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Terraced rock garden


22 Rock Garden Ideas & How to Tips

Enhance your landscape with this low-maintenance solution. By Janet Loughrey, Garden Writer & Photographer

A rock garden can add height and depth to a flat area. Add a waterfall or other water feature to enhance the natural appearance. Designer: Philip Thornburg, Winterbloom Landscaping. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

Adding a rock garden to your yard is a creative way to add depth and dimension to a flat or mundane space, or to introduce an element of surprise. The rugged appearance of rock adds earthy appeal, connecting a manmade landscape to the natural world.

Rocks can be used to define a slope, act as a substitute for a lawn, or become a solution to an area where little will grow. Different areas of the yard such as walkways and beds can be outlined or separated with an attractive arrangement of rocks, pebbles or gravel. A rock garden can range from a complex large-scale project with many aspects and layers, to something as simple as a small corner adorned with gravel and river stones. Even a container can become a miniature rock landscape.

Rock gardens are low-maintenance and lend year-round structure to the landscape. In order for your finished project to have cohesion, it should be well thought out and designed. Here are some basic principles to get you started, along with a list of recommended plants.

PLANNING A ROCK GARDEN

Think outside the box. Even a front yard can be the site of a rock garden, such as this entryway shown here. Designer: Philip Thornburg, Winterbloom Landscaping. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

Choose and evaluate your site.

Where would a rock garden look best in your yard? Is the site in sun or shade? Will plants need regular water, or will it be a drought-tolerant landscape? Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Even a front yard can have a rock garden.

Research.

Gather ideas by looking at photos of rock gardens on the internet and by visiting local gardens. Make an idea board or list with attributes you want to include.

Draw up a design.

Once you have some basic ideas, make a plan and draw a rough sketch. For a bigger project, you may want to consult with a landscape designer. Larger rocks are a challenge to lift and set in place, so it’s crucial to know ahead of time where you want them.

Consider scale.

Use materials that are in scale with your home and yard. Big boulders can overwhelm a small space, while small stones will get lost in a sweeping landscape.

Choose a style.

Rough irregular rocks add rugged natural appeal, while smooth pebbles or clean white gravel lend a more formal appearance, such as with Japanese rock gardens and Zen rock gardens. Create a look that complements your home’s style as well as the rest of the yard.

Keep it natural.

Take a cue from Mother Nature by making the rock garden look like it belongs. This will make the design more visually pleasing and cohesive with the rest of the yard. Random groupings of stones will look more natural than placing them in neat rows or organized patterns. Incorporate a water feature or stepping stones to enhance the natural appeal.

HOW TO BUILD A ROCK GARDEN

Vary materials such as pebbles, gravel and stepping stones to make a more visually interesting landscape. Designers: Adriana Berry, Plant Passion Design. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

Make a list.

In order to have the right materials on hand, make a list of what you need.

Source materials.

Peruse local garden centers, home improvement stores and specialty rock suppliers to see and compare materials before buying. For the budget-minded, Craigslist and Freecycle often have listings from people looking to get rid of rock materials. Consider rock quarries or natural areas that allow rockhounding.

Vary the rocks.

To create contrast and visual interest, vary the size and shape of the rocks. Use a mix of materials such as stones, pebbles and gravel.

Placement.

Use a few well-placed larger rocks as primary focal points to anchor the space and install those first. Allow space between the rocks for plants to grow. Smaller complementary stones or gravel placed around the larger rocks will unify the design.

Keep color in mind.

Select larger rocks in lighter hues so the landscape doesn’t feel dark and heavy. Vary the color and tone of other materials to lend contrast and visual interest.

Instill order.

To keep the design from looking too busy, choose rocks with complementary colors and shapes. Lay out swaths of the same pebbles or gravel rather than mixing too many materials together.

HOW TO PLANT A ROCK GARDEN

This rock garden features plants that thrive in partial shade, including ferns, bleeding heart, hellebores and ‘Bowles Golden’ sedge (Carex). Designer: Philip Thornburg, Winterbloom Landscaping. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

Soil matters.

