater from splashing onto the exterior cladding and dirtying the foundations. Hence its name! The water seeped into the ground rather than running off into the sewers.

Rainwater Management

Similarly, river rock is often used in dry streams, filter trenches, or areas where water accumulates. Laid on top of a geotextile, sometimes with a perforated drain underneath, it allows water to be redirected or absorbed naturally. It is a simple, durable, and attractive solution for problematic areas of land.

Mulch

It is also used as mineral mulch, particularly as filler between stepping stones or in plant beds, especially in rock gardens or xerophytic gardens. Once again, its permeability is an advantage over non-draining materials.

Aesthetics

Finally, pebbles can serve a purely decorative purpose. They are often used to visually separate different elements of the landscape—a path and a lawn, two areas of paving, or a flower bed and a structure. This contrast in texture and color is highly valued in landscape design.

The Problem With Pebbles

What’s the problem with pebbles? At first, they look great: river rocks do exactly what you expect them to do. They’re clean, uniform, and give your landscaping a neat look. But over time, things go downhill! The pebbles shift, weeds grow, dead leaves accumulate, and the visual effect quickly loses its freshness. What seemed like a simple and durable solution often turns out to be nothing more than a mirage. Beautiful in photos, but less so in reality, especially after two or three seasons without regular maintenance. And yet it’s presented as a maintenance-free solution!

Hard to Navigate

As you may have noticed, walking on pebbles is not like walking on a sidewalk! River rocks roll underfoot, which can make them unstable, slippery, or simply unpleasant to walk on—especially for people with reduced mobility, children, or strollers. Even the slightest slope or repeated passage is enough to cause the stones to shift, even with a well-installed border. It’s also not easy to install garden furniture on them: they tend to sink or move with the slightest movement. Not to mention that in northern climates, pebbles make snow removal difficult. Shovels, blowers, and even de-icing salt become ineffective. And in the spring, you find pebbles everywhere. On the other hand, small gravel is generally more pleasant to walk on, but it has the disadvantage of spreading everywhere, which can irritate some people.

Hard to Weed

As for their effectiveness in preventing weeds, in my opinion, it’s quite the opposite! Plants that spread by rhizomes are effectively stopped by geotextile fabric, but weed seeds can easily settle on it. Over time, dust, dead leaves, and garden debris accumulate between the stones, forming a perfect breeding ground for germination. And sooner or later, some plants end up breaking through the fabric, making them very difficult to pull out without disturbing everything.

Other Drawbacks

There are other drawbacks too: river rocks store heat from the sun, which can dry out the soil and harm more sensitive plants. Unlike organic mulch, they don’t add any nutrients to the soil or improve its structure. Maintenance quickly becomes complicated: it’s impossible to add compost easily, as each time you want to do so, you have to move the stones. And how do you keep it all clean? I’ve seen people carry their pebbles to the street to rinse them with a hose… Others prefer to use a leaf vacuum or blower. In short, what seemed like a sustainable, maintenance-free solution can quickly become a real headache! And in the long run, it’s often the visual effect that suffers: we’re a long way from the clean, harmonious look of the first few weeks.

How Can River Rocks Be Replaced in Landscaping?

For paths and patios that are not used very often, there are several alternatives available. My favorite is stone dust. It compacts well, provides a stable surface that is pleasant to walk on—even for people with reduced mobility—and is inexpensive. Once properly installed, it is more resistant to weeds than gravel, precisely because it is compact. And if a few weeds do manage to grow, a quick sweep with a hoe is usually enough to remove them. In addition, it can easily be added to after a few years to refresh the surface, without having to redo everything. Stone dust is also permeable, but less so than pebbles.

Paillis organique plutôt que minéral

There is also the option of using organic mulch, such as ramial chipped wood (RCW) or shredded bark. Simply lay it on top of cardboard or newspaper, in a thick layer. The resulting surface is less stable than stone dust, but it absorbs shocks well and compacts the soil underneath less—making it an excellent option between plantings. As it decomposes, this mulch nourishes the soil and improves its structure. However, it will need to be refreshed every two to three years, depending on the material used and the intensity of foot traffic.

Why not also consider a few stone slabs or stepping stones, spaced just right, with ground cover that can withstand foot traffic, such as wild thyme or stonecrop? These plants add a touch of greenery, attract pollinators, and visually soften the lines of a path. Ground cover also has the advantage of being permeable, while reducing heat storage, unlike pebbles. In addition, organic debris that settles on it will decompose naturally to nourish the soil. There will be a little weeding to do, but it will be much less frustrating than trying to clean river pebbles.

Plants to the Rescue!

In my opinion, the best way to create a clean border around a house is to use plants. Their foliage naturally prevents soil from splashing onto the walls, especially if you add organic mulch to cushion raindrops and limit weed growth. If the area is covered by a cornice, where little or no water falls, you can plant just outside its reach, where the plants will still get some water. Choose plants that are large and dense enough to fill the space, cover the ground, and slow the growth of weeds. In these often dry and shady areas, a good drought-tolerant ground cover, such as large-rhizome geranium or thyme (if there is a little sun), will work wonders. With the right plants and mulch, you’ll get a clean, green, permeable finish that’s much more lively than a strip of pebbles!

An excellent alternative to pebbles in dry streams is to create a vegetated swale. Rather than covering the bottom of a trench with stones, a slight depression is created and lined with plants that are adapted to variations in humidity: sedges, blue irises, goldenrod, and other well-chosen native species. These plants naturally absorb, slow down, and filter rainwater, while stabilizing the banks with their roots. In addition to promoting infiltration, this type of landscaping improves biodiversity, attracts pollinators, and often requires less long-term maintenance than a pebble bed, which always ends up getting dirty, shifting, or filling with unwanted plants.

Plants: More Attractive and Diverse

In landscaping, river rock is often used to create decorative visual separations between different areas—lawns, paths, flower beds, structures. An excellent alternative is to use ground cover plants. By choosing plants with dense, colorful, or textured foliage, you can easily structure the space while adding life to the garden. For example, a border of sedum or a bed of colorful heucheras creates a subtle but effective contrast while promoting biodiversity. These plants serve the same aesthetic function as pebbles, but with the added benefits of being permeable, cool, and nourishing for the soil—and often for pollinators. And in terms of maintenance, occasional weeding is all that is required: there is no need to reposition stones or deal with the accumulation of debris.

Rethinking River Rock

River rocks have their qualities: they are attractive, versatile, and evoke a certain idea of simplicity. But when you see them in real-life landscaping projects, after two, five, or ten seasons, you realize that they are often more decorative than durable, prettier in photos than practical in everyday use, and much more demanding than you imagined.

That said, pebbles are not the only culprit. In any landscaping project, it is essential to consider the long-term maintenance of the materials you choose. Nothing is truly “maintenance-free”: sooner or later, you will have to clean, repair, or replace it. The difference is that some materials require less effort than others and are more forgiving over time.

So, when you redesign your garden, don’t just consider the aesthetic or functional aspects of the materials you choose. Also consider the maintenance they will require in five, ten, or fifteen years, and make informed choices—much like you would with plants. A little more thought now means a lot less work later. And let’s face it, that’s exactly what we’re looking for.