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Rockeries for small gardens


Rock Garden Ideas for Small Spaces

By

David Beaulieu

David Beaulieu

David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 11/07/22

The Spruce / Christopher Lee

In This Article

Project Overview

Rock garden designs can range from to sprawling, naturalistic creations to faux dried river beds to rustic mounds of stones, soil, and plants. It all depends on your preferences and the amount of space (and rock) you have to work with. If you have a small area, often the best design is a simple, round raised bed made of select rocks. This design can fit neatly into any well-chosen nook and will not be in the way when you mow your lawn. If you plant it thoughtfully, it also won't require a lot of maintenance.

Illustration: The Spruce, 2018

Click Play to Learn How to Build Rock Gardens for Small Spaces

Equipment / Tools

Materials

Instructions

  1. Build the First Course

    Clear the area of grass or other organic material, if necessary. Be sure to dig up sod and other plants below the roots to prevent new shoots from coming up later in your rock garden. Lay out a circle of rocks as the perimeter of your base, making the diameter about 4 feet (or as desired). This forms the foundation of your garden and creates some elevation above the surrounding ground. You can use up most of your largest, least attractive rocks in this bottom layer, but it does not require stones larger than about 12 inches in any dimension.

    Fill the area inside the first course with sandy soil, which provides good drainage. If all you have is a clayey soil, add sand and compost to it to promote better drainage. Walk on the soil to pack it down.

    David Beaulieu

  2. Add the Second Course

    Plan the second course of stones. This can simply be a smaller version of the first course, forming a circle within a circle, or it can take the form of one or more bands of stone that pass through the center of the bed perimeter. In any case, the second course should provide plenty of room for planting between the bed perimeter and the second-course stones as well as in any additional spaces created by the second course.

    Place the second course of stones according to your plan (and don't be afraid to experiment). Since you used your heaviest stones for the first course, you have lighter, more easily maneuvered stones to use for the second course. Try to use the best-looking stones here (any size is fine) because they will be more visible than the foundation rocks.

    David Beaulieu

  3. Select Plants for Your Rock Garden

    Start your plant selection by choosing a color scheme that will work well with your stone. For example, if the garden is made primarily with red sandstone, you'll want some plants with a hint of red in them, as well as some plants displaying silver, yellow, white, or other complementary colors.

    In addition to selecting for color, choose plants that thrive in well-drained soil. Also, confirm that the plants have similar watering requirements and are suitable for the amount of sunlight the garden receives. Drought-resistant plants are best, although you can make an exception for a particularly handsome specimen that you can treat as an annual (that is, temporary) plant. Finally, seek variation in plant height and leaf texture for maximum visual impact and interest.

    David Beaulieu

  4. Plant Your Rock Garden

    Arrange the plants in your rock garden while they are still in their pots. Usually, it's best to plant in threes: grouping three of the same kind of plant together or in a strategic arrangement. Keep in mind that you will intersperse rocks among the plants.

    Once you've settled on a layout, begin planting with additional soil as needed, adding rocks for decorative effect as you go (if you add all the rocks before planting, they'll just be in the way of your digging.) 

    If you want to cover small areas of soil with rock mulch (to prevent weed growth), use small stones of the same type (or at least similar coloring) as the major stones forming the rock structure.

    David Beaulieu

Sample Rock Garden Design

Here is a good sample selection of plants for a small rock garden, chosen for color, care requirements, size/height, and texture:

This rock garden will look nicer in spring and early summer (when the plants are in bloom) than it will in late summer. That's an example of a compromise you must make unless you have a space large enough to implement a sequence-of-bloom agenda. For colorful blooms throughout the summer, you can easily add the annual, portulaca, to the mix.

Another compromise is made with Scotch moss, which is not drought-tolerant. This is a case of sacrificing longevity for a temporary pop of color and texture. Scotch moss is suited to planting zones 4 to 9 and bears small white flowers, but it is grown mainly for the solid carpet of yellowish-green that it provides. It grows in full sun to part shade.