Create an environment that is hospitable to your chosen plants. Alpine plants and other drought-tolerant plants will need sandy soil with sharp drainage. Others, such as ferns and hostas, will need richer soil and more moisture.

Pick the right plants.

Choose plants that will thrive in your climate. Traditional rock gardens include varieties that are alpine in origin, as the conditions simulate their native habitat. Rock garden plants tend to be smaller to complement the scale of the rocks. Use perennials, ornamental grasses and small shrubs to add vertical height. Creeping groundcovers will soften the appearance of the hard rocks. Add sturdy bulbs such as narcissus, wild tulips and alliums for contrast. Incorporate evergreen dwarf and creeping conifers for year-round interest. For a shade garden, choose mosses, ferns and hostas.

Complement and contrast.

To lend cohesion, choose plants with harmonious or complementary colors to the rocks. Use a mix of plants with flowers and foliage interest and combine upright and creeping forms.

ROCK GARDEN PLANTS

Sun Shade
GROUND COVERS Sedums, succulents, creeping thyme, snow-in-summer (Cerastium), creeping phlox, gold alyssum (Aurinia), ice plant (Delosperma). Mosses, creeping Jenny, ajuga, deadnettle (Lamium), vinca, sweet woodruff.
PERENNIALS Sedges and other small ornamental grasses, dwarf conifers, dianthus, rockcress (Aubrieta), columbine, speedwell, lamb’s ear, bellflower (Campanula). Ferns, coral bells, hostas, hellebores, astilbe, lungwort, columbine, barrenroot (Epimedium).
BULBS Species tulips, narcissus, crocus, squill, reticulated iris, alliums. Snowdrops, narcissus, muscari, squill, crocus, anemone, tuberous begonias, caladium.

MAINTAINING A ROCK GARDEN

Designer Burl Mostul, Villa Catalana. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

Water.

Rocks absorb heat, especially in a sunny site, so plants can dry out quickly. Make sure plants receive adequate water, especially during hot spells.

Fertilize.

Some plants such as alpines and succulents need little or no supplemental fertilizer, while others such as coral bells and hostas will benefit from a boost of nutrients. Research your plants needs and fertilize accordingly.

Weed.

A layer of smaller rocks or gravel acts as a natural weed suppressant, helping to keep the landscape low-maintenance. Keep areas free from weeds so plants don’t get overwhelmed or deprived of water and nutrients. Eventually, plants should fill in enough to suppress most weeds.

Prune.

Cut out dead growth and remove spent flowers to encourage new growth and keep a neat appearance.

ROCK GARDEN IDEAS

Keep rocks in scale with the yard. In this small space, rocks are stacked to create a sculptural water feature, while a single boulder placed strategically on the other side of the path helps balance the composition. Designers: Barbara Hilty and Adriana Berry. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

See more of this garden, including before/after photos and plants used. Photo by: Proven Winners.

Designer Burl Mostul, Villa Catalana. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

Pick a style that matches your home and landscape. This Asian-style rock garden evokes a sense of calm and order. Designer: Helena Wagner, 4 Seasons Gardens. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

Creeping groundcovers such as woolly thyme can be used to soften hard rock surfaces. Gardener: Karen Olberding. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

Large scale rock garden or hillside terrace. Designer: Burl Mostul, Villa Catalana. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

Leave spaces between rocks for plants to grow. Gardener:: Karen Olberding. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

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15 Gorgeous Rock Garden Ideas for Your Landscape

Why Rock Gardens?

1/16

Drought is an ongoing and critical issue in the U.S. According to NASA, fully one-third of the nation’s acreage is experiencing at least moderate drought and some 53 million people live in drought-affected areas.  

Homeowners can help combat drought by xeriscaping. Xeriscapes are landscapes that require little water besides what the sky provides, often incorporating native plants. Reducing the land’s reliance on rain is a smart move for anyone who cares about the Earth. Rock gardens are an easy, sometimes plant-free way to give any property a little extra personality, while also being environmentally friendly. Read on for rock garden ideas that are as effective in arid areas as they are attractive.

