We Are A Full-Service Landscaping Company in Orlando, FL
Landscape Improvements Logo
Request A Quote

How to Clean Landscape Rocks?

Clean Landscape Rocks | Landscape Improvements

Landscape rocks accentuate elements in your yard and add to the overall beauty of your landscaped outdoor space. However, since most landscape rocks are placed where they’re usually exposed to the elements, they may look worn out and old over time without proper cleaning.

Over time, your landscape rocks may accumulate mud, bird droppings, and even mold. When this happens, your landscaped garden may look like a shabby, neglected space. That’s why cleaning your landscape rocks can significantly affect the overall look of your landscaped space.

Here’s a quick step-by-step on how to get your landscape rocks clean and presentable.

Cleaning Small Landscape Rocks

  1. Use a broom or leaf blower to remove dirt and debris from the surface of the rocks.
  2. Use a garden hose or pressure washer to spray the rocks with water to remove dirt and debris that the broom or leaf blower couldn’t remove.
  3. Flooding your landscape rocks with water only works best if there is landscape fabric or plastic sheeting underneath the stones. If there isn’t any, be mindful of flooding the landscape rocks in a flower or garden bed since it can cause root rot.
  4. If you have stained landscape rocks, place them in a wheelbarrow or buckets. Filter the dirt and debris from the rocks section by section. Ensure that you’ll still be able to lift the wheelbarrow or buckets by filling them half-full only.
  5. Spray the rocks with water from your garden hose to remove the stains.
  6. If a sprayer hose doesn’t work, fill a bucket with 1 gallon of warm water, then add 1 to 2 tbsp of dish soap.
  7. Put the stones in the bucket and gently stir them using your hand. Soak the landscape rocks for at least thirty minutes.
  8. After soaking, remove the rocks and rinse thoroughly using a garden hose.
  9. Leave the rocks to air dry and return them to their original position. Cleaning your landscape rocks on a sunny day will allow you to air dry them properly.
  10. Don’t dump the water with dish soap on your landscape or plants as they may be harmful to plants or vegetation.

Cleaning Large Landscape Rocks

  1. Use a broom to remove any dirt or debris from the rocks.
  2. Using a garden hose, spray the rocks to remove any remaining dirt, debris, or mud.
  3. Drop 1 tbsp of dish soap on a gallon of warm water in a bucket.
  4. Use a scrub pad and dip into the bucket of warm water with dish soap.
  5. Use the wet scrub pad to scrub away the dirt, debris, or stain from the rocks.
  6. If a scrub pad isn’t efficient in doing the job, you can use steel wool.
  7. If your landscape rocks have algae or moss, use vinegar instead to scrub it away.
  8. Rinse your landscape rocks with a garden hose to remove any suds or vinegar left on the stone.
  9. Let the rocks air dry for at least a day. It would be beneficial for you to do the cleaning on a sunny day to ensure a day of air drying for the rocks.

Cleaning Small White Landscape Rocks

  1. Use a high-pressure hose to wash the debris or dirt from the stones.
  2. If dirt and debris remain, place 1 tbsp of dish soap in a gallon of water in a bucket.
  3. Soak the scrub pad in the solution and scrub the rocks gently. 
  4. Use vinegar instead if you prefer an eco-friendly alternative to dish soap mixed with water.
  5. If the above steps aren’t effective, then your small white landscape rocks need a deeper clean. Place a tarp over a wheelbarrow. Then, use a mesh cloth or metal hardware cloth to sift debris and dirt from the stones.
  6. Mix 50 mL of bleach with 20 L of water in a bucket.
  7. On the wheelbarrow covered with a tarp, pour the diluted bleach solution onto the stones. Make sure that the rocks are fully submerged in the solution.
  8. Leave it for 24 hours. As a precaution, you can cover the wheelbarrow with another sheet of tarpaulin. Just in case it rains so the diluted bleach solution won’t be diluted even further.
  9. Drain the diluted bleach solution from the wheelbarrow by pouring it into a bucket.
  10. Bring the stones back to their original position.
  11. You shouldn’t pour the diluted bleach solution over plants or vegetation as it may cause damage. Pour the solution down the drain.

Removing Weeds From Garden Gravel or Stone Surfaces

  • Remove weeds by hand. It’s the simplest way to do it. However, it’s also the most laborious solution. Protect your hands by wearing gloves when pulling weeds. Also, make sure that you pull out the roots of the weeds as well.
  • Use weed killer with glyphosate if you don’t have time to remove them by hand. This method is very effective at eliminating weeds that grow between garden gravel or stone surfaces.
  • If weed killers and herbicides are too expensive for you, a cheaper alternative would be salt. Scattering salt on the area where weeds grow is effective because it dehydrates the weeds. However, you have to make sure that you scatter it accurately as it will also dehydrate other plants in your garden.
  • An eco-friendly solution to removing weeds is the age-old method of pouring boiling water. Compared to weed killers, you won’t be using any chemicals that may be harmful to plants or wildlife. The method is simple as you only need to boil water and pour it on the area where weeds grow. However, the downside of this method is that it does not apply to vast areas. If you want to kill weeds in a vast area, you might find it physically demanding to carry and pour boiling water numerous times over several areas of your garden.

Conclusion

Landscape rocks have several benefits when decorating your outdoor space. However, just like the rest of your landscaped garden, you’ll also have to maintain them so they’ll almost always look their best. They are an integral part of your landscape, so failing to clean them will affect the overall look of your landscaped outdoor space.

Having a busy schedule might prevent you from cleaning your landscape rocks. Let Landscape Improvements step in for you by getting our residential landscape maintenance service. With this service, we won’t just clean your landscape rocks, but we’ll take care of maintaining your outdoor space. Call us now at 407-606-7326.

Browse By Categories

Landscape Improvements
Design and Maintenance Brochure

Family Owned Since 1992
We create beautiful landscapes and outdoor living spaces.
FREE DOWNLOAD

Landscape Improvements is a family owned professional landscaping company serving Central Florida since 1992. 

We strive to keep our clients updated. Give us a follow or a like in our social media accounts. Looking forward to serving you!

Facebook Twitter Linkedin Instagram Pinterest Google

More About Us

Service Areas

Our Services

Get in Touch

1880 Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32804

336-999-3385

information@landscapeimprove.com

Mon-Fri - 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Digital Marketing by

Tulumi Digital Marketing

2023 © All Rights Reserved

Landscape Improvements Design & Maintenance Brochure

Landscape Improvements Careers