The only plant in this sample design that is grown more for its flower than its foliage is the daffodil. The relatively coarse textures of the lamb's ear, wood spurge, and hens and chicks contrast well with the other plants, all of which have more delicate foliage. As the years go by and the daffodil and lamb's ear spread, you can divide them. If you decide that they clutter up your rock garden too much, transplant them to somewhere else in the yard.

Tip

Give your rock garden a "grown-in-place" look by layering while you plant. Set a few plants first, then add rocks around them, as though the plants have grown up through the "cracks" in the rocks. Try to cover as much of the surface as possible with rocks and plants.

Small rock garden ideas: 17 ways with alpine plants, succulents, water features and more

Our small rock garden ideas are perfect to liven up a lacklustre plot and make a fabulous addition to our other small garden ideas. Why's that? Well, for starters, rock gardens are simple and budget-friendly to build. 

And, when it comes to planting, there are tons of beautiful alpines and succulents available, that will thrive in a rocky home. Think spiky succulents, soft stachys, even bulbs – all of which will add textural interest, colour and diversity to your plot. Plus, rock gardens are super easy to maintain, and even small ones look effective.

‘Rock Gardens do not have to be on a grand scale or include monumental works of earth and stone,’ says Thomas Freeth, Rock Garden supervisor at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew .

‘A small bank in a garden or even a good stone or concrete trough will do. However, they all will need good drainage and a permanently aerated substrate, to facilitate the long, searching roots that these plants require.’

When it comes to the materials, ‘local stone in all shapes and sizes, building aggregates and even recycled bricks or reclaimed material can all be tried,’ says Thomas. ‘As long as they are inert and allow for air spaces in the rooting environment that won’t close up over time, they are good.’

Chris Bonnett, from Gardening Express , says ‘Rockeries are easy to build from scratch and can be designed to fit in any garden.’ However, there is some light preparation that should be done first. 

‘To prevent unwanted shoots from popping up in your rock garden, dig up any organic material like weeds and grass,’ Chris says. ‘Once the space is clear, set about laying out a perimeter of rocks as your rockery base.’ Once that’s done, all the fun of arranging and planting can begin!

So read on to discover the best herbs for rock gardens, how to add a Japanese vibe, where you can find rock-effect speakers, and much more!

1.

Add an air of the sea with coastal plants

Pink sea thrift will brighten up your rockery

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Plants that thrive by the sea are tough – they’ve got salty air, strong winds, and often drought to deal with. Providing they are positioned in a sunny spot, these hardy beings are a good match for rock gardens. And, they offer tons of textures, colours, and movement.

One of our favourites has to be sea thrift, otherwise known as Armeria maritima. Its jolly pink pom-pom flowers sit above clumps of thin, evergreen leaves. It can spread to create dense, low-growing mats, so works great at the front of a display. They also come in white, if you prefer. 

You could also try Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue', a compact ornamental grass that's striking with its blueish tufts of evergreen foliage.

2. Embrace the creeping sedum

Sedums come in many colours, including dazzling yellow

(Image credit: Walter Sturn/Unsplash)

With its thick and succulent leaves in a variety of shapes, sedum is definitely one of the best rockery plants. The creeping varieties thrive in small rock gardens, with their foliage forming attractive, blanket-like growth to fill any nooks and crannies. It’s no surprise they’re also known as ‘stonecrops’! 

Many types of sedum adorn clustered, star-shaped flowers in colourful hues throughout the warmer seasons. But, when not in bloom, their leaves can offer vibrancy too, in plum and russet to bronzed-tipped and blue-green tones. 

Hardy and generally drought-resistant, sedum’s easy-peasy maintenance also makes them a great plant to consider. Try ‘Matrona’ for bronze-flushed leaves and pink flowers that pollinators will love, or the Russian stonecrop for bright yellow flowers and green foliage.

3. Consider a Japanese style

Japanese rock gardens inspire feelings of peace

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Rock gardens are very popular in Japanese-style gardens and encourage quiet reflection and calm. They often include simple arrangements of larger rocks, which symbolise mountains or islands. These are surrounded by gravel, which can be raked into patterns, to represent water. Whether large or small, this simplistic style of rock garden is a beautiful and effective addition to a garden.