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Bright Hues and Rough-Hewn Rocks

2/16

Let’s say there’s lots of space elsewhere for patios, pergolas, and gazebos, with plenty of sloping lawn left over. Why not turn the area into a cheerful, colorful landscape? This rock garden idea pairs broad splashes of brightly hued flowers with the bold use of craggy, rugged rock. To achieve the effect, style this space like a sprawling terrace garden, with alternating sections of ground-cover plants—flowering thyme, phlox, and sedums—and wide, relatively flat rocks that can stand in as stepping stones when it’s weeding time.

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A Petite Little Pond

3/16

Nothing adds pizzazz to a backyard quite like a pint-sized pond full of fish and floating lily pads. Whether you stock koi for neo-Asian appeal or raise tilapia for Taco Tuesday, surround the pond with stones in a wide variety of sizes. Large, chunky rocks interspersed with smaller pebbles will delineate its perimeter—and discourage young visitors from wading. For a more dramatic effect, seek out Mexican or Caribbean beach pebbles.

Related: Make a Splash! 10 Stunning Backyard Ponds to Enhance Any Landscape

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Gravel in the Garden

4/16

You’ve heard of stopping to smell the roses; now get ready for sitting to sniff the snapdragons. A diminutive, decorative bench tucked among flat rocks that are flush with the ground gives visual appeal to an otherwise ho-hum flower bed. Here, the plants take a supporting role, yielding to the contrast between rich, dark mulch and small multi-colored stones. A few flowering bushes in a variety of heights and shades of green are the only flora that’s needed.

Related: Pass on Grass: 7 Reasons to Landscape with Gravel

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Divide and Conquer a Large Lawn

5/16

Homebuyers love the idea of a large yard, but once they’ve signed on the dotted line, that lawn can be daunting. They might wonder what to do with such a great expanse of green (besides cursing how quickly the grass grows, that is.) If it isn’t level enough to play croquet, consider dividing the lawn into discrete areas that will serve different purposes. Think herb garden, butterfly or bee garden, even beehives or a chicken coop. Use large, boulder-like rocks to set these spaces apart and save you money on pavers.

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Rock That Walk

6/16

Rock garden ideas often exemplify the “more is more” philosophy, cramming in as many attention-getting elements as possible. Not so with this minimalist row of stones edging a sidewalk. Just as a ribbon embellishes a dress hem, this narrow border of smooth pebbles running parallel to the walkway is sure to draw the eye. Any deep-green, leafy plant works well to complete this clean, asymmetrical style. (A row of low-water ornamental grasses, vibrant tiger lilies, or gladioli would be a stunning choice, too.)

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An Otherworldly Atmosphere

7/16

As night falls, it gradually alters the entire vibe of an outdoor living area. Anyone who entertains after the sun has set, or who simply loves to sit in the waning light and unwind, will get double the pleasure from their property. Look into illuminated rock garden ideas to create an enchanting evening-scape. Here, hefty rocks blend into the background during the day and then transform into an eerily beautiful moonscape in the light of these softly glowing outdoor orb lights (available at The Home Depot).  

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Stone Pairs Perfectly with Succulents

8/16

Residents of drought-affected areas use inorganic materials in much greater quantities than their eastern-U.S. counterparts, of course. Here, the many multicolored pebbles function like Lebowski’s rug, really tying together the natural and manmade elements of this xeriscape. A solitary palm tree, a few widely spaced succulents, and a low stone wall come together in a balanced, aesthetically appealing tableau that’s no less lovely than a grassy lawn or a garden in bloom.

Related: 14 of the Best Plants for Your Drought-Tolerant Garden

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Stone Steps Elevate an Outdoor Space

9/16

A sloping yard can be a nuisance. It’s tricky to mow and challenging to garden—and all the soccer balls end up in the same downhill spot. Bi-level backyards, however, are super for entertaining, playing games, or grilling up a feast on a sun-drenched Sunday afternoon. Define the split-level look with an elevated design (literally!). Wide, irregular stone steps both separate and connect the two distinct spaces.

