How to clean garden rocks

Garden rocks have many uses for landscape. They can serve as a unique decoration to planters, bring a brightness to pathways, or design waterfalls and ponds. 

But much like all decorations, rocks are prone to dirt and debris with long exposure to varying weather. Luckily, it’s easy to learn how to clean your garden rocks.

What do you need to know before cleaning garden stones? 

Luckily, garden stones can be cleaned with a bit of effort. You will need to consider several factors before choosing your method, as these factors can affect the complexity, frequency, and ease of cleaning. 

1. How big are the stones you need to clean?

Garden stones come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Think about how much time you’ll need to dedicate to cleaning them. The bigger the stone, the more straightforward they are to clean. Smaller stones will need a little more time as they will likely need to be cleaned in batches. 

2. What kind of material are they? 

Soft materials like marble, limestone, and sandstone will discolour much faster. If you’d like to preserve the colour of your stones, you might want to refrain from washing them too often. Place them in locations that have ample protection from the weather. You may also opt for more hard-wearing materials like quartz, granite, or flint. 

3. What kind of weather or temperatures are they exposed to?

Dark, damp places promote algae build-up. Layering stones over soil can also be a challenge to clean more often. Using protective materials like weed membranes will go a long way in minimising how often you’ll need to clean.

How to clean light-coloured rocks

1. Create a poultice or liquid cleaner. Choose a cleaning agent to help brighten back up your stones: ammonia, bleach, or hydrogen peroxide. Dilute a half cup of your chosen cleaning agent with a gallon of water.

2. Wet the dirtied stones with water before coating them in your poultice generously. A quarter to half an inch of thickness will be enough.

3. Cover the treated stones with plastic and tape them down by the edges. Let dry for 1-2 days.

4. Remove the plastic and allow another 1-2 days for the cleaned stones to air-dry.

5. Rinse the poultice with water and dry down with a cloth.

How to clean decorative landscaping rocks

1. Sweep away any initial dirt and debris from the stones in your garden. In case of stubborn spots, you can use a leaf blower or a rake to pull dirt away.

2. Once free from the debris, do an initial rinse with a hose putting water pressure on high. 

3. You can opt to soak the affected area with vinegar for a more thorough cleanse.

4. Using a scrub brush, wash the stones with soapy water.

5. Rinse with a garden hose. For best results, a power hose will help strip off any stubborn gunk easily. Power hoses work best with bigger rocks as they will move a lot less under pressure.

How to clean smaller garden stones

1. Using a shovel, sift out dirt and debris with a sieve. 

2. Wash the stones down with a hose.

3. Use your preferred algae remover for larger areas where you need more efficiency. Apply onto stones and let sit for 1-2 days.

4. Do one last rinse with water before letting the stones air-dry.

Need help cleaning your garden? 

Cleaning your garden is one thing, but adding rock washing can be another tiring task. For easy garden maintenance, you can find gardeners near you to do your regular upkeep or explore different landscapes for your home.