Jessica Smith, gardener and florist at Flower and Land , suggests ‘let moss grow on surfaces and in between cracks in the ground’. This is a lovely, traditional look for Japanese-style gardens.

Check out our small Japanese garden ideas to discover more about this particular garden style.

4. Go bold with blooms

There are plenty of colourful blooms available for rockeries

(Image credit: Getty Images)

If you think rock gardens are mostly grey, then think again. For alpine plants and succulents can be nothing short of spectacular, giving even your prized garden border a run for its money.

‘Once the rocks are in place and the structure is secure, it is time to start picking the plants,’ says Chris Bonnett, from Gardening Express. ‘Look around the garden to see what colours will complement the rest of the space. ’ 

Don’t hold back on layering your plants to build up a beautiful, vibrant palette. Chris suggests saxifrages, for their bright colours in pinks, reds, and whites.

‘Bulbs also thrive in well-drained rock beds,’ Chris adds. ‘A hyacinth will bring beautiful lilac blooms to the rockery and can be used for cutting too.’ 

5. Add an element of softness with stachys

Stachys is affectionally called ‘lamb’s ears’, due to its velvety texture

(Image credit: Getty Images)

A well-loved and ground covering perennial, stachys byzantina is a must-have for many rockeries. 

Fondly known as ‘lamb’s ears’, its attractive, silvery leaves have a wonderfully soft texture, which provides a striking contrast against stones or more structural plants. With some varieties, onlookers can also enjoy vibrant pink or purple spikes of blooms in the spring and summer months. 

And, this evergreen needs very little watering, making it a great addition to any rock garden. Just pop it in a sunny and ideally well-drained spot with space to grow, and it will add interest to your display all year round!

You'll find more ideas for the best ground cover plants in our expert guide. 

6. Add a gentle waterfall

A waterfall will boost your rock garden's ambience

(Image credit: Getty Images)

For small rock gardens with height, why not up the ambience with a small, babbling stream? Arrange your stones into a gentle, step-like formation. 'The key is always to mimic the natural arrangement of strata and weathering seen in nature,’ says Thomas Freeth, of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

As the water gently trickles its way down the stones, it will bring soothing sounds and movement, as well as sparkles of reflected light. Nearby wildlife will also enjoy dipping in and out of it for a drink. It doesn’t matter if your rockery is only small – think of it as your own mini-mountain spring (but probably don’t drink from it).

7. Enjoy the pink hues of dianthus

Dianthus adds a pretty flush of colour

(Image credit: Getty Images)

If vivid colour is at the forefront of your small rock garden ideas, then dianthus is certainly a top contender to consider. Varieties offer a bold array of pink, red, purple and white blooms which flower throughout summer with their signature frilly petals. 

What’s more, many types are deliciously scented – adding clouds of clove-like fragrance to your outdoor space. When not in bloom, its blue-hued foliage with an elegantly narrow structure is an attractive feature in itself. 

Favouring well-drained soils with a bit of sun, this cheerful perennial is sure to bring joy to your rockery and to any nearby butterflies! Try ‘Gran’s Favourite’, an evergreen with fragrant, showy petals laced with deep pink.

8. Create a rocky herb garden

Try growing Mediterranean herbs in your rockery

(Image credit: Getty Images)

‘Drought-resistant plants are the best for rockeries, but herbs also thrive in these surroundings,’ says Chris Bonnett from Gardening Express. Mediterranean kinds will especially thrive in well-drained, sunny rockeries, due to their natural climate.

Not only do they look stunning, but they will also add a wonderful fragrance to the air. Plus, of course, you can then use them to elevate your cooking. Creeping thyme comes in a variety of colours – pink, purple, white – and grows quickly to form a mat. 

Oregano, sage, and lavender are other good options, as are chives, with their onion-flavour and spiky pink blooms. You could try the curry herb too, which although not so useful in the kitchen (its name is rather misleading), does have a wonderfully spicy scent, attractive silvery leaves, and yellow flowers.

