• furnish a warm color in the landscape that contrasts with the green of most plant materials. Slabs Slabs are large dimensional stones that are quarried and cut, but often retain a rough, irregular character. The exact quality of cut stone varies widely depending on the geological source and the degree of precision in cutting. Boulders Boulders are a generally rounded stone that is found unquarried along water bodies or in regions of rocky terrain (Figure 12—60). Some cut stone retains a rough, tumbled appearance, whereas other cut stone has very clean and straight edges (Figure 12-63). Slabs are appropriately used on the residential landscape to:
• create low retaining walls that have a hefty, solid appearance. • construct free-standing walls. Brick
Brick used for landscape structures has the same dimensional and visual qualities as brick used for pavement. Cut stone can be used to:
• create either mortared or dry-laid stone retaining walls, many with a distinct horizontal character. However, brick used for structures doesn’t have the same physical makeup as pavement brick and will usually break apart over time when placed on the ground because of wear and freeze/thaw cycles. • visually associate a stone house with the landscape. in size from 3 to 12 inches and are gray, tan, and buff in color, although they may be found in other colors depending on the region and their geological source. • provide a rustic character appropriate for sites near water or rural sites surrounded by a native landscape. Boulders commonly range
Figure 12-57
Material patterns can be coordinated with significant historical patterns of an adjoining house. • create rugged steps. Cut Stone Cut stone is stone that is quarried and cut into relatively flat units. Slabs vary widely in size from 6 to 12 inches in height and 2 to 4 feet in depth and length, although larger sizes are available. In addition to considering the pavement materials on a site, the landscape designer must also determine the materials and patterns of walls, fences, benches, trellises, overhead structures, and so on. The size of cut stone generally ranges from about 1 to 6 inches in height and 1 to 2 feet in length. • create a distinct rounded surface texture. • establish distinct patterns on walls (Figure 12-65). The most common types fall in three broad categories: boulders, slabs, and cut stone. Boulders can be used to:
• construct retaining walls and free standing walls if they are mortared in place (Figure 12-61). Figure 12-59
Pavement patterns can be coordinated with walls and fences by relating to corners, edges, posts, and so on. Figure 12-63
Examples of the potentially different appearance of cut stone used in site structures. Brick is suitably used to:
• be the sole material or the veneer of free-standing walls. The color of stone slabs depends on their geological source, with many being gray, buff, or light yellow in color.
