The Ultimate Guide for Picking the Right Landscaping Material

How To Pick the Right Material

Transforming your yard into a vibrant and functional outdoor space begins with selecting the right landscaping materials. Whether you're aiming to enhance the visual appeal of your yard, improve soil health, or create inviting outdoor living areas, Brinkmanns can help you! Choosing the appropriate mulch, stone, gravel, sand, or boulders plays a crucial role in achieving your desired aesthetic and practical goals.

In Wisconsin, where the climate can vary from humid summers to snowy winters, selecting materials that are suitable for the local environment is essential. This guide will walk you through the considerations and options available, empowering you to make informed decisions that align with both your landscaping vision and the specific needs of your yard.

Mulch

Mulch serves as the unsung hero of landscaping, offering numerous benefits beyond its decorative appeal. Available in a variety of materials—both natural and dyed—mulch plays a pivotal role in moisture retention, weed suppression, temperature regulation, and soil enrichment. Understanding the different types of mulch and their respective advantages will help you choose the best option for your yard's unique requirements.Mulch can be broadly categorized into natural and dyed types, each offering distinct benefits:

Natural Mulch

Natural mulches, such as Hemlock-Pine, Cedar, Oak, and Economy blends, offer a classic and organic look to your landscaping. They are screened from natural wood sources and typically decompose over time, enriching the soil with essential nutrients. Natural mulches are preferred for their earthy tones and ability to blend seamlessly into natural surroundings. They are also valued for their ability to regulate soil temperature, suppress weeds, and retain moisture, making them ideal for enhancing plant health and promoting sustainable gardening practices. While natural mulches may require replacement every year or two as they break down, they contribute to soil improvement and support a healthy ecosystem within your garden.

Dyed Mulch

In contrast, dyed mulches come in a variety of vibrant colors such as Red, Gold, Black, and Brown. These colors are achieved through non-toxic dyes that are safe for plants and the environment. Dyed mulches offer immediate visual impact and can be chosen to complement specific architectural features or color schemes in your landscape design. Typically, they maintain their vibrant appearance for a season or longer. Dyed mulches also tend to decompose more slowly than natural mulches, however, it's important to note that dyed mulches may fade over time due to exposure to sunlight and weather conditions, requiring occasional top-ups to maintain their desired hue.

Benefits of Mulching

  • Moisture Retention: Mulch acts as a natural barrier, reducing evaporation and helping soil retain moisture during hot Wisconsin summers.
  • Weed Suppression: A thick layer of mulch inhibits weed growth by blocking sunlight and preventing weed seeds from germinating.
  • Temperature Regulation: Mulch insulates the soil, keeping it cooler in summer and warmer in winter, which is particularly beneficial in Wisconsin's fluctuating climate.
  • Soil Health: Organic mulches decompose over time, enriching the soil with essential nutrients and improving its overall health and fertility.

Choosing the Right Mulch

Selecting the right mulch involves considering several factors:

  • Purpose: Determine whether you need mulch for decorative purposes, pathways, or plant growth.
  • Aesthetic Preferences: Choose a mulch color and texture that complement your landscaping theme and house architecture.
  • Maintenance Requirements: Different mulches require varying levels of maintenance. Some of our mulches will stay colorful or scented for two years, whereas others require replacement every year.

Stone

Uses of Stone in Landscaping

For a general understanding of stone, there are many different uses for the variety of types. We will dig deeper into what each stone’s best usage is. As for a broad overview, stone (decorative / gravel / boulders) can be used for the following;

  • Pathways: Create durable and visually appealing pathways using limestone gravel or crushed granite.
  • Edging: Define garden beds and borders with decorative stones or boulders to enhance the overall design.
  • Visual appeal: Stone can be used to enhance texture, contrast, and a polished finish to your gardens or outdoor spaces.
    Bases: Stone can serve as a sturdy and durable foundation for various structures and landscaping projects.

Choosing the Right Stone

Consider the following factors when selecting stone for your landscaping project:

  • Size and Shape: Choose stones that are appropriate for the intended use—larger stones for focal points and smaller stones for pathways.
  • Color and Texture: Select stones that complement your house exterior and landscaping theme. Natural stone colors range from earth tones to vibrant hues.
  • Durability and Usage: When choosing stones, it's important to know if you are prioritizing durability for those intended for heavy use, like pathways or driveways, or focusing on aesthetic appeal such as decorative stones used in landscaping features.
  • Price Range: Stone can range in price for something as normal as the color. For example, red gravel is more expensive than white as it is rarer and harder to obtain.

Crushed Gravel

Crushed Gravel has a rugged texture and there are two types of Crushed stone; Clear Stone and Traffic Bond. Gravel is a versatile material that serves practical and aesthetic purposes in Wisconsin landscaping. Whether you're creating a driveway, base for a project, or enhancing drainage around your home, gravel offers durability and easy maintenance.