Also, ‘consider planting some 'Large Trailing Rosemary ', as it benefits from the added protection that the rocks provide from bad weather,’ adds Chris.

There's plenty of expert tips on how to create a herb garden in our guide. 

9. Plant vertically

Carefully plant succulents and alpines into crevices

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Don’t feel restricted to only decorating the top-facing parts of your small rock garden – you can plant vertically too.  

The RHS advises adding plants as you build the rockery. That way, you can spread roots out, cover them with a mix of soil consisting of grit, loam, and a peat substitute. Then, surround with a few pebbles to keep the air flowing around them before you start the new layer of rocks.

But, if your rockery is already built, don’t worry. You can, instead, plant small specimens into the existing crevices. Carefully push a little bit of soil into the gaps, followed by the roots of plants. 

Really tuck them in – it should look subtle and natural, not with big clumps of earth falling out! Try chamomile or Erigeron for pretty clusters of flowers, or succulents such as sempervivums.

10. Add a flash of blue

Idaho Blue-Eyed Grass from Suttons

(Image credit: Suttons)

For a refreshing splash of blue in your small rock garden, try Idaho blue-eyed grass. Contrary to its name, it is in fact related to the iris. 

‘This first-year flowering perennial features bright blue flowers, which look especially good grown in small bowls on a garden table, as well as being perfect in a rockery,’ says the team at Suttons .  

It grows in clumps, which should be divided and replanted annually to encourage more blooms. If you want to continue the blue-hued theme, try mixing with Gentiana verna, a low-growing alpine plant with intense, cobalt-coloured flowers.

11. Use to shelter your seating area

Surround your outdoor seating for a stunning view

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Most small gardens will include a seating area, for entertaining, eating alfresco and enjoying the view. But, instead of using a fence, screen or trellis to break it up from the rest of your garden, why not build your rock garden around it? 

Simple rock garden wall ideas will add height, shelter and give your plot a structured ‘zone’, whilst you get to admire all your pretty rock plants as you sit back and relax. Use foldable furniture to optimise a small space further, as you can tuck them away when you need more room.

12. Use playful plants

Dodecathon Seeds - Shooting Star Mix from Suttons

(Image credit: Suttons)

Why not add something a little unusual to your rockery plants? ‘This gorgeous woodland flower (known as American cowslip) features the most unusual shooting-star shaped blooms, with backwards-pointing petals that look just like the trail of a comet!’ say the team at Suttons.

‘Featuring a beautiful mix of colours in various shades of white to pink and with a hint of purple in there too, it’s no surprise it will also attract the bees. Once established, it will provide a welcome warmth across the garden every year from March and continue flowering until August every year. It’s both easy to grow and super versatile, thriving in sun and part shade with flowers reaching 30-40cm tall.

‘What’s more, it’s suitable for cutting too and can be used for dried flower displays in your home!’

13. Up-cycle cinder blocks

A cheap and effective way to give your rockery an urban edge

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Are you planning a rockery on a budget? Then why not give this a go. If you or your neighbours have been renovating, there might be some leftover cinder blocks, or structural bricks (the ones with holes in) going spare. You could also have a scout around online, to see if anyone further afield is offering some cheaply (or ideally, for free!).

Then, have fun arranging the blocks to create a rockery structure with an urban feel. The holes are perfect for poking succulents into, along with a little soil and grit. Cluster a few together for a fuller look, and mix up the sizes to keep things interesting.

14. Get camouflaging with rock-effect speakers

All-in-one Bluetooth Garden Rock Speaker / Passive Speaker from Suttons

(Image credit: suttons)

Time to get your rockery rockin’ (ahem) with these cleverly camouflaged Bluetooth speakers. Made in a weatherproof material, they are perfect to place amongst your rock garden and blare out the tunes on a hot summer’s day. Or, why not pop the radio or a good audiobook on, whilst you’re tending to your plants? 

15. Get creative with unusual succulents

Keep your eye out for exceptional colour and form

(Image credit: Annie Spratt/Unsplash)

Succulents come in a huge variety of shapes and colours. For rock gardens, sempervivums and echeverias steal the show.