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A Thoroughly Modern Rock Garden

10/16

Here’s a rock garden idea for folks who never, ever colored outside the lines as a kid or who consider Marie Kondo their role model. With only three main elements—precisely pruned shrubs that look like giant green Rubik’s cubes; oversized square pavers, and a tidy rectangle of monochromatic stones—the design is simple, but its overall effect is stunning. Choosing marble chips instead of stones makes this minimalist composition next-level.

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Country-Garden Charm

11/16

Although it winds its meandering way through an assortment of cheerful blossoms and stately boulders, this garden path is also straightforward. That’s due to the midsized slate chips strewn across its surface. Horizontally-oriented rock is just what’s wanted for a charming footpath, one that might lead to a wishing well or a couple of wrought-iron cafe chairs.

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A River Rocks Through It

12/16

Thanks to its gently curving lines and seaweed-like tufts of foliage, this broad border brings to mind a meandering river or a rocky point at the ocean’s edge. Either way, it’s wonderfully evocative, and its resemblance to a body of water makes it a remarkable example of xeriscaping. Moreover, it helps cut back on lawn maintenance and is sure to catch the eye of visitors, pizza delivery people, or anyone who pulls their vehicle into the driveway.

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Keep It Simple (with) Stones

13/16

This rather expansive rock bed serves the same purpose as the velvet background in a jewelry case: reflecting attention right back to the exquisite objects on display. Gardeners who specialize in growing rare plants could use this technique to make certain their prize specimens are appropriately appreciated. Whether the exhibited items are unusual plants, notable rocks, or even manmade treasures like sculptures, a simple surface of stones—smooth pebbles, snowy-white pea gravel, or chunky creek rocks—will set them off to their best advantage.

Related: Entertain the Whole Family at Home with 10 DIY Lawn Games

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Small Format Flair

14/16

Choosing the right rock accent might require some comparison shopping. If carpeting a large section, go with less-expensive gravel and buy in bulk. For a smaller space abutting the front steps or surrounding the mailbox, check out decorative landscaping material. The parti-colored stones shown here are pretty, albeit fairly tame. Artists and dreamers who want dramatic rock garden ideas might try polished black pebbles or moonlike lava stones to add interest to an otherwise ordinary area.

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Think Inside the Box

15/16

Art buffs who admire the abstract, geometric paintings of Piet Mondrian might be drawn to a stylized lawn. Unlike landscapes that incorporate—and emulate—the surrounding terrain’s natural contours, this design offers a deliberately boxy composition. Yet even the strictest layout still allows for creativity. Choose either contrasting or complementary materials to fill each section for divergent (but equally striking) effects. Select stones in a variety of sizes and foliage with a mix of heights to create your “lawn-drian” masterpiece.

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Channel Southwestern Culture

16/16

Evoking the spirit of the sunny southwest is easy. Step 1: Purchase an adobe-style home. Step 2: In the forecourt, arrange a selection of succulents, a few hot-pepper plants, and some hardy grasses. Step 3: Finish the Southwestern look with plenty of small stones; warm earth tones ranging from buff to burnt sienna will look the best. Step 4: Cook up a big batch of frijoles charros, crack open some cold ones, and throw open your door to the company of your closest friends.

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Stones in the design of the garden: decoration of the suburban area with boulders and stones, photo-ideas

If the earth has generously endowed you with various boulders, scattering them around the site, you can safely rejoice at a valuable resource

Boulders are a trace of glacier movement, clear marks of ancient history. There are many of them in Karelia, in the north and north-west of Russia and in its southern regions. Perhaps the rocky area scares the complexity of development. But do not rush to export such a valuable resource. Large boulders and smaller stones available in your yard and yard should be used in landscaping.

Wagner Hodgson

When it comes to working with stone, many of the ancient techniques are still in use, although often in a modified form. For example, splitting with a hammer or wedges, strip sawing (cutting a stone using a fixed or free abrasive) are processing methods known from time immemorial.

