How to Make Simple Rock Garden
Rock gardens are popular with homeowners because of their low maintenance and natural beauty. They can look appealing wherever they are placed, whether it is on a hilly terrain or on flat ground. Learning how to make a simple rock garden can add charm and beauty to your home.
- Choose an area in your yard for the rock garden. A sloping area is ideal. Water drainage is important to enable water to run off easily. You should also make sure the area you choose for the garden is in a sunny location.
- Clear the area of brush and vegetation. You will be replacing it with rocks, stone and soil.
- Make gritty soil. This is best for promoting drainage. It can be made by combining sand and soil.
- Place two or three large rocks into the garden and partially bury them. These will be the main rocks and should protrude above the garden. Place smaller rocks and stones around them.
- Fill the spaces between the rocks. Filler can consist of smaller rocks, stone and gritty soil.
- Place plants and flowers inside the pockets of the rocks and among the stones. You will want plants that prefer good drainage and a sunny area. Plants to consider using are heather, geraniums, alyssum and various perennials. You need to find out what type of plant grows best in your climate. Colorful flowers add to the beauty of the natural surroundings.
- Step back and observe your work as you are creating your rock garden. If something doesn’t look or feel right, then move it to a different location.
- Make a stepping stone path. This is convenient for times when you need to weed and water the garden. This is done by setting flat stepping stones into the ground, creating a path as you do so. Firmly set the stones with packed dirt, and be sure they do not protrude above the ground.
- Add mulch to the rock garden as the final step. Consider using small pebbles or red stone mulch. The red stone mulch can be bought at your local nursery. Mulch is important in suppressing weeds in the garden.