Sempervivums are formed of evergreen, spiky clumps, with star-shaped flowers come summer. They can be intensely coloured – try 'Plum Parfait' (Chick Charms®) for stunning purple foliage, or ‘Gold Nugget’ (Chick Charms®) for show-stopping shades of yellow, tinged with red.

Echeverias are similar in that they display rosettes of fleshy leaves with racemes of flowers. Whilst sempervivums often have tiny spikes along their leaves, echeverias are more often smooth. 

One thing to remember is that echeverias tend to be less hardy, and so aren’t such a fan of very cold temperatures. To play it safe, you could place these ones in pots to decorate your rockery, then bring them inside if the winter is harsh.

Take a look at our advice on how to grow succulents for more tips.

16. Complement with a water feature

Dome water feature from Solus Decor

(Image credit: Solus Decor)

If your space is really quite small, a real-life waterfall amongst your rockery might be a stretch too far. Instead, why not invest in a water feature? Small, simple varieties made of stone can complement a rock garden beautifully. 

Place them at the corner of the patio just in front of your display, or even build the rockery around them, enticing nearby plants to creep up closely as they grow. The cool sound of water will add an instant refresher to your design.

Head over to our water feature ideas for more inspiration.

17. Boost colours with pots

Cool blue pots add extra colour to the @gravel_gardener 's dry garden

(Image credit: @gravel_gardener)

For an extra burst of colour and texture to your rock garden, introduce some brightly coloured pots. Wayne at @gravel_gardener has done exactly that, creating a stunning mix of glossy blues, succulent spikes, and smooth stones. 

The pots complement the blue hues of the agaves beautifully (‘Parryi 1684’ in the blue pot, ‘Blue Brian’ to its left, and ‘Ovatifolia’ being the large species to the right). The three ‘Ebony’ echeveria agavoides add a darker, purplish tone, whilst the mangave ‘Mission to Mars’ combines both blue and purple colours, to finish the striking display.

Wayne’s garden has been a ‘labour of love’, but we certainly think it’s paid off. ‘The bed was made from rubble, then ballast, then gravel – no soil,’ he adds. ‘My bed is only young, but I’m hoping to improve it more.’

How do you make a small rock garden?

A rock garden is easier to make than you think

(Image credit: Annika/Unsplash)

‘A good place to start is by picking a few boulders or large stones and then thinking what plants could work well with the colours,’ says Chris Bonnett from Gardening Express.

‘Remember that rock gardens are fairly permanent structures. Choose the right spot, because relocating the heavy stones later will be pretty tricky. Start building up your space in one corner of the garden. You can always expand the rockery when feeling more confident. ’

Once your ground is weed-free, ‘fill the area inside the perimeter with sandy soil, as it allows for the drainage needed,’ adds Chris. ‘Then carry on placing and experimenting with the layout of your rocks, spiralling inwards from your existing circle or with lines of stone that pass through the centre.

‘Use the most attractive stones last, because they will be the most visible. For a natural-looking space, group together random rocks in odd numbers. But, to achieve a cleaner and more elegant look, scatter smooth pebbles or rocks that come in uniform sizes.’

Remember you can plant as you go, building up in layers. ‘Once happy with the plants within the rock garden,' says Chris, 'you can add extra pebbles and stones for decorative effect.’

How do you make a rock garden look natural?

The spectacular Rock Garden at RBG Kew has achieved the natural look – and you can do the same on a smaller scale

(Image credit: RBG Kew)

Think about how rocks look in nature – and then try to recreate this in your garden. That means avoid arranging rocks in straight lines, for starters. Instead, go for clusters of various sized stones, in a similar colour – perhaps of a local variety.

Encourage moss by covering your stones in a moss slurry, made using a blender, water, and buttermilk or beer (be sure to wash the blender thoroughly afterwards). 

And, as we’ve mentioned, make sure you make the most of your rock garden’s pockets and cracks, filling them with small plants. Think about foliage as well as flowers for an enchanting, wild feel.

Can you take rocks from the beach for your garden?

