Rock Shoppe

10/13/2026

What a Tool Tuesday: Sod Lifters

Removing old sod? There's a tool for that!

A sod lifter is designed to slide underneath grass and separate the sod from the soil below. Its flat, angled blade helps you get underneath the roots, making it easier to remove sections of turf without digging everything out with a regular shovel.

Sod lifters are especially handy when you're creating a new garden bed, expanding your landscaping, preparing an area for a patio or walkway, or replacing sections of lawn.

Using the right tool can make a tough landscaping job a whole lot easier. Stop by The Rock Shoppe and check out our selection of tools for your next outdoor project!

Happy What a Tool Tuesday!

10/12/2026

Today is Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

As we recognize this day, we also take the opportunity to acknowledge the Indigenous peoples who have called this land home for generations and whose history, cultures, and traditions remain an important part of our communities today.

The Rock Shoppe is open today during our regular seasonal hours, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Whether you're working on a fall landscaping project, getting a few things done before winter, or just stopping in to browse, we're here and happy to help!

10/11/2026

We're closed today, see you tomorrow!

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10/10/2026

RECOMMENDED CONTRACTOR: Leppek Landscapes, Nursery & Greenhouses

Looking to freshen up your outdoor space or need a hand keeping your property looking its best? Leppek Landscapes is one of our recommended contractors!

Their services include:

Landscape Design
Landscape Installation
Lawn Maintenance
Fall Clean-Up

Whether you’re planning a brand-new landscape, updating an existing space, or just need help keeping up with seasonal maintenance, give Leppek Landscapes a call at 810 227 2566 or visit their page to get started!

10/09/2026

Fossil Friday: Trilobites!

Meet one of the superstars of the fossil world: trilobites!

Trilobites were marine arthropods that first appeared more than 520 million years ago, long before dinosaurs ever walked the Earth. They were incredibly successful, surviving for nearly 270 million years before disappearing during the end-Permian mass extinction about 252 million years ago.

Their name comes from their distinctive three-lobed body shape: one central axial lobe with a lobe on either side. With more than 20,000 known species, trilobites came in an incredible variety of shapes and sizes.

Like their modern arthropod relatives, trilobites had to molt their exoskeletons as they grew. That means some of the trilobite fossils we find aren't actually the remains of a dead trilobite. They're the exoskeleton it left behind!

Trilobites were also among the earliest animals known to have complex eyes. Many had eyes with lenses made from calcite crystals, giving paleontologists an incredible glimpse into how vision evolved hundreds of millions of years ago.

So next time you see a trilobite fossil, remember: you're looking at an animal whose ancestors were crawling across ancient seafloors more than half a billion years ago!

Happy Fossil Friday!

10/08/2026

THIS OR THAT?

Mulch or decorative stone?

Both can make a landscape look finished, but they definitely aren't the same thing.

Mulch is great for adding organic material to the soil as it breaks down, helping retain moisture, and giving beds that classic landscaped look. The tradeoff? It needs to be refreshed periodically.

Decorative stone costs more upfront, but it doesn't need to be replaced every spring. With dozens of colors, sizes, and textures available, it can also completely change the look of a landscape.

So which team are you on?

MULCH: Give me that fresh-mulched smell every spring.

STONE: Put it down once and please don't make me do this again next year.

10/07/2026

A LITTLE SEASONAL REMINDER FROM THE ROCK SHOPPE

As we move into our reduced seasonal hours, things are beginning to slow down around The Rock Shoppe—and that also means we're beginning to reduce our seasonal staff for the remainder of the year.

We want to ask for a little extra patience and understanding when you visit us during these last few months of the season.

Like many small businesses, everyone here wears multiple hats. The person answering the phone might also be helping a customer, handling paperwork, checking on an order, directing a truck, or taking care of something elsewhere in the store or yard. As our staff gets smaller for the season, those hats tend to pile up a little higher!

We're still here, we're still happy to help, and we'll always do our best to get you taken care of as quickly as we can. It just might take us an extra minute or two sometimes.

Thank you for your patience, your understanding, and your continued support of The Rock Shoppe. We appreciate it more than you know as we begin wrapping up another season!

10/06/2026

WHAT A TOOL TUESDAY: LANDSCAPE FABRIC

This week's tool isn't something you swing, push, or plug in. It's landscape fabric!

Landscape fabric can be an incredibly useful tool when you're installing stone, creating pathways, working on landscaping beds, or simply need a barrier between your soil and your landscape material.

But let's clear up one common misconception: landscape fabric is a tool, NOT magic.

It can help suppress w**ds, but it doesn't guarantee you'll never see another w**d again. Over time, dirt, leaves, and other organic material can collect on top of the fabric—and w**ds are perfectly happy to grow in that instead. Landscape fabric works best when it's used for the right application and installed properly.

And because landscaping projects come in all shapes and sizes, so does our landscape fabric!

The Rock Shoppe carries NINE different sizes, ranging from a manageable 3' x 50' roll all the way up to a whopping 8' x 300' roll for those BIG projects.

Whether you're tackling a little garden bed or wondering why on earth you decided to landscape half the county, we've got a size for you.

Stop in and we'll help you find the right one for your project.

Happy What a Tool Tuesday from The Rock Shoppe!

10/05/2026

Michigan Mineral Monday: Apatite!

Did you know that apatite can be found right here in Michigan?

Apatite is a group of phosphate minerals that can occur in a variety of colors, including green, blue, yellow, purple, and even colorless. Its name comes from the Greek word meaning “to deceive,” because it can easily be mistaken for other minerals.

Here in the Great Lakes State, apatite has been documented in Baraga, Dickinson, Houghton, Iron, Kalkaska, Keweenaw, Marquette, and Monroe counties!

Apatite is also an important source of phosphorus, which is used to produce fertilizers that help plants grow.

Next time you're exploring Michigan's fascinating geology, keep an eye out for this colorful mineral!

10/04/2026

We're closed today, see you tomorrow!

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