Clear Stone

Clear stone refers to stone that has been cleaned to remove fines. While the stones are still rugged, the elimination of the fines allows for better drainage. This stone is not as easily compatible as Traffic Bond. Clear stone is also known as ⅜ sewer chips. This stone is also used for backfilling around pipes, as a base material for concrete, and for drainage purposes.

Traffic Bond

Crushed stone is produced by crushing large stones into smaller pieces. It is available in various sizes.. This stone is a compactable aggregate which is typically used to create a stable and durable base for roads, driveways, and parking areas. It is also used as a base for structures depending on the drainage needs. The presence of fines in this type of stone hinders ground drainage, especially when compacted. This will cause water to run off rather than infiltrate into the soil.

Washed Stone

Washed stone goes through a cleaning process to remove impurities. Meaning the stone is washed with water, then screened to achieve a consistent size. While washing, the stone is smoothed and rounded which is the biggest difference between gravel and washed stone.

Decorative

Decorative stone is an excellent choice for landscaping due to its versatility and aesthetic appeal. Whether you're looking to enhance garden beds, create striking pathways, or accentuate water features, decorative stone offers endless possibilities. With a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes available, it allows for creative expression and customization to fit any landscape design. Beyond its visual charm, decorative stone also helps in weed suppression, moisture retention, and erosion control, making it a practical and sustainable option for maintaining a beautiful outdoor environment with minimal maintenance.

Boulders

Boulders are substantial elements that add drama, structure, and natural beauty to Wisconsin landscapes. Whether used as focal points or retaining walls, choosing the right boulders involves careful consideration of size, placement, and aesthetic impact.

Uses of Boulders in Landscaping

  • Focal Points: Create visual focal points and anchor large outdoor spaces with strategically placed boulders.
  • Retaining Walls: Build sturdy and natural-looking retaining walls using larger boulders to prevent soil erosion and define landscape levels.
  • Bordering Ponds/Pathways: Create naturalistic garden features like bordering ponds, lining pathways and adding texture to garden beds.

Brinkmann's Different Types of Boulders

  • Granite Mountains Boulders: Granite boulders are known for their dense, often smooth surface which appear more uniform with the speckled pattern. They have more vibrant colors that sparkle in the sunlight. These boulders come in a variety of sizes and colors.
  • Fenceline Fieldstone Boulders: Fieldstone boulders typically feature a rustic, irregular shape with earthy hues. These are the cheaper of the two boulders. They come in a variety of sizes. Fieldstone boulders are plain and dull.

Choosing the Right Boulders

  • Size and Scale: Choose boulders that complement the scale of your yard and existing landscape features.
  • Placement: Plan boulder placement to enhance views, direct traffic flow, and define functional areas within your outdoor space.
  • Aesthetic Appeal: Select boulders with colors and textures that harmonize with your landscape design and architectural style.
  • Practical Considerations: Ensure boulders are safely positioned and installed to withstand weather conditions and provide long-term durability.

Sand

Sand is used for various purposes from mixing soil and leveling pavers to creating play areas and filling gaps between stones.

Types of Sand

  • Mason: Otherwise known as beach sand, mason sand is smooth with a very fine grain. It is typically used for beaches, play boxes, mortar mixes and for pavers or laying bricks.
  • Torpedo: Torpedo sand is coarse and can be used as a base for some projects. It offers better drainage and stability than mason sand. Mixing with cement to make concrete or you can mix it with salt in the winter because it is more coarse than mason sand.

Uses of Sand in Landscaping

Sand has diverse applications in landscaping:

  • Pavers and Pathways: Level and stabilize pavers and create smooth pathways using mason sand as a base.
    Play Areas: Provide a safe and enjoyable play surface using clean and smooth play sand.
  • Beaches: Mason sand is also used as playbox sand, and for beaches.
  • Mixing Soil: Improve soil drainage and structure by incorporating sand into garden beds and planting areas. Because Torpedo Sand is coarser, you can mix it with cement to make concrete.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Materials

Selecting the right landscaping materials involves several considerations beyond aesthetic preferences. Understanding these factors will help you make informed decisions that align with your practical needs and environmental conditions in Wisconsin.

Soil Type and Drainage

  • Soil Composition: Consider your yard's soil composition and choose materials that complement its natural characteristics.
  • Drainage Needs: Evaluate drainage requirements and select materials that improve water runoff and prevent erosion.

Aesthetic Preferences

  • Architectural Style: Match materials to your home's architectural style and landscape design theme for cohesive and visually appealing outdoor spaces.
  • Color and Texture: Choose materials with colors and textures that enhance your yard's overall aesthetics and complement existing landscape features.

Budget and Maintenance

  • Cost Considerations: Establish a budget for your landscaping project and choose materials that fit within your financial desires.
  • Maintenance Requirements: Assess the level of maintenance each material requires—from regular weeding and mulching, to periodic cleaning of stones or boulders.

Have Questions?

Reach out to us online or call 262-567-6823.