Beach pebbles might be pretty, but it's best to leave them alone

(Image credit: A R/Unsplash)

In short, no, at least in the UK. According to the Coastal Protection act of 1949, taking any natural material from the beach, even one or two pebbles, is illegal. And, although the rules are less enforced in some areas than others, that doesn’t mean it should be encouraged. As the JollyExplorer. com report, there have been instances where well-meaning beachcombers have been given police warnings or told to return their collected treasures. The thing is, if everyone did it, it would damage the ecosystem of the beach, and we don’t want that.

The JollyExplorer.com goes on to say that when done moderately, collecting sea glass is okay, as is collecting shells – as long as there’s nothing living in them. Sand, however, is a no-go.

So, for stones, rocks, or even sand if you’re creating a beachy feel, check out your local garden centre, have a look online, or see if your neighbours have any going spare.

More garden ideas: 

The garden was always a big part of Holly's life growing up, as was the surrounding New Forest where she lived. Her appreciation for the great outdoors has only grown since then. She's been an allotment keeper, a professional gardener, and a botanical illustrator – plants are her passion.

do-it-yourself device, choice of location and plants, care

What is a rockery - a small rocky garden, an integral element of modern landscape design. It combines the charm of a flower garden and beautiful stones. In appearance, rockeries are very similar to rock gardens.

What is the difference between rockery and rock garden - rockery is located on the plain, not on the hill and The choice of plants is not limited to alpine plants.

Creating a home garden requires a lot of work. The selection of suitable plants and decorations will make the furnished space unique and will attract the attention of every visitor. One of the solutions that you can use is the arrangement of rockeries.

How to arrange a rockery and how to care for it.

Garden rockery - characteristic features

Garden rockery is a furnished piece of space in which the form of plantings and accessories should resemble mountain landscapes. Among the flowers, undersized plants and those that do not require special care predominate. Additionally, rockeries use various types of stones and boulders that perform a decorative function, and wood chips that imitate tree bark.

Due to the large concentration of different types of shrubs, perennials and flowers, when designing a garden, be sure to choose plants with similar preferences in terms of rockery location and daily care requirements. This is an extremely important element that will allow you to maintain the appearance of plantings for a long time, without the need to replace plants.

Choosing a place for rockeries

What to choose, a flat area or a slope?

If your site has slopes and hilly terrain, be sure that this is the most advantageous place where your rockery will look perfect.

You can create an imitation of scree, rock ledge, picturesque cascades through which flowing water can play.

Pay attention to your site, if there is a large pit on it, this is not a reason for frustration, but the opportunity to build a small gorge or mountain hollow on the site and end it with a swamp or lake.

Where to choose for rockery

Rockery in the garden is extremely easy, but requires a little physical effort. To make this easier, first plan on a piece of paper what the landing should look like.

Take inspiration from photographs of mountain peaks and numerous plants on the paths as you sketch your first garden decoration.

It is a good idea to fit the rockery into the atmosphere of the garden so that it forms a whole with the rest. Think over your plan for the remaining space and only then choose a suitable piece of land.

When choosing a site, pay attention to the characteristics of the selected plants and select a site with sufficient sunlight. Also take advantage of the natural conditions of the area and choose the right type of rockery for them.

You can create, for example:

Use pre-made ground conditions and create an amazing composition using plants and shrubs.

Ways to design a garden rockery in stages

Proper preparation and arrangement of garden composition is the beginning of creating a plant composition that will make your garden look stunning.

When making your own rockery, be sure to check the soil type and prepare the right substrate, the pH of which will match the needs of the flowers and shrubs you are planting. Poorly selected soil will not provide proper development, which will result in poor growth or death of flowers.

How to create a rockery

Decide in advance on the size of the allotted soil for rockeries, remove the sod and the top layer of earth from it to a depth of about 20 centimeters.

A geotextile, a layer of crushed stone for drainage, as well as layers of broken bricks, gravel are laid on the bottom of the formed recess, and then this surface is leveled and carefully compacted with coarse sand.

All this is necessary in order to create a rigid base that can pass moisture well and will not shrink the stone.

