How to Plant a Rock Garden

Overview

Rock gardens, more so than other gardens, can transport visitors to wild and rugged landscapes. When planting a rock garden, the type of rocks and a collection of unusual plants can contribute to an aesthetically pleasing environment. Rock gardens can be a combination of formal and informal, but you can create many separate focal points. Good rock gardens incorporate a well-thought-out design and construction that mimics the textures and forms found in nature, but that does not completely copy nature.

Step 1

Lay down a weed barrier between your rocks. Depending on the lay of the land, you may need to level the area first by preparing the soil, especially if it is for a pathway, using a shovel and steel rake.

Step 2

Set your rocks in the arrangement you planned. Smaller rocks can be placed carefully by hand, but larger rocks and boulders may need to be moved with heavy machinery.

Step 3

Spread a mulch of pea gravel or grit over the beds. Mix several sizes of the same kind of rock in unequal proportions for a more natural look. Small rock-dwelling plants like to be kept mud-free and dry, and this mulch will help with that while helping prevent erosion.

Step 4

Plant your chosen plants where you envisioned them. Tuck the plants close to the rocks, as they like to have stone against their roots.

Step 5

Mix a variety of mosses and small plants between rocks, if you wish for a more natural look. If you want groupings of bold color and a definite look of human organization, planting something like tulip bulbs between the rocks can work in contrast.

Step 6

Re-situate any rocks that seem off, and take note of where you may need more plants or fillers such as moss or ornamental grasses.