I am having trouble finding a good source for lava rocks for landscaping. I want both intact boulders as well as crushed lava rock/gravel. In SOCAL it was easy to find but in south central Oklahoma it is NOT easy to find. I need to get as far up the "food chain" as possible as I am willing to take an entire 18 wheeler load but not at retail one sack at a time prices.
Pat
"I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!"
Lava rock, spring,???Has that primordial springtime urge to rearrange the landscape surrounding ones abode again struck? [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
If you are satisfied with slate, granite, the odd piece of quartz and some metamorphosed slate??? we may be able to accommodate your requirements. How many trucks did you want? [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
Egon [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
if lava rocks is not available, go for leca (expanded clay peelets) instead
Never heard of it so I Googled it. I don't think it is what I would want for large expanses of ground cover. It looks too artificial even if you use the various sizes available.
Crushed lava comes in a variety of colors to choose from among as well as whatever mix of sizes you want. You can place lava boulders and then blend in bowling ball size lava rocks on down to gravel for an attractive look. I'm talking thousands of sq ft of coverage not just a small planter or two.
I want to put in some blue carpet juniper as well and it looks good creeping over crushed lava.
Pat
"I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!"
Are these light weight like the pourice LAVA ROCK? Also where do you find it in socal.?
As I'm sure you know, Pat; most "lava" rock is burned coal cinders. Do you have any old, coal-fired power plants in the area? (The newer facilities will probably have burned such finely-ground coal that the slag will not produce "rock" but more like sand.)
Lava from burnt coal... What an interesting concept. I hadn't previously realized that volcanoes were big coal fires. Oh well, whatever... I still want crushed lava rock and various size lava boulders.Maybe an old old old coal fired plant might burn really huge chunks of coal resulting in satisfactorily sized "lava" rocks (lava = clinkers???) Or... perhaps one of the underground coal fires that has been burning for decades could be mined for "lava" rocks.
Nah... I think I will try for either "traditional" lava like is mined in some of the western states, native rock, or a combination. The goal is to seriously reduce if not elliminate burnable materials between my circular drive and the house. NO MOWING between drive and house and mowing exterior to driveway to be by brush hog. A few specimen plantings well contained in curbing with such species as pampas grass, various cacti, succulents, and other species suitable for xeroscaping. I will install hidden drip irrigation for those plantings that require more water and any trees (farther from house.)
Pat
"I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!"
are you trying to defy tradition and eliminate the "LAWN" Pat? [img]/forums/images/icons/blush.gif[/img]
Some folks use the soft reddish rock? from burnt coal seams to good effect for landscaping cover.
Egon [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
Egon, At my previous, Spanish Mediterranean style, residence (San Diego built in 1928), slightly under 1500 sq ft not counting sun porch/garden room, I elliminated grass to mow and gave away my lawnmower. I had front and rear patios with fountains and little pools, large areas of lava rock (crushed) and some boulders. I surrounded the living room picture windows with trellises for bougainvillea which I trained to climb up one side and down the other (defying the normal gravitational response.)
In the back yard I had some flower beds, lots of hanging plants, and a raised garden space that was very productive. I had seven kinds of peppers and tomato "trees" (tomato plants still bearing after 3 years.)
I'm not trying to duplicate my previous situation exactly but will elliminate any need to mow grass between the house and the circular drive and use the tractor and brush hog for mowing the yard beyond the circular drive when and if the cattle don't do enough. I will be fencing in a few acres for the front yard, enclosing several large pecan trees, using 3 rail vinyl fence with a hot wire between the rails to keep stock from pushing on it.
I will probably need to find a source "out west" for crushed lava rock and lava boulders and then find an arrangement for 18 wheelers to deliver the loads. In San Diego I could find lava boulders on pallets with cheap wire fencing to hold them in place (stacked 5-6 feet high.) I could luck out and find someone carrying cargo westward who might make me a reasonable deal for the back haul.
Failing a good lava connection my next best deal would probably be native rock such as red sandstone. It is much heavier, doesn't come in as wide a choice of colors, and to my aesthetic sensibilities is less desirable but meets my minimum requirements, barely.
Pat
"I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!"
Oh no; you appear to advocate the abolishment of "The Lawn".
A status symbol of many who maintain an abode on land and pride themselves on pristine green grass devoid of any growing thing other than the specified grass and achieved by copious use of water, fertilizers, chemical deterrents to any broadleaved form of vegetation that would make an attempt to establish and maintain their presence and the biweekly passing over of the cutting machine to maintain the perfect height which is really less than what is optimum.
Front lawns may be deemed a waste of space unless one has a vehicle or two he can park there and work on. Less frontage and more usable backyard make much more sense. Or, convert the area to the growing of kitchen produce. Fresh herbs and vegetables that are not designed to be used as bouncy balls may invigorate many a jaded Palate. Add several rabbit pens and a chicken cage for fresh eggs and then there is a very viable front yard. [img]/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img]
The classic symbol to the affluent who use the pristine front yard as a symbol saying they are wealthy and can afford to purchase substandard quality and tasteless fresh produce. [img]/forums/images/icons/blush.gif[/img]
Of course turning it into a no maintenance area is another alternative. [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
Egon [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
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