What should be included in the composition of the soil for rockeries

On the sand, up to the ground level, a little higher, a special substrate is laid, in which plants are planted directly and decorated with stones.

The required substrate consists of ordinary garden soil, brown peat, sand, fine gravel (gravel can be replaced with gravel), in an approximate ratio of 3:2:1:1.

By following these ratios, a highly aerated potting mix can be obtained.

It is strictly not recommended to introduce strong organic fertilizers into the soil substrate.

The main rule for plants growing in a rock garden is that they must be kept on a semi-starved diet (otherwise the foliage will grow profusely, because of which the stones will not be visible).

In some cases foliar application of complex trace elements can be used.

Which stone to choose for rockeries

Stones from soft rocks with a natural color look more attractive: shades of beige, gray, or yellowish tones. Against the background of such shades, any plants will look most impressive.

It is not recommended to use stones of different breeds, which can vary greatly in texture and color.

Consideration should also be given to the size of the stones, as many small stones tend to look untidy, while a few large boulders can look much more attractive.

Caring for rockeries: what to do to keep their beauty for years to come

Garden rockeries are not very demanding in terms of decoration, so you don't have to go through complicated maintenance procedures, but it is worth following a few basic rules to maintain their durability and healthy appearance.

Following a few simple rules of proper care will keep rockeries in good condition for many years to come without the need to plant new flowers. By choosing all-season plants and tubers, you'll save time setting up the next spot in your home garden.

Rockery plants

Although the name refers to the use of flowers growing in the mountains, this is not a requirement. When you decide to build a rockery, you can also choose all-season plants that grow in different environments and are suitable for the prepared soil.

Plants, as in the case of the formation of alpine slides, should be pre-arranged in containers, arranging them among themselves, taking into account their size, shape and color, and it is also worth thinking about how they will look and what they will be like in a few years.

The range of vegetation that can be planted in a flat rockery is unusually large. Almost all dwarf and undersized deciduous and coniferous species are suitable for it.

You can also use bulbous and small bulbous seedlings, which will provide the earliest and most continuous flowering of rockeries.

Enriching the rockery with colorful plants and flowers can be a good solution. One of the most popular is bergenia, a plant with large round leaves that turn dark green in spring and turn red in autumn. An interesting flower used in planting is also carnation, which is distinguished by very thin blue-green leaves. There are many options and scenarios. So choose the best for you!

Small secrets in the design of rockeries

The soil around plants and stones can be partially or completely sprinkled with very fine crushed stone, pebbles or gravel crumbs. The main secret of the topping is that it does not differ much in color from the stones in the decor.

Before decorating the soil with pebbles, the top layer is covered with a black dense covering material, while the plants are planted in the holes cut in this coating and watered abundantly.

Arrangement of rockeries in the garden: recommendations, nuances, ideas

When you look at a well-groomed rocky garden, so “naturally” overgrown with ornamental plants, it seems that there is nothing complicated in its arrangement. But this is a misleading impression.

Everything is important in making a rockery. It is necessary to select interesting rocks, achieve their color combination with pebbles, include plants in the composition that can simultaneously emphasize the beauty of the stone and not get lost against its background. Without special knowledge, this is quite difficult to do.

Here are some ideas and tips to help you create an interesting rock garden.

Combination of rockery with a recreation area

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Rockery on the site - beautiful, fashionable, practical

Rockery is a close relative of the alpine slide, but, unlike it, is created in a horizontal plane, sometimes with a slight slope. Like a rock garden, it imitates mountainous terrain - rocky scree, gorge, exit to the surface of rocks. Since this is primarily a rocky-gravel composition, boulders and decorative filling are given the main attention. Plants also serve as a spectacular addition.

Rockeries are much more democratic than rock gardens, and this is their advantage. In addition to the traditional alpine flora, conifers, grasses, wormwood, ornamental shrubs are welcome in their design.

Why are rock and gravel gardens so popular?

Rockery size may vary. But on a standard plot of 6-10 acres, it is not advisable to break a large rocky garden - it will look ridiculous and tasteless. Much more interesting are thoughtful miniature compositions that combine the beauty of stone and plants. We propose to talk about such methods.

