Create Your Very Own Rock Garden

Rock gardens are severely underestimated for their beauty and are much easier to create then most people think. Just about well drained, sunny location can be turned into an absolutely stunning rock garden. By properly following the guide below you can have a rock garden that will be the envy of your neighbors.

Location

A rock garden is best suited in a open, sunny location on a natural slope or terrace clear from the shade of trees and sheltered from cold drying winds. If you do not have the perfect setting on your property, you can certainly create one, all you need is some course rubble, standard rock soil and some rocks. If you do bring in your own rocks and soil, start small, the job can turn into a nightmare if you are unprepared and don’t have the sufficient amount of supplies. Where possible include a source of water such as a pond or stream to enhance the basic design of the rock garden.

Rocks

Virtually any rocks will do the job as long as you have both big and small. You should have at least six to seven large rocks weighing up to 200 pounds each to make it the most effective. For a smaller garden reduce to 4-5 stones weighing up to 100 pounds each.

There is a whole list of rocks you can purchase from nurseries or landscape contractors such as,sandstone, granite,limestone and shale, although, rocks that are native to your area will not only look natural,they will be the cheapest and easiest to obtain.

The best type of rock is one that porous,a softer rock that allows moisture to seep through, and some determined roots will be able to make their way through the rock. Also softer rocks take less time to have a weathered look,something in which a rock garden should have because it makes it look as though the rocks have been there forever and they are more likely to grow moss and lichens which also makes a rock garden look natural.

I used large shale stones in mine because they were easy to obtain and I have to admit they did a wonderful job, so regardless to say whatever rocks you can get your hands on are fine. Also keep in mind that no matter what type of rock you use for your garden,make them the same type of rock ,don’t use a whole bunch of different rocks it will not look natural.

Construction

• Construct the rock garden on a bed of course rubble covered with standard rock soil which is 1 part peat,1 part loam and 1 part sharp sand or grit.
• Set the rocks in the lowest, front part of the garden first and work your way upward placing the rocks in a natural way following the the grain of the rock.
• Leave various sized pockets between rocks, this will accommodate the rock plants and provide them with a deep cool root run.
•  Use rock soil around each rock to anchor it firmly. At least one third of the rock should be buried.
• After the rocks are in place, let the soil settle around them for a few days. Make sure you like the layout of the garden adding any plants.
• After planting top dress the surface with grit,gravel or stone chippings.

Plants

Many alpines are spring flowering so it is no big surprise that the rock garden, traditional home of small plants which might otherwise become lost should be full of color and interesting at this time of year. Of course rock gardens do not have to be limited just to flowering alpines. Tiny ferns,dwarf slow growing conifers,diminutive bulbs and even small scale deciduous trees are all worth of a place in the rock garden. For the summer strategically place summer flowering plants such as heathers, heaths, herbs, low growing perennials and annuals to add an extra burst of color or you can use plants that have an interesting foliage all year round.

Below I have added a list of rock plants as well as a few perennials that may be helpful when choosing for your rock garden:

• Ameria
• Anemone.coronaria
• Arabis caucasica
• Aquilegia fragrans
• Aubrieta deltoidea
• Balloon Flower
• Campanula Blue + White Clips
• Dianthus(Just about any dianthus)
• Draba aizoides
• Dwarf Lavender(Lady Lavender)
• English Daisy
• Gentiana
• Gesneriads
• Haberlea
• Hebe
• Houseleeks
• Lewisia
• Myosotis.alpestris
• Oxalis
• Penstemon pinfifolius
• Phlox douglasii
• Pulsatilla vulgaris
• Ramonda
• Saponaria
• Saxifrages
• Saxifraga panculata
• Sedum
• Violas

Rock Garden Care

One little fact about whatever rocks you use is that they are full of nutrients as well as minerals the for the soil and your plants so there is no need to over fertilize,however; once in a while a general fertilizer will help poor soil conditions.

Always remember when creating your garden you will have to care for it so make it no bigger than what you can handle because some rock plants can be high maintenance.

Weeds are the biggest problem with a rock garden, growing in the cracks and crevices so try to stay on top of them because they will easily crowd out small plants.

In cold climates always apply a heavy mulch before the first freeze for added protection because rock plants are more exposed then normal plants because they are out in the open and not on level ground.

For more in depth growing information visit:How To Grow Rock Plants

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Copyright © 2008 Tanya Kime-Wallace