How to Create Natural Looking Rock Gardens

A rock garden is a man-made home away from home for plants that usually abide in the high mountains. They require significant work and expense, but they reward one in many ways by being arguably the most artistic creation in a landscape. There are many reasons why gardeners choose to undertake the challenge of creating rock gardens. The layout and shape of the yard may suggest one already. Rock plants are small, and thus fit in well with a small garden space. Rock gardens are natural companions of any landscape water feature. Some people are inspired by a simple love of alpine plants and a desire to experience their beauty at home.

A well-made rock garden will give the appearance of an underground rock system breaking through the ground at a particular spot. As important as this aesthetic ideal is, though, one's first concern must be the needs of the plants. Most alpine plants do well in acidic soils. They are highly tolerant of cold and wind, but some varieties still benefit from shelter. They respond to hand watering and dislike dampness on their leaves and stems (as from sprinklers). An ideal location for a rock garden will be a sunny place (the rocks themselves will later provide shady areas) away from the shadows and roots of trees, and preferably on a slope to allow for good soil drainage and an overall natural appearance.

When you map out your intended rock garden space, consider creating a path around it so the area won't be damaged by foot traffic later on. This trail can even be created from flat stones taken from the same store of rocks that you will use for the garden.

Rock plants and alpines are generally small, compact, and full of flower when in bloom (this is mainly a result of their short stems). They often produce their foliage in low mats or tight cushions. They push their roots deep into the ground in search of constant sources of moisture. Most have a short flowering season, because the growing season that they're allowed in the mountains is so short.

Many of the plants utilized in rock gardens are of the matted variety. Their foliage and flowers appear to tumble over the rocks, creating a carpet of color. Other alpines are crevice-loving plants. In the wild, they grow in the fissures of rock formations where they find shelter from battering rains and winds. Levisias and ramondas rank among these types. A rock garden that features only matted and crevice-loving varieties may appear dull, however, so consider varying the appearance with some other accent plants. Just be sure that they'll grow no higher than a foot; otherwise your garden can appear haphazard. Dwarf-bearded irises, primulas, aquilegias, and sisyrinchiums all work well as accent plants. When purchasing your plants, inquire as to how quickly they will spread so you can be assured that one won't overwhelm the others. Also be aware of their flowering seasons. A rock garden can - and ideally should - feature flowers during every month of the year.

Rock gardens will become too compacted and airless if they're built when the soil is wet and cold. For this reason, begin your project either during the summer or early autumn months. Once the area has been mapped out, with a path made around it, prepare the soil. Remove existing lawn, then dig two spits deep with a spade and break the ground up. This will improve drainage. Mix in organic matter like composted soil, as much as 1/3 of the total volume. Then add a layer of fine gravel to the mixture.

The kind of rocks you select will probably be determined by availability and price. Hard limestones and sandstones are ideal; granite and gritstones are more difficult but workable. Avoid quartz and layered stones like mica. Rocks cost good money, and unfortunately much of this rock will end up underground. In order to resemble a natural outcrop, rocks should be set at backward-sloping angles with about a third of their height embedded. This will also help to channel rain back into your garden's soil.

Set a few rocks and then start on the second layer. In this way you'll be able to envision your garden's overall shape. Tamp soil well under and behind the rocks to remove air pockets where garden pests love to hide. Lay your stones as close together as possible, and then ram soil into the gaps between. They're set properly when you're unable to rock them.

The second layer allows for places where stones are placed at a distance behind the first. These patches are reserved for the plants. Give the soil two weeks to settle before you begin planting. The exception to this rule is when planting in crevices with potted plants. In this case, the planting and the setting of adjacent rocks should be done in tandem.

To begin with, plant only half of what you think your garden will require. You'll avoid overcrowding, and also have time to observe different growth patterns among your plants. What's more, you'll be left with potential space in which to introduce new plants that may attract your interest down the road.