Chuck B Edwards Landscape Architecture & 3D

Despite the traditional technology, for splitting or cutting large stones, I would advise you to invite specialists. But, if you still decide to do it yourself, be very careful about security. To protect yourself from splinters, goggles alone will not be enough: you need to cover your entire face with a mask, it is advisable to put on a wadded suit on your body, protect your legs and arms with thick leather boots, handrails and gloves. Keep children, animals and other helpers away without proper protection. Remember that flying stone fragments are unpredictable and can easily injure you or others.

Red Leaf Developments, Inc.

Large spectacular boulders can and should be used in landscape design without any processing. But for many of them, you will probably find a new place, and since the walking stones are still considered one of the natural wonders, you will have to move the boulders around the site yourself.

Jay Sifford Garden Design

Moving stones
Scientists still cannot give a definite answer to many questions related to the movement of stone blocks for ancient megalithic buildings. But the technology of transporting the famous "Thunder-stone", which became the pedestal of the Bronze Horseman in St. Petersburg, is known and even reflected in engravings and a commemorative medal. A grandiose granite boulder, which was later given the shape of a wave, was found in the vicinity of Lakhta. It was delivered to St. Petersburg by water, and to the coast of the Gulf of Finland - by drag on a wooden platform. The movement was provided by 30 bronze balls with a diameter of 5 inches each, rolling along two parallel chutes. Transportation was carried out in winter on frozen stable ground. The distance of 8.5 km was covered in 4 months with the involvement of a huge number of participants. Now, of course, it may seem that this is a very long time, but the weight of the stone was 1600 tons! Various mechanical devices were used for movement: levers, jacks and gates, but still the basis was human strength and ingenuity.

Operation to move the "Thunderstone" remains unique to this day. Interestingly, the stone was processed right during transportation.

It is unlikely that you will be able to break this record on your site - I think the sizes of the boulders you have are somewhat smaller. However, old proven technology can be useful. Metal pipes can be used as rolling elements, shifting them as you move. And in order not to wait for the winter hard ground - make the flooring from the boards. So you can effectively move the stones within the site to their designated places. Although jacks and a winch will not be superfluous here either.

Roger Washburn Landscape Architecture

Let's take a look at the different ways you can use your stone wealth.

Keep the natural look
The first approach, minimal in terms of effort, but not inferior in terms of decorativeness, is to leave everything as it is. Natural landscapes are a direction that is now at the peak of popularity. Plan the zones on the site based on the existing terrain, lay paths that obey the existing curves of the landscape - everything else has already been done for you by nature. This approach will not allow turning a rocky area into arable land to the horizon, but it will show its natural charm. The local flora growing among the stones can also be left, partially or completely.

Elena Veselova

Terraced garden
On a rocky site it is often difficult to find a suitable place to dig planting holes deep enough for cultivated plants. But the abundance of stones does not mean at all that you need to completely abandon the garden. This problem can be solved by container growing, topping up fertile soil locally, arranging raised beds, and also ... adding more stones! Additional boulders will create planting hole walls, natural containers for planting. Or you can plant garden plants right among the stones, as one of my clients did when her site was at the initial stage of development and there was no other place for a garden yet. And it turned out to be a very effective move: wide leaves and lashes of zucchini spread very beautifully among massive stones. Such a garden is organized according to the principle of a rock garden and is suitable for growing heat-loving plants.

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Chuck B Edwards Landscape Architecture & 3D

Alpine Hill
And by the way, if you have long dreamed of a rock garden, a rocky area can often provide it to you almost ready-made. Clear existing stones, if necessary, place additional ones. You should get a structure that is shaped like a stepped pyramid of stones, between which there are natural cavities with earth for planting. The soil in them will most likely need to be replaced. Select it according to the needs of the types of plants that you are going to plant there. This is one of the advantages of the rock garden: each plant, as it were, is planted in an individual container, which means that you can choose the most suitable soil composition for it. In addition, massive stones, heating up and giving off heat, allow more heat-loving species to be planted in rock gardens.