Rockery imitating a mountain stream

Ideas for inspiration

When designing a rockery, it is important to remember that it is part of the overall picture of the garden, so it should be organically connected with the lawn, set off by paving, and connected to the reservoir. The more natural it looks, the better.

1. Imitation of a rock outcrop

If there is a small hill on the site, you can create a landscape corner that resembles a rock outcrop on the soil surface.

To solve the problem, you will need several medium-sized boulders. It should feel like they have grown into the ground. To do this, they are slightly “drowned”, and the sole is decorated with crushed stone of the same rock as the main stone.

Plants are positioned so that they seem to grow out of crevices, breaking through a rocky embankment. Slow-growing conifers are usually planted on the "rock" - mountain pine, stunted spruce, juniper, as well as ampelous and ground cover plants of the alpine type - sedums (stonecrops), saxifrage, sapling.

The basis of the composition shown in the photo below is gneiss rock with an interesting layered structure and an unusual color that combines light blotches. To imitate scree, they used "stone bark" - crushed stone of a fine fraction from the same stone.

Against the background of bluish green thuja, it seems that the boulders are cast in silver. Stones literally attract the eye - you want to look at them, touch the rough surface. Blooming sedum adds a sense of warmth and sunshine to the mountain landscape.

Decoration of a rockery in the form of a rock outcrop

2. A rocky corner near a pond

Two elements can be combined in a rockery - mountains and water. Stones, as a rule, frame one of the sides of the reservoir, preferably southern or western, so that the plants receive enough sun. If a recreation area is provided next to the water, a rocky corner is broken from the opposite side so that it can be viewed from the best viewing point.

Large boulders are needed for a large pond, but if the pond is small, it is better to refuse overall boulders, otherwise it will turn into a puddle against their background.

Even a few large stones can make a picture, but they must be interesting. Look at the photo, how beautifully the decorative chip reveals the structure of sandstone, how unusual the combination of gray and sandy yellow looks. The final touch is an amazing silver-gray bush that enhances the naturalness of the composition. There are many perennials of this shade. For example: decorative wormwood, seaside cineraria, sapling, eryngium.

An example of decorating a reservoir with blocks of sandstone

3. Stony and gravel composition

Rockery does not have to be large, sometimes a small fragment is enough to draw attention to one or another corner of the garden. Typically, such a composition is placed in a well-visible place, for example, against the background of a parterre lawn or in the bends of garden paths.

Marble looks luxurious in rocky and gravel gardens. In the photo below, it is a warm sandy-beige shade with a horizontal pattern on the chips. In unison, a backfill of caramel-colored marble crushed stone was selected. It dilutes a uniform color scheme and plays the role of an accent of a rich purple shade. This is a creeping perennial plant that will not create problems in care and will delight with bright colors all spring and the first half of summer.

Instead of purple, you can also plant pink shaving or choose other plants of the same type, such as saxifrage.

Stony and gravel composition with marble

Landscaping project
from Sad-dizain

Details . Laconic rocky gardens in the English style look interesting in such places.

A beautiful structural block, specially crafted to present it from the best angle, is placed on top of a gravel bed. Crushed stone is selected from a rock similar in structure, matching in color or playing in contrast. Nearby are planted cereals with bluish-green foliage, beloved by the British, decorative wormwood, dwarf coniferous trees or bushes. It turns out stylish and elegant.

The dominant of both the first and second groups is a picturesque block shaded by bushes of Alpine sheep

5. Compositions with exclusive stones

The rocky garden is an art object. How do you like this idea? It is quite possible to realize it if you use decorative stones from the Exclusive category. Each of them has a unique shape - one looks like a piece of petrified wood, the other looks like a sculpture carved from stone, the third looks like volcanic lava frozen in a bizarre bend.

An example of such an object is shown in the photo. An unusual hollow block of terracotta hue resembles a piece of ancient Greek amphora thrown ashore from the depths of the sea. The impression is enhanced by the snow-white marble pebbles "Bianco Carrara", and the plants are selected so as not to distract attention from the stone.

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