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The difference between river rock and landscaping rocks is size, smoothness, and use. River rocks are smooth and flat, as if polished by water, and come in diameters between 1 and 8 inches. Landscape rock can vary in size from small pea gravel installations to car-sized boulders. However, landscaping and river rocks are interchangeable in many situations. River rock is best for pathways, walkways, garden bed mulch, water features, and planting accents, while small landscape rocks can serve as a walkway base, gravel playground areas, and filler between pavers.

No, gravel and crushed rock are different. Crushed rock is made in a quarry and has sharp, jagged edges. It’s most commonly used for building and construction.

Gravel naturally occurs in river beds or lakes and features smooth edges, making it a better choice for landscaping or other decorative areas. Like crushed stone, gravel can also be found in quarries, but it’s typically due to rock-on-rock erosion rather than machinery.

Nonorganic mulch, like river rocks, pebbles, or lava rock, technically lasts the longest. It helps with moisture retention and weed control but doesn’t break down and release nutrients like organic mulch. Wood mulch decomposes slowly, which can help it last longer than leaf or straw mulch, but it won’t provide as many nutrients as quickly as the faster decomposing types.

The best type of rock for landscaping depends on your needs. If you want to build an affordable driveway, consider gravel. If you want an aesthetically pleasing patio, you can’t go wrong with flagstone. If you’re building a water feature, consider river rock as the base. Start by figuring out your landscaping project, then choose the best rock for that project.