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2 use as borders for flower beds, paths and playgrounds. They will stylistically complement the rocky structure of the rock garden or act as an independent decorative element.

The size of the cobblestones for such curbs can be completely different. For example, create a decorative border with small, rounded, matched stones. Or a curb of carefully built cobblestones that form a soft wave. Or a massive brutal fence of large boulders - it is especially suitable for a recreation area or a barbecue area.

Advice: When creating borders for flower beds with stones, coordinate their size with the scale of planted plants. Build a combination on a nuanced principle, complementing graceful plants with medium-sized rounded stones - or planting large-leaved forms among massive rock fragments. Or create a contrast of finely cut foliage (ferns, aquilegia, dicenters, grasses) or needles - with large boulders.

SEE ALSO…
On the edge of the color: Choosing the right frame for the flower bed

Hillside Nurseries

Paving
You can also use your own stone for paving areas and paths. But, most likely, he will need processing. Rounded cobblestones in paving look beautiful, but walking on them is inconvenient (living in St. Petersburg, I can say this with knowledge of the matter and I am sure that residents of old cities will support me). But they make beautiful borders. Chipped stone with a flat surface can be used both small and large. It is good to lay out walking paths with large stone slabs, placing them at intervals. For utility paths, continuous uniform paving is more suitable.

SEE ALSO…
Good question: How to build garden paths?

Tip: If the stone resources in your area are varied, you can play with the combination of colors in the paving.

Pat Brodie Landscape Design

Retaining Walls
Retaining walls are often needed in raised areas (and rocky areas often have relief): they help shape and add variety to the landscape when terracing. For the design of retaining walls, you can use small and large stone fragments. Large boulders and rock blocks, set on a prepared base and carefully docked, can themselves act in this role.

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in the mountains, on the valleys: how to use the advantages of the embossed section

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The finish of the house
Small stones and stone fragments are also suitable for the fragmentation of the dnue. , as well as for decorating other buildings on the site. A big plus of taking stones for finishing on your own site is that in this case the decor will definitely match the surroundings.

Hearth
The traditional way to use stone is to make a country hearth out of it. Approach the process thoroughly by erecting a neat ring of stones held together with mortar. Or simply lay out the border of the fire pit with cobblestones, deepening them into the base. Please note that sudden cooling of the stone hearth should be avoided: a sudden change in temperature may cause the stone to crack.

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Hearth: How to build a stone fire pit

Fireplace
An original and effective way of using a massive rock fragment can be seen in this photo. A large raw stone has become an element of an outdoor fireplace. A simpler, but also decorative option is to use small stone fragments for facing the fireplace.

Garden Architecture

Exteriors By Chad Robert

Bench
Large cobblestones or stone slabs can form the basis for a country bench. Or you can fold it entirely from stone, as in the photo. But in this case, it is worth supplementing the seat with plank flooring to make it more comfortable to sit.

Sculpture
One of the easiest ways to use stone in a landscape is as a decorative element or sculpture. You can create a traditional Japanese rock garden imbued with a complex philosophy. Either stacked cobblestone sculptures: fun garden figurines, painted rocks (the kids love to help make them), or larger art forms.

SEE ALSO...
Stone Flower : How to set up a dry rock garden

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GEL: Griffin Enright Landscape

But a rough stone or a group of beautifully shaped stones, placed in a thoughtful place, will look like a sculpture. Install it where you need an accent: at the intersection of paths, against the backdrop of an array of shrubs, or in the center of a flower garden.

Idea: Pay attention to the original design move shown in the photo: the path is decorated with lawn grass (this requires a mixture for sports grass), and the surroundings are covered with cobblestones.

Fountain
Stones are the perfect base for decorative fountains. When wet, they will fully show their texture and color. It is possible to turn them into a pulsating geyser fountain, as in the photo, but to do this, you will have to drill through holes in them for the fountain system, which can be difficult to do on your own. Or let them perform in your fountain as decor and sculptural elements.

