Who says a rock garden has to be dull and boring? In truth, with good planning and the right choices, you can create an amazing rock garden that will be beautiful while enhancing the appearance of your home. If you live in an area, where the soil is bad or in a hot and dry climate, then a rock garden might be the perfect solution.
With a rock garden, you can create the design to include only rocks and pebbles or if you like, you can mix various types and colors of rocks in with your plants and flowers. The nice thing about a rock garden is that they are easy to create and inexpensive. The first step is to determine exactly where your rock garden would be placed, along with the look you want to accomplish.
Start with rocks that are native to your geographical area. These rocks would be easier to find and much more affordable. Additionally, by using native rocks, your garden will have a more natural appearance, which will ultimately look best. Next, choose rocks that have interesting shapes. Although you could go with a round or square-shaped rock but to create a unique appearance to your rock garden, irregular-shaped rocks are more creative. Then, most of the rocks for your garden should be large. While smaller rocks would be mixed into the design, plan to buy mostly large rocks.
As mentioned, you will choose the types of rocks found where you live but regardless, you should try to include limestone in your design in that this type of rock is soft, porous, and therefore, allows moisture to seep through easily. To get the design aspect going, start at the lowest part of the garden area, setting the rocks in place. Then, move your way upward. After the rocks have been paced, leave them for a few days to allow the soil to settle. From there, you can stand back, eye the design, and then make any necessary adjustments. At that time, you may or may not decide to add a few plants or flowers for additional interest.
If you decide to add vegetation to your rock garden, stick with plants that only bloom in the spring. A great choice is a low growing perennial. In addition to lasting year after year, the perennial would also seep into the crevices of the rocks, creating a beautiful, sweeping carpet. For the perennials, you have literally hundreds of choices but a few to consider include English Ivy, Calla Lily, Phlox, Wand Flower, Crocus, and Snowdrop. To add even more color, place herbs, heathers, and annuals around the edges of the rock garden to create a little color during the summer months. Great choices for annuals would include Tidy Tips, Baby’s Breath, Clarkia, Verbena, Zinnia, Summer Savory, and Torenia.