Boden Haus Landscape Inc.

MARPA DESIGN STUDIO

Cascade, stream, pond
Stones and water are a really great combination. In the natural landscape, they can be used to create cascades and waterfalls. Large pieces of granite create very spectacular rock structures for falling water. But they are also good for decorating the shores of a reservoir - supplement them with coastal plants or use them as independent elements.

SEE ALSO…
A dime a dozen: Reservoirs for small areas

MOSART. PRO

High Res Studio/ SeamonWhiteside+

Dry Creek
In the absence of real water features, stones on the site will come in very handy when creating a dry stream. Fill the bottom with small fragments, and use large cobblestones and massive boulders to decorate the coast and create an artificial relief.

SEE ALSO
Bottom: Creating the illusion of a dry stream in your garden

Playground
Maybe not the most obvious move, but the stones will help in the design of the playground. They will be useful for creating completely different play structures, because you can walk and jump on them, you can enclose a sandbox with them or build a whole labyrinth, and a large boulder with a board hinged at the top will turn into a swing or a carousel. However, children can reduce anything to the game!

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A Yard & A Half Landscaping Cooperative, Inc.

CSDesign llc

And they have a lot to learn: for example, the ability to see the potential and multiple applications in everything around. Including in the stones scattered by nature on your site!

COMMENT
How did you use stones in your garden? Did you have to bring them or stone placers were already on your site?

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A real rock garden with your own hands - how to make and what to consider

For the Japanese, the rock garden is part of the cultural and historical heritage. They are sensitive to the creation of every corner of such a garden, more often they entrust its creation to professionals than do everything themselves. For us, such objects are purely aesthetic. The fashion for rock gardens came from Japan to the USA and Europe, and then to us.

Why is it needed at all? For the inhabitants of Japan, this is a place of creation and self-development. It is here, in their opinion, that you can fully relax, philosophize at your leisure, think about the eternal. In self-development, the Japanese rock garden plays a special role, therefore, without it, not a single house adjoining territory is inconceivable.

Basic principles of designing a large rock garden

Boulders occupy the central part of the composition. There should be either 5 or 3 of them. If the area allows, more stones are placed in the garden of "dry mountains and water". But the number must be a multiple of the above digits (divided by three or five). In Russia, stone gardens are laid out according to the residual principle - in places that are not suitable for other purposes (front garden, beds, etc.). The area can be any, a lot depends on your desire.

Composition principles:

The main thing in is to get an attractive and natural material.

In addition to stones and plants, additional components may be present in such a composition. For example, undulating bulk paths or designed in the form of step-by-step flat stones framed by a lawn. Pots of flowers will not be superfluous (but there should not be many of them). Lighting should be well thought out. Large lanterns placed around the perimeter will do.

How to make a rock garden right?

The preferred form of the Japanese rock garden is the figure with seven corners. In our case, this rule can be deviated from. But one thing needs to be taken out of it - each outer side of the garden should have its own unique view. There should be no monotony and pattern design, symmetry. Japanese masters are able to develop a project in such a way that one of the boulders is hidden from view on each side of the heptagon. When developing a voluminous project in a computer program, this is easy to achieve.

When creating a rock garden with your own hands, choose different cobblestones to form the main composition. They should vary in size, shape, color.

When choosing boulders, consider the following points:

Having decided to make a rock garden with your own hands, you can follow the following sequence of actions:

In layers, the place of the future Japanese garden is filled like this - geotextile, 5 cm of fine sand, pebbles or gravel to the ground level.

Landscaping of the Japanese rock garden

The arrangement of shrubs, flowers and pieces of lawn grass is planned at the very beginning. It is necessary to think carefully about the location of the plants in such a way that during heavy rain or additional watering the earth does not stain the stone waves. It is for these purposes that stones of large and medium sizes are installed between the lawn and pebbles, or plants growing in sandstone are planted. Washing out of the pebbles itself is easy to prevent by installing a garden border or curb.

Usually long trees and medium-sized trees are not used in a Japanese garden.

Ideal for landscaping: